It wasn't until the afternoon of the banquet that Li Wei realized just how extraordinary Little John's family was.
His family had arranged for a carriage to escort every Apprentice Mage attending the banquet.
Li Wei received the same treatment.
This showed just how much importance Little John's family placed on them.
Li Wei and Gu Ze rode in the same carriage.
He lifted the curtain and glanced outside as the shops lining the street rapidly receded into the distance.
'Outside the city?'
This was Li Wei's first time leaving the city.
CLIP-CLOP! RUMBLE RUMBLE!
The Black Scale Horses unleashed astonishing Power, pulling the carriage at high speed over the snow-covered roads.
The wheels rolled over the thick snow, carving deep ruts in their wake.
Only Black Scale Horses, which had inherited the bloodline of an Extraordinary Magical Beast, could pull a carriage at such a gallop through the snow.
Li Wei cracked open the window to observe the outside world, and wisps of cold wind seeped into the warm carriage.
The world outside was a blanket of white. Farmland lay buried beneath the snow, and bare trees stood starkly against the cold wind. There wasn't an animal in sight.
He shut the window tight, having lost interest in the view.
With snow everywhere, it was impossible to make out what the wilderness normally looked like.
Gazing at the charcoal stove that steadily radiated heat inside the carriage, Li Wei asked, "Is Little John's family that formidable?"
Gu Ze took a sip of tea. "In Maple City, they're one of the most prominent families."
"Over two hundred years ago, Otz Bieber was granted the title of Hereditary Viscount by the Empire and established the Golden Shield Clan in Maple City. After his death, his descendants could inherit his title in perpetuity."
"The current Viscount is Little John's father, Old John Bieber. Barring any surprises, Little John will one day inherit the title of Viscount of the Golden Shield Clan."
At this, he paused for a moment before adding, "However, I've heard that Little John has an older sister with an exceptionally high Knight Talent."
Gu Ze wasn't too familiar with the specifics.
He wasn't one for gossip; most of his time was spent delving into Magic Knowledge.
Still, as an Apprentice Mage, even if you don't go looking for information, you're bound to hear a few things.
Hearing this, Li Wei gained a general understanding of the Golden Shield Clan's standing.
The City Lord of Maple City was a Life Count, a title bestowed by the Empire.
The Empire's noble ranks, from lowest to highest, were: Life Baron, Hereditary Baron, Life Viscount, Hereditary Viscount, Life Count...
From all the books he had read, he had at least some understanding of the Empire's peerage system.
In terms of titles, this meant the Golden Shield Clan was second only to one person in Maple City, yet stood above tens of thousands.
Moreover, the Golden Shield Clan was an old, established family with a legacy stretching back over two hundred years. Its heritage was even more formidable.
Of course, that comparison only held when measured against the local powers of Maple City.
They were incomparable to transcendent organizations like the Mage Tower, the Warrior Guild, the Assassin's Guild, or the Professional Association.
Otherwise, for their annual banquet, the Golden Shield Clan would have surely invited a Mage or two to build connections, rather than just a group of Apprentice Mages.
After an unknown amount of time, the carriage finally began to slow down. Outside, the sky had grown completely dark.
Li Wei glanced outside and saw a line of carriages waiting to enter Golden Shield Manor for the banquet.
Before long, the carriage he was in drove onto the manor grounds.
Upon entering the manor, the scene changed completely.
Burning braziers were placed throughout the estate, illuminating the entire grounds.
As far as the eye could see, lush green plants were everywhere, beautifully maintained despite the winter season.
The stone-paved paths were almost completely clear of snow.
The carriages from the Mage Tower were met by dedicated attendants.
A moment later, an attendant invited Li Wei and Gu Ze to step down from their carriage and led them into a brightly lit great hall.
One side of the hall was laden with all sorts of tempting delicacies.
Fresh apples, bananas, and grapes... exquisite cakes, breads, and cheeses... fragrant roasted chicken, lamb, and steak... a colorful array of wines, juices, and other beverages...
Yet few people were partaking. Most stood around the hall, chatting and networking, trying to get acquainted with influential figures they rarely had the chance to meet.
At this banquet, even the Apprentice Mages were considered influential figures.
The moment Gu Ze appeared, several people approached him, raising their glasses in invitation.
Servants in the hall promptly arrived with trays of wine and juice, ensuring no honored guest was neglected.
Gu Ze accepted a glass of fine wine, raising it to acknowledge their invitations. The group immediately seized the opportunity to strike up a conversation.
Li Wei was indifferent to all this; he wasn't fond of making small talk with strangers.
He picked up a glass of juice and made his way to a corner.
He had only attended the banquet out of respect for their three years as classmates, and because Teacher Gu Ze was also coming.
Rather than conversing with strangers, he preferred to be an observer, standing aside and quietly listening to others' conversations to glean useful information.
"The heavy snow has blocked the roads, so grain can't be shipped in from outside. Grain prices in Maple City have nearly doubled."
"I heard someone spotted a Beastman at the edge of the Maple Forest."
"That can't be right. The Empire's border is over a hundred kilometers from Maple City. How could a Beastman possibly get this far?"
"I'm not sure. The snow's been too heavy lately for anyone to investigate and find out the truth."
Li Wei sipped his juice, quietly listening to the conversations around him.
'Grain prices are rising? A Beastman was sighted near Maple City?'
He silently made a mental note of these two things.
While they didn't affect him directly, they could influence the future state of affairs in Maple City.
"Did you hear? The Golden Shield Clan has produced a young, genius Knight!"
"I've heard about that. My son studies at the Knight Academy, and he told me the academy has produced the youngest Knight in Maple City's history this year."
"The Viscount is here."
All heads turned to watch Old John Bieber emerge from behind a red-curtained archway.
Old John was dressed in formal attire, a pin on his chest bearing the Golden Shield Clan's crest: an Indestructible golden Shield.
He was flanked by two people.
The young man was Little John, and the young woman was Reina.
Old John faced the crowd of guests, his expression relaxed and at ease as he began to speak eloquently.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Golden Shield Clan's banquet..."
Standing before the crowd, Little John looked nervous, occasionally fiddling with the hem of his clothes and his sleeves.
Reina's expression was calm, but a hint of impatience in her eyes suggested she had little fondness for such events.
Half an hour later, noticing a subtle restlessness rippling through the crowd, Old John finally realized it was time to conclude his speech.
"Thank you all for attending the banquet. I wish you all a wonderful evening!"
As he finally finished, the crowd promptly broke into applause.
Little John breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing his father walk into the crowd, he also began scanning the hall for familiar faces.
The few young nobles he usually hung out with were lost in the crowd, and he couldn't spot them right away.
But he immediately spotted Li Wei standing in the corner.
A look of delight crossed his face, and he hurried over to Li Wei.
Grabbing a glass of wine from a passing servant, he raised it in a toast and smiled. "Li Wei, thanks for coming to the banquet."
Li Wei smiled and raised his own glass in return. "I'm the one who should be thanking you for the invitation."