Tanai of Sunshine's Dark Mantle stronghold wasn't large. Compared to other cities, there were fewer people and resources. However, the old man there was currently sitting in the most honorable position.
All along, even Han Shuo had overlooked this person's existence in the Valley of Sunshine. He only knew that he smilingly guarded the shop all day long and covered the existence of the Dark Mantle stronghold. He hadn't expected that he would actually be a senior elder of the Dark Mantle.
That old man saw Han Shuo's glittering eyes looking at him and smilingly nodded towards Han Shuo, saying, "What, you don't recognize me?"
"No, I just didn't expect to see an old man here and was a bit surprised." Han Shuo answered truthfully.
"Brian, this is Master Sabakas, the previous Five Dark Sun Envoy. The Valley of Sunshine is the place where Master Sabakas retired, so that identity is naturally not real." Candide still had that sinister appearance, but he stood up when he introduced Sabakas to Han Shuo. It was obvious that he was showing respect to Sabakas.
Han Shuo was actually unable to sense any elemental aura from Sabakas' body. He was startled and immediately understood that if Sabakas wasn't an ordinary person who didn't know martial arts or magic, then he was a true expert whose strength even Han Shuo couldn't see through. For him to be able to sit in such a position, he naturally wouldn't be an ordinary person who didn't know anything. Han Shuo could already imagine how strong Sabakas was.
"Greetings, old mister!" Han Shuo respectfully bowed and greeted with a smile.
Nodding his head, Sabakas raised his left hand and the space beside Emily warped. A white marble chair identical to theirs landed beside Emily. Sabakas smiled and said to Han Shuo, "Sit down first."
Han Shuo thanked her and walked to the chair to sit down, leaning against Emily. After Han Shuo sat down, Emily, who was leaning close to Han Shuo, said in a low voice, "Sabakas is Cecilia's grandfather, the Lancelot Empire's space sacred magus. Your Babylon Academy of Magic and Force's Dean, Emma, was once instructed by him. The large magical transportation matrices in every city of the Empire, including the various space transportation matrices here, were all set up by him."
Han Shuo was startled and couldn't help but look at Sabakas again. Only now did he remember what Emily had said to him in the underground world. Last time, Emily had said that Cecilia's grandfather was an extremely powerful figure that he had met before. Back then, Han Shuo had racked his brains for a long time but still couldn't figure it out. Only now did he finally understand.
Sitting together with Sabakas was an old woman with loose skin and a face full of wrinkles. She sat there with a crystal ball in her hands and continuously spun it. Her greyish white eyes were filled with loneliness, seeming to be out of place with everyone here.
When Han Shuo walked in, the old woman who looked like a witch didn't pay any attention to him at all. She sat there silently, as if she had fallen asleep. However, the crystal ball in her hand was still spinning, as if reminding everyone that she was still listening to them.
"That's the mysterious old astrologer Grace. I also just learned of her existence from my brother. However, I don't know what she does specifically. However, astrologers are a mysterious existence. It's said that astrologers can see the future, but I don't know if it's true or not." Emily saw that Han Shuo was looking at the old witch and once again opened her mouth to explain to Han Shuo.
Han Shuo sat upright and still without saying anything. He only slightly nodded his head to indicate that he had heard Emily's introduction. His gaze swept between Sabakas and that old astrologer Grace who looked like a witch. His heart was filled with astonishment. One was a sacred magus of the space element, while the other was an incomparably mysterious astrologer.
These two people should be figures of the Dark Mantle's elder rank. In addition to the fact that the three heavyweights of the Dark Mantle were gathered here, Han Shuo was really looking forward to what this meeting was discussing. He obediently sat there without moving, preparing to listen carefully to what they had to say.
"Brian, I'm aware of some of the things you did in Glorious Tanai. Hehe, you're a pretty good lad. Everyone can express their own opinions on the matters discussed here. Since you're able to sit here, you can also express your opinion on the matters discussed here. "Sabakas chuckled as he looked at Han Shuo and said to Han Shuo.
