The group reached a ranch at the centre of the small town before they stopped their feet.

There are over a hundred steeds in this place, and all of them are the top-class Dragon Horses. When they walked over to a reined horse, it would docilely lower its head and wait for them to mount. Unlike the one Kairos saw at the magistrate office in the capital, the beasts here were extremely respectful and lacked any strand of arrogance. They would even make pleasing whines and occasionally nuzzle their riders, no matter if it was a villager or a guard that approached.

This change in attitude is all because of Aisa. The humans may not know about the primordial dragon, but with such a big boss in the background, the Dragon Horses are as coy as kittens.

Now mounted, they made their way towards the Astroire Manor.

It’s a wonder there isn’t even a normal horse. The Dragon Horse is a steed that is meant for nobles are extremely difficult to purchase. To get one, not only must the buyer be of sufficient rank, most importantly, the prideful horse must accept it.

There is a superstition that the Dragon Horse could naturally sense the threads of fate of a family. If the house’s destiny is too weak, the horse will turn it down and refuse to budge.

No one knows if that’s true, but these proud magic beasts are known to have an overly strong territorial habit. In ten kilometres diameter, there can only be one male Dragon Horse, and as many females, as it could impress with its strength and the land size it controls.

That means if a family is weak, or poor, even as nobles, they could hardly tame a single male Dragon Horse.

For so many to be in their village’s ranch, it surprised every visitors thus far, including Kairos.

Accompanied by the sound of horse trots, their group swiftly went out of the village. Even though he had chosen his land near Rutea, it is still quite some distance away.

As they approached his home, a magnificent sight awaited him. Instead of a manor, it looked more like a castle.

He felt incredulous at the size of the walls, and that was only seeing the structure from so far away. There were tall towers that raised into the skies, and a gigantic imperial palace stood proudly in the back.

“This… are we preparing for a war?”

He trembled slightly. Even though they are still tens of kilometres away, the building already gave him a testimony of how humongous it is.

“Thirty stories high,” his father said with a smirk, “And, as wide as a mountain.”

The other villagers following him also smiled wistfully. They were also shocked by the initial foundation layout, and when it’s finally done, all of them could only shake their heads wordlessly.

After Kairos went back to school, Vouno had furiously ‘upgraded’ the blueprints. The original design was designed for expansion, but the Astroire family simply lacked the workforce and funds in the past.

However, now that the Snowdrifts’ business has picked up, and Kairos’ fame had spread across the empire, both problems resolved themselves.

Not only that, while building mid-way, Lord Yue and Kairos formed a partnership, and the Grand Duke generously sent even more help over, but even then most of the funds they earned were put into this place.

After hearing this explanation from the others, Kairos swayed slightly in his saddle.

Usually, one’s nobility title determines the maximum size of one’s holdings. Wasn’t the place too large?

Kairos quickly asked Vouno, and the latter laughed.

“Boy, you forgot that the Emperor had decreed you to be a Gold Earl?”

“… Gold…? It’s the first time I’m hearing this.”

“Looks like I’m still more knowledgeable than you in some aspect then! Bwahaha!”

“Dad, stop showing off! What does Gold Earl mean?”

“Alright, listen up,” he puffed out his chest and declared, and even the other villagers looked over curiously, “Every noble title is split into three ranks, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Depending on which one it is, a noble family can have different size of land and power, but all of them have the same rights determined from their title.

Their difference is actually quite big when one look into it.

Bronze rank is also known, Birth-right Noble or False Noble. The children of a noble could get a temporary title but doesn’t have military rights and land.

It is also limited to three. The heir apparent will be one rank below, while the second and third places would be two ranks below. For example, a Duke’s heir apparent will be a Bronze Marquis, while the second and third young masters of the house would be Bronze Earls.”

Kairos nodded, “I know the third young master of the Steel Rose family. Von Cixton. Had been thinking how he got his Earl title, now I know that his father is a Duke.”

Vouno smiled then continued, “For those who earned their titles, through achievements and deeds, they would be Silver ranked. They are also called True Noble. Of course, for those that became the next family head, they have earned their Silver rank and have the full rights of their title.”

“Wouldn’t I be Silver instead?”

“Silver? No. This brings us to the last rank. Gold Nobility or also known as Half- Noble.”

“Half…? They are lower ranked?”

Kairos would have thought that it would be Bronze, followed by Silver, and finally Gold. But was it, Gold, then Bronze and lastly Silver?

