“It is bitter.”

“How could a fresh meat tastes bitter? That doesn’t make sense.”

The young hunter shrugged his shoulder then goes leaving the perplex Gordon sitting on the stool. Then he goes to the kitchen in the back of building, to meet the cook.

“They said it tastes bitter?”

“Yes it is, first times seeing something like this, Gorundal meat supposed to be delicious especially with lemon sauce.” The cook staring at Gordon, his eyebrow knitted.

“Where did you get it?”

Gordon looked back at the cook. “In the middle of the forest, I caught and killed it myself.”

“Weird, maybe it eats something that spoiled its meat though that was hard to believe but strange things happen, trusts me.”

The cook move leaving Gordon alone, he take a deep breath then contemplated about what happen with the meat, why it tastes bitter. He had suspicion that it happen because The Gorundal was a zombie, whatever Autumn magic that raise it back it also spoiled its meat. His lips pursed then he sighed.

What a waste.

Meanwhile in the Mr. Sully’s office Mr. Antem standing beside the door, he crossed his hand in front of him looking at Mr. Sully.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I have checked it again and again, I am sure everything is ready.”

Mr. Antem walking to the desk, he takes a green map with a symbol in front of it, two swords crossed, one brown and the other silver.

“This is a legal statement of Public Affair of Novus Kingdom, Recognize that a man with a name of Gordon Howling Dust…..” He read the content of the green map.

“How about Gordon, is he fine?” He asked.

Mr. Sully looked at Mr.Antem. “Yeah, I think so, he seems normal and like his usual self though I have hired someone to help him if he need help.”

“Don’t you worries, I will handle this.”

Mr. Antem touches his hair then nodded

“Good then” he looked at Mr. Sully. They stared at each other then he leaves.

*****

Gordon standing in the front of hunter office building, he looked down. He raises his head when Mr. Antem walk in front of him. He was smiling at Mr. Antem when Mr. Antem grabs his shoulder and nodded.

“He is waiting for you inside, good luck Sir Gordon.” Mr. Antem smiling then leaves. Gordon turns his head and looking at Mr. Antem back then he walk inside the building.

Gordon walking on the corridor, there were a lot of animal head on the wall in the corridor. He looked at one of it, a male deer with beautiful antlers. He probes it with his awareness and felt nothing.

Maybe, it is because it had died long ago.

He stooped in the front of the door with a writing on it ‘The Head of Hunter Guild Office’. He knocks then heard a voice from the inside.

“Come in.”

Gordon opens the door.

Mr. Sully stands from his chair then offer a handshake to Gordon who accepts it with confident. Mr. Sully grinning while looked at Gordon then hugged him. Gordon felt awkward with it but he hugged back after some hesitation.

“Come on Sir.” Mr. Sully smile jokingly at Gordon.

Mr. Sully pulls out the chair then invite Gordon to sit. He then sits behind the desk after Gordon had sit on his chair.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes sir.”

Gordon looked at a green map with a symbol in front of it, two swords crossed, one brown and the other silver.

“That is your official order to become a Baron.” Mr. Sully looked at the green map then at Gordon. “Do you want to read it?”

Gordon doesn’t answer; he just looked at the green map. He extends his hand to grab it then stooped, he takes back his hand and he looked at Mr. Sully.

“Did you read it?”

“Yes.”

“Is there something that urgent? Important things that need to address now?”

“No, it just an official statement, you can always read it later.”

“Then I will read it later.”

“Okay then, is there something you need to do or bring before we go?”

“Do I have to stay in the Torun? What if I want to come back here?”

Mr. Sully joined his palm in the desk in front of him, he staring at Gordon then smile sheepishly.

“You are the Baron Gordon, by rule you are actually my superior so if you wanted back you could do it anytime you want though I recommend that you stay in your office except if you have urgent matter because if some important people coming from the capital, it will looked bad if they doesn’t find you in your office.”

Gordon sighed then looked down. “I understand.”

*****

Gordon was inside the carriage, he looked outside from its window. There was a gate on the front, it was a beautiful gate with silver color, and it was made of row of steel, standing with pointy end facing up and a carving that he can’t see clearly.

“Eheemm..”

Gordon looked back at Mr. Sully. He stared at him with questioning looks.

