The slap was fast and fierce. Angus was an eighth-level fighter god, while Du Chen's Lotus Inner Energy was only equivalent to a first-level Dou qi. The difference was so great that Du Chen didn't even have a chance to dodge. He took the slap head-on, and his cheek immediately swelled up.

"What right do you have to hit me?" Du Chen was furious. The discrimination Francis had suffered in the past and his current anger intertwined, making it unbearable for him. "Is this how a father should behave? In the past, I was a fool, allowing you to humiliate me in front of the nobles. But now, I have changed. I can be a qualified noble, yet you are still not satisfied? Duke, what do you want from me?"

Angus's face turned even worse, and he raised his hand again.

"Dad!" Steve hurriedly grabbed Angus's hand and advised, "Little brother is only fifteen years old this year. There are many things he doesn't understand!"

"He doesn't understand? Do you?" Angus angrily retorted. "As the eldest son of the Holy Kain family, you failed the examination at the Battle God Academy twice in a row since you turned eighteen. Do you have the face to say anything? Look at Charlie, he is two years younger than you, but he is already a fourth-level warrior. And you? Spending your days indulging in pleasure without any ambition!"

Steve repeatedly apologized, "Father, I was wrong in the past. This year, I will definitely pass the examination for the Battle God Academy. But little brother didn't do anything wrong. As a descendant of the titled Battle God, there is nothing wrong with saving people!"

Charlie chimed in, "Hmph, it may not be wrong in his eyes, but the entire empire's military expenses are controlled by the Treasury Department, which is in the hands of Frith's father! Big brother, you should also think about the family! In recent years, Father has made great achievements and has control over tens of thousands of troops..."

"Enough, stop talking!" Du Chen sneered and mocked, "You can never explain anything to someone who doesn't understand!"

"What did you say!?" Angus was furious, pointing at Du Chen, his chest heaving with anger.

Charlie also angrily said, "Francis, do you think Father dares not to kick you out and revoke your title as a descendant of the Battle God and your noble status?"

Without the halo of being a descendant of the Battle God, any random aristocrat on the street could freely beat and scold Du Chen. Enemies like Kaman could openly kill him.

But Du Chen couldn't swallow this anger. In his previous life, as an orphan who didn't know what a family was, he had developed a temper of seeking revenge for the smallest grievance since the age of five.

"It's just a title, who cares? If you want to revoke it, go ahead! I don't want to stay in this family anymore!" Du Chen took off his noble attire and threw it forcefully to the ground.

"Good!" Angus laughed furiously, pointing at Du Chen. "As the head of the Holy Kain family, I hereby announce that from this moment on, Francis..."

"Father!" Steve knelt in front of Angus, repeatedly pleading, "Think of our deceased mother..."

As soon as his deceased wife, who had passed away more than ten years ago, was mentioned, Angus seemed deflated like a balloon. It seemed like he had remembered something, as he put down his hand and turned to walk into the mansion. "I'll let you off this time, but there won't be a next time!! Charlie, prepare the carriage for me. I'm going to the Vernar Palace to attend His Majesty's banquet!"

Father and son entered the mansion.

At this moment, Steve looked apologetically at Du Chen and suddenly slapped himself in the face! "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left you alone last night!"

As he said that, he slapped himself a few more times.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Du Chen's heart warmed, and he grabbed Steve's hand. "Big brother, it's not your fault. It's second brother's fault!"

"Sigh, I'm going to the church to apologize to our ancestors!" Steve said sadly. "My vow when I embarked on the path of the Battle God was to protect your safety..."

Du Chen punched Steve's chest. "If you want to apologize, then find me a sister-in-law sooner rather than later and stop indulging in pleasure!"

"Can we change the condition?" Steve suddenly smiled awkwardly. "Oh, dear little brother, I can't make the ladies of the Imperial Capital sad, can I? If I get married, many ladies would be disappointed to the point of suicide!"

This big brother!! Du Chen sighed helplessly. "Fine, if one day I'm kicked out of the family, it's enough for you to still recognize me as your brother!"

