72: After the dinner

Illuminated by the firelight, Aivi's smile was exceptionally bright and moving.

Her sea-blue long hair flowed like a waterfall, and the scales between her brows shimmered with a mysterious luster.

She clapped vigorously for every performer, never sparing her praise, and the silver-bell-like sounds of "Good!" and "Amazing!" rang out from time to time.

Her heartfelt joy infected those around her, and it also left Linn, who had inadvertently let his gaze linger on her, completely entranced.

It was as if the entire noisy world had quieted down, leaving only that blue, graceful figure beside the bonfire.

As if sensing something, Aivi suddenly turned her gaze and happened to meet Linn's undisguised, appreciative, and somewhat intense, fiery gaze.

Catalyzed by the alcohol and the passionate atmosphere, this time, Linn did not subconsciously look away as he usually did.

Instead, he looked back at her calmly and deeply, as if he wanted to etch her figure into the depths of his heart.

Aivi's heart skipped a beat, and then it began to race like a drum.

A sensation she had never experienced before—a mixture of shyness, panic, and a hint of secret joy—instantly seized her.

She felt her cheeks burning as if they were being roasted by fire.

Ultimately, she was the first to be unable to withstand that overly direct gaze; she lowered her eyelids slightly, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, concealing the turbulent waves in her heart.

This was the first time she had felt this strange and unfamiliar sensation under the direct gaze of a man.

"Hey! You kid, are you lovesick?"

Payson nudged Linn with his elbow, a mischievous grin on his face, and said in a low voice, "But honestly, Young Miss Aivi is truly beautiful. She has this… hmm… indescribable mysterious and noble temperament."

"Since you have the advantage of proximity, you kid better seize the opportunity!"

Linn, having his thoughts exposed by his friend, came back to his senses slightly.

He gave Payson a light punch, not in anger but without hiding his feelings, and said in a low, helpless voice, "The Sea God Clan… it is said that they rarely intermarry with outsiders. They have many rules; I'm afraid it's not easy to manage."

"What are you afraid of!"

Payson said with the air of an experienced veteran, "Let me tell you, Linn, back in the academy, look at how shameless I was? Whenever I met a girl I liked, no matter what her status was, I'd just go up and chat with her first!"

"Even… *cough cough*, I even dared to flirt with that Princess Your Highness! A real man should fight for what he likes; what's the point of being coy? At worst, you get rejected; it's not like you'll lose a piece of flesh!"

Linn couldn't help but chuckle.

He remembered that when they were at the Royal Academy, he was still struggling for his livelihood and studies, while this guy Payson was already a veteran of the love scene, frequenting all kinds of balls and salons.

That "thick-skinned" nature was indeed something he could never hope to match.

"Young Master! Young Master!"

At this moment, Elise's crisp voice interrupted Linn's thoughts.

She walked up to Linn, her beautiful eyes filled with encouragement and expectation, "Everyone has performed. As the lord, you cannot just watch! Everyone present is our own people; there are no outsiders."

"You should perform a program for us too, and let everyone see the style of our Lord!"

She genuinely hoped that Linn could take this opportunity to completely lay down the heavy burden on his shoulders and the fatigue in his heart, and truly relax for once.

Aivi had also recovered from her earlier shyness.

Hearing Elise's proposal, she immediately echoed it, her voice carrying a hint of imperceptible expectation, "That's right, Linn, you should do one too! We all want to see it!"

"Do one!"

"Lord Baron, do one!"

"Lord, perform one!"

With Aivi and Elise taking the lead, everyone present, whether they were officers, representatives of the Freemen, or members of the Sea God Clan or Orcs, started clapping and cheering in unison: "Do one! Do one! Do one!…"

The waves of sound grew higher and higher, filled with well-meaning expectation.

Looking at these passionate faces, a surge of heroic spirit welled up in Linn's heart.

He didn't think that putting down his noble airs to have fun with the people was a shameful thing at all; on the contrary, he believed it was an excellent way to unite people and enhance their sense of belonging.

He laughed out loud, stood up, and pressed his palm down slightly.

When the noise subsided a little, he said, "Alright! Since everyone is so insistent, I will also come up and make a fool of myself! If I don't sing well, everyone, please don't laugh at me!"

Amidst the cheers and applause of the crowd, Linn walked slowly to the center of the bonfire.

He first took a glass of wine from an attendant, tilted his head back, and took a sip, moistening his somewhat dry throat.

Then, he closed his eyes slightly, seemingly brewing his emotions.

A moment later, he opened his eyes.

