Generally, only those who have been knighted as level four or above are referred to as knights. Knights are considered quasi-nobles, and their status is indeed a form of honor.

“Alright! Dick, since you have decided, I will let you go!”

Dick was stunned, staring at his father in disbelief. Was he this accommodating? This didn't make sense; he remembered that when his second brother had a similar idea, he was met with a severe beating from Sinclair.

“Surprised?” Sinclair asked with a smile.

“Yes!” Dick replied honestly, as knights prefer directness.

“Child, do you know why our family is so impoverished?”

“Isn’t it because all our wealth was given to the Baron?”

“Hmph! That was merely for show to the Baron of Blackstone Castle.”

Hearing his father's tone, it seemed there was some lingering resentment towards the Baron.

“I have already sent two sons; that should be enough. The Baron of Blackstone Castle can’t say much more.” Sinclair continued with a darkened expression, “There are some things you don’t need to know right now. Just go to the capital city, whether as a mage or a warrior…”

His tone was strange, and his words vague, hinting at hidden truths.

“Big brother, is there something you can't say?” A burly man walked in.

“Uncle Titan!” Dick recognized him immediately as one of the five mid-level knights of York Territory. Three years ago, he frequently visited Dick and his father, maintaining an exceptionally good relationship with them. Despite being young, Dick was a time traveler.

“Little one, you have a good memory, haha…” The burly man affectionately ruffled Dick’s hair.

“Uncle Titan, weren’t you dead?” Dick recalled that two of the five mid-level knights from York Territory had died, one ten years ago and another three years ago, including this burly Titan.

“Dead? Hmph! That damned Baron…”

“Titan!” Sinclair's anger flared.

“Alright, boss, I won’t say any more.” Titan seemed somewhat intimidated by Sinclair.

“Dick!” Sinclair turned to Dick, “Remember this world values strength above all. Without sufficient power… one ends up like me, stuck in this countryside, living a pitiful life.”

“Father, you and Uncle Titan are already level four warriors.” Dick thought level four warriors should be sufficient, but it was clear that his father and Uncle Titan had formidable enemies, likely related to the Baron.

“Level four warriors, huh? Heh!” Sinclair's bitter smile was telling.

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“Dick, even three level four warriors might not be able to defeat a single level four mage,” Titan interjected.

“Such a vast disparity?” Dick was astonished, knowing that while mages were superior to warriors, the gap couldn’t be this wide.

“Not necessarily!” Sinclair added, “In the capital, there have been instances where powerful level four warriors have managed to defeat level five mages. However, ordinary warriors like us have no hope. Alright, Dick, go to the capital; you will gain more insight there. My life has come to this.”

Seeing Dick’s inquisitive expression, Sinclair couldn't help but add, “Ten years ago, your Uncle Titan, Uncle Bell, and I, three level four warriors, besieged a level four mage. Your Uncle Bell perished, and I lost an arm.”

“My mother also died ten years ago, right?” Dick asked.

“You…” Sinclair felt a mix of love and pain for his perceptive son. His wife had been equally intelligent.

“If it weren’t for your mother’s desperate efforts to protect us…” Titan said with profound sorrow.

“The Baron must have escaped with some treasure first, leaving you all as mere pawns,” Dick sneered. Otherwise, where would such enmity come from?

Without a substantial interest, it was unrealistic for a Baron to engage in conflict with his limited mid-level warriors and a level four mage.

“You’re half right. After your mother fell behind and died, I carried your wounded father and hadn’t escaped far when the Baron, along with other knights, suddenly appeared. The level four mage, whose magical energy was nearly exhausted, was defeated by the Baron, a level two mage, accompanied by two level four warriors. As for the treasure… heh!”

Titan revealed the truth, and Sinclair made no attempt to stop him.

“Why did it have to be this way? Wouldn’t it have been more assured to have six mid-level warriors besiege the level four mage?” Dick asked, wondering how a single mage could stand against six mid-level warriors.

Silence. Both Sinclair and Titan fell silent.

The next day, Dick set off. Sinclair did not accompany him; Titan was the one who took him.

York Town was relatively remote, located at the northernmost part of the Great Yan Kingdom.

Without horses, Dick walked with Titan for over two months. Fortunately, Sinclair had ensured Dick was well-nourished and physically prepared from a young age. Despite the fatigue, Dick persevered.

This world was truly dangerous; without sufficient strength, freedom seemed unattainable.

Throughout the journey, Dick witnessed Uncle Titan's combat prowess as a level four warrior on multiple occasions. Fortunately, Titan’s strength was considerable, and several bandits attempting to rob them were eliminated.

Indeed, eliminating bandits was commonplace in this world. On the mountain path, a group of ‘bandits’ was attacking a caravan, causing a storm of dust and stones.

A mage! A mage from the caravan cast several azure wind blades, which curved in flight and struck down the bandit leader, a level four warrior.

With the strongest level four bandit leader defeated, the battle finally ended.

Damn! The mage’s spell had sliced through the level four warrior’s neck. It was truly impressive. Moreover, the speed of the wind blades made them nearly impossible to evade.

Dick was full of questions after witnessing a mage in battle for the first time.

The caravan’s casualties were not severe. After friendly negotiations, Sinclair and Dick were fortunate to travel with the caravan. In this era, traveling in groups was far safer.

“Are you a mage?” Dick looked astonished at the young girl, no more than ten years old, showing off her skills.

“Do you think so? I’m already a level one mage,” the girl proudly declared. In less than half a day, Dick, who was about the same age, had become quite friendly with her.

“A level one? You defeated a level four warrior?” Dick found it hard to grasp the disparity between mages and warriors.

“With sufficient warrior protection, a level one mage can indeed have the opportunity to defeat a level four warrior,” Titan explained, “Moreover, the level four warrior faced the simultaneous threat of another level four warrior guarding the caravan.”

Dick considered this and found it reasonable.

The caravan’s level four warrior had indeed engaged fiercely with the bandit leader.

It seemed the bandits had not anticipated the presence of a young mage within the caravan.