“This place was used to be one of Viscount Brook office; he gave it to you for your office.”

Gordon nodded then looked outside again when the gate was open and the carriage start to move. There were a lot of tree in here, like a mini forest inside the gate surrounding the road with its shade. There were several man and women with white and blue dress standing beside the road, they were bowing when the carriage passing. Gordon thought that they must be servants here.

A middle age man standing in front of a big mansion that looked old, he looked at the coming carriage that stooped right in front him. He move forward and open the door, Gordon come out of the carriage his eyes all over the mansion, a frown on his face.

“Welcome sir, my name is cornel and I am you butler, I responsible for your household matter, if there are anything that you wanted, just called me sir.” The man bowed, he had a thin mustache and short black hair that combed to the side wearing black coat over white garment. Gordon looked at him, smiling and nodded his head.

“Thank you.”

Gordon move inside the mansion, Mr. Sully and Cornel walked behind him. He looks surprised with the inside of this mansion.

“It look amazing, the Viscount must be loved this place.”

The butler smiles, he looked proud.

“This mansion was built more than 400 years ago, by a Viscount named Theodore Brook, he initially wanted to used it as a vacation house for his family but sadly he was dead before the mansion finished. His son Norman Brook finished it but he and his family rarely coming here, he used it mostly for a party or to hide his mistress.”

They stand in the front of two cursive stair made of white granite with black pattern; it lead to a balcony. Gordon could understand why Brook used it as a party house. It has a very big floor and the people from above can easily monitoring people on the ground with a clear view.

Gordon was never thought even in his wildest dream that he would ever stay in a place like this, fate was truly unpredictable.

“Show me my office.”

“Sure sir, this way.” The butler walk in front of him, they ascend the left stair then walk through a long corridor, there were several painting on the wall, Gordon ignored all of it.

The butler stopped in the front of a white door with a gold writing on it ‘Office’, Gordon eyed it then he follow the butler inside. A woman in twenty stands up when they pass her. She bows to him then sat back on her chair behind the desk when they had passed and looked at the paper in front of her. Gordon noted that she was pretty and has a nice body.

They enter another room with a white door and writing in gold letter “Baron Gordon Howling Dust”. Gordon smirks while looking at the writing. The butler open the door then step aside, he looked at Gordon and bowed.

“This is your office sir, I hope you like it.”

“Thanks Cornel.” Mr. Sully said. He looked side at Gordon.

“Shall we?”

Gordon nodded and opens the door. The butler leaves them then they enter the office. There was a sofa in semi circles on the left side, a bookshelf full of books on the right side, a big wood desk with two chairs in front of it and one chair on the back of the desk. Gordon approaching the bookshelf, took a book and read the title ‘How to Govern People’ by Roland Brook. He raises his eyebrows then returns the book. He approaching the chair behind the desk, touch its back then sat on it.

“This office was so big and there are only two people on it, I thought a Baron office would be crowded with people.”

“You are new; people still don’t know about you, give it time.”

Gordon looked at Mr. Sully, he hesitate. “The girl outside, do you know her name?”

Mr. Sully shot a look at him then sighed. “Gordon, it is a common practice that people who work on the government office was from a noble family, so I advise you to restrain yourself.”

Gordon frown, he pursed his lips.

“Her name is Talia Brook; she is Viscount Roland Brook niece, a second child of Lilia Brook, a younger sister of Viscount Roland. She is twenty one and unmarried.”

Gordon wanted to hold his poker face but he slips a smirks and Mr. Sully caught that.

“If you like her, I can help you to court her. But remember, don’t fooling around with her. Family and a good name are very important to noble house.”

“Got it, so what should I do now?”

“Just do whatever you want; I will go to local public affair office to compile a report for you.” Mr. Sully stands up and bows. “See you later, Sir.”

Gordon snorted hearing Mr. Sully called him ‘Sir’ again. He doesn’t know how to react when people he used to consider above him called him that. And it made him feels uncomfortable about the fact that he has to get used to it.

