NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11: Noels Game
"Sorry, Boss… we couldn't catch him," the subordinate reported, his voice laced with frustration. "We saw him in the market, but he was with Miss Yunha. We couldn't make a move. After that, he went straight to the City Lord's house."
The Alliance Head's eyes narrowed into slits, his fury barely contained. "What?"
Without warning, he drew his sword, the blade cutting through the air with a sharp, swift motion. THWACK!
The subordinate fell to the ground, lifeless, the crimson stain spreading quickly. The message was clear.
"Noel..." the Alliance Head hissed. "You won't last long."
---
Back at the City Lord's House
"So, I've decided. The marriage will take place next month," the City Lord declared, his tone final and unyielding.
Noel paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He had expected an invitation, perhaps a proposal, but not a set date.
"Next month?!" Noel thought, his mind racing. That's fast... but it could work to my advantage.
The City Lord spoke again, not noticing Noel's contemplation. "It's already decided. You will marry my daughter. The union of our families will solidify your position as my son-in-law. You understand the honor of this, don't you?"
Noel's lips curled into a confident smile. Son-in-law to the City Lord's family... It's almost too easy.
The formalities continued as Noel was introduced to various workers, nobles, and the City Lord's inner circle. Each person greeted him with exaggerated reverence, bowing low and calling him "Young Master."
Noel stood tall and proud, playing the role well, though inside, his mind was calculating the next move. All these people trying to get a taste of power... If only they knew who I truly am.
Amid the greeting, Noel was distracted by a sudden Ding! from his system.
[Congratulations, Host! You have become a 1st-Level Lord!]
[Congratulations, Host! Hidden system function unlocked.]
[Step to become Supreme Lord has been activated.]
[You unlocked Follower Ranking System.]
Ding!
Noel heard the familiar system notification, but he didn't have time to check it.
Suddenly, a man stepped forward, his eyes landing on Noel. The moment he recognized him, his entire body stiffened, and his face twisted in sheer disbelief. His voice trembled with rage and shock.
"T-This… this can't be possible!" Bai Long shouted, his expression filled with both confusion and fury. His reaction drew the attention of everyone in the room.
The City Lord turned toward him, frowning. "Bai Long, why are you screaming?"
Bai Long pointed a trembling finger at Noel, his voice laced with disbelief. "City Lord… are you serious?! This man… I saw him in the market two or three months ago—begging like a filthy street rat! And now, you're telling me your daughter is going to marry him?!"
A heavy silence filled the room. Some of the servants exchanged glances, clearly shocked by Bai Long's claim.
The City Lord's expression didn't change. Instead, he calmly gestured toward Noel. "Bai Long, look at him properly. Does he look like a beggar now?"
Bai Long turned back to Noel, finally taking in his appearance. Noel stood tall, dressed in luxurious robes, his hair neatly styled, his entire presence exuding the air of a noble young master. Every detail—from his expensive accessories to the confidence in his eyes—spoke of someone wealthy and powerful.
Bai Long's throat dried up. This… this was nothing like the pitiful beggar he had seen months ago. How could a beggar transform like this?!
But Bai Long clenched his fists, refusing to accept it. "City Lord, this man must have tricked Miss Yunha! He must have taken her money to buy these clothes and fake his status!"
Noel simply smirked, watching Bai Long's desperate attempts to justify what he was seeing. He didn't need to say anything—the City Lord had already lost patience.
A powerful pressure erupted from the City Lord's body, causing Bai Long to stagger back slightly. His voice was cold. "Bai Long, are you calling me a fool? Do you think I wouldn't investigate someone before accepting them as my son-in-law?"
Bai Long's face paled. "N-No, City Lord! I would never—"
The City Lord's gaze turned sharp. "Then watch your mouth. This conversation is over."
Bai Long swallowed hard, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He had no choice but to step back.
Meanwhile, Noel simply smiled to himself.
Noel smirked and took a step forward. "Fath—" He stopped himself, quickly correcting his words. "City Lord, can I leave now? I have some important business to handle."
The City Lord burst into laughter, his deep voice echoing through the hall. "What did you just call me?"
Noel's lips twitched. "Ci… City Lord?"
Suddenly—BOOM!
A suffocating pressure descended upon him. Noel clenched his fists as his breathing turned heavy under the weight of the City Lord's aura.
"I am your father-in-law now," the City Lord said, his gaze sharp. "So call me 'Father.'"
Noel's face twitched. Father?!
He wanted to refuse, but the invisible pressure squeezing his body said otherwise. Forcing a stiff smile, he reluctantly spoke. "O… Okay, Father."
The City Lord's expression eased, and with a satisfied nod, he retracted his pressure. "Good. You may go now. But I expect you to return tomorrow to spend time with your fiancée."
Noel's smile stiffened further. "O-Of course, Father… I'll definitely come."
As Noel stepped out of the City Lord's house, he let out a deep breath.
"Phew… I thought that guy would expose me the moment he walked in." He wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead, then smirked. "Before the City Lord starts digging into my background, I need to create a fake one first."
Then, glancing at his hands, he clenched his fists slightly.
"I think when the City Lord was testing me, he wasn't using his full power… Otherwise, there's no way I could have lasted ten minutes against him."
His eyes narrowed.
"If that was just a fraction of his strength, then I need to get stronger—fast."
The system notification was still waiting for him. He finally turned his attention to it...
Noel's eyes widened as he read the system notifications.
[Congratulations, Host! 200 People Follow You!]
[Your Reward: 200 Gold Coins]
[You have gained 2,000 EXP.]
[Do you want to level up? Y/N]
"Wait… 200 gold coins? That's worth around… 30,000 silver coins?!" Noel's jaw almost dropped. "What the hell?! I became rich in an instant! But when did 200 people start following me…?"
His mind raced, but he quickly pushed aside the question. What mattered now was his progress.
"I also have 2,000 EXP… Alright, just level me up once."
[Congratulations, Host! You are now at the Top Level of the Awakened Realm.]
[You need 1,500 EXP to level up again.]
Noel clenched his fists, feeling the surge of power coursing through him. His body felt lighter, his senses sharper.
"Damn… this is a huge boost."
Just as he was about to savor the moment, another notification popped up.
[Ding!]
[No Follower Ranking Selected]
[Auto-Selecting...]
[Ding!]
[1. Commander: Ming]
[2. Vice Commander: Lan]
[3-7. Soldiers: Bao, Chen, Wu, Zhao, Shen]
Noel smirked. "So the system has finally started organizing my people… Interesting."
Now that he had money, strength, and a structured team, the real game was about to begin.
Ding!
[Host,Can't Mannage the ranking Of Other 200 Followers]
Ding!
[Other 200 Peoples Are temporary ]
"What,Temporary What this system mean by that"
"When I first came to this world, the system told me it would give me all the knowledge about the system. But now, I feel like it hasn't even given me 2% of what I need to know. This is ridiculous."
Ding!
[We are giving you the next level of knowledge.]
Ugh... The knowledge transfer felt as disgusting as ever, and Noel grimaced, trying to block the unpleasant sensation. How can this even be possible?....