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“I guess you have figured out what is happening right now. ” Vincent chuckled with a harsh raspy voice. “That expression tells me you feel it, Russo. Thanks for the meal, hehe.”

‘I can continue. I can...’ Russo thought before he paused and noticed his Raging Flame Armor’s harmony wavering.

Russo quickly understood he could achieve a victory against a person that absorbs the mana today. Such a possibility was unheard of. Thus, Russo needed more time to plan a countermeasure against an opponent like Vincent.

Russo neglected his Energy Flow training after awakening the Blessing Of Elements trait. Everyone around Russo praised his mana-centered trait, and he gradually stopped focusing on his Energy Flow training.

Russo had no other way to fight in this hopeless situation.

“I... I surrender.” Russo said, confused about what expression he should express.

The loss provided a reward that Russo didn’t imagine he would ever receive, yet the loss will also start rumors that a captain lost to a first-year noble academy student. He might receive a demotion even if this was a friendly spar.

[Vincent, I think...]

.....

“The potions I took sure were of high quality. ” Vincent announced loudly with his raspy voice. He grabbed the neck of the shirt and fluttered it as if it was hot.

“These clothes are making me warm. I should wear less next time since the dozens of potions I drank were enough to beat a captain.” Vincent announced while laughing before saying what Kazumi was about to suggest cautiously.

The soldiers became angry because Vincent revealed how he cheated. Additionally, cheating in the same methods, they were mocking Vincent.

In their eyes, Vincent wasn’t strong enough to compete with Russo. But that might be because Vincent looks as young as a teen.

As expected, Vincent was at the center of the attention and hateful glares. It didn’t take long for Russo’s loss to be overlooked as an unfair sparring match.

[So you decided to be the villain, heh...]

-I can’t let Russo lose his position as a captain.-

[I know, but... our plan to attract as little attention as possible started going south when you decided to save Lilith and kill Demel Blackheart.]

-...-

Vincent didn’t know what to say when he recalled how Kevin died. He had attracted too much attention, and everyone around him was hunted.

Vincent stopped using Overheat and extended his hand. “Shall we talk?” He asked with a friendly smile, hoping to leave this place quickly.

“Sure, last student of Taskmaster Koss.” Russo said while shaking Vincent’s hand.

Vincent and Sofy followed Russo to an office. To their shock, there were already many rumors about Vincent and the Lionhearts circulating the north gate barracks. It caused all the nearby soldiers to stare at Vincent until he left their sight.

“When did the Lionheart family become rich enough to buy high-grade potions and enchanted clothes to use for a spar?”

“Wasn’t the Lionheart family about to become fallen nobles? I heard their widowed daughter married a commoner, but they appear to be doing well with a shameless son-in-law now. ”

“I heard the Lionheart family is preparing to release a new budget-friendly textile product. It looks like they struck gold when the product is still a secret.”

These were a few of the many rumors, both bad and good, spreading like wildfire. Vincent was rumored to be a shameless man. On the other hand, the rumors became a promotion to Leonis and Teresa’s mana-less hide processing business.

Vincent took a seat, but Sofy remained standing beside him.

Russo became nervous and checked the second guest chair, but it was clean. “Please take a seat.” He requested.

“I am a slave and a servant. I can’t sit beside my master.” Sofy responded.

Vincent frowned and looked at Sofy. He thought she was joking, but the expression on her face was serious. She wasn’t playing around.

“Please sit beside me Sofy. There is no need for formalities when Russo offered you a seat.” Vincent smirked and continued, “Did you forget how you broke a soldier today? I don’t think anyone will complain about taking a seat.”

Sofy faintly blushed and sat beside Vincent. Sofy was happy to be allowed to sit beside Vincent in a business talk. She felt more involved and less distant now.

“Lord Vincent Lionheart. I’ve heard rumors about a member of the Lionheart family offering healing or health care services in exchange for sponsorship. I also recently learned how there is a vice-captain living in your residence as well.”

