After introducing himself, the hostage-taker in the banquet hall caused quite a commotion. The surrounding guests discussed animatedly.
Count Godwin, who was in charge of negotiations, sighed.
"Please accept my condolences, young man.
"Your father's heroic act brought back the heir of Constellation. If he died for it, it would be worthy of remembrance."
Anker did not speak.
The count's tone changed to a slightly reprimanding tone.
"But this is not a valid reason for your actions."
Anker remained silent, but his eyes were unfocused.
Looking at Anker's expression, Count Godwin frowned. He realized that tonight's matter might not be so easily resolved.
The count subconsciously looked up, but the king's seat was empty.
Only the Duke of Star Lake, the supposedly gifted teenager, was seated on the first row of seats. He was surrounded by a large group of guards.
His expression was solemn, and he lowered his head in silence.
Thales stared at Anker in a daze.
He still remembered when he woke up in Ghost Prince Tower.
At that time, Yodel told him,
It had been a day and a night since the orcs invaded Blade Fangs Dune and the Legendary Wing returned to provide reinforcements.
Thales pushed open the tower window and saw the desolate aftermath of the battle that Blade Fangs Camp had experienced and Roman's victory.
But what he did not see, or what he thought he did not see, was the true bloodshed of that day's war.
And those whose fates were changed because of it.
"Death? Sacrifice? Benefits? Price? Victory? These are just the most superficial aspects of war … The fates of thousands of people … will be tested in this cruel furnace. "
Hicks the Old Crow's words echoed in his mind.
"Please remember … Beyond hypocritical moral accusations, beyond simple calculation of benefits, beyond the illusory warrior's honor, do not belittle war itself — it is far from as simple as you think. It is not a game where one must win or lose, where one must pay the price, where one must live or die.
"And you and I, whether we are powerful suzerains, or commoners who rise and fall with the wind, we are but the most powerless pawns, because most of the time, it is not up to us to decide, even if you are the instigator or victor of the war."
A noise behind him interrupted Thales' thoughts.
"New intelligence from the Flag Bearer Division."
Vice-captain Vogel took a few pieces of paper from his subordinate and said cautiously, "That's right.
"Anker Byrael is indeed a Western Desert aristocrat, and also the eldest son and heir of the Baron of Crow Caw City."
"You're right. He had been cultivating in the Tower of Eradication until his father passed away."
Mallos pondered for a moment.
"His father died during the mission to escort the prince back, so this young Byrael feels indignant and wants to destroy the prince's banquet?"
The watchman shook his head.
"It doesn't make sense."
Vogel nodded, obviously suspicious as well.
"Also."
He immediately switched to another piece of paper.
"A few days ago, Anker Byrael applied to the House of Nobles Affairs, hoping to squeeze into tonight's nobility conferring ceremony and have the Supreme King confer him nobility to inherit his father's title."
Thales thought of something.
He remembered the conferring ceremony tonight. Among the nobles who were conferred hereditary titles, there were new nobles who started from scratch, old nobles who inherited their father's business, and a bastard from Blade Edge Hill who was not that legitimate.
But no Anker Byrael.
Vogel snorted and continued reading.
"The House of Nobles Affairs replied: 'Byrael is a subject of Western Desert. Conferring a servant beyond his master's authority is unconventional'."
Mallos frowned.
"Unconventional?"
"Why do I remember that among the candidates for the conferring ceremony tonight, there was an illegitimate child, which also falls under the category of 'conferring a servant beyond his master'?"
Vogel glanced at him and folded the letter in his hand without batting an eyelid.
"The Duchess of Blade Edge Hill is close to the royal family, so naturally there is no problem.
"As for Western Desert …"
He did not continue.
Conferring a servant beyond his master's authority is unconventional?
Thales suddenly remembered the ancient imperial sword given to him by Duke Fakenhaz.
"Alright."
Mallos pondered.
"But why did he look for Baron Doyle?"
Vogel scoffed.
"Vengeance, hatred, profit, harm — nothing more than these four. You can combine them any way you like, and there will always be a truth."
