Head Supervisor Kedan looked at Head Supervisor Hanks, who was standing at the front of the welcoming line, and felt like laughing inside. Don't be fooled by how Head Supervisor Hanks's authority seemed to be unparalleled in the past few days, as though he was above everyone in the family, giving out orders that could send someone to prison at the slightest disagreement. Even he could only reluctantly cooperate, barely managing to ensure that the family territory's administrative system ran smoothly.
However, the moment he received news that Laurist had returned to the Northern Lands, this Manager Hansk seemed to have aged a decade or so. He no longer had that high-spirited and arrogant air. Not only did his attitude become gentle and cautious, there was also a hint of fear and trepidation. His position as the chief administrative officer of the Norton Family was his own. Laurist might tolerate his eldest son becoming the heir of the family, but he would never let Hanks off.
That was why Hanks, who was standing at the front of the welcoming line, had an inexplicable expression of self-sacrifice on his face. He was instructing Lesqut in a low voice on how to greet Laurist when he saw him, and how to respond to Laurist's questions. Perhaps in Hanks's heart, even if he sacrificed his life for the family's internal strife, it would be a great victory for Young Master Lesqut to become the heir of the Norton Family. From this point, it could be seen that Hanks was very loyal to the Norton Family. Of course, this was what he thought.
The rumbling of hooves could be heard from afar. Soon, Laurist appeared in front of the welcoming line. Behind him were Christie, Redi, Tagger, Bofinger, the guards, and the soldiers of the Monolith Army …
Many people in the welcoming line were trembling, and Hanks and Young Master Lesqut were no exception. When Laurist reined in his horse and stopped in front of the welcoming party, everyone lowered their heads and bowed in unison. At this moment, everyone understood that Laurist was the sky of the Norton Family. Becoming a Sword Saint was the greatest honor and protection for the Norton Family.
"Welcome home, Your Highness …"
According to the traditional etiquette of nobles, Laurist should dismount his horse and kindly ask everyone to dispense with the formalities. Then, he should greet the welcoming officials one by one. He did not need to say much, just one or two sentences. He just needed to pat the officials' shoulders, thank them for their hard work, and express his appreciation and closeness to them.
However, Laurist remained seated on his horse's back, not saying a word. Almost all the family officials who came to greet the guests felt a sharp gaze fall on them. The welcoming hall suddenly became silent. The mountain-like pressure made those family officials who had ulterior motives or were a little guilty couldn't help but lower their heads and lower their waists, as if they wanted to hide in someone else's shadow …
"Your Highness!" Steward Hansk proudly stood up and broke the silence.
Laurist waved his hand as if he didn't hear anything. Behind him, Reddy rode his horse to the front of the welcoming crowd. He took out a silver tube from the back of his horse and poured out a scroll from it. He opened the scroll and began to announce his name, "Clause! Evensen! Eckfar! Moslin! Bayacus … "
Every time Reddy announced a name, a few guards would rush up and pull the person out of the welcoming crowd. Those who were observant would find that all the people whose names were reported were people trusted by Steward Hanks. They had just been promoted, or they were from Maple Forest Manor. Most of them were veterans of the Garrison Camp. They had made great contributions in the mutiny to elect Young Master Lescott as the heir of the family. However, the strange thing was that Reddy seemed to have ignored the existence of Steward Hanks and Young Master Lescot, and did not announce their names.
"What are you trying to do?" Steward Hansk was shocked and jumped in front of Reddy's horse, as if that would stop him from continuing to announce names.
Redi clamped his legs, dismounted his horse, and moved two steps to the side to face Manager Hanks. He then raised his right leg and kicked Hanks in the face. Hanks was sent flying seven to eight meters away, and he raised his head with difficulty. There was a bruise on his face, and he spat out a mouthful of blood with two teeth mixed in it. Reddy acted like he kicked a wild dog that blocked his way and continued to announce the names on the scroll without a care in the world.
More and more people were pulled to the side by the guards, and when there were about forty to fifty people, Reddy finally stopped and put the scroll back into the silver tube. Laurist got off his horse and walked to the rest of the officials. He showed a kind smile and helped them up one by one. He patted their shoulders and said, "It's been hard on all of you."
Steward Kordan represented the remaining thirty or so family officials and expressed their apologies to Laurist: "Your Highness, we are sorry. It was our incompetence that caused the family to experience such chaos …."
