Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight.

Thirteen years later, Aindora territory.

The morning sun peeked out from behind the eastern ridgeline, first gilding the treetops at the highest point with gold, then slowly flowing down, over the vineyards on the hillside, and finally settling on the town at the bottom of the valley.

The town was small, yet brimming with life. The flagstone paths were smooth, and the houses on either side were mostly wooden and stone structures, their walls painted snow-white and their roofs covered with dark red terracotta tiles. Wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, turning a pale gold in the morning light, gradually merging into the azure sky.

Early risers had already opened their doors along the street, the aroma of wheat wafting from the bakery, and the clanging of hammers echoing from the blacksmith's shop. Several children chased each other across the stone path, their cheerful laughter startling the pigeons on the rooftops.

Further afield, a small river flows through the town, spanned by a stone bridge. A waterwheel stands beside the bridge, turning slowly to channel clear river water into irrigation canals. On both banks of the river stretch vast fields of wheat, which ripple in the morning breeze.

The entire territory is like a meticulously tended garden, where every inch of land is fully utilized and every detail exudes abundance and tranquility.

And it all started with that inconspicuous mansion on the north side of the valley.

The manor sits on a flat terrace halfway up the mountain, backed by green hills and facing the town. While called a manor, it's more like a slightly larger estate.

The stone walls are unadorned, the windows are simple squares, and the porch has only two simple stone pillars. But those in the know will notice the details: the windows are fitted with highly transparent glass, the stone slabs in front of the door are paved as smooth as a mirror, and the drainage system at the corners is ingeniously designed so that even in heavy rain, water will not accumulate.

At that moment, the morning light fell directly on a window on the second floor of the mansion.

The room through the window was a study. It wasn't large, and the furnishings were simple. Against the wall was a bookshelf, neatly stacked with various books and scrolls. On the desk were several sheets of paper covered in writing, next to an ink bottle and a pen.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting warm patches of light on the floor.

A person is sitting at a desk.

He had his back to the window, and the morning light streamed in from behind, casting a soft halo around him.

He was a young man around twenty years old. His posture appeared casual, but his back was ramrod straight, a posture etched into his very bones by years of self-discipline, never faltering under any circumstances. His golden hair was a shade darker than it had been in childhood, gleaming with a warm sheen in the morning light.

His hair fell softly, a few strands landing on his forehead, making his face appear even more handsome. His features were the delicate beauty characteristic of the Eindora family, but the lines were more defined than when he was a boy. His brow bones were slightly raised, his nose was high and straight, and the contours of his jaw were clear and sharp, having lost the roundness of his youth and gained the angularity of an adult.

His skin was slightly darker than that of the nobles in the capital, a mark left by years of travel, but that healthy tan made him look even more handsome.

At this moment, those eyes were slightly lowered, focused intently on the pen in their hand.

The pen scratched across the paper, making a soft rustling sound.

A knock sounded on the door. A few very light knocks, the rhythm as usual.

Rune didn't look up, he just hummed in response.

The door was pushed open.

Hill walked in.

Thirteen years have passed, and the little girl from back then has grown into a young woman of about twenty. But her face is still the same as Rune remembers—long blue hair falls quietly, her brown eyes are like lukewarm tea, and her features are as delicate as a doll's.

But his expression remained the same dejected look he'd had for thirteen years. Or rather, even more dejected than thirteen years ago.

She placed the tray on the table. On it was a cup of clear, fragrant black tea. Beside it was a small dish of pastries, honey cakes, a local specialty, baked to a golden brown and emitting a sweet aroma.

"Drink it."

Two words. There was no "Lord Rune," no "please," not even a proper title.

Rune looked up at her. His face was expressionless. His eyes were half-open, his gaze fixed on some point in the void, as if he had no interest in anything in the world. The corners of his mouth were slightly downturned, carrying a hint of utter despair. This was her standard expression, unchanged for thirteen years.

"Thank you," Rune said.

This time, the black tea wasn't too hot.

Hill pulled a stack of papers from his pocket and placed them on the table. The papers were neatly folded, with precisely cut edges, and were covered with dense writing.

"Data on the latest registered adventurer parties in Ye Lantier." Her voice remained listless, as if reading a trivial report. "Yesterday, three new parties registered. Two were bronze-level and one was iron-level. The rosters, member composition, and registered professions are all listed above."

Rune took the stack of papers but didn't look at them. "Thank you for your hard work," he said.

This is how Rune determined the exact time of Ainz Ooal Gown's descent.

Of course, he could also have the seventh seat of the Dark Scripture of the Theocracy, "Astrologist of a Thousand Miles," directly observe the northern plains of Ye-Lantir, and any abrupt changes in the terrain would certainly be detected.

But Rune cannot take that risk.

The Great Tomb of Nazarick possesses a magical defense system far beyond the comprehension of this era. Any external detection, no matter how subtle, could trigger [anti-detection magic]. Once Ainz Ooal Gown becomes aware, his plans might be ruined.

In fact, the Sunlight Scripture of the Theocracy was still in contact at this time. After Ainz Ooal Gown arrived, he defeated the Sunlight Scripture first, and then registered the adventurers.

So Rune simply took the data, pretended to glance at it, and then put it down.

Just like he's been doing for the past few years.

Hill didn't respond with polite remarks like "It wasn't hard work." She simply stood there, waiting for Rune to finish reading, before speaking again: "Then, there's the matter of funds within the territory."

Rune raised his head.

Hill remained expressionless, but her eyes seemed even more vacant than before, if that could be considered an expression of emotion. "Not enough." Four words, crisp and decisive.

Rune's brow furrowed slightly: "What happened to the money you made selling weapons?"

"it took."

Rune paused for a second: "Where did the money go?"

"It cost money everywhere." Hill's voice was flat, as if she were reading from an account book. "Expansion of the farmland irrigation system, introduction of new varieties of vineyards, repair of town roads, expansion of the school, daily expenses of the orphanage, equipment upgrades for the territory's cavalry, grain reserves in the warehouses, and your inexplicable books—" She paused, "the last item cost the most."

Rune's lips twitched slightly. He hadn't expected that the wealth of the Eindora family, accumulated over a hundred years, would be so easily spent. Even with the money he had generated himself, it was almost gone.

I hope Dad won't come back from Wangdu Chong to beat me up if he finds out.