Wouldn’t it be odd?

But Vouno immediately confirmed his thoughts that it is the latter.

“Indeed, but Gold Nobility is lower rank to the next title. You are a Gold Earl, but also known as a Half-Marquis!”

“When did I become a Half-Marquis?”

“You forget that the Emperor has released an official edict that you would become a Marquis when you come of age? Half-Nobles are those that have fully earned the Silver rank of the next noble title, yet were withheld from them because of age, standing, or reputation. Once the Half-Noble meets their requirement, they will automatically assume their proper roles. Because of this, they are also called the Delayed-Conferment Nobles.”

Kairos nodded. He was indeed told that the Emperor had stored up several gifts for him once he comes of age, but even as a Gold Earl, Kairos could already have a holding larger than other Earls and the maximum military strength he is allowed to groom is the same as Silver Marquises.

Only his noble rights are still the same as Earls, and he could not overrule anyone of the same or higher standing than him.

However, most others in the Earldom dare not offend Gold Earls. No matter what, they are only at equal footing for a while. Even Bronze Earls that might assume the position of a Silver Marquis by taking over the family would not be foolish enough to think themselves equals.

The reason being that the status of heir apparent is not a definite guarantee in becoming the next head, and to succeed, it often needs decades of competition amongst siblings to earn the position.

Affronting a Gold Earl is no different from throwing away the position an heir apparent already established.

That was why even though Von was also an Earl, he dared not openly go against Kairos. And, even when challenging the latter, he could only do it directly.

There was a respectful silence as the group approached the fort that slowly grew larger. Even Vouno was in awe despite seeing it several times before, and only the fifteen disciples were openly beaming.

“Haha, old master, why do you look so stunned when you live here?” a villager that was hired as a guard asked.

“Ah, you’re right! Knowing father, he would be bragging by now.”

“You… you guys… what’s wrong with me admiring quietly, I was mostly in closed-door training, so this is actually my first time seeing the place from far. It… it is rather grand from a distance, ain’t it?”

“That’s true. What’s your cultivation rank now dad?”

Vouno looked around, and upon seeing that the others were facing the front, he chuckled and mouthed, “Mid C rank.”

It was a great surprise to Kairos, because, in terms of talent, his father is worse than him and furthermore, he requires energy sources to cultivate.

When the group reached the gates, they stared up at the 40 meters tall walls. Manor? No, this place is definitely a fort.

The walls were as tall as a 13 stories building and high enough to stop even SS rankers.

As their escorts excused themselves, Vouno who had been silent, halted the group, then in all seriousness, he instructed, “When the Niu Yang families arrive, sent them to clean the Dragon Horse stables.”

It is a terrible chore with hundreds of steeds and the guards nodded solemnly. Even the slowest among them could tell that Xiao Niu and Xiao Yang’s families do not have favour with the old master.

Then, Vouno added, “Oh, and tell them when they arrive that I’ll bestow them each a family name suitable for their station.”

The others, including Kairos, looked at him with surprise. It was a great gift to be allowed a family’s name. But his next words drove them crazy.

“The Niu family will be known as Niu Shi (牛屎) family from now on. And the Yang family as the Yang Shi (羊屎) family.”

Those present found their faces twitching violently, unable to respond. The word ‘Shi’ is also in the ancient language, and their family names had turned into Cow Dung and Sheep Dung.

With black faces, the escort finally turns back towards the village. They privately thought that anyone could be offended, but Vouno.

Maybe the two families would even commit group suicide because of this. Who wouldn’t laugh when hearing them introduce themselves?

Meanwhile, Kairos stepped into his fully constructed home for the first time together with his father and the fifteen A rankers.

They passed through a traditional siege gate that has two stout, full-metal, portcullises for trapping enemies. Although, the design has been upgraded with a tall revolving door on that side, so that man and horse can pass through one-by-one.

This way, they do not need to lift the portcullis every time someone wants to enter or exit, and during an actual war, the revolving door could be locked and fortified, while even if breached, intruders could only go one at a time.

To mount an attack with a whole army, they would still need to break through the proper gates.

It was all-in-all a place where it is easy to get out and hard to attack.

Kairos was thoroughly impressed with the design. He could see all kinds of siege traps already implanted, and the back of the walls was built with proper living quarters and quick access stairs as well as escape rods.

It may sound terribly equipped, but this is the standard Marquis starter kit in the empire.