"Very well, since Mr. Owen is willing to marry my daughter Leslie, we will sign the marriage contract on the spot to finalize this matter!" Duke Charles said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Despite trying to suppress his emotions, the smile tugging at his lips betrayed his eagerness.
Leslie's marriage had been a headache for him, and House Ravenwood's reputation had suffered repeatedly because of her. No noble son was willing to marry Leslie.
After all, her past actions had been utterly reckless.
She had even burned down the palace of the Third Prince, to whom she was previously betrothed, without a second thought.
Now, this young man with decent looks and talent was willing to marry Leslie.
Duke Charles feared that once Owen learned of Leslie's past, he might regret it.
Therefore, he was eager to finalize the marriage contract as soon as possible.
As long as the marriage contract was signed in black and white, there would be no worry about Owen backing out.
This way, House Ravenwood could not only resolve Leslie's marriage issue perfectly but also secure a promising mage.
It was a win-win situation!
Hearing that the marriage contract would be signed immediately, Owen's heart pounded.
The reason he had agreed so quickly was because of the system task, which he had no choice but to complete.
Agreeing verbally was no big deal since there was no concrete evidence, and it was merely his acceptance without involving actual marriage.
He had planned to bide his time, develop further, and then figure out how to get closer to Leslie.
However, once the marriage contract was signed, it would be a different story!
From what he knew of Leslie, she was a villain who pursued practical benefits.
She could tolerate empty words because they didn't cause her any real loss.
But truly marrying her, affecting her plans and interests, was something she would not tolerate.
She would definitely target him!
Although it was still early in the anime timeline, Leslie's tier and influence were already considerable.
At least around the capital, there was no place for him to hide.
If Leslie sent an experienced gold-tier mage to assassinate him, what then?
Given Leslie's ruthless nature, she would definitely do it!
Owen, currently only a bronze-tier level 9 mage, was two whole tiers below a gold-tier mage!
And if the assassination were carried out, the danger posed by this gold-tier mage would be nearly on par with a platinum-tier!
His current strength was far from enough to handle such a threat.
As Owen felt anxious, the system seemed to sense his distress and chimed in once again.
[Given the host's current low strength, you can choose one of the following three dungeons for training and improvement. Upon selection, you will receive a corresponding passive skill.]
Hearing the system's voice, Owen's eyes brightened slightly. Not bad. This system was indeed considerate. Although he possessed god-tier talent, domains, and even artifacts, his tier was too low to truly harness their power!
He immediately focused his attention on the virtual screen before him.
Nether Island, located on the Volga River north of the capital. The island is filled with strange creatures, ranging from bronze-tier to platinum-tier, containing dragon blood. Choosing this island will grant the passive skill—[Dragon Scales]: Reduces damage from enemies up to one major tier higher by 20%.
"Not bad. With this passive skill, combined with the domineering body technique Obsidify, I'd become a humanoid monster."
Owen blinked excitedly, convinced that the system's offerings were indeed top-notch.
However, his steady nature made him refrain from immediately choosing Nether Island.
While [Dragon Scales] was powerful, it might not be the best fit for him right now.
He decided to check the other dungeons before making a decision.
So, he scrolled down.
Twisted Jungle, located south of the capital, is a gathering place for various jungle spellbeasts. Many powerful spellbeasts lurk there, and there are numerous opportunities for the fortunate. Choosing this jungle will grant the passive skill—[Spellbeast Affinity]: Reduces hostility from enemy spellbeasts by half, neutral spellbeasts will naturally like you, and friendly spellbeasts will be inclined to befriend you.
"This passive skill..."
After reading through the options, Owen's expression became complicated. At first glance, the passive skill didn't seem particularly useful. However, being familiar with the storyline, he knew that most areas of the magic continent were occupied by spellbeasts. Especially in places where rare treasures were born, these areas were almost exclusively controlled by top-tier spellbeasts.