"Go, as long as I'm here, you won't be kicked out of the family! And if that day really comes, I'll accompany you!" Steve saw Du Chen still laughing and said seriously, "I swear on the vow of the Battle God!"

Du Chen naturally didn't take the playboy's vow seriously. He had already made up his mind that when he received a huge compensation, he would leave the Holy Kain Mansion with Old Fuye and Aliza. The world of the Battle God was so big, where couldn't they find a place to live? Why endure the suffering here?

When he returned to the tower, Old Foye and Aliza were waiting outside the door. Old Fuye greeted him anxiously, "Young Master, someone has already told me about your situation. Did Master give you a hard time?"

"No, it's fine!" Du Chen shrugged and took out the pastries he had brought back from the banquet from his pocket. However, after a night of tossing and turning, the pastries had already become deformed.

Du Chen smiled awkwardly, "These are the pastries I brought back from the banquet, but they're already... hehe! Let's throw them away!"

"No, Young Master!" Old Foye quickly snatched the pastries and hurriedly stuffed them into his mouth, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes as he choked, "It's worth it for Young Master to have such a thought, even if this old servant dies!"

Aliza licked his lips and rubbed his hands. "Young Master, I want to eat too!" He timidly looked at Old Fuye, and when he received a piece of pastry, he happily smiled.

Simple-minded people are always easily satisfied.

...On the peaceful day of God's Peace in the year 1277 of the Divine Era, it was a simple day for Du Chen, but also a warm one. Old Foye had bought many delicious treats, and Du Chen smiled knowingly as he saw the drool dripping from Aliza's mouth.

In the afternoon, Angus returned from the banquet with a gloomy expression. Who knows what happened at the imperial banquet, but Steve privately revealed that he would accompany Du Chen tomorrow to negotiate Fris's compensation. The reason was that Steve was afraid Du Chen lacked experience in noble negotiations and wouldn't be able to get a fair deal.

The next day, Du Chen woke up early, and Steve was already waiting at the door.

The two brothers got on the carriage, and Steve, unusually serious, explained to Du Chen, "Don't worry, today we'll demand a hundred gold coins instead of ninety-nine. Father Ferdinand and our family are on the same side!"

Du Chen couldn't help but ask, "Does Father Ferdinand also have political factions?"

"Wherever there are people, there is politics!" Steve said a very philosophical statement, but his second sentence went off track, "It's like wherever there are humans, there is rape. Even if there are no opposite sexes, sparks can still fly between the same sexes..."

Du Chen shook his head repeatedly, finding it difficult for his older brother to be serious, even more so than his pursuit of women!

With so many things happening yesterday, combined with the late hour, Du Chen didn't have a chance to carefully observe the magnificent St. John's Cathedral, the most grandiose in the Holy Kain Continent. Now, as he looked closely, this church across from the Laning Palace was indeed extraordinary.

Not to mention anything else, just one point, the high point of St. John's Cathedral was even higher than the Laning Palace opposite!

Furthermore, the area within a hundred meters of the church was all paved with milky-white cobblestones, with no other buildings. The entire area belonged to the church, as if they had encircled the royal land to build their own nest!

However, above the main entrance of the cathedral, there was a dilapidated spot where a statue should have been placed. It seemed like there was originally a statue here, but it had been destroyed.

Du Chen and Steve arrived at the square in front of the church. The vast square was empty, and Steve wondered, "Strange, where are the people?"

Du Chen also felt that something was off in the atmosphere. He walked up to the towering mahogany door, lightly knocking on the door handle.

"I am Francis, the third son of the Saint Kain family. Father Ferdinand sent me here today!"

Creak, the door opened, and a priest walked out. He glanced at Du Chen and Steve and said, "You must be the 'Virtue of St. John's City.' Please come in! Only you may enter today, as it is a special occasion!"

Du Chen looked through the slightly opened door and saw a hall filled with many people dressed as priests. Ferdinand was standing in front of a wall opposite the door.

After exchanging a few words with Steve, Du Chen entered the church, striding forward with a smile. "Father, I'm here!"

Ferdinand still had an elegant demeanor, nodding and saying, "Francis, you're late. Frith is already dead!"