In the middle of the hall, Count Godwin took a deep breath.
"Young Byrael, your father sacrificed himself for the country and died a worthy death. You should not tarnish the glory he left behind."
Anker sobered from the grief of losing his father.
"You're right, Viscount. I shouldn't."
He breathed shakily, as if suppressing something.
He kept repeating, "I shouldn't."
But Anker's expression quickly turned ferocious.
"Until I hurried back to the country and found out," he looked at everyone and gritted his teeth, "My father borrowed money to raise military funds in order to recruit the army …
"Owed him a huge sum of money that he could never repay in his lifetime."
Many people were stunned.
In the next second, Anker grabbed Old Doyle by the collar.
"Come on, you old varmint!"
The hostage-taker's tone was urgent.
"Tell His Highness, tell everyone, tell the whole kingdom about the shady business you've done!
"Tell everyone about the crime you've committed against my father, against the Byrael family!"
Baron Doyle scowled miserably.
"I didn't do anything …"
But Anker's blade immediately pressed against the old baron's neck, even drawing a few traces of blood.
"Think again?"
Old Doyle shuddered and quickly corrected himself.
"I, I, I lent money to your father to tide him over …"
Thales furrowed his brows.
Anker spat on the ground!
"Bullsh * t!"
He kicked the old baron's back, and the latter fell into a pile of dirty dishes, gasping for breath.
Seeing his father in trouble, Doyle clenched his fists, but Glover quickly pressed down on his shoulder and stared sternly at the former.
"I've investigated. When the Duke of Western Desert's mobilization order arrived, you appeared!
"Just when my father was in financial difficulties and at his wit's end."
Anker glared angrily at Baron Doyle and stomped on his back.
"You sweet-talked him, loaned him a huge sum of money, bewitched and deceived him with promises of great benefits, inciting him to recruit soldiers, arm the army, take risks in the desert, and pursue war.
"In the end, he was completely annihilated, lost everything, and was heavily in debt."
He was almost roaring.
"He died of depression on his sickbed from his serious injuries!"
Count Godwin's expression was solemn. He was having a headache over how to proceed with the negotiations.
Baron Doyle's voice was laced with sobs.
"It was your father who was loyal and wanted to respond to the call to fight for the country in the desert … I couldn't stop him even if I wanted to …"
Anker interrupted him angrily.
"No! You! It was you who fabricated the excuse of 'war has great benefits', pretended to be generous in lending him money, and lured him into your trap! "
The old baron hissed in pain.
"I didn't lie to him! The last Desert War made so many people rich … "
Rich.
Thales felt stifled. He remembered Blade Fangs Camp, the Fakenhaz soldiers who plucked at the entrance of the camp and collected tolls, and the large pile of goods that Tormorden had intended to smuggle out.
Anker laughed sarcastically.
"You mean those war merchants?"
He loosened his footsteps and pulled the old baron up again, making him face everyone in the banquet hall.
"Those vampires who somehow knew that my father was going to mobilize for war, and took the opportunity to sell him supplies?"
"Half of them are in cahoots with you, and even in partnership! You've been colluding with each other for a long time. "
Baron Doyle seemed to have experienced the interrogation method of the person in front of him, and he quickly replied,
"We have business dealings, it's normal to know each other …"
"Shut up!"
The hostage-taker stared at the old baron with resentment, his words heavy with pain.
"You took advantage of my father's generosity and lack of financial knowledge, used trap-ridden grammar and dazzling numbers to trick him into signing an unfair contract, and owed him several times the original debt."
Old Doyle seemed to have resigned himself to his fate. He tried to squeeze out an "understanding" smile.
"It's a loan. How can there be no interest? And you're of noble birth and have a large business, so it's understandable that the interest is higher … "
Anker suddenly reached out and grabbed the hair at the back of Baron Doyle's head, forcing the latter to look up!
As the baron hissed in pain and his wife cried out involuntarily, Anker gritted his teeth.
"But in the deliberate trap of your contract, the unpaid debts were mortgaged using the land and population of Crow Caw City!
"Land, population!"
