Chapter 137: A Difficult Problem

Although Daly had mentally prepared herself for Jan's proposal, hearing it spoken aloud still caused her delicate frame to tremble, nearly sending her collapsing to the floor.

Starfall Tooth was located in the Landa River Valley, not far from the small town of Passus. It was a place of beautiful scenery and a mild climate. It was called Starfall Tooth because, long ago, a star had fallen from the heavens and crashed into this side of the valley. The impact created a cluster of towering stone pillars that rose into the sky like the fangs of a wild beast, hence the name.

Of course, this was merely a legend; no one knew the truth of the matter. To the locals, it was simply a rather peculiar valley. Since the Palwood family governed Passus, the adjacent Landa River Valley naturally fell under their rule. In the Klein Continent, territorial boundaries were not precisely defined. Generally, the borders between nations and factions were demarcated by prominent natural features such as mountain ranges, rivers, or forests. "This side of the river is mine, that side is yours"—the advantage of this was a relatively clear resolution of border disputes. The downside, however, was the potential for vast, unclaimed "no-man's-lands" to be left behind. For instance, no nation wanted to include a troublesome place like the Splendor Desert in its territory, as the mere headache of dealing with the sand bandits was enough to deter anyone.

In truth, bestowing land was not an unusual practice for the Palwood family. The issue, however, was that Jan’s request was not for a grant, but for a secession.

A grant meant the land was given to someone to manage, much like a king bestowing land upon a subject as a reward. The taxes and laws on that land would still be enforced according to national standards; it was not a gift of land meant for independent statehood. Yet, Jan’s request required the Palwood family to hand over a piece of their own cake—to completely excise it so that the land would no longer have any connection to the Palwood family.

Although Jan did not state it so bluntly, Daly was bright and understood the hidden meaning behind his words immediately. After all, Jan was a titled noble, and in terms of status, he was far above the Palwood family. They could not treat him like a subordinate receiving a fief; they could only "cede" the territory.

Even Daly felt a spark of indignation. Jan was clearly trying to pull off a "white glove" move—getting something for nothing. The Palwood family’s land hadn't been stolen, and while Starfall Tooth was uninhabited and giving it away might seem trivial, once given, it could not be reclaimed. Furthermore, he was demanding it with a single sentence. It was simply too bullying.

"Hmph!"

Daly was furious, and the black-clad swordsman behind her was no better. With a cold snort, he glared at Jan, and the next moment, a sharp, piercing sword aura swept toward Jan like a blade being unsheathed. Although Daly had suggested avoiding conflict, seeing the other party so blatantly insult the dignity of the Palwood family made it impossible to just let it slide.

The whistling sword aura reached Jan in an instant. Even Lygia and her two maids felt the powerful murderous intent in the air, their expressions shifting as they felt as though countless sharp blades were pressing against them, ready to pierce their hearts at a single command.

"A high-ranking swordsman?"

Feeling the sword aura, Jan raised an eyebrow, a faint, elusive smile flashing in his eyes.

"Is that all you've got?"

The moment the words left his lips, the situation shifted dramatically.

Just a moment ago, the black-clad swordsman had felt as sharp as a thousand unsheathed blades, but suddenly, an invisible beast seemed to roar and dive from above, crushing the swordsman's aura as easily as snapping a dry twig. Lygia and the others felt a sudden lightness as the chilling pressure vanished like snow under the spring sun.

In contrast, the expressions of Daly and the black-clad swordsman changed violently. They felt the air around them become impossibly heavy, transforming into invisible boulders pressing down upon their backs. With a dull thud, Daly was the first to collapse to the ground, unable to bear the weight. Beside her, the swordsman tried to resist, but facing the pressure of a legendary powerhouse, he couldn't even manage a gesture before being forced to his knees, unable to stand again.

At that moment, Jan’s voice drifted to their ears once more.

"This is just a small compensation, Miss Palwood. I trust you don't mind?"

"I... I..."

Daly’s face was pale, sweat dripping from her forehead as she stared at the young man who watched her with a smile. She felt as if she were facing a dragon with its jaws wide open, ready to swallow her whole. Only now did she truly realize how terrifying Jan was. Though she had been respectful before, deep down she had harbored doubts, thinking him too young to be truly powerful. It wasn't until she felt his pressure firsthand that she realized how wrong she had been. Even her teacher, the master of the Star Tower, likely lacked such terrifying strength.

"It is only a small request."

Jan waved his hand gently. Immediately, the pressure surrounding Daly vanished. She wiped away cold sweat, stood up, and looked at Jan with pale, bewildered eyes. Yet, the young woman maintained her composure, taking a deep breath to force herself to calm down before meeting Jan’s dark gaze again.

