1: The whole family was wiped out at the start.

“Why does my head hurt so much?”

“Derrick?”

“What is Derrick? Is that in the materials?”

“I can’t work overtime anymore, it’s ruined my brain!”

Reyn felt his head splitting, as a string of strange and chaotic memories violently rushed through his mind. It was a long time before he felt slightly better.

“I am Reyn, Reyn Derrick, the second son of a Baron of the Derrick Family?”

After briefly sorting through the chaotic fragments of memory in his mind and observing the unfamiliar environment he was now in, Reyn realized that he seemed to have transmigrated.

Reyn hadn't expected that after working overtime for a whole week at the company to prepare inspection materials, he would transmigrate just by taking a short nap.

“Did I die suddenly?” Reyn was speechless, thinking of his last memory at the company.

“This is the Northern Territory of the Kingdom of Asriel on the Noah Continent. My family was attacked by Fel Orcs.”

“Noah Continent? Family? Fel Orcs?”

A series of memory fragments flashed continuously in Reyn’s mind, and the chaotic shards of memory began churning again.

Reyn felt his soul was currently merging with and devouring another soul—the fading soul of the original owner of this body, Reyn.

“What a coincidence! I didn't expect you to be named Reyn too!”

Before long, the original owner's soul completely merged with the soul of the transmigrator Reyn, and he consequently absorbed all of the original owner's memories.

The original Reyn had fought desperately against the Evil Beastman Warlord. After barely managing to kill the Evil Beastman Warlord, he died due to his severe injuries. His previously fading soul had now completely merged with the transmigrator Reyn.

The original Reyn died, and the transmigrator Reyn was reborn.

However, Reyn, who had gained a new life through transmigration, felt that his current condition was not very good.

It turned out Reyn was severely wounded; the original owner's injuries had not healed simply because he had transmigrated.

The intense pain caused by the severe physical injuries after the soul fusion made Reyn grimace.

The good news, however, was that Reyn had woken up from his coma, his mind was exceptionally clear and intact, and he could feel that he hadn't lost any limbs—all parts of his body were complete.

“Thank goodness, thank goodness. Everything is here, and intact. It's not a disastrous start.”

After checking that all his body parts were present, especially the most important one, Reyn breathed a sigh of relief.

“Reyn, you're awake?”

“You're finally awake! That's wonderful!”

At this moment, a voice full of surprise sounded beside Reyn. He looked up and saw a young man with brown hair and thick eyebrows standing next to him.

A segment of memory involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

The man in front of him was named Ross, a subordinate of Reyn in the Rage Bear Territory Border Defense Army Corps. He was the one who carried the severely injured and unconscious Reyn back from the battlefield.

In the memories, the original Reyn's father was a Feudal Baron, and Reyn was the second son of the Baron. As a second son, he had no right to inherit the family title and had to find his own path.

Fortunately, Reyn showed extremely high cultivation talent from a young age, igniting his Dou Qi Seed and becoming a Black Iron Rank Knight at the age of twelve. Therefore, his father, Baron Bode, spared no effort in training him, not being stingy just because he was the second son.

When Reyn was fourteen, his father, the Baron, sent Reyn to the Raging Bear Fortress Knight Academy, one of the Three Major Knight Academies in the Northern Territory, established by the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear, for advanced studies.

Reyn lived up to his family's expectations. While studying at the Raging Bear Fortress Knight Academy, his strength continuously improved, and he soon broke through from Black Iron Rank to Bronze Rank.

Five years later, he graduated from the Raging Bear Fortress Knight Academy with the top score, and his strength ultimately advanced from Bronze Rank to Silver Rank.

After graduation, Reyn chose not to join the Raging Bear Knights, which offered better conditions, but instead entered the Rage Bear Border Defense Army Corps, which had harsher conditions, constantly fighting against Fel Orcs, Goblins, Gnomes, and other Foreign Races pouring out of the Black Mountain Range.

Reyn made this choice because he wanted to become a Feudal Noble through military merit. Already famous at a young age, he had his own ambition.

