With a remark that was both concerned and thought-provoking, Gandar turned and left the room.

As the door clicked softly shut, Roland didn’t immediately turn to study the *Crescent Moon Guide* Scroll on the table. His thoughts still lingered on the earlier proposal.

After a moment of silence, he finally, slowly shook his head.

Aside from the pros and cons he had already weighed, there was an even more critical obstacle on the path to obtaining the Knight’s Breathing Technique.

That obstacle was age.

Baron Fosling was a living example.

From his casual chats with John, he had learned that the key reason Baron Fosling never practiced the Knight’s Breathing Technique was that he was already approaching middle age at the time.

According to John, learning the Knight’s Breathing Technique was like raising a sapling.

A young seedling takes root easily, but an old tree struggles to sprout new roots.

With increasing age, practicing the Knight’s Breathing Technique not only yielded diminishing returns but could also trigger a backlash from the Secret Technique.

Although Roland possessed the unique advantage of his Professional Panel, he couldn’t be certain that this boon of his could bypass the Breathing Technique’s age restrictions until he knew more.

’Forget it...’

As his thoughts grew more tangled, the exhaustion from the intense battle washed over him like a tide.

Roland fell back onto the soft bed, staring blankly at the wood grain of the ceiling.

’No matter what, I’ve finally found a way to obtain a Breathing Technique. As for whether or not to serve on the border...’

He closed his heavy eyelids, letting weariness submerge his consciousness.

’Let me think it over...’

Just as his consciousness was about to sink into Darkness, a sharp knock suddenly echoed from the door, yanking Roland back from the brink of sleep.

"Mr. Roland, are you resting?"

A familiar voice pierced through the door.

Roland shook his groggy head, got up, and opened the door.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Colin..."

He rubbed his aching temples and offered a slightly apologetic smile.

"I was just resting. It took me a moment to get to the door."

"It’s no problem."

Colin saw the weariness in the young man’s eyes, nodded in understanding, and a perfectly gentle smile graced his face.

"Since you’re tired, I can come back another day..."

"Please, don’t go."

Roland gently stopped him from turning to leave.

He didn’t dare show the slightest disrespect to such an important figure.

"If you have something important to discuss, why don’t you come in so we can speak privately?"

"Very well."

Colin didn’t stand on ceremony, stepping straight into the room.

After closing the door softly, Roland forced himself to stay alert and poured a glass of water for his guest.

"Thank you."

Colin took the glass, took a sip, and asked with a smile.

"I heard from Mr. Dalko that you’re a Blacksmith Apprentice under Baron Fosling of the Black Water Territory?"

"That’s right."

Roland nodded decisively.

He wasn’t surprised that Colin had learned about his background from Dalko.

After his recent duel with Gandar, the curious nobles were bound to dig into his background. It was unstoppable.

’As for Dalko telling Colin? With the power wielded by an important figure from Distant Harbor, how could a minor nobleman dare to refuse? Besides, even if he had kept quiet, Colin had plenty of other ways to find out the truth. It would have just taken a little more effort.’

Seeing Roland’s frank answers, the smile in Colin’s eyes deepened, and he pressed on.

"I heard that it only took you three months to..."

As the conversation continued, the questions gradually veered into more personal territory.

Roland, of course, didn’t reveal everything, offering only the most concise replies.

Yet the curve of Colin’s lips only widened as the conversation progressed, and his gaze, as he scrutinized the young man before him, grew increasingly fervent.

Like the other nobles of the Golden Valley Kingdom, Colin was eager to recruit an exceptionally gifted talent like Roland.

However, his status as a Merchant from the River Domain put him at a natural disadvantage when competing for talent from the Golden Valley Kingdom.

He had originally intended to give up, but after the martial exhibition, King Morne’s question about Roland’s status had rekindled his hope.

’This young man... was a commoner!’

As a high-ranking official from the River Domain, which had maintained diplomatic relations with the Golden Valley Kingdom for decades, Colin knew the neighboring kingdom’s affairs like the back of his hand. He was, of course, aware of the iron-clad law left in the wake of the "Blood Moon Rebellion" over a decade ago.

Therefore, he knew that for a commoner like Roland, the only way to obtain the Knight’s Breathing Technique was to earn a noble title through military achievements.

’But what a long road that was. It was a path fraught with uncertainty. How could someone with the talent Roland had shown be willing to waste years languishing?’

As for why he was so certain...

Colin narrowed his eyes slightly.

His gaze wasn’t that of a man looking at another person, but of one assessing a priceless, rare treasure.

His years of navigating the tides of business had taught him one thing.

True geniuses, like the rarest of gems, would never allow their own brilliance to dim during a long, fruitless wait.

"Mr. Roland..."

Colin narrowed his eyes. No longer beating around the bush, he got straight to the point.

"Do you... want to obtain the Knight’s Breathing Technique?"

The abrupt change in topic took Roland by surprise.

But in the next moment, he understood the deeper meaning behind Colin’s words.

Taking a deep breath, Roland suppressed the excitement welling up inside him. He gave a slight bow and spoke cautiously.

"Mr. Colin, you mean to say..."

"Mr. Roland, you’re an intelligent man, and I..."

Colin drained the glass of water in one go, a shrewd smile, characteristic of a Merchant, on his face.

"...most enjoy dealing with intelligent people."

"Just as you’ve surmised, my home, the River Domain, is similar to the Golden Valley Kingdom. One can obtain the Knight’s Breathing Technique by attending a Knight Academy. However, there is one difference..."

He paused deliberately.

But when he saw the young man before him remain perfectly composed, a flicker of a resigned smile crossed Colin’s face as he continued.

"In the River Domain, there is no prohibition against commoners learning the Knight’s Breathing Technique."

’Just as I thought.’

Although he had anticipated it, Roland’s breath still quickened involuntarily upon hearing the answer.

"Of course..."

Colin wasn’t finished.

"The various Knight’s Breathing Techniques of our River Domain are, admittedly, a bit less powerful than the top-tier traditions of the Golden Valley Kingdom. However, I believe..."

His long fingers tapped unconsciously on the tabletop, making a crisp sound. His tone carried the characteristic confidence of a Merchant.

"For a genius such as yourself, that slight difference in the Breathing Technique itself shouldn’t be an issue, would you agree?"

As his voice faded, the room fell silent.

Only the distant clamor of the Sea God Festival outside filtered faintly into the room.

Seeing that Roland didn’t respond immediately, Colin understood that such a decision could not be made in a short amount of time.

So, he rose slowly from the wooden chair and gave an elegant, shallow bow.

"You may, of course, take your time to consider this matter..."

As he spoke, he made a gesture similar to Gandar’s.

He produced a badge from within his coat.

Unlike the last one, this badge wasn’t metal. It was carved from a translucent crystal, its deep blue base shot through with a hint of red.

The insignia was a seashell shaped like a coin.

"Once you’ve made up your mind, you can come find me directly at the Sea Pearl Hall. I will be waiting there until you reach a decision."

Colin straightened up, a decorous smile on his face.

"Also... you would do well to lock your door tonight. I will arrange for men to stand guard outside. If any... ’accidents’ should occur..."

His gaze turned to the bell, which had been pointed out to him when he’d first entered the room.

"You need only ring that bell, and someone will be here to take care of it for you."