The crowd exclaimed softly.
"Ah, hiss, no," Old Doyle refused to relent despite the pain.
"As for the collateral, these are the terms of the contract witnessed by the authoritative accountant of the Royal Family Bank. It's only right to repay a debt …
"Unless you planned this!"
Anker roared!
"Unless you lent out the debt for the day when he failed in his expedition and was in debt, unable to repay, and had to cede his land!"
The next moment, Anker suddenly turned around and raised his sword, the tip of his sword sharply pointed at a guard who was looking for an opportunity to ambush.
He forced the latter and his imitators back to a safe distance.
"This is absurd," the old baron's voice was shrill in his defense.
"Could it be that I'm certain that he will lose? Did I know that the orcs would attack the camp … "
Thales had a thought.
Was certain that he would lose …
Knew that the orcs would attack the camp …
The Duke of Star Lake frowned.
Unfortunately, there were people who knew about these two points.
And the Doyle family …
Thales subconsciously glanced at Doyle beside him: the highest rank among the vassals directly under the royal family, the Seven Jadestar Attendants.
Obviously, Anker was not satisfied with the baron's words.
"Stop playing dumb! I know it very well! "
The hostage-taker raised his head and said loudly to the guests in the hall,
"Old varmint, you've extended your evil claws into the Western Desert, into our Crow Caw City a long time ago!
"Our families belong to two different places, but we share a border. Over the years, you've used your geographical advantage to coerce, seduce, and plunder. You've colluded with some of my father's vassals and corrupt officials in Crow Caw City to conspire against the law for a long time. "
Anker said angrily,
"Those scum defected to you behind my father's back, illegally sublet the tenant population, privately allocated land, concealed taxes, and made the farm laborers in Crow Caw City work for you.
"And all of you worked together, even the transportation route from Mirror River to Crow Caw City, across the Central Western Desert, has long been built."
Old Doyle wanted to defend himself, but Anker's grip was getting stronger, forcing him to close his eyes. He could only moan in pain.
"So, my father could only watch as his territory dried up, his harvest decreased, and he became more and more impoverished …"
Hearing this, the old baron could no longer bear the pain.
"I'm renting the land with them. It's a voluntary arrangement. Your father knows …"
But Anker roared again.
"Knew my ass!"
His blade pressed against the baron's neck.
"Do you want to go down and confront him now?"
The guests exclaimed in unison.
Seeing that the situation was out of control, Count Godwin immediately interrupted him.
"Mr. Byrael!"
He said sternly,
"You can't accuse Baron Doyle so arbitrarily without evidence, not to mention lynching him …"
Anker sneered at that.
"Evidence?"
The hostage-taker sneered. After a few seconds, he finally removed the short sword from Old Doyle's carotid artery.
"Doyle, your fief had a bumper harvest this year, right? Even to the point of exporting it? "
The old baron hesitated.
Anker angrily gave Old Doyle a slap.
"Speak!"
In pain, Baron Doyle hurriedly spoke.
"A bumper, bumper, bumper year …"
"Bumper year?" Anker was so angry that he laughed.
"But not just this year!"
He gritted his teeth and looked at the onlookers.
"And last year, the year before, the year before that, the year before that … For eight or nine years, your crops have been bumper harvests, driving the flow of trade and goods, and the market is thriving! Your financial surplus is enough to support a small army!
"With the long and narrow land in Mirror River? With the worst soil in the entire Central Territory? Do you really think that you can get such a big harvest and squeeze so much money out of us? You people from the Central Territory, who have been spoiled by the prosperity of the capital, who only want to squeeze into Eternal Star City, who are arrogant, but who love leisure and hate work? "
"And you even have surplus grain and goods that can be circulated out of the country and sold to the desert or even Northland to make a fortune?"
Hearing this, Thales was shocked!
He subconsciously looked at the other seats and found the bowl cut man among the crowd standing on tiptoes.
Levi Trentida.
At this moment, this Northlander from Reformation Tower was keeping a low profile with his head lowered, oblivious to the Duke of Star Lake's gaze.