With this passive skill, venturing into those places would not only be much safer but could also yield numerous benefits. Spellbeasts, unlike humans, might treat you as a friend if they liked you, even offering their precious treasures.
It was an extremely unique and rare passive skill. If it weren't for his current life-threatening situation, Owen would have loved this passive skill. Unfortunately, this skill wouldn't boost his combat power in the short term. Instead, it was more like a beast tamer's divine skill.
Thus, Owen looked at the last option.
**Pharaoh's Tower**, located west of the capital. It is rumored that an ancient, unknown emperor is buried here. Wraiths, ghosts, and mummies wrapped in cloth wander within, guarding the emperor's eternal rest. Pharaoh's Tower is a place full of danger and secrets. Choosing this dungeon will grant the passive skill—[Starlit]: Increases the speed of ranged magical attacks by three times (ranked from lv1 to lv3, with lv3 allowing casting faster than the speed of light).
"A divine skill for ranged attacks!"
Upon reading about [Starlit], Owen swallowed hard, excitement flickering in his eyes. Generally, ranged magic attacks were powerful but relatively slow.
With Starlit, he could quickly clear monsters from a distance, ensuring safety, and the attack speed boost would make it incredibly swift!
This was perfect for someone looking to rapidly advance their tier!
Given his current low tier, this was crucial.
Most importantly, he suddenly remembered that Pharaoh's Tower held a tremendous opportunity.
Back then, after being rejected by Princess Marry, John, the protagonist, resolved to improve himself and ventured into Pharaoh's Tower, where he obtained the legendary [Order]—Order of Thunder!
With the power of the Order of Thunder, John's cultivation soared, using the countless ghosts as experience fodder.
Three years later, he defeated Princess Marry, gained fame in the Azure Kingdom, and embarked on his legendary journey!
And considering the timeline, John had not yet entered Pharaoh's Tower!
This was a golden opportunity!
After all, encountering an [Order] was incredibly rare. Once mastered, it could dramatically enhance one's abilities!
While others saw him as a prodigy, Owen knew he was heavily reliant on the system.
His inherent talent was quite ordinary.
But if he obtained the Order of Thunder, he would truly become a top-tier prodigy in his own right.
Facing Leslie, the future villain and Hell Queen, he would feel much more confident.
After thorough consideration, Owen chose Pharaoh's Tower!
Upon making his choice, Owen's personal panel changed accordingly.
[Name: Owen
Level: bronze-tier lv9
Talent: Order of Merlin
Experience: 0/10000
Skills: Mana Void; Supreme Sword; Starlit (0/10000)
Weapon: Godslayer Staff (1/7)
Luck: 90 (Max 100)
Fate points: 300 (obtained by seizing the protagonist's opportunities; 1000 points unlocks rewards in the Fate Store)]
While Owen was choosing from the three dungeons provided by the system, Duke Charles noticed that Owen seemed to be deep in thought and hesitating.
Growing increasingly anxious, Duke Charles quickly took out two marriage contracts, already signed by him, and handed them to Owen as soon as he came back to his senses.
"Owen, don't worry. Although Leslie has a bit of a temper, she'll surely change after the marriage. I'll also make sure to teach her during this time," Duke Charles said persuasively.
Owen understood Duke Charles' intentions at a glance, but he didn't say much.
He simply smiled and said, "Alright, since the Duke insists, I'll sign the marriage contract. However, I plan to head to Pharaoh's Tower soon to improve my tier, so I won't be able to visit House Ravenwood."
Given his current low strength, he didn't want to meet Leslie too soon, especially since he didn't feel confident yet.
He would wait until he obtained the Order of Thunder.
Hearing this, Duke Charles frowned slightly, sensing that Owen might be hiding something. "Could he be planning to use the dungeon as an excuse to run away?" he thought.
With this in mind, Duke Charles turned the heirloom jade ring on his thumb and put on a friendly smile.