Han Shuo thanked him again, but still sat there obediently and didn't open his mouth to say anything. Han Shuo looked at each and every one of the thirteen people present. He understood that those who were able to sit here were definitely the true upper echelons of the Dark Mantle. He didn't know what matter could cause these people to gather together, and his heart was filled with curiosity.
After a while, Han Shuo gradually understood why these people would gather together. It turned out that it was because of a power struggle between a few princes.
When a new emperor was about to be born in a country, the country would inevitably face a bloody purge. No matter what power or person it was, it was simply unrealistic for them to completely protect themselves. Even a neutral organization like the Dark Mantle similarly had to face this incomparably headache-inducing choice.
This Dark Mantle organization that directly served His Majesty the King would become the dark hand of the new emperor in the future. After the new emperor was born, he would definitely choose the person he trusted the most to control this enormous organization. If the Dark Mantle stood on the wrong side now, the upper echelons of the Dark Mantle would definitely be purged in the future.
After listening for a while, Han Shuo discovered that they seemed to want to remain neutral. However, a few princes had already clearly extended invitations to the Dark Mantle. The three heavyweights of the Dark Mantle had all been invited by a few princes. Currently, the three of them had all rejected the invitations of any prince and revealed a neutral attitude to the outside world. However, the three of them understood that if they truly remained neutral, they would exclude those who remained neutral from the list of trusted aides when any prince succeeded the throne in the future.
The Dark Mantle organization had always been the most trusted existence of the emperor. If they couldn't obtain the trusted aides of the new emperor, then the upper echelons would definitely be purged. At that time, it would be uncertain whether the three heavyweights would still be the same as they were now.
Among the thirteen people, there were also those who preferred the most powerful first prince, Charles. They believed that Charles was the most qualified to sit on the throne. Of course, there were also one or two people who had their own reasons for choosing the other two princes. However, no one was optimistic about the illegitimate son Lawrence. No one had mentioned him.
"Brian, I heard that you have a close relationship with Lawrence. What do you think of this matter?" Cecilia suddenly shot a glance at Han Shuo and asked. While the Dark Sun Envoys and Dark Sun Envoys were expressing their opinions, the two founding elders and the three heavyweights had yet to express their opinions.
Han Shuo had been silent the whole time, only listening to the conversation. He hadn't expected that Cecilia would suddenly ask him a question. He was a bit stunned for a moment.
Suddenly, the gazes of the thirteen people in the room all fell on Han Shuo. In recent days, Han Shuo had been at the height of his power in the Dark Mantle and the Empire. His situation was a bit different from theirs. As a city in the east, Brettel City was currently blooming with vitality. As the city lord, Han Shuo had enough bargaining chips no matter which side he sided with.
Han Shuo stared blankly for a moment, then fell silent for a moment. Afterwards, he smiled and said, "I will help Lawrence. As the city lord of Brettel City, it is my principle to repay favors. No matter how much you don't think Lawrence will win, I will still support him."
"Lawrence, that illegitimate son Lawrence?" Cecilia said disdainfully and shook her head, "Everyone has hope, but this guy doesn't."
Han Shuo smiled but didn't say anything. He understood in his heart that everyone present wouldn't be optimistic about Lawrence. The other envoys all had disdainful expressions, ignoring Han Shuo's attitude. They all withdrew their gazes from Han Shuo and looked at Cecilia and the other higher-ups.
At this moment, the crystal ball in old astrologer Grace's hand faintly lit up with a soft, misty light. Grace's turbid eyes slowly became filled with clarity. She suddenly moved her heavy eyelids and stared at the misty green crystal ball in her hand, looking at the specks of light inside.
Space sacred magus Sabakas retracted his chuckling expression as his gaze suddenly fell on this old astrologer. Candide's three heads also had extremely shocked expressions as they looked at the old astrologer Grace, who seemed to have been asleep since Han Shuo came in.
As the starlight in the crystal ball in her hand flickered, the wrinkles on old astrologer Grace's face that were like ravines faintly trembled. She started coughing violently, as if her life could be extinguished at any moment like a candle in the wind. Her coughing was heart-wrenching and she finally spat out a mouthful of fresh blood onto the crystal ball.