"I'm going to buy some souvenirs to bring back … food, clothes, toys … Damn bureaucrats and merchants conspired to suppress the quantity and raise the price …"
Damn it.
The teenager gritted his teeth.
"Those are our farmland, our food, our wealth! And God knows if there are any other victims other than Crow Caw City? "Anker's cold words echoed in his ears.
The discussion in the crowd broke out again.
This time, there was much less controversy. Most of them were whispers.
At this moment, Mallos began to ponder.
"Speaking of this, Glover …"
The watchman suddenly looked up.
"Do you remember what your brother, Viscount Lozano Glover, said to His Highness before the banquet?"
The expression of Glover, nicknamed Zombie, changed slightly.
He subconsciously looked at one of the tables, at the other Glover with a calm expression and composure.
"Lozano?"
Glover hemmed and hawed, as if unusually sensitive to the name.
"Lo, Lozano, he told Doyle to stop his father from sending money to the Department of Finance?"
Doyle, who was firmly held down by Glover, shuddered and looked at his colleague in disbelief.
Mallos nodded.
"Viscount Lozano was very respectful when he met His Highness. He didn't even have time to talk to his half-brother.
"Why did he look for Doyle and bring up this internal matter of the Department of Finance? Just to badmouth the Doyle family? "
Doyle was stunned, while Glover's expression became very unpleasant.
"I remember now."
Zombie recalled and his face turned pale.
"Lozano also told Doyle that even if he sent money, he couldn't avoid this year's land settlement and tax inspection?"
Land settlement …
Thales took a deep breath and focused his attention back on the center of the venue.
Anker waved his short sword and sneered.
"So, old varmint, how long did you originally plan to do this?
"Do you intend to keep it up? Since it benefits yourself at the expense of others, why not? "
Old Doyle was about to cry.
"I said it wasn't …"
The hostage-taker interrupted him.
"But you didn't expect it.
"Six years ago, in the face of Eckstedt's war crisis, the feudal vassals complained incessantly during the National Conference, about financial difficulties, lack of food production, difficulty in recruiting soldiers, difficulty in expeditions …
"So once the crisis was over, King Kessel made a bold move and re-enacted the Land Measurement Order from King Aydi's era to revitalize agriculture and encourage production."
Anker's smile sent a chill down Old Doyle's spine.
"Now, according to the decree, the buffer period has passed, and the deadline for land settlement is approaching. You can no longer deceive and deceive."
Many people in the hall started whispering again.
"Seeing that the settlement was imminent and the fire was burning, you didn't have the time to make a long-term plan, but you also couldn't bear to cut off your source of wealth and abandon your tail to survive."
Anker's words seemed to be biting the tip of his tongue, causing blood to flow.
"You could only rush, rush to use the simplest and most economical method to get this done, and make it an irrefutable case."
Anker's gaze turned gloomy.
"For example, my father's debt contract."
Next to Thales, Mallos sighed slowly.
"Viscount Lozano works in the Kingdom's Department of Finance. Whether it's bribery, food production, taxes, or land, he must have noticed the hidden dangers in the Mirror River District.
"The words he said before the banquet were actually directed at the Doyle family, who are also part of the Seven Jadestar Attendants …"
But at this moment, another voice interrupted him.
"Not just that."
The watchman and vice-captain looked up in unison and were surprised to see the person who spoke.
"He didn't just say that," Thales said absentmindedly.
Vogel narrowed his eyes.
What?
"According to my royal etiquette lessons these days, Glover is a vassal of the Jadestar Royal Family, and I am the Duke of Star Lake cum heir to the throne, and his future lord."
Thales looked at the center of the hall, at Anker, who had successfully stolen the prince's limelight today.
"Regardless of status or affiliation, our interactions should have been initiated by me or Viscount Lozano, and after receiving permission, he should have come to see me. But …"
Mallos raised his eyebrows as he recalled.
"But he unusually and vaguely invited you to lower yourself to his mansion in East City District."
Thales nodded with a heavy heart.
"That was Viscount Lozano's reminder and warning to me.
