My System Just Exploded, And You Ask Me to Become a God?-Chapter 56 --Nobility, Etiquette, and Shackles

Joad didn’t respond at all. He simply continued walking forward, taking Ivy with him without so much as a glance back.

At that moment, a few sharp-eyed nobles recognized his identity.

"I know that guy—he’s from House Whide!"

"House Whide? Never heard of it. What backwater is that?"

"No, no, he’s the second son of the Whide family. He’s from Ilan Royal Academy!"

"Huh? Ilan Royal Academy? Don’t tell me he’s Leit’s junior?"

Whispers broke out all around them.

The way people looked at Joad varied—some eyes were filled with envy, others with resentment or jealousy, and some glinted with clear ill-intent.

But Joad couldn’t care less. He’d seen this kind of sour-grape crowd more times than he could count. Arguing with them was a waste of breath.

Ivy also smiled faintly at the reaction and stepped ahead of Joad to lead the way.

Just then, a butler-like man suddenly stepped out and blocked their path.

Ivy didn’t seem surprised. Calmly, she took a finely crafted crystal ring from her pocket and handed it to him.

The butler gave a slight nod, then turned to glance at the person behind her—Joad.

Joad looked around, then pointed at himself and asked, "You mean me?"

The butler curled his lip impatiently. "Where’s your offering?"

"Offering?"

Joad froze.

"What offering?"

"The gift for the heir of the Crimsonflame Marquis. Don’t tell me... you didn’t bring one?"

No sooner had he spoken than several of the young nobles nearby covered their mouths to stifle their laughter.

"Hah, he actually came empty-handed to a noble banquet? What a bumpkin!"

"Ilan Royal Academy didn’t teach him proper etiquette? Tch, what a barbaric place!"

Joad felt a bit annoyed.

He was just here to attend a banquet—since when did you need to bring your own gift to be allowed in? What kind of ridiculous rule was this?

Ivy quickly tugged at his hand and whispered, "The Crimsonflame Marquis’s title carries a lot of weight in the Luminous Pearl Kingdom. Even though we’re just meeting his chosen heir, everyone has to show the utmost sincerity."

Joad frowned. "I don’t care how impressive the title is—this kind of rule is just extortion. It’s basically robbing people."

Ivy was left speechless.

She didn’t particularly like these noble customs either, and truth be told, Joad did have a point. Money didn’t fall from the sky. Why should people be expected to offer gifts to someone they hadn’t even met yet?

The butler’s face began to darken with impatience.

At that moment, a startled cry rang out from behind them. Joad and Ivy quickly turned around to see a man striding directly toward them.

From the murmurs in the crowd, Joad gathered that the newcomer was a student from the Pearl Array Academy. His name was Clark, and he was one of the academy’s top performers—someone whose reputation within his school was comparable to Leit’s at Ilan.

Clark looked down his nose at the gathering, his expression haughty and laced with disdain.

Then he turned to Joad, his tone biting as he said, "Is Ilan Royal Academy really so short on people? Instead of sending Leit, you’ve sent some clueless nobody in his place?"

Joad was already in a foul mood. Seeing Clark’s face only made things worse.

He shrugged and fired back, "Sorry if this nobody is such an eyesore to you. But let me ask—you brought a gift for the Crimsonflame Marquis’s heir too, right?"

"If you’re such a big shot, why did you come crawling in with an offering? Shouldn’t it be the heir preparing a gift for you, the ’important person’?"

Clark’s brow twitched violently. He hadn’t expected this country bumpkin to throw the heir’s name back in his face like that.

How dare he?

But Clark also knew that engaging in a war of words with someone like Joad here would only bring down his own status.

So instead, he scoffed and said coldly, "Offering a gift is basic noble etiquette. It has nothing to do with status."

Then, with a mocking glance, he added, "Even if I were meeting someone like you, I’d still bring a gift. Of course, in your case, it’d be a bag of dog food."

Ivy sensed that things were about to escalate and quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.

But Joad didn’t think it was necessary. Anyone with half a brain could see Clark was really here to challenge Leit. It was clear the two had some past grudge.

Joad was just a stand-in target.

But he wasn’t the type to roll over and take it.

He pulled Ivy behind him and stared Clark down, chuckling.

"So noble etiquette is just about sticking your warm face to someone else’s cold backside?"

"Well, that’s a pretty cheap kind of etiquette, if you ask me. I don’t know what the Crimsonflame Marquis’s heir thinks about all this, but let’s be honest—none of your gifts seem to matter to her. She hasn’t even shown up yet."

"You’re all trying so hard to flatter her, and she’s not even giving you the time of day."

His words struck like a hammer. The entire side hall fell silent.

It wasn’t just Clark—every young noble who had brought a gift was now quietly fuming.

Joad’s blunt comments had thrown all their dignity to the floor and stomped on it, without hesitation.

Ivy was frightened. For Joad to say something like that in this kind of setting—it was practically suicidal.

But at the same time, she felt a flicker of admiration.

She, too, disliked these stiff noble rules. Yet as a member of House Rima, which often benefited from such customs, she was the least qualified to say so aloud.

"You! Don’t your parents teach you any decency? How dare you speak such vulgar nonsense in public?" Clark roared.

Joad simply spread his hands and replied, "What nonsense? Everyone’s got a backside, right? Or are you saying you don’t? How would you go to the bathroom then?"

Watching Clark lose his temper so spectacularly gave Joad a rare moment of satisfaction. The irritation in his chest finally started to ease.

After all, whether in the Luminous Pearl Kingdom or within House Rima’s estate, physical violence between guests was strictly forbidden. Any such act would result in immediate criminal punishment.

These young nobles valued their reputations and image above all.

That’s why Joad was certain—Clark wouldn’t dare lay a hand on him.

Noble etiquette was both a favor and a prison. It bound Clark in place, making him lash out in impotent rage.

And that was exactly the kind of scene Joad liked best—someone so furious they were about to explode, yet powerless to do a thing about it.

Stomp!

Clark slammed his foot to the ground, trembling with frustration.

But before he could say another word, a voice rang out from the entrance of the hall.

"Heh. Ilan folks are just the same as ever—always refusing to be taken advantage of."