Chapter 39 - 039 Abdication 1

Chapter 39 039 Abdication 1

There were many kinds of people in this world.

The nobles were no exception to this rule.

There were the respectable nobles, the minor nobles, and the knights who were nobles but not really.

This banquet of the Surdo family was full of such distinct classes.

Marquis Garcia, Marquis Charles, and Vera were the core of a small circle in the banquet.

Countless people tried their best to get close to them, but they only dared to greet them briefly and did not dare to stay for long. Otherwise, they would be disrespectful and overstepping their boundaries.

Outside the core of the small circle was a circle led by Earl Oman.

There were three earls and the host of the banquet, the members of the Surdo family.

Outside was a group of viscounts and barons.

The last circle, which was also the most crowded, was the knights, where Colin was included in.

Strictly speaking, Colin was also qualified to enter the circle of the barons. However, he had now realized that the banquet was not as simple as it seemed on the surface, so he deliberately reduced his sense of presence.

He was prepared to be a qualified bystander.

Colin and Marquis Charles might have looked like they appreciated each other. Yet, if the marquis really could not protect himself, then Colin would definitely not let himself be dragged down to help him.

If it was Vera, then Colin might consider how to save the damsel in distress. As for Marquis Charles, who liked to hold hands, cry, and perform… Good luck.

The banquet continued, but the atmosphere seemed to have changed at an unnoticeable pace.

The music continued, but the center part of the dance floor had long been empty.

Even in the outermost circle of the banquet, Colin could already feel the atmosphere around him begin to become solemn. With his enhanced hearing at night, Colin eavesdropped on the discussions of the knights around him.

At some point in time, everyone stopped talking about this victory that could be considered a fluke. Instead, they changed the topic to their own losses.

Indeed, the series of defeats under the command of Marquis Charles had almost cost the Northern Territory’s 200,000-strong army.

Although half of them were the direct troops of the St. Hilde family, the other half were the private armies of the various lords in the Northern Territory.

In addition, a large part of the territories near the front line had been conquered by the trolls. Even if they had recovered, the trolls would not return empty-handed.

So this time, the lords of the Northern Territory suffered heavy losses.

With such heavy losses, someone had to be responsible.

Thus, the topic gradually began to be disadvantageous to Marquis Charles.

Of course, the prestige of the St. Hilde family remained, so no one dared to rebuke them openly. They only dared to let out a few huffs of complaints discreetly.

In Colin’s opinion, such complaints could not hurt Marquis Charles’ foundation. At most, it would only make his reputation worse.

Perhaps it would make the St. Hilde family feel guilty about this fiasco enough to compensate the various lords a little, but that was all.

If Earl Oman had not been bluffing before, this tiny intermission was still not the main course of this banquet.

Therefore, Colin continued to wait.

Sure enough, Colin soon received a truly explosive piece of news.

“Have you heard? The Black Knights that Marquis Garcia led to support the front line this time wasn’t an order from the duke at

all!”

“What do you mean? Don’t tell me… Marquis Garcia sent troops on his own accord?”

“That’s right! That’s why the marquis did not move forward in Ice Rock City. He’s waiting for the duke’s military order!”

“Hmmph! He’s already sent troops on his own accord. What’s the point of waiting for the military order…?”

“Shh! Why are you so loud? Do you want to die?!”

Colin was speechless. These people seemed to be discussing in a low voice, but in fact, they did not bother being discreet at all.

Moreover, he had already discovered that this gossip had almost spread throughout the entire banquet.

At this moment, he suddenly realized what was going on with this hidden undercurrent.

Without a doubt, Marquis Charles was still the true target of these people.

However, he was, after all, the eldest son of the Duke, and the prestige of the St. Hilde family was unparalleled in the Northern Territory. The lords and nobles who had suffered heavy losses only dared to be angry at Marquis Charles.

However, it would be different if someone took the lead.

This person had already made his position clear!

The first time the man saw Marquis Charles after the defeat, he whipped Marquis Charles in public.

Before tonight’s banquet began, he once again interrupted a performance that Marquis Charles had carefully planned.

This “he” was naturally the commander of the Black Knights, the first person in the Northern Territory army, the duke’s younger brother, Marquis Garcia!

Only when Marquis Garcia clearly expressed his displeasure with Marquis Charles did the rest of the nobles dare to openly complain about him.

Originally, complaining was the most they could do.

However, when everyone learned that Marquis Garcia had secretly dispatched the Black Knights’ army without the duke’s order, the situation changed again.

Although the Black Knights were Marquis Garcia’s private army,this was the Northern Territory after all.

Duke of St. Hilde was the real ruler of this territory.

The Black Knights had already left Marquis Garcia’s territory. It would make more sense that they gotthe duke’s approval first.

Therefore, this gossip that was widely spread in the banquet for some reason faintly revealed a signal.

A dangerous signal.

Marquis Garcia and the Duke of St. Hilde were not on good terms!

A smart person should have been able to sense the duke’s fear of his own elder brother from three years ago when the Duke of St. Hilde sidelined the Black Knights.

However, at that time, Marquis Garcia did not disobey his elder brother’s orders.

Though now, could it be that after Marquis Charles’ tragic defeat, Marquis Garcia finally became dissatisfied with his nepotistic brother and began to resist?

Everyone knew that the Black Knights were extremely terrifying.

Although there were only 50,000 people, no one doubted their capabilities to sweep across the Northern Territory under the command of Marquis Garcia.

Moreover, due to Marquis Charles’ series of terrible defeats, the military strength of the Northern Territory was now severely weakened.

Knowing that, the Black Knights were even more terrifying

Therefore, this “gossip” had such a terrifying impact.

Did Marquis Garcia really want to humiliate Marquis Charles again and again, or did he want to take the opportunity to express his dissatisfaction with the Duke of St. Hilde?

Then, Colin thought of Earl Oman’s hint and the undercurrent that was surging in the banquet.

Colin suddenly realized that a terrifying storm was brewing.

Once it took shape, it would have the terrifying power to engulf the entire Northern Territory!

Just as the atmosphere in the banquet became more and more solemn, Knight Kahn Surdo suddenly appeared in front of Marquis Charles.

He first bowed respectfully, then raised his head, and asked righteously, “Marquis! I would like to ask this! Should someone be responsible for the Northern Territory suffering such a terrible defeat?”

Marquis Charles was stunned on the spot.

Marquis Garcia was expressionless.

The entire scene was silent.

The storm had officially arrived!