"I understand your meaning, Mr. Jan."

Daly spoke with newfound caution, carefully considering her words.

"As compensation, we agree to your request in principle. But... may I ask what the Palwood family will receive in return?"

*Interesting.*

Hearing her counter-question, Jan held her in higher regard. Most people would have been paralyzed by his pressure, blindly agreeing to whatever he said. That this young lady, despite being terrified, hadn't lost her reason was rare. This didn't make things difficult for Jan; rather, he grew to appreciate her more. He thought for a moment and then offered her a gentle smile.

"My friendship. I believe that should suffice."

"Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Jan."

Hearing this, a look of relief finally appeared on Daly’s face. The friendship of a legendary powerhouse was not something one could easily obtain. If the Palwood family could gain such a connection by ceding a worthless piece of land, it would be a bargain. She was certain that even if this condition were presented at a family meeting, no one would dare object.

However...

"Forgive my rudeness, Mr. Jan, but what exactly do you intend to do with Starfall Tooth?"

It was no wonder Daly asked. Starfall Tooth was nothing but a stone forest, dangerous and infested with monsters. While the scenery was unique, it possessed nothing else—no mineral deposits, no arable land, just rugged mountains and towering pillars. It was meaningless for anything other than sightseeing, so she couldn't fathom why Jan would choose it.

Facing her question, Jan provided an answer quickly.

"Oh, it's nothing special. I find the scenery pleasant, so I intend to build a manor there."

"A manor?"

Lygia and Daly were both stunned. Lygia frowned, looking at Jan with unease.

"Mr. Jan, have we in the Black family neglected you in some way?"

"That is not the case, Mrs. Black."

Facing her anxious inquiry, Jan offered a soft smile.

"Regardless, I am a man. It is not appropriate for me to stay here indefinitely. It does nothing for your reputation, and since I intend to stay here for some time, I must have a manor of my own."

"This..."

Lygia hesitated upon hearing his reply, eventually lowering her head without further protest. Daly, having glanced at Lygia, spoke up.

"If that is the case, Mr. Jan, I must warn you: building a manor at Starfall Tooth will not be easy."

"Oh?" Jan raised an eyebrow, curious. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes."

Having decided to cooperate, Daly did not hesitate. As the local power, the Palwood family had operated here for years and held intelligence others didn't. Had it been earlier, she might have kept it to herself, but now that an agreement was reached, she wasn't foolish enough to sabotage Jan—lest it bring trouble upon herself.

"According to our intelligence, a group of frost giants resides in the depths of Starfall Tooth."

"What!?"

Lygia let out a sharp cry of alarm before Jan could even react.

"Frost giants? There are frost giants in Starfall Tooth?"

It was no wonder she was shocked. Frost giants were a subspecies of giant, typically active in mountain ranges. They frequently raided human towns and trade routes, and in the surface world, they were far more terrifying than any common bandit. Many on the Eagle Plateau had grown up hearing tales of their cold-blooded, cruel, and savage nature. They raided caravans, devoured men, and enslaved women—monsters of the worst kind. Lygia, born on the plateau, felt a surge of anxiety at the thought of them being so close to Passus. She instinctively looked toward the window, as if a group of giants might emerge from the landscape at any moment, roaring as they attacked.

Daly nodded solemnly.

"Yes, Mrs. Black. The Palwood family sent people to investigate, which is how we obtained this information. Fortunately, they dwell deep within the Starfall Tooth and have never attacked Passus, and the locals rarely venture that far in..."

Daly did not notice that, unlike Lygia, Jan’s eyes had lit up the moment she mentioned "frost giants."

To most, frost giants were merely savage, hulking monsters. But Jan, having read extensively in the Pandemonium, knew well that all existing giant subspecies were descendants of the giants from the dawn of creation. Those ancient giants possessed a glorious, powerful civilization and had created weapons that could rival the Demon Gods. Regrettably, the Demon Gods would not allow them to transcend their limits; the Demon and God races eventually united to destroy those "bronze people," and the history and civilization of the giants were buried and erased. Only the subspecies survived. According to the magical texts of the Pandemonium, giants passed down their memories and culture through their bloodline. While these subspecies were not particularly bright, the inheritance within their blood should still remain. If one of these frost giants happened to be lucky enough to inherit the memories of their ancestors... wasn't Enoir’s spirit-calling art meant for exactly such a purpose?

Thinking this, Jan reached out to adjust his glasses. He turned toward Lygia and Daly.

"A mere group of frost giants... they are of no concern to me. By the way, Miss Daly, Mrs. Black, if you have time, shall we pay a visit to Starfall Tooth tomorrow?"

"Eh?"

Hearing this, everyone—except for the napping Patilina—was left completely stunned.