"Pharaoh's Tower is filled with numerous ghosts and is extremely dangerous. This is Benedict, the commander of House Ravenwood's Wolf Guard. I'll have him accompany you to ensure your safety. If you need anything, you can let him know."
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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Inside the Duke's mansion.
A few butterflies fluttered and chased each other, dancing through the vibrant garden, making the already brilliant flowers appear even more vivid.
In the midst of this garden, a beautiful blonde woman sat gracefully in a pure white flower pavilion.
Her head was slightly bowed, with golden hair cascading like a waterfall.
Her bright sapphire eyes attentively scanned the magical compendium in her hands.
Occasionally, mana would emanate from her delicate figure, making the flowers around her bloom more brightly.
At one point, she seemed to sense something, her long eyelashes fluttered, and the butterflies resting on her flew away.
Suddenly, beside her appeared a cold, haughty woman dressed in a red and black formal gown.
She wore pristine white silk gloves, and a golden chrysanthemum emblem gleamed on her proud chest in the sunlight.
This symbol represented the most luxurious Chrysanthemum Hotel, which governed the Azure Kingdom's commerce and travel industry.
The emblem on the woman's attire signified that she was the hotel's manager—Charlotte.
In the Azure Kingdom, Charlotte held a high and respected position, frequently dealing with the empire's elite.
When Charlotte appeared, her cold aura made the surrounding air chill, with snowflakes forming at her feet.
However, upon seeing the blonde woman in the pavilion, her icy gaze softened considerably.
She quickly bowed respectfully and said:
"Miss Leslie, I have just received news that you have a new fiancé. His name is Owen. He should be just an ordinary mage, but he unexpectedly defeated the second young lady in the martial competition for marriage… He is now preparing to go to Pharaoh's Tower to advance his tier."
Charlotte succinctly reported the recent events to this noblewoman, who had supported and assisted her.
While the Chrysanthemum Hotel outwardly managed accommodations and travel services, it was actually the largest intelligence network in the Azure Kingdom.
Initially focused on overt information, under Miss Leslie's direction, it also began handling underground intelligence, leaving no news beyond its reach.
Leslie continued to quietly peruse the ancient book in her hands, showing little interest in her so-called fiancé.
After all, her father, Duke Charles, had long been intent on marrying her off.
Even though she had established a notorious reputation as a troublemaker, it was clear he had not given up and continued to find suitors for her. She had grown used to it.
However, when she heard that Owen had defeated her sister, Madelyn, she finally looked up, revealing an angelic and solemnly beautiful face as she gazed at Charlotte.
Although she did not particularly like her exuberant sister, Leslie was well aware of Madelyn's strength.
Having reached silver-tier and with the support of family inheritance skills and a staff, few peers could defeat her.
Yet Owen, without any notable background, managed to do so. This was unusual.
"Miss, the information is absolutely true," Charlotte assured quickly upon seeing Leslie's gaze.
The matter was of great importance, and she had personally investigated Owen's background.
Despite being somewhat incredulous, he indeed appeared to be just an ordinary mage.
"Such a person might be a dark horse. Although he is only bronze-tier level 9, it's better to be safe than sorry. Have the vice leader of the Bounty Guild deal with him personally. Make sure it's done discreetly."
After a brief thought, Leslie made her decision.
She was not fond of uncertainties.
Owen's sudden rise and presence gave her an inexplicable sense of unease.
Since he was her fiancé, it was best to eliminate him.
Charlotte nodded seriously, about to turn and leave when she suddenly remembered something and spoke up, "Miss, when Owen defeated the second young lady, the staff he used was suspected to be the Godslayer Staff…"
The Godslayer Staff was well-known across the continent, and Owen's sudden rise without any apparent reason made her suspect that he might indeed possess the real Godslayer Staff.
Of course, this was just her speculation without much concrete evidence.