Gordon eyes followed Mr. Sully back until he was out of his office and when the door closed Gordon laid back on his chair, grinning. He takes deep breaths and a thousand screams rang out in his mind, he winced but holding himself. He extend his awareness outside his office toward the girl, he tried to feel her presence but that is, he doesn’t feel anything like what Greta descripted to him. So he tried to do it the hard way, he concentrated and touch the castle behind his mind, he open his eyes and found himself in the Hall of Ascension. He looked around and found that everything was stayed the same.

A thousand screams with mixed emotion suddenly rang out but Gordon prepared, he waited until his head was started to hurt then he grab his will and willing himself out from this place.

Gordon open his eyes, he was out of breath. His hands grip his armrest tightly and his body was shivering. Someone open the door, a girl from the front desk looked at Gordon with surprised expression.

“What is happen sir? you looks ill.” She put a map in his desk then approaching Gordon, feeling his forehead then grabs his hand.

Gordon breathing still ragged but he felt better.

“Bring me water.” He said with hoarse voice.

She walking out the office then returns with a glass of water. Gordon drinks it, and then takes a deep breath. His body no longer trembling and the headache have subsided.

Wuih..that was a crazy gambit.

Gordon looked at the girl who standing in front of his desk, she looked back smiling. Gordon smiling back then gesture to one the chair in front of his desk.

“Please take a seat.”

The girl sat with her leg on top of each other, Gordon raised his eyebrow. She keep looked at him.

“I am your new Baron.”

“Yes, I know of it.”

“Good then…my name is Gordon Howling Dust and I am from Eston village, it’s a day journey from here, it was a beautiful place, maybe someday I will bring you there.” Gordon looked at her, she still without expression.

“I know” she said curtly. “I have been looking at your name for several days; my uncle had said that you are a very strong.”

“Did you really do it?”

“Yeah….yeah..i did it, why?”

She turned aside then smiling. She looked back at Gordon, pursed her lips.

“There are rumors that….someone else was actually killed Archmage Yurik, and you just happen to be there”.

Gordon frowned. She raised both her hands, in mocking surrender.

“I just said what it out there, I am sorry if it makes you angry.”

She smiling and Gordon snorted.

“I don’t care what they said, if they has any doubt with my claim they could came and test me.”

He stared at her eyes. ”I will show my power to them.”

“Wow that is a bold declaration.”

She crossed her arm in front of her, studied him. She turns down her gaze and touches the corner of her mouth with her thumb. Gordon keep stared at her eyes, didn’t look away at all.

She stared back at him. “I believe what you said.”

“Really…?”

“Yeah…”

“Good then…..as you know my name is Gordon, can I know your name?”

“It is Talia, I am sure your assistant had telling you about me.”

She pointed her index finger at the map on his desk, the one that she put in the desk before helping him.

Gordon took the map and opens it, there were list of names. “What is this?”

“Name of people that looking for a meeting with you.”

She was smiled, stands up then walked away.

“Wait…..”

She closed the door.

“I want to know where the bathroom is”. Gordon Sighed.

“Now I have to hold my pee.” He said to himself.

Turn out there was a bathroom on the right side of his desk, the door’s color just look the same with the wall making it like a secret bathroom. He found it after holding his pee for an hour, disregard his shame and finally ask Talia about it. His face was red, when she shows him where the secret bathroom was. Truly an hour of senseless agony.

Gordon sat back on his chair, feel his body relaxes. He looked at the closed door thinking about his power, how to use it better but then he dismiss the thought tired of it. He stands up then walked to the sofa, he sighed turn back to approach the bookshelf. He takes one of the books, the one that he takes before.

He return to his chair then read the book.

*****

An hour later

Knock…Knock…Knock

Sound of knock startled him. He looks confused then put the book on his desk. He took a glass of water and drinks it.

“Come it.”

Talia enters and looked at him.

“You have a guest sir, a merchant named Jonathan Frost.”

Gordon freeze, he looked at Talia. “I have guest?”

“Yes, you have guest.”

“Why…?”

Talia looked confused. “What do you mean why?”

“I just got here like two hours ago and I already have a guest? Who is it?”

“His name is Jonathan Frost, he is a merchant”

“And what is this purpose to meet me?”

“I don’t know why exactly but maybe it is about the tax.”

Gordon sighed; he was just a village boy. What was he know about tax, but he was here now so he might as well learn about how to govern.

Gordon sighed and pinch between his noses. “Send him in.”