Landlord World - Start with SSS talent-Chapter 235: Fate Holder - Zeka

Just then, a man suddenly appeared, thrusting the spear tip against Noan's face.

He was a middle-aged man with a square-jawed face, his unkempt moustache and beard having grown wild for lack of grooming.

His eyes brimmed with suspicion and anger as he stared at Noan, ready to drive the spear through his skull at the slightest provocation.

Seeing this, Monica was so frightened she felt tears welling up. She shouted urgently, "Baron, what the hell are you doing?"

Baron heard his name called beside Noan and turned toward Monica.

When he saw her, he started in surprise. "Monica? You…"

"He's our guest—lower your weapon at once!" Monica cried, panic in her voice.

She knew Noan's temperament—and his strength. She understood full well that Baron's actions might provoke Noan's wrath.

If Noan grew angry, the consequences would be terrible—perhaps everyone here would die. She could not allow that, so she tried desperately to stop Baron.

But Baron paid her no heed. He only sneered and said, "A guest? Monica, you think I'll treat him like a guest?"

"Not everyone has the right to enter this place. This is for the strong—certainly not for some frail, weakling like him."

Had Noan been muscular, sun-tanned, exuding virile power, perhaps Baron would have shown some respect.

Instead, faced with Noan's lean frame, pale skin, and delicate features, Baron looked down on him contemptuously.

"You…" Monica was so furious she felt she could smash Baron with her hammer.

"Can't you see I'm guiding him in? Can't you see how indifferent he is, even with your spear at his throat?"

But of course, Baron could not hear Monica's thoughts.

Noan regarded the burly man before him—like a bruiser Gray bear—with mild interest.

He quickly detected a tinge of envy behind Baron's contemptuous gaze.

'Ah! So… it isn't just about how I look' Noan thought.

He glanced at Monica, then back at Baron, realizing that Baron's hostility also sprang from Noan's association with Monica.

Noan did not hurry to act; on the contrary, he gave a nonchalant smile and said, "Ah! This place is for the strong? You think I'm that weak?"

"Huh! Of course," Baron sneered, curling his lips. "Looking at you, I'm afraid if you wandered outside you wouldn't last two hours before becoming a block of ice."

Monica: "..."

At that moment, Monica truly wanted to cry. She couldn't believe Baron could be so foolish.

She opened her mouth to speak, but Noan cut in, leaving her no chance to explain: "So what if I want to take refuge here?"

Noan continued.

He was confident because he had used magic to scout the area, and Vylyss had helped him survey the entire place.

Here, aside from Monica, Baron, and one other person inside the Main House, no one was exceptionally strong.

Baron was slightly weaker than Monica; the mysterious figure in the Main House was twice as strong as she was.

However, even someone twice Monica's strength was no match for Noan.

That was why Noan felt so secure.

As for Baron… he wasn't even a match for Monica, so Noan was too lazy to bother with him.

Hearing Noan speak, Baron laughed and replied, "It's simple: if you want to enter here, you must prove your worth."

"If you lack strength, then you must have resources—energy crystals or food, anything. Produce them quickly."

Monica's anger flared, her face reddening. She shouted, "Enough, Baron. I told you, this man is my guest; if you continue harassing him, I will—"

Baron saw Monica defending this young man, and his anger and jealousy only grew.

That feeling clouded his reason, making him want to make things even harder for Noan.

"Huh! Monica, you're the deputy leader; you should be the first to follow the rules," Baron sneered. "Besides, I'm the gatekeeper. I'm only doing my duty."

"Bastard! You…" Monica truly wanted to say 'if Baron wants to die, let him die alone,' but before she could finish, Noan's hand settled on her shoulder, signaling that she needn't speak further.

He smiled, feigning to pull several Rank-E energy crystals from his coat pocket, and said, "Is this enough?"

Baron's eyes brightened when he saw more than ten Rank-E crystals in Noan's palm, silently thinking that Noan must be a fat goat.

Of course, Baron would never let such a fat goat slip away.

"Not enough!" Baron barked. "Do you think this will earn my protection?"

Monica clenched her fists in fury, reaching for her dagger, but at that moment another figure appeared.

"All right, Baron. That's enough." A young man stepped out from the Main House.

He looked about twenty-seven, strikingly handsome as if plucked from the silver screen—blond hair, blue eyes, a sharp nose, pale skin. On Earth, many girls would no doubt pine for him, viewing him as a bright star.

"Captain?!" Baron jumped at the sight and hurriedly stepped aside.

Yet in his eyes blazed jealousy and anger. Though he bowed his head, his hands gripped his spear so tightly they turned white.

Monica, surprised, inclined her head and said, "Captain Valen!"

Valen nodded gently, then smiled at Noan. "That's plenty—no need for more."

"After all, we're all survivors. We should help each other, not pick fights. Understood, Baron?"

Baron ground his teeth but restrained himself. "Understood, Captain."

Valen nodded again and added, "It seems we have many guests today—you're the third to arrive."

"Noan heard this and frowned, but he didn't dwell on it. After all, in this entire area, no one was strong enough to catch his attention.

The young man named Valen standing before Noan was indeed powerful—twice as strong as Monica.

But to Noan, that still wasn't enough to threaten him.

"All right, everyone, come inside; don't stay out here—it's very cold."

Valen smiled, then led Monica and Noan into the Main House.

Baron remained at the doorway, his face so full of rage that even his beard trembled.

"Damn it!" Baron muttered. "Valen, one day I'll snap your neck."

Noan sensed Baron's murderous intent, but it was directed solely at Valen, so he paid it little mind.

Even if Baron wanted to kill Noan, Noan didn't care—would a giant heed the squeak of an ant?

Once inside, Noan immediately felt the warmth; the temperature here seemed to be around 5 °C.

Although 5 °C was still chilly, it was far more bearable than –40 °C.

Noan walked to the center of the Main House and saw a large glass orb filled with energy crystals.

The orb rested on the floor, as large as a basketball. Thanks to the crystals within, it radiated enough heat to warm this spacious hall.

A few others were present, but Noan paid them no heed.

Instead, his gaze fell upon a young man standing beside the orb—and at that moment, a System notification appeared before him.

The young man noticed Noan's stare. Though they had just met, he felt uneasy and resentful toward Noan, as if an ancient grudge lay between them.

The girl standing next to him looked puzzled; she glanced at him, then at Noan.

[Ding! 'Fate Holder' detected – Zeka. Information on this Fate Holder has been listed in the 'Fate Holder List' function.]