"Whether it's true or not, start spreading the news that the Godslayer Staff has resurfaced. Since he likes the spotlight, I'll add fuel to the fire," Leslie said lightly.
If she was going to eliminate Owen, she would first muddy the waters so no one would link it back to her.
Moreover, she was confident that with the Chrysanthemum Hotel's intelligence network, many mages would be unable to resist the temptation.
Regardless of the truth, they would seek out Owen to verify the claims.
In that case, she might not even need the Bounty Guild's vice leader; Owen would likely be killed by those greedy mages.
The vice leader would serve as the final measure or the one to push things over the edge.
Charlotte understood Leslie's intent immediately and agreed that it was a good plan.
By turning Owen into a target, his death would never be traced back to them.
...
Meanwhile, after a moment of contemplation, Owen decided to bring Benedict and his group along to Pharaoh's Tower.
He could understand Duke Charles' intention of having the Wolf Guard follow him.
Although being watched and followed was unpleasant, Duke Charles meant no harm.
Moreover, Benedict was a gold-tier level 1 mage, and most of the guards were around silver-tier level 1.
With such a group accompanying him, Leslie's attempt to assassinate him would become much more difficult.
With them around, he wouldn't have to worry about trivial matters.
Especially considering his current state—penniless, with no gold coins to buy food, water, or healing potions.
Given the wealth of the Duke's mansion, he might as well take advantage of it.
After all, he was now the Duke's prospective son-in-law.
Seeing that Owen was ultimately willing to let Benedict and the guards accompany him, Duke Charles breathed a silent sigh of relief.
It seemed Owen had no intention of running away from the engagement and was indeed planning to head to Pharaoh's Tower for training.
Participating in the martial competition for marriage and then immediately heading to a dungeon to advance his tier—such a hardworking prodigy was truly rare!
Duke Charles grew increasingly satisfied with Owen.
After some friendly conversation, Duke Charles did not disturb Owen further, only reminding him not to push himself too hard.
Owen, playing the part of a novice, nodded repeatedly at Duke Charles' words.
After bidding Duke Charles farewell, Owen immediately set off for Pharaoh's Tower.
By his estimation, it would take about half a day to reach the tower from the capital, as the distance was relatively considerable.
Benedict and the guards, being seasoned warriors, accompanied Owen, replenishing supplies along the way.
They especially stocked up on healing potions and those that could heal mental and physical injuries.
Pharaoh's Tower might not be an extremely formidable dungeon, but the sheer number of ghosts and mummies made it dangerous.
If injuries were not quickly treated, small wounds could easily become serious.
...
As Owen headed towards Pharaoh's Tower with Benedict and his entourage, news about the martial competition for marriage began to spread among the common people.
This event had already caused a stir in various countries, with top-tier prodigies from almost every kingdom participating, drawing widespread attention.
"No wonder Duke Charles' youngest daughter is so formidable.
Madelyn's strength is terrifying! Not only has she reached the silver-tier limit, but her combat experience is vast.
She won 109 consecutive matches, making other prodigies seem like ordinary people in comparison!"
"It's no surprise she dared to hold a martial competition for marriage; her strength is truly frightening!"
"Unfortunately, she was defeated in her 110th match."
"What? Madelyn was defeated? Who could have such strength? Garner from Blackwind Academy? Or a genius from Moonspring Kingdom?"
"Neither. It was someone named Owen, and his tier is only bronze-tier level 9!"
"What... How did he do it? Madelyn's strength is such that even top-tier prodigies aren't her match. What is special about this Owen?"
"No one knows, but Miss Madelyn doesn't intend to marry Owen. Duke Charles has decided to marry Leslie to him instead, so he is now Leslie's fiancé!"
"Leslie's fiancé? The notorious Leslie? Owen has jumped into a pit of fire!"
"I feel the same way, but I heard that the Godslayer Staff is in Owen's possession and that he can wield it!"
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Like it ? Add to library!
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
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