Chapter 56: I Truly Wish You Were My Mother

“Alright then, but she is indeed a wonderful person. If she can’t be your mother, being your aunt wouldn’t be half bad either. Now, off you go.”

After expressing his gratitude to Ronnie, Draxel once again set off on his journey, mounted on his horse.

By the next evening, he arrived at Ibiran Village, his own domain.

Draxel had previously visited this village while rescuing Old Aubrey’s wife and child. He had fond memories of the place, with an impression of the villagers leading prosperous lives.

Locating the village chief’s home was effortless, as this wasn’t his first time seeking out the chief. Before long, the Count arrived at the village’s largest dwelling, the chief’s residence.

“Greetings, noble Count Draxel, the Flame Knight of Calradia. Welcome to our village. I am the chief here. How may I assist you?”

This recognition and correct recitation of his nickname thrilled Draxel.

“You are among the most favored village chiefs I’ve met. I’m sure this village will become my favorite. I’m here in search of someone.”

Finishing his explanation, the Count presented the letter he had been carrying to the chief.

After reading the letter, the chief replied, “Ah, so you’re here for Xiao Yanzi. She’s already retired for the night. Would you prefer I wake her now, or should we postpone our meeting until tomorrow?”

“Ah, do wake her, please. My time is limited… wait, what did you say her name was?”

“My noble lord, she’s called Xiao Yanzi. Very well, I shall wake her immediately.”

“No need! Let’s talk tomorrow morning, no, let’s make it noon, perhaps she enjoys her mornings in bed. I’m not pressed for time.”

In this virtual world, encountering someone with the same name as his mother was bound to stir a deep sense of empathy and concern in Draxel. Consequently, he made do with a night’s stay in the village, waiting until the following noon to revisit the chief’s residence.

“Good afternoon, my noble–” Before the chief could finish, Draxel interjected.

“Chief, let’s forgo the formalities. Where’s Xiao Yanzi?”

“She’s been awaiting your visit at my place. She’s my sister and has just finished her lunch.”

“Excellent, I’ll head in then.”

“By all means, my noble lord.”

It might have been the kindest twist of fate that Xiao Yanzi in this game world not only shared his mother’s name but also resembled her closely. Draxel, upon first sight, nearly let tears of nostalgia fall.

“Mother…no, I mean, are you Xiao Yanzi?” Draxel inadvertently spoke to her with high regard.

“Noble Count Draxel, please, don’t use such formalities with me. It’s far too grand. I’m merely a commoner. I can’t possibly accept it. Just calling me Xiao Yanzi is fine.”

“Alright then, Xiao Yanzi it is. I was referred to you by Profit Empress Ronnie. I was hoping you could assist me in setting up a gambling den.”

“A casino? Absolutely! Where shall it be? I’m the legendary goddess of gambling, after all.”

Her unexpected change in demeanor and her evident love for gambling strikingly mirrored his own mother’s characteristics.

“Ha, it seems you’re quite the expert. Would you accompany me back to Uxkhal today, then? You’ll be accommodated in the guest bedroom of the lord’s hall.”

“Well… Count, that seems a bit improper. I’m just a commoner. How could I stay in such a lavish place? Perhaps it would be best to place me in the servants’ quarters of the hall.”

“If I say it’s okay, then it is. You’ll stay in the finest guest room. Let’s head out now.”

Xiao Yanzi was puzzled by his sudden outburst, yet she could feel the Count’s genuine kindness and friendliness towards her, which truly touched her heart.

Even the system felt moved by his respect and profound love for his mother.

[System Alert: You’re truly filial, Count. Worry not, I’ll make sure your casino thrives.]

‘Finally, after all this time, you’ve said something sensible, though you’re not even human. Never mind, it’s not important. Go offline now!’

At that moment, Draxel was basking in the feeling of “having found a mother,” his spirits exceptionally high.

They traveled through the night and quickly made their way back to Uxkhal. Throughout the journey, Draxel took exceptional care of Xiao Yanzi, offering her water, volunteering to cook together, and even walking the horse so that Xiao Yanzi could ride. Xiao Yanzi, now in her forties, had never experienced such care and attention before. Her heart was now fiercely determined to establish a grand and successful casino for the noble Count before her.

Upon arrival at the lord’s hall, Draxel encountered a dilemma. The guest rooms were all occupied, but his mother, Lady Bela’s room, was spacious enough to accommodate two people.

“Xiao Yanzi, would you mind sharing a room with my mother, Lady Bela?”

“Of course not, how could that be any trouble? You’re being too gracious, Count. Your mother and I are of the same age, we’re bound to get along well.”

After consulting with Bela, she too happily agreed. The prospect of having another person of her age as company, someone to converse with, delighted her. Most importantly, Bela, too, had a fondness for gambling.

At breakfast the next morning, Draxel took the opportunity to introduce Xiao Yanzi to everyone. Turning to Merchant Marnid, he asked, “Our very own God of Wealth, how much would you say we need to open a casino?”

“My noble lord, given Uxkhal’s prosperity, if you wish to open a casino, it has to be a grand and luxurious establishment to truly stand out and attract patrons. I estimate we would need about 10,000 denars.”

The difficulty of this venture was clear on Draxel’s face upon hearing the figure. He responded thoughtfully, “Well… I’ll figure out the financing. But what do you think our returns might look like?”

At that moment, the system couldn’t resist making a snarky remark. 

[And what exactly will you do? Resort to borrowing from my beloved Ronnie again? Oh dear, relying solely on her for disasters!]

‘Quiet, I’m in the middle of a meeting. Don’t interrupt me,’ Draxel dismissed the system’s interference, his focus firmly on the casino planning session.

Merchant Marnid optimistically predicted, “If all goes well, we could be looking at a weekly profit of over 3,000 denars, with the operation being sustainable in the long run. It promises to be quite profitable.”

While the men were deep in discussion, Xiao Yanzi timidly interjected, “Excuse me, my noble lord, might I propose a small idea?”

“Xiao Yanzi, there’s no need for formalities. Call me Draxel, that’s an order. Actually, it’s more than that; it’s My directive to you.”

This peculiar display of favoritism toward a middle-aged woman puzzled everyone present, yet none dared to question it. Safiya, meanwhile, was out hunting with Lein and remained oblivious to these developments.