"Lord Count." The farmers who were working in the fields greeted their liege humbly and respectfully. Most of them didn't have the time to see Count's face clearly. They only knew that the man who was surrounded by so many Knights, who was riding the magnificent Dragon Scale Horse, and who was wearing the glamorous coat that covered his ears could only be the noble Lord Count. Also, the guys in the front were saluting him too.
Count Paphos held the Dragon Scale Horse between his legs and the whip in his hand, ignoring the farmers' greetings. It was the treatment that nobles deserved. There was no need to be surprised.
After they left the manor and turned into the avenue, Count Paphos whipped his horse hard and accelerated it, passing many carriages and pedestrians on the way.
Count Paphos despised the nobles who took carriages. How could the nobles who were enfeoffed by killing sorcerers and heretics abandon their pride and their instincts as Knights? Vanity was also a sin!
The Paphos Family was one of the earliest Knight families to resist the Magic Empire with the Church and the king. The title of Count was based on the strength and undying contributions of the generations, including Count Paphos himself. He had already become a Celestial Knight before he was forty and received the title of "Guardian Dragon". His hands were stained with the blood of evil sorcerers and heretics.
Dozens of Dragon Scale Horses galloped into the city. The Knight squires at the gate cleared the way when they saw the symbol of the Paphos Family from far away, not having the courage to stop or inspect them at all.
Hooooo!
Count Paphos pulled the reins, and the Dragon Scale Horse stood up and roared like a dragon.
The Knight behind him did the same thing and stopped the horses almost at the same time.
"Good evening, Lord Count." At the gate of the villa, two people who were dressed as nobles were already standing.
They were wearing the trendy two-layer jacket inside, whose buttons were all made of gems. They were also wearing high-collared coats with many accessories.
Count Paphos got off and nodded. "Thank you for your hard work."
They were the two barons under Count Count's domain. Today, they helped him gather the nobles who were close to him for a private gathering.
"It would be our pleasure." The two Barons replied respectfully and led him into the villa.
Count Paphos did not smile, but he was very satisfied with the attitude of the two barons, which made him feel the glory and power of a superior and a high noble.
There were a few long tables in the hall of the villa, with steaks, roast chicken, and other fattening foods on them. There were already many nobles holding wine glasses and chatting in twos and threes.
"Good evening, Lord Count." All the nobles greeted Count Paphos at once.
Count Paphos raised his right hand and waved, "Good evening, everyone."
He enjoyed the occasion. Power and place were always fascinating at times like this.
After giving the whip to the accompanying Knight, Count Paphos was ready to host the gathering, but at this moment, a guard at the gate led in a cleric in a holy white robe.
"Honorable Count, the bishop invites you to the church." The young cleric spoke politely, but his face was tight without any smile, giving a feeling of extreme arrogance. However, none of the nobles on the spot felt that it was inappropriate. He was the Lord's shepherd. Even if they were dissatisfied with his attitude, they could not show it, or the night watchers of the inquisition would come to them.
"Is there anything urgent?" Count Paphos asked reservedly.
The cleric seemed to be looking at the ceiling. "I don't know. Count, you'll know when you come to the church."
Count Paphos was secretly infuriated by such an attitude. Did the clerics of the church not have the most basic manners?
However, he controlled himself and said expressionlessly, "Okay."
"Right, Count, it's already past six in the evening. Nobody is allowed to ride a horse except the Knight on duty." The cleric added stiffly.
Count Paphos secretly clenched his fists, feeling that fury was surging to his head. As a Count and the lord of this city, he did not have the privilege at all?
After that, the cleric drew a cross in front of his chest. "I hope that you can come to the church as soon as possible, Count. Only Truth lives forever!"
"Only Truth lives forever …" Count Paphos drew a cross with his eyes deeply. He decided to hold back. What could he do if he did not hold back? Resist the Church? A demigod, fifty legendary Grand Cardinals and Holy Knights, and seraphs that could arrive at any moment. How could he resist them? It was a force that was even more terrifying than the three Magic Empires in the past!
Also, as the remnants of the Magic Empire were gradually eliminated, the Church was less and less reliant on the nobles.
The carriage slowly reached the city church. It was dark and cloudy, and a storm seemed to be coming soon.
Boom!
Thunder exploded, and silver electric arcs illuminated the sky. Earl Paphos raised his head and looked at the sky, before he got off the wagon and entered the church.
"Good evening, Your Excellency. Please allow me to pray to the Lord first." Count Paphos said politely. He had completely erased the dissatisfaction and fury in his heart.
This city was the capital of the county near Padre Port. It was in an important location and relatively prosperous. Therefore, the bishop here was Field, a red robe who had just been promoted. He nodded. "This is your piety."
After praying in front of the cross, Count Paphos finally smiled. "I wonder, what can I do for you, Your Excellency?"