Laurist waved his hand: "There is no need to say anything more. You are all civil officials of the family, and there is no need for you to dye the swords and spears of traitors red with hot blood. When the family was in chaos, you were still loyal to your duties, maintaining the operation of the family territory's administrative system, maintaining order and peace in most areas of the family territory. This is your contribution to the family, and I express my heartfelt thanks to you. Thank you. "
Laurist's words moved the family official in front of him to the extreme, but it caused the forty to fifty people who were being escorted to the side to turn pale. This was Laurist personally describing the internal strife within the family. He used the word "traitor", which meant that this was an internal rebellion within the family.
"I-I'm not a traitor! We are the most loyal retainers of the Norton Family! Your Highness, you cannot insult us! " Hanks's face turned red. There was nothing more infuriating than Laurist saying that they were traitors of the Norton Family. He rushed to Laurist and shouted agitatedly with the bruise on his face from Redi's kick.
"Look, who is this?" Laurist finally looked Hanks in the eye: "I am very curious, Baron Hanks. Why are you here? I remember telling you to scram back to your own fief and reflect on the damage you've done to our family. Since you have served the family before, I have mercifully forgiven you and only allowed you to return to your own fief. Then can you tell me who allowed you to appear here and shout at me, the head of the Norton Family? "
"Ugh … …" Hanks suddenly found himself in a dilemma. All the reasons and arguments he had prepared beforehand were useless in front of Laurist's interrogation. Laurist had called him by his title and not his position in the family. It was obvious that he had kicked him out of the family's upper echelons, and he could not find a reason to appear here.
If Hanks claimed to be a loyal retainer of the family, then he should obey Laurist's orders and stay in his own fief to reflect on his mistakes. Without Laurist's permission, he should not appear here.
"I, I'm here to support Young Master Lescott as the heir of the family. It's the duty of every loyal servant of the family …" Hanks finally found an excuse that he could explain.
"Hehe, heir of the family?" Laurist turned to the trembling Young Master Lescott who was pretending to be an ostrich. A trace of disgust flashed in Laurist's eyes as he looked at his plump body.
"I don't remember having any heir of the family." Laurist said softly. His voice was soft, but everyone could hear him clearly: "Lescott, my dear son. Time flies. You are already seventeen years old in the blink of an eye. Ever since you were young, I have been busy with family affairs and neglected to nurture you. But I did not expect you to be so eager to become the heir of the family. Is this your wish? "
Lescott had rarely seen his father, and he feared Laurist from the bottom of his heart. Back then, Laurist had thrown him into Markk's house to receive strict discipline from Madam Malek. Then, he had made a mistake in Nicol Academy, and Laurist had ordered Redi to strip him naked, hang him up, and whip him thirty times. Then, he had thrown him back to Maple Forest Manor covered in wounds. These lessons were deeply engraved in his heart. Even though Laurist had asked him nicely, he still felt cold all over and could not stop trembling … …
Under Laurist's disdainful gaze, Lescott recalled his mother's orders and Steward Hanks' words of encouragement. His mother's words, "No matter what, you're still His Highness' eldest son, and His Highness won't do anything to you," gave Lescott the courage to speak. "M-mother and Uncle Hanks said that I'm the natural heir of the Norton Family, and that everything in the Norton Family belongs to me, and that no one can, can be compared to me …"
"The natural heir of the Norton Family?" Laurist laughed involuntarily and stretched out his hand. Tagger walked over and placed a scroll in Laurist's hand.
"I was injured and lost contact with the family's territory, so you came out to claim that you are the heir of the Norton Family. I do not blame you at all. My dear son, as a man, it is right to be ambitious, but listening to others' encouragement and doing whatever you want only shows that you are an idiot with no brains. "
Laurist opened the scroll in his hand, "You have been in Raging Bear City for seven months, right? Let me see what you have done in these seven months … … Wow, you have done a great job.
Wow, you've done a great job. In seven months, you've raped and toyed with twenty-one maids in the City Lord's Mansion, killed four servants, and one of them was a chef. Just because the venison he roasted did not suit your taste, and after arguing with you for a bit, you drew your sword and killed him. You even threw his head into the fire. Your Uncle Hanks even issued a gag order and buried the corpses in the garden for your sake …
By the way, you also wrote a letter to the Academy of Dawn, requesting them to kidnap your cousin, Heliles, and hand him over to you so that you can take revenge on him for stopping you from molesting your two half-sisters back in the Nicol Academy. The Academy of Dawn rejected your request, and you flew into a rage, requesting the First Regiment of Guards to attack the Academy of Dawn. In the end, your cousin, Kristya, also rejected your request. So, you cursed at your aunt in the City Lord's Mansion …
Since you can't command your aunt Christie's First Guard Legion, you sent your Uncle Hanks to capture Madam Malek and her family. You want to repay her for disciplining you, don't you? Fortunately, Madam Malek and her family got the news and left the manor first. Your guards then burned down the manor that was given to Knight Malek to vent their anger … …
Also, in the past seven months, you've left the City Lord's Mansion four times. During these four times, you've robbed three women and killed the families of two women. You've even run over three people and injured more than ten people on the bustling streets of the city with your carriage. At the same time, you've ordered all the merchants in the city to offer you rare and interesting treasures before they're allowed to continue their business …
My dear son, I really admire you. You have done what I have always wanted to do, but I have not been able to do it. Since I was young, I have always wanted to be like you, and bully people without anyone daring to stop me. But I do not dare to do what you have done. Do you know why? Because if I did that, your grandfather, my father, would hang me on the spot as an apology to the ancestors of the Norton family.
