Chapter 16

Lin Mo possesses a merit noble title, which is a reward from the royal family to a select few commoners who have made outstanding contributions to the empire, a path to the inner circle of the rulers.

Such a system helps to select the elite from the commoner class. Although the current title is limited to the individual, the inheritance to the next generation will be one rank lower, and it may not come with a fief. However, at least it prevents someone from shouting, "Are the nobles and officials born of a different kind?" and leading a rebellion.

If the merit nobles can work hard and establish new merits generation after generation, maintaining their titles and enjoying the full privileges and honors of the nobility is not difficult.

The Bart family's barony, though secluded in a corner, is a true hereditary nobility with a fief. As long as the Sylan Empire exists and the family does not produce a wastrel, this large family can live a carefree life.

Due to the pressure of inheritance, the merit nobles are hundreds of times more ambitious and capable than the hereditary nobles. The latter can live a comfortable life, but it is extremely difficult for them to advance further.

Even if they want to follow the path of the merit nobles and establish national merits to gain the opportunity for promotion, the chance for a group of people indulged in a comfortable and decadent life to produce a fierce wolf is slim.

The reason the empire has always maintained the existence of hereditary nobles is, on the one hand, to repay their ancestors for their great contributions to the nation, and on the other hand, to maintain local governance through them.

The foundation of hereditary nobles has been accumulated generation after generation. Although the privileges and treatments enjoyed by the two types of nobles are almost identical, and even if there is a conflict between the two sides, the royal family will not favor either side.

However, there is an unwritten rule within the noble circle that the status of merit nobles is often half a step lower than that of hereditary nobles.

The root of this lies in the hereditary right. If it can be permanently inherited generation after generation, who would be willing to work so hard! Therefore, heredity has become a special pride.

This difference means that a hereditary noble of a lower rank can treat a merit noble of a higher rank with the same rank etiquette.

However, the local lord, Baron Kras Bart, who welcomed Lin Mo and others, did not show any pride of being superior. Even when he saw the guard soldier Charlie beside Lin Mo, he still maintained a smile and did not show any contempt.

It takes three generations to cultivate a noble, and this is undoubtedly true.

Although hereditary nobles have various decadent habits that are detestable and even hated, they still have their own points of pride.

Kras Bart added the honorific "sir" when addressing Lin Mo because the latter is a royal dragon knight who protects the empire.

"Sir, these two are friends of Lord Morin, and this one is the guard soldier Charlie, who seems to be a friend of Lord Morin as well."

In front of the master, the butler did not show any undue favoritism, demonstrating the proper demeanor of a noble butler.

"Welcome to the Bart family estate!"

Kras Bart nodded to the Gemini sisters and Charlie, indicating a welcome.

Although the sisters did not understand the language, they had been briefed by Lin Mo on the way and could understand the meaning. They performed a lady's curtsy to the noble, as a commoner would.

Charlie's reaction was a bit exaggerated. He knelt down in front of his lord, stammering, "Hello, my lord." Clearly, he had never experienced such a scene and was extremely nervous.

Being a friend of the dragon knight is one thing, but being a subject of the Bart family is another.

Being able to attend the lord's banquet was something Charlie had never even dared to dream of, and he was so excited that his head was spinning.

Don't be fooled by the rough and simple exterior of the Bart family's building; the interior design is quite exquisite. The snow-white walls are adorned with paintings representing the family's long history, and gilded decorations and elegant ornaments can be seen everywhere.

The magic crystal lamps, specially lit to welcome the empire's dragon knight, shine brightly through a unique small silver mirror and candlelight, illuminating the house.

This is the host family showing off their family's strength and heritage. The things in this building alone are enough to exchange for two Snow Pine towns.

Baron Kras Bart personally led Lin Mo and the others, chatting as they entered the dining room where cheerful music was playing.

A spotless white tablecloth was laid on the long dining table, and in the center, surrounded by silverware, was a large platter piled high with roasted pheasants, with a bundle of dried cattail leaves still tied to the legs. A rich and creamy mountain delicacy pork hand soup, with large chunks of meat floating in the broth, and crispy, fragrant pre-dinner griddle cakes...

Two musicians stood in the corner, playing their instruments with great concentration, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

It was hard to imagine that the Bart family could prepare such a sumptuous dinner in such a short time.

Despite being just a small hereditary baron far from the capital, the family's strength was fully demonstrated in the details, not inferior to a baron in a big city.

"Good heavens, is this heaven?"

Charlie, who followed behind Lin Mo and the Gemini sisters, swallowed hard, his Adam's apple moving up and down. This was the first time in his life he had seen such sumptuous and luxurious food.

With the meager salary of the guard, he might not be able to enjoy even half of the delicacies on the table even if he saved for ten years without eating or drinking.

However, seeing the important figures in the lord's family, Charlie's hunched body shrank even more, wishing he could hide in the shadows.

In front of these nobles, as a lowly commoner, he had only a fragile glass heart, and a sense of inferiority arose spontaneously.

Sitting and enjoying such a sumptuous meal with these upper-class people was something he had never even dared to dream of before.

"Charlie! I'm here, so just relax and eat."

Lin Mo noticed his childhood friend's unease and nervousness and gave him an encouraging smile and look.

Seeing Morin's gaze, Charlie felt an invisible force surge into his body, straightening his back and gaining some courage, finally not making any embarrassing moves.

---

There were already a dozen members of the Bart family waiting for Lin Mo and the others in the dining room.

"Hello! Respected Dragon Knight sir!"

A woman dressed in elaborate and luxurious clothing, somewhat plump, stepped forward and made a shallow curtsy to Lin Mo.

Lin Mo was still wearing his "Dragon General" digital single-soldier tactical armor, which looked like heavy knight armor, making him easily recognizable among the four guests at the Bart family's estate.

As a dragon knight, wearing this combat gear was not considered impolite.

Kras Bart pointed to the middle-aged noblewoman with lingering charm and introduced her to the guests: "This is my wife, Kari!"

"Hello, beautiful Lady Kari! I am Morin, pleased to meet you."

Lin Mo smiled and asked for a hand-kissing gesture.

In the etiquette of the Sylan Empire, there are some similarities with the European noble etiquette of another world, which is not surprising.

Body language is the most effective way to express human emotions, and etiquette is purely an expression of emotion. For example, intimate physical contact between men and women is the ultimate form of emotional expression through body language.

As long as the concepts of good and evil are consistent, some cultural and ideological similarities are completely normal.

"This is my only daughter, Samir."

Following Kras Bart's introduction, a young girl in a light pink princess dress stepped forward, her light blue eyes shimmering with curiosity as she examined Lin Mo.

As a strategic-level elite force of the empire, dragon knights are known for their small numbers and formidable combat power. It is rare for ordinary people to see them, and the sudden news of a dragon knight coming to Snow Pine Town made the Bart family's eldest daughter very curious about dragon knights.

"Hello, respected Dragon Knight sir, can I see your dragon?"

Samir, clearly still in her youthful and lively years, found it hard to imagine that such a young and handsome knight could be one of the protectors of the empire.

---

The annual best work votes and monthly votes for "Dragon Fighter" are worth competing for. Cousin is fighting on two fronts, a穿越 to a fantasy world from a sci-fi setting.

[bookid=2227974, bookname="Dragon Fighter"]

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