Field said seemingly kindly, "According to the report of the night watchers, there are signs of sorcerers' activities in this area recently. I hope that you can devote more attention to the investigation, Count."
"That's my responsibility." Count Paphos replied casually, waiting for the bishop to discuss more important matters with him.
"Very good. Then, Count, you can go back and make arrangements." Field smiled.
"Nothing else?" Count Paphos blurted out in shock.
Field raised his eyebrow. "What else do you need?"
Earl Paphos was infuriated at once. 'You've summoned me here for such a trivial matter? You could've just sent someone to inform me! What do you think I am? A dog of the Church? You can order me around?
"Or maybe, Count, you don't think it's important enough." Field's smile gradually disappeared.
Count Paphos tried to hold back his fury. "Please forgive my eagerness to contribute to the Lord. Your Excellency, since there's nothing else, I'll go back and make arrangements."
He walked out of the church without changing his expression and entered the carriage. He sat on the seat like a stone statue. It was not until the carriage was far away and thunder rumbled nonstop that his face turned gloomy, and golden scales grew out of the back of his hands.
"This is too abominable! They don't treat the nobles as equals at all! "Count Paphos secretly gnashed his teeth.
Hualala. The storm poured down, and the night was even darker. The roaring wind made the branches and leaves on the roadside flutter. Leaves and debris were thrown at the carriage now and then.
Pa, pa, pa. The raindrops hit the roof of the carriage as if they were playing musical instruments. Count Paphos looked at the boundless night outside the window and found it hard to calm down. He was slightly confused. Was this the real status of nobles?
Dum, dum, dum, dum. Three rhythmic knocks echoed near the window in a row. Count Paphos was so shocked that he turned around and roared in a low voice, "Who is it?"
Being able to approach without being detected by him, a level-six Knight, the enemy's strength was terrifying enough.
"An impudent visitor." Slightly deep female laughter came from outside the window, but the coachman in the front and the Knight in the back did not notice it at all.
"Who are you exactly?" Count Paphos narrowed his eyes. A layer of golden dragon scales appeared on his exposed skin, and his pupils turned into golden vertical slits.
The female voice that was a bit magnetic chuckled and said, "Count Paphos, aren't you going to invite me in? Are you so worried that I wouldn't have reminded you just now if I really wanted to ambush you? For experts like you and me, the obstruction of a carriage is nothing at all. "
A very proud person who likes to strike at other people … Count Paphos made the judgment in his heart. After considering for a moment, he carefully opened the window.
A scarlet figure flashed in and sat in front of Count Paphos.
A senior-rank sorcerer … Count Paphos raised his wariness again, ready to attack at any moment, but his eyes suddenly glittered, because it was a young and beautiful woman who was as glamorous as fire. She was short and wearing a scarlet magic robe. Her facial organs were delicate, and her eyes were as red as blood. She was full of vigor.
It seemed that the rumor that female sorcerers liked to modify their appearance was true. However, didn't they say that the senior-rank sorcerers would have a lot of bizarre appearances because of the thorough blood modification and the contamination of experiments? Count Paphos subconsciously thought that he had no impression of such a senior-rank sorcerer at all. Was she from another country?
"Zoning out won't help you solve any problem." The glamorous woman on his opposite side seemed to be rather impatient. She said straightforwardly, "Count Paphos, do you not want to change the status quo?"
"The status quo?" Count Paphos repeated in a low voice and then sneered, "Discussing the status quo with a sorcerer who is like a stray dog? Lady, we are not on the same level. Right, how should I address you? "
The petite woman's face became gloomy. "Just call me 'Storm'. As for the status quo, I believe that even a domestic dog has to worry about its position."
Was that the attitude for communication? Count Paphos was rather amused that the sorcerers sent such a lady over. They certainly did not want to suffer any losses!
However, his face became solemn. Although the lady was rude, her words pointed at what he was worried about just now.
"There's not much time left. We're about to reach your villa. Let me get to the point." Ms. Storm did not care about the change of attitude of Count Paphos. She said anxiously, "The value of the nobles is to help the Church fight against the sorcerers, elves, dragons, and other heretics. If you lose your value, you will be no different from the common people. What kind of place you have will depend on the Church's mood."
She slightly narrowed her eyes. "Also, compared to the common people, the nobles who are capable will be more wary and weakened by the Church in secret. So, you have to understand where your value is reflected. You cannot lose it."
After that, she did not wait for Count Paphos' reply but turned into a shadow and disappeared from the carriage. Such a thing could not be settled in one go. She had to communicate with him step by step.
Looking at the night where she disappeared, Earl Paphos was deep in thought with his eyes glittering.
Outside of the window, the storm was pouring, and the thunder was rumbling. It was dark everywhere, as if it were the end of the world.
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