Your mother has spoiled and spoiled you since you were young, and she has raised you to be a magical beast in human skin. You have no tolerance or humanity. As your father, I have decided to correct the mistakes I have made. First, I will strip you of the Norton surname. You do not deserve this great and honorable family name. It is your actions that have shamed this noble family name. At the same time, I will learn from my father and your grandfather. I will expose all your crimes to the public and hang you on the gallows. Anyone who tarnishes the honor of the Norton Family will be punished … … "
While Laurist was calmly announcing his eldest son's crimes and the punishment he was about to receive, the plump Lescott stepped back with a pale face. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that all of his actions were being watched by Laurist. He looked around nervously at the family officials present. No matter who it was, he felt that they were the informants.
"F-Father, forgive me … …" Lescott did not know what he had tripped over, but he fell to the ground. Then, he smelled the stench of urine. He had actually lost control of his bowels.
"Your Highness! You cannot do this. This is His Majesty's decree. His Majesty appointed Lescott as the heir of the Norton Family. You have no right to punish him! " Steward Hansk rushed to Lescot, took out the decree of the second prince from his bosom, and yelled excitedly.
"His Majesty's decree?" Laurist chuckled. "Are you joking? Or did I hear wrongly? Baron Hanks, since when can His Majesty interfere with the internal affairs of the Norton Family? Especially when I, the head of the family, am still here. Can His Majesty appoint someone as the heir of the family? Could it be that His Majesty wants to break off relations with the nobles of the kingdom and start another civil war? "
"That, that's because His Highness was severely injured in the battle with the Windstorm Sword Saint, and he also lost contact with the family. As a precaution, we requested His Majesty to appoint Lescot as the successor of the family, to oversee the family's territory when His Highness is not around …" Manager Hansk argued.
"Just in case? So Baron Hanks has been cursing me to die early. "Laurist's words were harsh, but it was the truth. After becoming a Sword Saint, Laurist could live for at least two to three hundred years. Just like the Flying Fire Sword Saint who lived in seclusion in the Chigda Kingdom, it was said that he had already lived for more than two hundred and sixty years. If Lescott could not become a Sword Saint, even if he was Laurist's son, he would only grow old faster and die earlier than Laurist.
"So Baron Hanks let the guards lead the Great Swordsmen who wanted to assassinate me to search for my whereabouts. He would rather expose the family's most secretive production and training base, allowing a large number of top-secret blueprints and information related to the family's future to fall into the hands of the enemy. Almost two thousand of the family's most loyal soldiers sacrificed their lives to protect the family's secrets … …" Laurist's tone was filled with anger.
"I-I only did my best to protect the safety and stability of the family territory and help Young Master Lescott supervise the family's internal affairs. I am loyal … …" Hansk was still trying to argue.
"Loyal? Haha, do you deserve to say that? " Laurist sneered. "What right do you have to supervise the family's administration and territory affairs? I don't remember entrusting you with any duties. Placing the family's Golden Knight under house arrest, taking over the army using his warrant, attacking the administrative capital of the family territory, sealing the border passage of the family territory, cutting off the family's military supplies, and burying Lescott's evil deeds. Is this how you show your loyalty to the family? If it is, I'm sorry, but I don't need this kind of loyalty. In my mind, this is treason! "
"Take these traitors away. I will publicize their treason and punish them!" Laurist ordered coldly. Kieran watched as the guards brought Steward Hansk, Lescott, and those whose names were called away.
Christie walked up to him. "I'm sorry, Loke. I don't know what Lescott has done. If I did, I would have stopped him. But are you really going to punish him? He is your eldest son … … "
Laurist's face was gloomy. After a moment of silence, he finally opened his mouth. "If a prince breaks the law, he will be punished like the people!"
… …
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