The crystal ball in her hand suddenly shattered, causing old astrologer Grace's body to sway and she almost fell from her sitting position. After a while, her violent coughing gradually stopped and her eyes were once again filled with a lifeless greyish-white color. It was as if she was so old that she couldn't see her surroundings clearly.
The envoys in the room only felt that it was strange. However, space sacred magus Sabakas and the three heavyweights looked at old astrologer Grace with sparkling eyes. They didn't even dare to breathe loudly, as if they were waiting for something.
Old astrologer Grace, who hadn't said a word since the beginning of the meeting, looked at Sabakas and the three heavyweights with her turbid and lifeless greyish-white eyes. Finally, her gaze actually landed on Han Shuo who was sitting in the corner. Sabakas and the three heavyweights were suddenly startled and their gazes also gathered on Han Shuo.
"What should we do in the future?" Sabakas glanced at Han Shuo in astonishment before turning his head to look at old astrologer Grace and asked cautiously.
"Sabakas, I'm a little tired." Old astrologer Grace spat out these words while trembling. She had long since retracted her gaze from Han Shuo, as if she had just casually glanced at him.
Sabakas nodded and glanced at Candide's trio, saying, "I'll send her off to rest first. You guys continue to discuss, but don't make a decision for the time being."
The three heavyweights stood up at the same time and bowed towards sacred magus Sabakas and Grace, respectfully sending off Sabakas, this elder of the Dark Mantle, as he left.
Sabakas faintly smiled and a ball of light enveloped him and old astrologer Grace. After the light flashed, the two of them disappeared without a trace. Even Han Shuo couldn't sense a trace of their aura. It seemed that they had already left the meeting room.
After Sabakas and old astrologer Grace left, the three heavyweights no longer discussed the future direction of the Dark Mantle. They seemed to be waiting for Sabakas and the old astrologer's guidance. In the remaining time, they discussed the various major events that had recently occurred in the Dark Mantle. The third and fourth Dark Sun envoys reported some of the problems that were difficult to resolve and explained the anomalies within their jurisdiction as well as situations that were harmful to the Empire's safety.
"Brian, how is the situation in Brettel City and the seven grand duchies?" Candide, one of the three heavyweights, shot a glance at Han Shuo and asked after everyone had finished reporting.
Although Han Shuo was the city lord of Brettel City, he was only a Second Dark Sun envoy here and had the lowest status. Hearing this, Han Shuo stood up from his seat and calmly said, "The Dark Mantle's stronghold in Brettel City is developing well. Currently, with Brettel City as the center, the strongholds have been distributed to every major city in the seven grand duchies. Every day, they will send letters to Brettel City to report the major events that have occurred."
"Very good, the seven grand duchies should indeed be carefully monitored. They have always been restless." Candide replied.
"My Lord, do you know of Statholme of the seven grand duchies' Stranglethorn Valley?" Han Shuo thought for a moment and suddenly asked Candide before sitting down.
After hearing these words, the expressions of the eleven people after Grace's departure didn't look too good. Candide helplessly shook his head with a gloomy expression. Then, he suddenly looked at Han Shuo with surprise, "You met that old monster?"
Shaking his head, Han Shuo said, "No, but I heard that he was the former State Preceptor of the Verdun Imperial Court. So he had the strength of a sacred swordmaster. The last time the Empire invaded the seven grand duchies, it was said that the experts on our side received a warning from this person. I wonder if this is true?"
Nodding his head helplessly, Candide sighed and said, "This is the Empire's shame. If it wasn't for the existence of this old monster, the seven grand duchies would have long been conquered. How could the seven grand duchies, without a sacred magus, be a match for our Lancelot Empire? Isn't it all because of the existence of this old monster that we haven't used a sacred magus? "
Seeing that Candide actually admitted it, Han Shuo was stunned. He firmly remembered Statholme in his heart and even more so secretly pondered whether he should be a bit more cautious and cautious towards the seven grand duchies.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