“Am I that famous?” Vincent joked.

“So, what do you actually want from me?” Russo asked.

“I pissed a few families and I need more soldiers under the Lionheart family to patrol around my residence. This request will at least deter shallow plans of revenge.”

“I can offer you the same deal I offered vice-captain Ganni. You and your family can live in my mansion and the hospitality will be on me. So, Russo, are you interested in a hospitality and health care offer?”

Vincent honestly revealed his problem and later offered the same sponsorship package he offered Ganni and his family.

“My mother is... ” Russo mentioned his mother and then stopped. On his face appeared a frown. He looked hesitant to keep talking as if he concluded his next words were going to be rejected.

“Please continue. What problem does your mother have? I can heal her if it is serious.” Vincent offered with a warm smile.

Russo’s conflicted heart eased, and his expression returned to normal.

“I was a runaway orphan when my mother found me fainted from hunger in the streets. She was kindhearted to carry me to her home and later took care of me like her own son.”

“I was nine years old at the time. Having an old woman asking me to call her grandma made me cry tears of joy. But I was rebellious at that age, hehe. I called her mother once to tease her, but I ended up calling her mom because she was a mother I always wished to have.”

“But... it has become a problem taking care of my old, sick mother.” Before continuing, Russo revealed a devastated expression: “I paid a lot of money to have my mother’s condition inspected. They told me her sickness can’t be healed by ordinary means because it is a rare sickness caused by old age.”

“Do you know its name?” Vincent curiously asked. He didn’t know if it could be cured, similar to Tula’s memory loss.

Russo wiped his eyes before a tear fell on his cheek. “... Dementia.” He answered with a sorrowful expression.

“I have soldiers patrol where I stay to check on my house, but I constantly worry because she stays alone during my shift. Sparring to pass the time is the only way I can stop the worry from consuming me.”

[Sniffle. I am about to cry. Russo was taken care of by a kind stranger and was treated like her family. Now Russo wants to take care of the stranger that became a mother to him because of her condition.]

[Russo is a kind and loyal man. He didn’t abandon the woman who took care of him for years. He is trustworthy enough in my books.]

Vincent agreed with Kazumi’s conclusion. He was also happy to hear how Russo remained with the person who became his family in sickness and health.

*Bam* Russo abruptly slammed both fists on the table.

“Two noble families conspired together to threaten me by using my mother. They researched about my situation and offered to help.”

“I accepted. At first, my mother was feeling more relaxed and better at home alone, but later they asked for ridiculous amounts of money as compensation. I could become their sponsored captain if I could not pay up.”

*Bam* “I didn’t accept and my life became difficult. The sponsored soldiers barely listen to me, so I use sparring to gain some respect and authority.”

“Ironically, the only way I can think of to regain some respect is the only way I can stop the worry from consuming me and go to check on my mother. What I did for work and not to be demoted is helping me stay sane on my shifts.”

Vincent stood up and extended his hand. “Come live with us Russo.”

“There are maids, children, and also animals. Your mother will never be alone ever again. I bet Koss’s children will take great care of your mother.” *Cough* “There are also many races of non-humans, but there is nothing to worry about and one of them is my wife.”

“If teacher Koss’s family lives with you, then it shouldn’t be a bad place to live in.” Russo stood up and shook Vincent’s hand, and the other wiped his eyes from tears of joy. “I don’t have problems with good non-humans and my mother mostly shows pity when she sees a non-human slave. We will cause no trouble.”

*Knock, knock* “Can we enter?”

Russo wiped his tears and said, “You may enter.”

Two soldiers entered, and they looked at Vincent as it was apparent he was the noble looking for them. It didn’t take long for them to ask for health care and one of the two also asked for some food rations.

Vincent accepted the two soldiers, and they offered their loyalty like all the soldiers on the list. After they left, Russo lowered to his knee and offered his loyalty to Vincent.