Not only was his cultivation talent excellent, but his command ability was also extraordinary. In just one year, due to his outstanding military achievements, he was promoted from Company Commander to Battalion Commander, leading a thousand elite Rage Bear Territory Border Defense Army soldiers.

A twenty-year-old Battalion Commander and a Silver Rank Knight was unique within the Border Defense Army. If not for accidents, the original Reyn would soon grow into an outstanding Commander, and he would achieve his inner ideal of obtaining the coveted title and Fiefdom.

Unfortunately, fate is always unpredictable.

More than half a month ago, he received news that the Red River Valley, where the Derrick Family was located, had been attacked by a large Fel Orc Army, putting the family in imminent danger.

Reyn immediately sought out Sena, the Border Defense Army Commander and Count, requesting aid for the Red River Valley to save his family.

In the memories, three days ago, Count Sena led the main army to decisively defeat the invading Evil Beastman Legion. It was during that decisive battle that Reyn, who was charging ahead, was targeted by an Evil Beastman Warlord, resulting in him being wounded and killed.

“What good is exceptional talent or a bright future? Once life is lost, everything is for naught, and all efforts cease!”

After reviewing the memories in his mind, Reyn couldn't help but sigh with regret. The original owner's twenty years of life were incredibly brilliant: famous at a young age, possessing extraordinary strength, dominating the battlefield, and winning every battle. Yet, just when he was within reach of achieving his dreams, his life was cut short on the battlefield.

While he was lamenting the original owner's fate, Reyn was interrupted by Ross's voice.

“Reyn, what a blessing! It's great that you've woken up. Everyone said you would never wake up again.”

“I knew you wouldn't leave us; you were bound to wake up.”

Ross, standing nearby, was overjoyed. He said with a smile, but then suddenly seemed to remember something and immediately turned and ran out of the room.

Ross's reaction made Reyn feel helpless. In Reyn's memory, Ross, his Deputy, was not eloquent and was usually quiet, but he was extremely steady and a trustworthy partner. He had never appeared so jumpy and emotionally unstable before.

However, Reyn was not in the mood to think about anything else right now. The intense pain from his wounds was constantly irritating his nerves, and Reyn could only try his best to relax his body and honestly lie in bed to recover from his injuries and avoid pain.

A moment later, Ross returned, bringing several people with him.

Reyn, lying in bed, was stunned when he saw the person leading the group through the door. He recognized the arrival as Count Sena, the Commander of the Rage Bear Territory Border Defense Army, who was known as the Iron Wall of the Northern Territory.

Reyn, having merged with the original owner's soul, reacted naturally.

“Count, why have you come?”

Count Sena was also slightly surprised to see that Reyn had truly woken up, but he kept his expression neutral and didn't show it.

Count Sena did not answer Reyn's question but instead pulled a bottle of Potion from his inner coat and poured it into Reyn's mouth.

Reyn did not resist, nor could he. He obediently drank the Potion. As the Potion entered his stomach, Reyn felt a surge of power circulating inside him, rapidly restoring his body, and his injuries healed at a visible speed.

“The effect of the advanced recovery potion is indeed good, instant results!”

Sena looked at the Potion's effect and was very satisfied.

“Kid, Master Alman said your head was severely injured and you would never wake up. I didn't expect you to actually wake up. Conveniently, the latest batch of supplies arrived, and this bottle of advanced recovery potion will help you recover quickly.”

“How do you feel?”

“I feel excellent, Count!”

Trying to move his arm, Reyn found that he could already swing it easily. The Potion he had just drunk was simply miraculous, completely beyond his understanding.

“It looks like you'll be fully recovered in just a few days. It truly lives up to its name as an advanced recovery potion; it has extremely potent curative effects on external injuries.”

At this point, Count Sena suddenly changed the subject.

“Kid, let's stop with the pleasantries. I don't have much time to stay here. A Large Army of Foreign Races is attacking Iron Wall Fortress, so I must return to the fortress quickly to defend against their invasion.”

Count Sena paused after speaking and gave Reyn a deep look.

“You are also a Knight who came out of the Raging Bear Fortress Knight Academy, and I have witnessed your actions in the army this past year.”

“You are indeed a son of our Northern Territory, just like your father—a brave Raging Bear Warrior with unyielding integrity. I believe you can withstand any blow, so I will speak plainly about a few matters.”

