Dear Baron Levi Snyder, the Moon of Flowers is upon us, and the Silver Frost Flowers are about to bloom. I sincerely invite you to participate in this noble ball hosted by yours truly.]

This was written by Baron Fox, who resided in the Land of the Silver Moon. Geographically, they were neighbours.

“Are you going?” Knight Fred asked.

“No.”

“Then, I shall order somebody to write a letter.”

Watching Knight Fred leave, he looked away, saying, “I’m still too weak now. If I get attacked, I probably won’t be able to run away, but if I go with Knight Fred, who will guard my people?”

Levi wasn’t interested in this ball, either.

When he was a child, his father used to take him to balls like these, and he had witnessed the hypocrisy of these nobles.

Levi continued practising; if he stayed here, he would be safe and comfortable.

Time flew by, and May, the month of flowers, arrived.

Climbing over a few mountains, about two hundred miles away from the south of the Blackwater Valley, is the Land of the Silver Moon.

Baron Fox was the master of this land, and today was the day he held the ball.

The Silver Frost Flowers were blooming today, and aristocratic men and women were dressed in gorgeous clothes and drank fine wine as they admired the flowers. They ate barbecued meat, danced to music, and gossiped.

“I heard that the eldest daughter of the Duke of Montenegro is engaged to the White Knight, Edward, of the Royal Family.”

“Isn’t that great? He is only 25 but is the most promising candidate for becoming a real-life Legendary Knight.”

“He may not be one yet, but he is already a legendary figure in the Royal Family. He single-handedly beheaded the two Storm Knights of the Church of the Storm during the Millennium War. Besides, he is handsome. Let me tell you, I dreamt that I was riding on his horse, and..

“Did you hear about the Great Knight in the Blackwater Valley? Many people believed that he would become a Legendary Knight, but he died in the war..”

“The Black Snake Knight? He’s too old-fashioned! He was deathly loyal to his first wife, and his only son, Levi, is a loser, from what I heard.

“He handed over his father’s inheritance to mere peasants! He didn’t even come to the noble ball; how arrogant of him!” one of Baron Fox’s daughters said angrily.

Amidst the drunken conversations and laughter, some men and women would run to the grove behind the hill, doing some unspeakable things and having a more in-depth connection.

Although the church forbids this, nobody would know if nobody saw it. Balls like these frequently devolve into promiscuous gatherings.

In the meeting hall of the Silver Moon Castle, three noble knights in armour drank and chatted.

The leader was a middle-aged nobleman with a narrow face and thin body. He was Baron Fox, but some called him the Silver Fox Knight. The other two were Baron Bill, the Stone Bear Knight, and Baron Wolf, the Frost Wolf Knight. They came from the Land of Stones and the Land of Frost Winds, respectively.

These three barons were Levi’s neighbours, and they were all knights themselves.

“Thank you two for coming,” Baron Fox smiled.

“Cut to the chase, Baron Fox— just what are you scheming?”

The tall, hulking Baron Bill towered over Baron Fox as he spoke sternly. Their signature breathing method caused them to grow rapidly, and he stood a proud two or three meters tall. His muscles were plump yet strong, and true to his name, he was as powerful as a bear.

“Big man! You’re the same as always,” Baron Wolf chuckled. “Speaking of which, where is Baron Levi?”

“That little black snake rejected my invitation. I bet it must be the idea of their knight; it doesn’t matter to me. Without Baron Thord, they are nothing. Anyways, I am here to discuss the future plans for our three territories. For this reason, I also invited somebody strong to come.”

He clapped his hands after speaking.

The door to the hall was slowly pushed open, and a knight in heavy armour and a meteor hammer that hung from his waist trudged in. His face was obscured by his helmet.

“And this is?”

The faces of both Baron Bill and Baron Wolf were on guard, and they glanced at Baron Fox.

“Don’t panic! This is the Hog Rider from the Brotherhood of the Wilderness. He has something to talk about with us.”

“The Hog Rider? They practise the Hog Breathing Technique, and they are supposedly much stronger than us,” Baron Bill muttered.

The Hog Rider simply glanced at Baron Bill.

“Baron Fox, you know the consequences of affiliating yourself with someone from the Brotherhood of the Wilderness. If the church or the kingdom finds out, you’re doomed.”

“We are the only ones who know of this. If you don’t open your mouths, they won’t know about it,” Baron Fox smiled and squinted his eyes.

The two other barons gulped.

They could see the Hog Rider blocking the entrance to the meeting hall.

After a long silence, Baron Fox smiled as he apologized, “You two, my greatest apologies.”

“I knew it,” Baron Bill scoffed. “You can’t have us knowing your secrets, now, can you?”

Baron Wolf unsheathed his sword, and Baron Bill swung his heavy hammer across the air.

The Hog Rider, who had been silent this whole time, took out a black jar from his pockets and chanted a strange spell:

“Spirit of the Lamp.. Spirit of the Lamp.. Reveal yourself..”