"But we didn't understand."
Doyle shuddered again, his face showing remorse.
The prince did not continue but sighed.
"And I reckon Lozano didn't expect this hidden danger to flare up so fiercely and so quickly.
"He can't even afford to wait for a meal."
Thales shifted his gaze and noticed that the attitudes of the Seven Jadestar Attendants had become increasingly grim: Patterson, the oldest, was biting his lip, panting and glaring; Stone and Adrian were expressionless and silent, observing the situation; Lady Eleanor seemed to have only her son left in her world; Lozano, who had warned them earlier, was staring down at the table, seemingly indifferent to what was happening.
But in the entire hall, as Anker's narration became clearer, many people could not help but look at the composed Duke of Star Lake himself.
"The problem is," sensing their gazes, Thales felt a slight headache.
"How are we going to clean up this mess?"
Vogel snorted softly.
"It doesn't matter, Your Highness," the vice-captain looked disdainfully at the resentful Anker, "He's putting on an act in public, all for the sake of pleasing the crowd with your name and the banquet's name, to publicize his family's situation, and to create big news.
"When he's done with his nonsense and achieved his goal, Your Highness, you can then console him with words of comfort, and he won't have any reason to continue putting on an act.
"But there's one thing: no matter how that fellow induces you, no matter how extravagant his words are, you will never pass judgment, take a side, or show any inclination towards either side, even if it's just a smile or an eye roll."
Thales looked up.
"Either side?"
Vogel looked at him. This time, there was only sternness left in the vice-captain's eyes.
"Either.
"As for the rest of the investigation, interrogation, trial, and conviction, that's the matter of the court, the Nobles Affairs Council, and even the Imperial Conference tomorrow.
"This person's actions, other than increasing the topic of conversation at tonight's banquet, will not damage your reputation."
Thales pursed his lips, but Mallos, who was beside him, frowned.
"At least let the sniper team be on standby, right?"
Vogel glanced at him without saying a word.
In the hall, the confrontation between Anker and the old baron was still ongoing.
"You, you and those scumbags under my father, you conspired and worked together from both inside and outside, waiting for the loan deadline to arrive, and forcing my desperate father to cede his land.
"You obtained the new land in accordance with the rules and regulations, eliminating any future troubles and avoiding the land liquidation, while they changed their name and became your lackeys justifiably."
"But you didn't expect that when my father passed away under the pressure, I, who took over his position, was a stubborn fool."
Anker raised his short sword and pointed it at the old baron's nose. His voice grew colder.
"Tell me, when you set the trap, plotted against my father, and ultimately killed him, did you think this day would come?
"Has it ever occurred to you that his legacy, his bloodline, and his descendants will one day seek revenge on you in front of everyone?"
"Doyle of Mirror River!"
Looking at the tip of the sword pointed at him, Old Doyle shuddered violently!
The baron was stunned for a good while. His entire face turned red, and he could only spit out a few monosyllabic words through his muzzled mouth.
"No, you, you … he, he …"
At this moment, Count Godwin's furious roar resounded in the banquet hall.
"Anker Byrael!"
His tone was unprecedentedly stern and unrelenting.
"No matter what grievances you have, whatever reasons you have, do not forget that the kingdom has its own laws, and this world has its own reason!"
Anker was lost in thought for a moment.
"Laws? Reason? "
He lowered his sword and turned his head.
Count Godwin breathed a sigh of relief.
"As a noble, you are courteous, wise, loyal, and righteous. You should know how to use legal means, go through the normal channels, appeal based on reason, defend your rights, or communicate rationally, negotiate a solution, and seek justice and fairness."
The count's words were stern and righteous.
"Why bring a knife to the banquet and threaten someone's life …
"At Duke Thales' banquet, resorting to violence and taking risks out of desperation!
"You stand up for your father and family, but are you going to let your father's honor and family's reputation be completely ruined in your hands?"
The last sentence was obviously quite effective. Anker shuddered and looked at Godwin in a daze.
"I did it."
Count Godwin was taken aback.
"What?"
