Chapter 7

（There was a bit of a network issue... It took a while... but it's finally uploaded.）

In this era ruled by wizards, it is usually only wizards and their descendants who can become nobles.

Marvin's father was not a wizard, but his grandfather was. Marvin's grandfather was a high-ranking wizard in the Southern Wizard Alliance. At that time, Riverbank City had not yet been established. He led his followers to expand territory, opening up many new lands in the wilderness for the Wizard Alliance. According to the agreement between the Wizard Alliance and the pioneering wizards, part of the land—what is now the White River Valley—became his grandfather's territory.

Because the new territories were newly developed and close to the wilderness, they were more free than the major city-states in the south. Apart from paying taxes to the Wizard Alliance regularly, they did not need to be subject to much command from the alliance. Only in times of emergency mobilization would they have to respond to the alliance's call.

Marvin's grandfather had two children, the eldest being Marvin's father, Jean, and the younger one named Miller. After Marvin's grandfather passed away, Jean inherited the White River Valley and governed it well. Miller, without the right of inheritance, received a substantial inheritance and left the White River Valley with additional wealth given to him by Jean in private.

This Uncle Miller, whom Marvin remembered, was gone for many years. It wasn't until last year that he suddenly returned to the south. It was said that he was now a very successful and wealthy businessman. Miller bought property in Riverbank City. The brothers met multiple times, and Jean was very happy about his brother's return, treating him with great care.

In the memory of the simple young boy, Uncle Miller, though somewhat stingy, was still quite good to the two brothers.

But from Marvin's current perspective, many clues began to emerge in those memories:

In the six months after Miller returned to Riverbank City, his father Jean's health suddenly began to decline. At forty, Jean was in his prime, strong as a bull. Although he did not practice magic, he was a solid second-tier warrior who had once single-handedly eliminated a mutated stone-toothed wild boar that had invaded the territory. Logically, his physical condition should not have deteriorated so much at this time.

Even if it were an illness, it would be difficult to cause much trouble for such a strong warrior.

But it was precisely because of a mysterious illness that his father Jean passed away six months ago. At just fourteen years old, Marvin inherited the territory and title, beginning to govern the land diligently.

This was very challenging for a fourteen-year-old boy, but from the results, he did a decent job.

"This young man, though kind and weak, has a talent for internal affairs."

"At Father Jean's funeral, Miller even came and shed some fake tears. He also said some very strange things."

"The timing of his return and Father's death are so coincident, it's possible he was the one who did it. I heard that in earlier years, Uncle Miller always resented Father for not being able to inherit the territory. Perhaps this was the trigger for the incident. Now that he has money, he has come back to take revenge on us."

"Perhaps he even wants to seize the inheritance of the White River Valley. If I die, the younger Vini would definitely not be a match for him. He has bribed the Akron gang and the city hall of Riverbank City. The White River Valley would be his!"

...

In just a few minutes, Marvin thought of many things.

This Uncle Miller indeed has a lot of suspicion. However, the matter cannot be concluded so quickly; they still lack evidence.

"We need to investigate further to determine if Uncle Miller is behind this."

Marvin said quickly, "Perhaps the two members of the Akron gang can help us find out."

"What do you mean?"

"Follow me, and be light on your feet." Marvin whispered, "Two people, leave one alive."

...

In front of the Wild Horse Inn, in a dark alley, a thief idly scanned the unchanged scenery ahead.

At his feet was a delicate hourglass, the sand in the upper part almost gone, indicating that it was time to give the signal.

"That woman is probably sleeping like a dead pig, what's there to monitor? I heard the employer really likes this half-elf and specifically requested a live capture. It looks like the boss will have to take action himself tomorrow."

The thief played with the dagger in his hand, thinking.

He looked at the roof not far away, where another lookout was diligently observing.

But at that moment, his eyes suddenly narrowed!

A sneaky shadow was approaching the companion on the roof!

"Who's there!"

The thief squinted his eyes. His perception was extremely high, and he could see that it was a person in stealth.

A thief from another gang?

Before he could warn his companion, he felt a slight chill on his back!

"Damn! Someone has seen through my stealth!?"

He turned abruptly and saw the half-elf female swordsman charging over with her sword, clearly knowing his hiding place!

The thief reacted quickly, making a nimble turn to try to circle around the alley and avoid a direct confrontation with the swordsman.

But at that moment, a shadow flashed in his peripheral vision!

A nimble figure took two steps in three, leaping from the roof to block his path.

The thief looked at his companion's dead body on the roof with a bitter expression, his mouth dry.

Such a decisive and ruthless killing method...

Is this guy a real assassin?

