Chapter 2719 - 1172: The War of Public Opinion, You’re All Cowards

Chapter 2719: Chapter 1172: The War of Public Opinion, You’re All Cowards

"Alemend IV’s third son Harried once took the alias Heim and served Irminster in Shadow Valley as a copyist. Now he has already gone to Waterdeep City, raised his banner there, and is recruiting Knights and Mercenaries to prepare for his return to Thacel. Even if we don’t bring him back, it won’t be long before he fights his own way back in."

Duke Walter knew this new King’s situation like the back of his hand. Obviously, he’d been watching the man for far longer than a day or two—one could say this new King had never escaped his sight.

This was the political wisdom of a seasoned, old-line operator; long ago, he had already set his pieces on the board.

In many of the power games within the Tesser Kingdom, this card was a trump.

"Legendary Mage Irminster? You’re saying he supports Prince Harried?"

"If he’s secretly backing Prince Harried, then the Harpists can’t be far behind!"

"Old Duke, are you sure you’re not raising a tiger that will bite you?"

The three Dukes’ expressions all changed sharply; they questioned him at the same time.

A person’s name is like a tree’s shadow; the reputation of Felen’s foremost Archmage was not blown out of thin air.

If he stretched his hand into the political situation of the Tesser Kingdom, there would be no good outcome for them.

Duke Walter said calmly: "I admit Archmage Irminster’s Spellcasting Ability is second to none, but in political Ability, he’s not qualified."

"If he truly possessed strong political Ability, the Valley would have unified long ago, instead of still being in a state of fragmentation."

"The student he trained is no politician, but a scholar full of idealism."

"So that’s how it is—then I’m relieved!"

"I knew it. With the old Duke’s political wisdom, he wouldn’t commit the foolish act of digging his own grave. I have no objections at all."

"Right now the biggest issue is whether Duke Zeber is willing to part with Thacel Fort."

At these words, everyone let out a breath of relief. In their eyes, scholars were often synonymous with naivety.

Most crucial was the trust they placed in Duke Walter’s political wisdom. He had certainly already conducted a systematic assessment of this Prince Harried and determined that the man posed no threat to their ruling status.

At least, no greater threat than Lord Zalanda brought them.

Duke Zeber was not the sort to take a loss. He put forward his own terms: "Handing over Thacel Fort isn’t impossible, but the City Defense Army there will still be under my command, while the provisioning will be handled by allocations from you."

"Don’t play these petty games. Since the future Royal Court is no longer to be seated in Zaze Sibo, the defense of Thacel Fort can’t be left under the control of a single side. At the very least, all four of us must have our own guardians stationed there."

"I can contribute more coin, but I absolutely won’t contribute more men. I, Saladas, am willing to provide three hundred Pegasus Cavalry and one thousand Light Cavalry to guard the Royal Court."

"We of Myratma will provide three hundred Winged Dragon Cavalry and one thousand Fierce Tiger Guards."

"We of Zaze Sibo..."

"We of Willen..."

The four Dukes plunged into a new round of carving up the spoils; they were fighting to secure their own voice within the new Royal Court.

This was a process of mutual compromise and mutual bargaining, with no shortage of collusion and alliance-making.

With their actions, they perfectly illustrated how four people can still have six different factions; under different circumstances, their allies were never the same.

In this way, squeezing like toothpaste, they finally forced out a policy of bringing the King back to the capital.

Under the massive pressure coming from Darama, their efficiency for once soared. No sooner had they reached consensus than fast riders bearing the edict set out, spreading the word along the road.

Just as the Dukes had hoped, the Tesser People who heard the news were overjoyed, spontaneously beating gongs and drums in celebration.

The Tesser Kingdom’s Royal Family had risen to a peak and then declined; it was destroyed by a Conspiracy directed specifically at the Royal Family. Most of the Royal Family members met permanent Death in a single night, causing the entire Kingdom’s ruling hierarchy to spin out of control—it was not a result of their own misrule.

Moreover, the Royal Family’s destruction was not long ago; countless people still vividly remember the Royal Family’s rule.

Rather than say they missed the Royal Family, it would be more accurate to say they missed the strength and stability of the Tesser Kingdom in that era.

Territories centered on Darama City naturally became the focus of the propaganda.

"Have you heard? Our King is coming back. Our Tesser Kingdom is going to be unified again."

"You’re far too naive. These two years of Memory Illusions were wasted on you. Even now you still haven’t truly understood the real source of calamity in our Tesser Kingdom!"

"What is our source of calamity?"

"Our source of calamity is neither the Monsters in the wilds, nor the two powerful enemies Amu and Karinshan, but those noble lords. It is their struggle for power and profit, their boundless greed, that have left us impoverished and displaced."

"Do you really think those noble lords will kindly return all power to the Royal Family? Don’t indulge in such fantasies. What they’re bringing back is nothing but a Puppet, a tool. Nothing whatsoever will change.

On the contrary, that will become a tool to Attack our Darama. If, under the manipulation of those noble lords, they deny Lord Zalanda’s legitimacy and foist a new City Lord on us, what then?"

"How is that possible? How could a wise King do something so foolish? Any clear-eyed person can see Lord Zalanda’s achievements."

"We don’t even know what this King the noble lords are preparing to welcome back looks like, so how can we be sure he is wise? What if he’s an idiot?"