"When I first returned to the country," Anker said dejectedly, "legal means and methods."
"At first, I wanted to wait for the next year's harvest and settle my debts."
He stared at Count Godwin in pain and said hoarsely, "But I was told that the deadline for the contract was only before the land was settled.
"After that, I wanted to invoke the nobility's law and appeal for an extension."
He stared at the short sword in his hand and muttered, "But I was told that I had not yet inherited the title and had no right to appeal for an extension.
"Finally, I wanted to inherit my father's title early."
In the end, Anker looked at everyone in despair, "But I was told that this would require a hefty recognition fee, and that I could only wait for the next year's harvest."
Count Godwin was speechless for a moment, but he hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"If you can't solve it yourself, you can ask for help …"
But Anker roared back in a louder, more agitated voice!
"I did it!"
His blade trembled with his movements, waving futilely in the firelight of the entire hall.
"I went to the Ruins and Brave Souls Fort to ask for help from the bigwigs of Western Desert, but they said that the war at Blade Fangs Camp had just ended, and it was a critical period. They did not want to offend the vassals of Renaissance Palace, and said that this was a private matter between us and Doyle, and that they had no right to intervene.
"When I arrived at Eternal Star City, I submitted my complaint to the court of justice according to procedure, but it was rejected multiple times. A secretary who had been paid told me in secret that the Doyle family had just gained the favor of the Duke of Star Lake, and that Mindis Hall was of great significance. They could not afford to offend them.
"When I arrived at the Nobles' Affairs Chamber, I wanted to inherit the title on a special basis, but they told me that the prince had just returned, that the kingdom was thriving, and that everyone was living in hope. So, don't spoil the fun with your own trivial matters."
Thales listened to his account with a heavy expression, and uncomfortably realized that these reasons were all related to him.
Anker inhaled sharply.
"So, in the end, I could only go to Renaissance Palace, guard the palace gates, and wait for His Majesty to appear. But the moment I saw His Majesty's troops, the royal guards, and spoke …"
He grinned, showing calmness and resignation.
"I was sent to prison."
Amidst the soft but unnoticeable buzz from the crowd, Count Godwin did not say a word for a long time. He appeared to be at a loss.
"I reasoned with you, and you reasoned with me about the law. I reasoned with you about the law, and you reasoned with me about tradition. I reasoned with you about tradition, and you reasoned with me about reality. I reasoned with you about reality, and you reasoned with me.
"I did it," Anker rested his blade on old Baron Doyle's shoulder. His eyes were lifeless as he muttered absentmindedly, "What methods, what means, what possibilities …
"I did it."
He looked up slowly.
"Only the last one left."
The uneasiness in Thales' heart grew stronger.
"Three days ago, I spent the last bit of my travel expenses, and finally got the police station to release me."
Anker's arm slowly tightened. The old baron's expression changed as he groaned in pain.
"So I found him, and told this old varmint: I am willing to execute the contract and cede my fief.
"All I asked was for my father's funeral expenses.
"And that exorbitant amount of funeral fees allowed me to buy a seat at the edge of Mindis Hall tonight."
Anker smiled.
A very happy smile.
"Anker!"
Count Godwin seemed to have a premonition of what he was about to do. For the first time, there was panic in his voice.
"No —" Doyle struggled to move forward, but Glover held onto him tightly.
Anker said coldly,
"If you don't kill, no one will listen."
His wrist slowly lowered.
"If you don't shock the world, there is no way out."
His teeth slowly clenched.
"If you don't give up, you will suffer."
His eyes gradually dimmed.
"Please tell me, Count Godwin, His Highness Thales …"
Amidst old Doyle's screams of pain, his wife's heart-wrenching, and the horrified gazes of all the guests in the hall, Anker looked up.
His gray gaze pierced through the bright lights and fell straight on Thales.
"What kind of logic is this?"
Swordless only returned home at five in the afternoon and finished dinner at eight. Obviously, he could not have been writing.
So, this chapter was written by me, Swordless' next-door neighbor's dog!
Woof! Woof! Woof!
(End of Chapter)
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