His gaze became sharp and deep, and in a unique melody that no one present had ever heard before—bleak, tragic, and full of majestic power—he began to sing:

"I stand in the fierce wind, wishing I could sweep away the endless heartache. I ask the heavens, the clouds move in all directions. With sword in hand, I ask, who in the world is the hero!"

These lyrics, paired with the grand and majestic melody, seemed to carry the Aura of thousands of troops and horses, instantly striking the hearts of all the martial officers present.

They seemed to see the battlefield conquests, the clashing of swords and horses, and the figure of an overlord standing on high, looking down upon the world.

This piece was completely different from any ballad they had heard from bards; it was filled with the heroic and tragic nature unique to the East, making people's hearts surge and their blood boil!

"In my heart, you are the most important. We share joys and sorrows, life and death together. With your deep tenderness, you exchange for my heaven-sent heroism."

When singing this line, Linn's gaze, seemingly inadvertently yet carrying an indescribable deep emotion, slowly swept across Elise's and Aivi's faces.

The complex affection contained in that gaze made the two young ladies' hearts race at that moment, as if these deeply affectionate lyrics were sung specifically for them.

Elise felt her cheeks burning, and she subconsciously tightened her grip on her clothes; Aivi lowered her eyelids again, her heart beating so fast it was almost jumping out of her chest, while a hint of indescribable sweetness welled up in the depths of her heart.

"…In the next life, I shall also be a hero, returning as the setting sun is thick… With sword in hand, I ask, who in the world is the hero!"

As the song ended, the last note drifted into the night sky along with the blue smoke of the bonfire, and the scene fell into a strange silence.

Everyone was still immersed in that bleak and heroic Concept, as if they had witnessed the end and glory of a hero with their own eyes.

After several seconds, like a volcanic eruption, deafening cheers and applause suddenly burst forth!

"Good! Amazing!!"

"Long live Lord Baron!!"

"This song only belongs in the heavens!"

The martial officers were all so excited that their faces turned red, and they waved their fists vigorously.

This song sang right into their hearts, and at the same time, it made them feel more clearly the undisguised ambition and aspiration of their lord.

As for Elise and Aivi, their heartstrings were fiercely plucked by Linn's unique talent and the heroism and deep affection revealed in the song.

Where else could one find such a rare man who was both cultured and martial, and who cared for the world, on this Sadiroyat continent?

"Damn! Linn!"

Payson rushed up excitedly, grabbed Linn's shoulders, and shook him hard, "It made my blood boil! I even want to stay and work with you! That was too exciting!"

Linn steadied himself, looked at his friend's excited appearance, and laughed as he threw out a huge bait: "If you really come, the position of chief executive officer of Star Sea Territory will be yours! Together, let's build this place into the most dazzling pearl of the East of the continent!"

Hearing this, the excited light in Payson's eyes flickered a few times, but eventually, it slowly dimmed.

His tone also became a bit lower, carrying a hint of unwillingness and determination: "Better… forget it. Linn, I appreciate your kindness."

"But I must go back. I must win the inheritance rights of the Losen Family! Otherwise, I cannot swallow that anger, and I would be letting down the uncle who supports me."

Linn patted his back understandingly, put away his joking expression, and said with a sincere and firm tone, "Hahaha! Look at you; I was just joking. You have your battlefield, and I have my journey."

"No matter where we are, you and I, brothers, will always be each other's strongest backing! This point will never change!"

"Well said! Brother!"

Payson nodded heavily, his eyes shining with the light of being moved.

Two wine glasses collided heavily in the air again, the crisp sound like a vow of their friendship.

Under the reflection of the bonfire, the amber wine rippled with a brilliant luster.

This banquet, where guests and hosts enjoyed themselves, lasted until late at night before gradually dispersing.

In the end, after a unanimous and slightly teasing selection by everyone, Elise's ethereal singing and the powerful war dance of Batu and Augus tied for first place.

Linn announced the results on the spot and rewarded each of the three with 100 gold coins.

This result also clearly expressed the importance and acceptance of the newly joined Orcs tribe.

Linn knew deeply that the Soul contract was, after all, a last-resort means of control.

If he wanted to truly win the hearts of the Orcs, he had to treat them equally in all aspects, especially in terms of respect and recognition.

Watching the excited and slightly flattered expressions of Batu and Augus as they received the gold coins, he knew that the value of tonight's banquet and this reward far exceeded those mere hundreds of gold coins.

The cohesion of Star Sea Territory was quietly gathering and becoming indestructible in these little details.