From the moment he discovered the stealth and prepared to kill his companion to the appearance of the half-elf female swordsman, it took only a few seconds for him to complete the assassination?

This is simply unbelievable!

Where have the street gangs seen such killing methods! This is the kind of super assassin who has assassinated countless strong opponents in the dark.

But when he saw the assassin's face, his jaw dropped in shock:

"It's you! How are you not dead? You..."

The thief was so shocked he couldn't speak.

Anna's sword pressed against his back, and she said coldly, "You have two choices. Cooperate with us, or die."

The thief obediently dropped his dagger and spread his hands. He had already given up on resistance. The seemingly weak young noble had such terrifying assassination skills, and the half-elf in front of him was at least a fourth-level warrior. In a direct confrontation, he had no chance at all.

"Bind him up, I know of a nearby abandoned warehouse." Marvin said softly.

...

In the north of the city, in an abandoned warehouse.

"I swear, I've told you everything I know."

The thief named Dink was tied securely to a chair with a rope, his face grim. "I was just responsible for surveillance, not for the actual action."

"You haven't told me why your Akron gang wants to kill me."

Marvin said coldly.

Dink feigned a pitiful look. "I really don't know..."

"Ah! What are you doing?!" The thief's face was full of fear.

Marvin sneered, grabbed Dink's right hand, and lightly cut his wrist with a small knife. Blood immediately flowed out.

"Doesn't that hurt, right?" Marvin sneered. "But I cut your vein, and your blood will slowly drain out."

Saying that, he lightly cut Dink's wrist again.

"You're a demon!" Dink was terrified. "Stop it!"

"Tell me what I want to know, and I'll set you free." Marvin said calmly. "Otherwise, we'll leave you here to bleed to death."

Anna looked at Marvin with some concern. She knew that interrogation required some methods, but she was worried about Marvin's state.

He seemed overly cold and ruthless, as if he had moved from his former kindness to another extreme.

"It's all because I was too weak. I couldn't protect the young master, causing him such a great shock, turning him into what he is now." The half-elf bit her lip, her sword hand showing clean blue veins due to the paleness.

Under Marvin's simple interrogation, Dink quickly broke down. These gang members were not trained to resist interrogation; they joined the gang just to make a living, and their willpower was very weak.

In his previous life, Marvin had encountered some fanatical religious zealots and had to force information out of them, which was the most difficult thing.

...

"This guy really doesn't know who wants to kill me. He just said it was a wealthy merchant in the city who offered a large sum of money."

"The Akron gang is only a second-rate force in Riverbank City. Their leader wants to rise, and this requires a lot of money. The wealthy merchant is said to have promised to invest after the job is done."

"Only their leader has met the employer. The rest of the subordinates just follow orders. To find out who the mastermind is, we need to find the guy named [Dyaphis]."

Marvin thought silently.

Dink said everything to save his life.

The Akron gang was not a major force. Apart from Dyaphis himself being a second-tier warrior, the most powerful of the rest was a fourth-level thief. Their base was the [Glowstone Bar], a well-known underground casino in the slums, which also engaged in prostitution, with many people and many eyes.

Dyaphis was a very cautious person. The Glowstone Bar was almost turned into a small fortress, especially the backyard and basement. It wouldn't be easy to infiltrate easily.

Marvin was a ranger, not a thief skilled in disarming traps and stealth, so he couldn't approach Dyaphis silently.

"Master, what should we do now?" Anna asked.

For some reason, the Marvin who had recovered from a serious illness made her feel a subtle sense of dependence.

"You said you would set me free!" Dink shouted.

Marvin walked over and cut the rope with his curved knife in a few quick movements.

Dink was stunned, not expecting Marvin to release him so easily.

Anna frowned, about to say something, but at that moment, Marvin struck like lightning, a cold flash of light.

Cover the mouth! Cut the throat! Blood spurted!

Dink's eyes widened, and he struggled for a moment before dying.

"I will set you free, but I never said I wouldn't kill you." Marvin pushed the dead body aside, cleaned his curved knife, and said calmly.

Anna felt a chill. "Young Master Marvin, what's wrong with you? This isn't like you at all."

Marvin looked at Anna and said sincerely, "Everyone has many sides. In the current situation, I must become another self."

"I won't allow anyone to take my territory, nor will I allow anyone to try to harm you."

"I won't allow it."

He held Anna's cold hand and said softly, "You are one of the most important people in my life. If someone tries to harm you, I will make them pay."

Anna's face turned slightly red, and despite the terrifying Marvin, she felt a sense of security.

She shyly pulled away Marvin's hand and said softly, "Young Master, what should we do next?"

"Go to the cemetery."

Marvin said an unexpected location.

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