Kamila Noble Academy sat within the Imperial Capital itself, the largest academy in the entire Camila Empire.

Any child admitted into Kamila Noble Academy was either an exceptional genius or someone of high status—usually both.

For someone like Leyang, most heirs to future Lordships were all former students of Kamila Noble Academy.

With the Camila Empire at its back, Kamila Noble Academy had access to endless resources.

While it kept supplying fresh blood to the Empire, it also quietly shored up the royal family’s power.

For any child who entered Kamila Noble Academy, the most important “lesson” was to be taught absolute loyalty to the Empire.

Year after year that subtle indoctrination sank in, until the idea took firm root in everyone’s mind.

But Leyang wanted to go to Kamila Noble Academy not because of its political background, but because of where it was—right at the heart of the Imperial Capital.

The Imperial Capital was the most prosperous city in the whole Camila Empire.

Merchants flowed in and out in an endless stream; there were Adventurers’ Guilds and all sorts of other organizations.

Compared to this bird‑forsaken place that was Nebis Territory, it was a million times better.

Once he reached the Capital, Leyang could truly begin his road to turning his fate around.

Talk about getting a pillow the moment you felt sleepy.

First, a small goal—earn a thousand Small Yala Coins.

He quietly noted down this favor from his third sister and brother‑in‑law.

He would repay it double in the future, no matter what.

There were still seven days left before departure for the Imperial Capital, Camilla City.

In those seven days, Leyang ran to the Monster Woods even more diligently, coming back to the territory late every night.

Lord and Lady Nebis honestly worried he’d just vanish one day while running around like that, but they couldn’t keep an eye on him all the time. Sigh… it was exhausting.

Naturally, Leyang wasn’t going to the Monster Woods to play; he was there to gather materials.

Seven days later, when he headed to Camilla City, he needed to have the materials for his very first pot of gold ready.

Because of the habit from his previous life of always preparing for the worst, he liked to plan around the most pessimistic outcome.

As the saying went, things went smoother when you had money—at least coins would never betray him.

Puchi—!

The sound of a blade stabbing into flesh rang out.

Leyang pinned down a monster python nearly a meter long, forcing it against the ground.

The Silver Blade Dagger in his hand stabbed mercilessly into its skull, his eyes flashing with cold, unwavering resolve.

Blood splashed all over him as the python thrashed violently, fighting for its life.

The Silver Blade Dagger twisted inside its skull a few times, and in no time at all, the snake finally went limp, completely dead.

“Phew… this thing’s really strong. I almost couldn’t hold it down. A Tier‑2’s fangs and snakeskin should sell for quite a bit, right?”

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and skillfully peeled off the snakeskin, then pried out the two most valuable fangs from its mouth.

The rest he had no way to carry, so he could only leave the corpse in the forest. It’d be picked clean by other monsters soon enough anyway.

“I reek of blood. Gotta wash this off fast, or I’ll attract more monsters. That’d be bad.”

Leyang wrinkled his nose, a hint of disgust flickering across his childish face.

He wrapped up the snakeskin, fangs, and other materials, then pushed off with his small feet and quickly left the spot.

Moments later, rustling sounded all around, followed by monsters’ roars as they started fighting fiercely over the fresh carcass.

Not far from Leyang’s position, a clear stream ran through the forest.

He put down his bundle of materials and jumped straight into the water without hesitation, rinsing all the snake blood off his body.

Then he stayed in just a pair of small shorts, waiting for his clothes to dry under the sun.

His small pale butt was fully exposed in the open air, and he had no idea a pair of scarlet eyes in the shadows had already locked onto him.

Leyang checked over the day’s harvest and let out a satisfied smile.

All kinds of materials filled his bundle; he had even taken down two Tier‑2 monsters.

Adding that to the stuff he’d collected the last few days, it should convert into a lot of Daduolo Coins.

It might even be worth several Small Yala Coins in total.

Aside from Nebis Territory and the Monster Woods, Leyang had never been anywhere else, so he honestly wasn’t sure how materials were priced in other regions.

But supposedly, even a Tier‑1 monster took at least three or four ordinary adults working together to kill.

With monster materials being that hard to harvest, there was no way they’d be cheap.

Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind tore through the air.

The monster that had been watching him at length finally saw its chance.

Without hesitation, it lunged at the tender, white “meal” not far away, jaws gaping wide as it went straight for his head, ready to bite it off and feast.

Yet at that critical instant, Leyang didn’t even turn his head.

It was as if he hadn’t noticed the danger closing in at all.

Then, in the next heartbeat, the chilling Silver Blade Dagger flew from his hand, shooting backward.

It stabbed straight into the monster’s open mouth and, with brutal force, punched all the way through its skull.

The monster let out a few choked whimpers, the light in its eyes fading bit by bit, before it finally collapsed into an unwilling corpse.

What it thought would be a rare, delicious meal had ended up costing it its life.

“One more Tier‑1 monster’s worth of materials. With all this stuff, it’s enough. I’ll call it a day.”

Leyang retrieved his Silver Dagger, then put his clothes back on and slung the bundle over his shoulder as he left the Monster Woods.

He buried all the materials in a spot he’d prepared in advance, making sure to hide it well.

He’d just dig it up again once he got back from the trip.

When he returned to Nebis Territory, he saw several carriages had arrived inside the lands.

Leyang frowned in confusion.

In a bird‑forsaken place like this, there were actually carriages passing through? Were they traveling merchants or something?

He quickly realized something was off.

Those carriages were actually picking up the old folks and women living in the territory.

His father, the Lord of Nebis Territory, Nebis Light, was speaking with a finely dressed man.

Leaning intimately at that finely dressed man’s side was a young, dignified woman—wasn’t that his third sister, Nepis Ginal?!

With that, the identity of the richly dressed man was obvious:

the Lord of Lapoloka, Viscount Lindberg Ginfen.

“Dad, Mom.”

Leyang called out without thinking.

“Little Fourth is back. Come meet your third brother‑in‑law, Lord Lindberg Ginfen.”

Bernal Meda waved him over with a smile.

“Hello, Brother‑in‑law Lindberg.”

Leyang nodded and called out in a clear, crisp voice.

“Mhm, you’re Nebis Leyang, right? Looks like a very likable kid.”

Lord Lindenborg reached out and ruffled Leyang’s hair, then kindly took out a piece of jade the color of bright emerald and placed it into his hand.

“I came in a bit of a rush, so I didn’t prepare a proper gift. Take this little trinket.”

“Isn’t that too valuable?”

Seeing this, Bernal Meda couldn’t help speaking up.

“We’re all family. No need to fuss about what’s valuable and what’s not. Just let him have it.”

Lord Lindenborg waved it off lightly.

“That’s right, little brother. It’s your brother‑in‑law’s token of goodwill. Just take it.”

Nepis Ginal smiled and chimed in from the side.

Leyang nodded slightly and carefully put the jade away, then called out brightly,

“Thank you, Brother‑in‑law.”