After their talk, it was time for Ray to visit Manoban's house. He took Belar with him, who was still trying to process everything Ray had revealed.

As they approached, they saw Manoban's parents waiting for them, their faces grim.

Once inside, her father wasted no time. "I had my doubts about you two ever since I heard some rumors," he said, his voice hard. "But I never expected this to be true."

Ray looked him straight in the eye. "I may not be the best person in the world, and I may not be perfect, but I love her, and she loves me. Isn't that better than selling her to that city lord?"

The father sighed, his posture deflating. "It's not like we want this, but it's so hard to run from that man. We…" He broke down, tears welling up as he imagined the horrible fate awaiting his daughter if they failed.

Ray quickly stepped forward and helped him to a seat.

"I have a way," Ray said, his voice firm. "I've prepared many things." He explained that he knew about the city lord's plans, and he knew that the city lord would try to kill him.

"He knows I love Manoban, and he knows that I won't let him have her. He will try to kill me to get her."

He then began to explain everything. He told them about the rice, which was not just a simple grain but a superfood that could change their lives which he has especially prepared for the Feudal lord.

He showed them the Hybrid-Armor he had prepared for them, a thin, cloth-like material that would protect them from any normal attack.

"I have a theory about the city lord," Ray continued, his tone low and serious. "He didn't just give Belar this job for money. He gave it to him to use us as scapegoats.

He's going to use the arrival of the feudal lord as a way to get rid of me. He's going to poison the feudal lord's horses, and when they get sick, he will blame me and Belar for it."

Manoban's father and mother listened in stunned silence. The pieces of the puzzle were fitting together in a horrifying way. The rumors about the city lord, the sudden job offer, the damage to their fields—it all seemed to be part of one master plan.

"I've already prepared an antidote for the horses, a powerful healing draught that can cure any poison or sickness," Ray added.

"And I've given Belar an armor just like the ones you have. We can't run from the city lord. He will always find us.

The only way to win is to expose him, to prove that he is a fraud and a monster. The feudal lord will be our key. He is the only person who can stand up to the city lord."

Ray's words were not just a theory; they were a roadmap to victory. He explained that if they could prove the city lord's conspiracy, the feudal lord would have no choice but to intervene.

The city lord's greed and cruelty would be his downfall, and they would be the ones to expose him.

Belar, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "He's right. I've never seen anyone think this far ahead. I trust him completely."

Manoban's parents looked at each other, their faces a mix of fear and newfound hope. The man they thought was just a stable boy was, in fact, a brilliant man who saw the world for what it was and was willing to fight for those he loved.

Ray wasn't just asking for their permission; he was offering himself to them as a part of the family.

…

However, despite Ray's thorough explanation, a sliver of doubt lingered in Manoban's father's mind.

Her mother, however, simply watched, a growing sense of relief and pride in her eyes. She couldn't help but think her daughter had chosen the right man.

"I have tasted the rice, and yes, it's amazing, something I've never tasted before," her father admitted. "But how is this going to help? And where did you even find such a thing?"

He also wanted to ask about the armor and the antidote, but he held his tongue, as he first wanted to clear his doubt about the mysterious rice.

Ray simply smiled. "They're not from anywhere. They're your own grains."

He then asked Manoban to bring another bowl of normal grains. Once she did, Ray took the bowl, and in front of their bewildered eyes, he used his Modification skill.

A soft blue glow enveloped the grains, and in an instant, they swelled and transformed into the same rich, golden superfood they had seen earlier.

Manoban's father and mother stared, speechless. Even Manoban, seeing it for the second time, couldn't help but feel a fresh wave of surprise. Ray then explained, "This is what we will offer the feudal lord. And I will personally do it myself when the time comes."

Ray went on to explain his plan for the armor and the antidote.

"This armor," he said, holding up the Hybrid-Armor. "It can protect you from any normal blade. Wear it at all times. And this," he said, showing them the small vial of the healing draught, "is an antidote for the feudal lord's horses. The city lord will try to poison them, and when he does, we will be one step ahead."

Ray's tone grew stern. "If they are after my life, it means they'll target those close to me—or more likely, close to Manoban. You must wear this armor at all times and never take it off."

Manoban's mother worriedly asked, "What about the you?" She looked at Manoban, Ray and Belar.

Before Ray could answer, Manoban spoke up. "We already wearing the one. You two were the only ones left."

With all the plans laid out, the group could do nothing but wait for the day the feudal lord arrived. Ray, exhausted from the non-stop plotting and preparations of the last few days, returned to his room and collapsed onto his bed. A storm of conflicting thoughts raged in his mind.

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