“Your father, Baron Bode, fought until the last moment while resisting the Fel Orc Army and died heroically on the battlefield. He used his blood to uphold his loyalty to the Grand Duke. He blocked the Fel Orcs's invasion and defended the Territory. He was a brave and fearless warrior, and truly a Noble of the Northern Territory.”

“But tragically, your Derrick Family's Castle suffered a surprise attack from Evil Beastman Stalkers in the rear. Your mother, Elder Brother, and all dozen or so members of the Derrick Family have perished.”

“I regret having to give you this unfortunate news, but Reyn, I hope you will pull yourself together.”

“Ah?”

Reyn was stunned by Count Sena's words, but Count Sena didn't give him time to react.

The solemn Count Sena pulled out a Letter of Appointment from his inner coat and began reading it aloud in public.

“I now officially inform you, Reyn Derrick, on behalf of the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear: you shall inherit the Derrick Family's Baron title and Fiefdom. From today forward, you are no longer a Battalion Commander in the Rage Bear Border Defense Army, but a Feudal Baron of the Grand Duke of Rage Bear's Territory in the Kingdom of Asriel.”

“Due to the special circumstances, all other conferment ceremonies for the title are waived. I announce this appointment on behalf of the Grand Duke, witnessed here by three Viscounts.”

“Now, Baron Reyn, the Grand Duke commands that you quickly rebuild the Red River Valley Territory and defend against any possible subsequent Fel Orcs invasion. I hope you will live up to the glory of the Derrick Family, complete this heavy responsibility, and continue the legacy of the Derrick Family.”

Sena finished everything in one breath and personally handed the Letter of Appointment, stamped with the Grand Duke of Rage Bear's Seal, to Reyn.

At this moment, the barrage of information overwhelmed Reyn. He subconsciously took the Letter of Appointment handed to him, and the pain from his physical injuries seemed to disappear.

After completing all this, Sena turned and left the room without lingering. In his opinion, such news was too cruel for the young man before him, who probably needed some time alone.

But this is the Northern Territory!

“Please accept my condolences, Baron Reyn!”

“I hope you pull yourself together, Baron Reyn.”

Following Count Sena were three Viscounts in total. They were witnesses to this special appointment. Both Viscount Felix and Viscount Hawke were very sympathetic towards Reyn's predicament.

His entire family had perished in battle, leaving only him to inherit a ruined Territory while facing the constant, life-threatening threat of the Fel Orcs, all while severely wounded himself. This was indeed not something an ordinary person could accept.

Moreover, Reyn originally had a much brighter future, rather than facing all this.

However, these two Viscounts didn't say much more. No matter how tragic Reyn's fate was, it had little to do with them. Their families had no ties with the Derrick Family; they were just there to fulfill the quota and go through the motions. After offering a few words of encouragement, both men left the room one after the other.

Only the last Viscount stared at Reyn with ill intent. That intensely aggressive gaze made Reyn, who was still somewhat dazed, realize that something was amiss.

“Lucky brat, I hope your luck lasts forever!”

Sensing the aura fluctuations of Count Sena outside the room, Viscount Black Stone dropped a final sentence and also left.

“How inexplicable!”

Although Reyn felt the blatant malice from the other party, he didn't have the time to deal with it right now, because his mind was still a mess with too many facts he couldn't sort out.

Count Sena and his entourage came and went quickly. In the blink of an eye, Reyn was the only one left in the room again.

“I just inherited a title and became a Lord?”

“And the family members I hadn't even met are all gone?”

Reyn looked at the Letter of Appointment in his hand, his mind still somewhat hazy. He had previously been thinking about how to face his family in this world after returning, whether they would detect his abnormality, and how he should respond if exposed.

He had thought of many possibilities, but he never expected reality to turn out like this.

Suddenly, someone told him: Your father is gone, and your entire family is gone too.

You are now a Feudal Lord, a Noble Master. The entire Territory is yours.

This surprise came too suddenly.

“Could it be that my good fortune is finally arriving?”

“The entire family was sacrificed at the start, and I become a Noble Master in another world?”