Chapter 1438 - 611: Shadows Outside the Banquet (Double Update, Please Subscribe!)

Chapter 1438: Chapter 611: Shadows Outside the Banquet (Double Update, Please Subscribe!)

January arrived, and with it came two pieces of news.

First, the Imperial Royal Grand Wizard contest was held as scheduled.

Second, Supreme Dean Odo of the Bright Academy withdrew from the competition for the Royal Chief Grand Wizard. Thus, the next Royal Chief Grand Wizard would be chosen between Great Alchemist Geld and Supreme Dean of the Flame Academy, former Royal Chief Grand Wizard Sernus German.

No one knew what had truly happened; all they knew was that Geld led an army back to Brunswick, and Odo seemingly went missing. The only information available was that Supreme Dean of the Bright Academy and Supreme Light Mage roles would both be taken by Kant, with the original Supreme Dean of the Bright Academy, Odo, never heard from again.

The entire Imperial Court, the Royal Wizard Academy, and the Justice Church were tight-lipped about Odo’s whereabouts. Nobody knew where Odo had gone. In contrast, the Emperor highly praised Geld for his actions preventing the Chaos Army from releasing the Ancient Dragon Demon Kholek, commending Geld for securing yet another great victory for the Empire despite the difficult circumstances.

Meanwhile, the Emperor publicly applauded Sernus German’s tremendous contributions to the Empire in pioneering and expanding territories on Obion Island, stating that the Empire needed pioneers like German who dared to explore and try new things.

Emperor Carl Franz’s stance left people puzzled. Neither Geld’s nor German’s supporters could discern whom the Emperor favored, so they returned to rally their supporters, keeping a watchful eye on developments.

The contest for the Royal Chief Grand Wizard was set to commence in a week.

To this end, the Emperor staged a grand banquet at the Imperial Palace, inviting the Empire’s Prince-Electors to attend. White Wolf Prince-Elector and Duke of Midland Boris Todbringer, Toscan Prince-Elector and Duke of Avey Umberto Corleone, Brescia Prince-Elector and Duchess of Nuer Emmanuelle, and Duchess of Weisen were among those invited, along with the Empire’s Great Nobles and Generals. Among the attendees was Laine, present as a special guest and Duke of Musillon.

It is noteworthy that Surya rarely declined attendance at such a banquet due to personal reasons. The Duchess’s decision was perceived as a gesture of concession and compromise to Emmanuelle, the Empire Countess who also bore a child for Laine. Consequently, Amelia proudly linked arms with Laine to attend the banquet, introducing him to everyone as the father of her son.

Laine could distinctly sense that after Amelia’s proclamation, the banquet was awash with looks of envy, jealousy, hatred, and disgruntled murmurs, yet no one dared to voice dissent.

Not only was the child’s identity acknowledged by Laine, but it was also validated by the Emperor. More importantly, the War Goddess Milmedia offered her blessings upon him. Anyone stepping forth at this juncture would face opposition from three factions, including a deity with significant influence in the Southern Empire and the Southern Realm. The cunning Prince-Electors would never intervene.

Moreover, Laine’s power was overwhelming, rendering proof obsolete. The Prince-Electors refrained from targeting or antagonizing Laine without assurance. The Duke of Musillon had blossomed fully; the kingdom across the mountains was under his sway, elevating him to a status equal to the Prince-Electors. No longer an outsider to their circle, Laine had garnered full recognition.

Today, the Empire Countess adorned herself with a high-neck, waist-cinched tea coat from Champignons paired with a knee-length dark fantasy intertwining skirt woven by Wood Elf artisans. Below was a stretch of shapely legs enveloped in flesh-toned ultra-thin unicorn-wool pantyhose. The soft and smooth unicorn wool clung tightly to Amelia’s slender, elongated legs and elegant feet, offering a refined sheen.

To embrace Laine’s arm, Amelia opted for a pair of thin-heeled suede shallow high heels. Laine knew his little maid disliked wearing such tall high heels, as they were exhausting and hurtful to the feet, unlike Surya, who was exceptionally fit. She donned them solely to exude authority and status, and with understanding, suggested she rest after a brief circle: "Amelia, rest here for a bit. I’ll go talk to Boris."

"Mm, don’t take too long," Amelia replied with a kiss on Laine’s face, indicating he could leave. She sat in a corner of the banquet hall, savoring a glass of wine slowly.

"Hey, Boris, what’s with this perpetual sour face?" Laine soon began his conversation with Boris Prince-Elector, who offered a smile upon seeing Laine: "Ah, it’s Laine. How many Half-Elf Warhorses did you bring to the Empire this time? I’ll take them all!"

"Not a single one!" Laine’s facial expression suddenly turned rigid.

"Then have you thought about bringing your steeds and those of your wife, Surya, to tour Middenheim? I have many beautiful mares in my stable..." Boris still couldn’t forget about the Half-Elf Warhorses.

"I feel like I’ve heard these exact words before somewhere," Laine thought, his face darkening further. Before he could respond, Wolfen Prince-Elector and Duke of Oster Vamil von Rukov appeared. This somewhat stout Prince-Elector, sporting three long beards, approached with wine, saying: "I think I heard about Half-Elf Warhorses? Lord Laine, you can’t forget your old friend Vamil. If Boris the rascal gets one, I must have one too."

"Since when did we become old friends, Lord Vamil?" Laine asked with a scowl.

"Oh? Aren’t we already old friends?" Vamil Prince-Elector deftly replied, quickly adding: "Don’t you remember?"

"Don’t remember?" Laine was puzzled.

"My son, Boris von Rukov!" Vamil Prince-Elector emphasized, patting Laine’s shoulder forcefully, adopting an elder’s manner, "You even fought side by side during the capture of Musillon! Dare you proclaim we aren’t old friends?"

Laine had nothing to rebut. In this world, having fought side by side certainly was a substantial element of solid friendship. Boris von Rukov indeed fought valiantly during Musillon’s recovery, so Laine had to nod, "Alright, let’s toast to recapturing Musillon!"

"Cheers!" Laine joined Boris Prince-Elector and Vamil Prince-Elector in a toast.

"Indeed, Boris is my son, and I’m your father~" Vamil Prince-Elector took a sip of wine: "As a son, one must show respect to one’s father. Now, bow before your father!"

"!!! Vamil, you Oster fool! If you want to fight, just say it!" Boris Prince-Elector quickly lost his temper and roared at Vamil Prince-Elector, "In the name of Yurik, we can have an exciting duel right at the palace gates. How do you feel about my proposal?"

"I’ve eaten too much today, I don’t want to fight." Vamil Prince-Elector took another sip of wine, "I was talking about my son Boris, what’s it to you? Or do you want to be my son? My son isn’t this ugly and has more than one eye left. You better crawl to the side!"

"You scoundrel!" Boris Prince-Elector tightened his grip on the Prince-Elector’s Holy Sword at his waist, "Ignorant and stubborn smelly stone from Oster’s pit!"

Seeing the two Prince-Electors about to start fighting, Laine promptly stepped forward to mediate. He positioned himself between the two and quickly changed the subject, "By the way, where is Oleg? I haven’t seen him."

Laine was referring to Oleg von Rukov, Vamil Prince-Elector’s eldest son.

"He followed his mentor to the Giant Demon Realm north of Kislev to participate in some ceremony called the ’Moka Trial,’" Vamil felt troubled by this, "I don’t know when he will return. I disagreed, but Oleg insisted, and his mentor also deemed it necessary. I can only reserve my opinion."

Moka Trial? Laine’s eyes turned a circle, and he raised his glass again, "He will succeed and return. Oleg is a one-in-a-million warrior and strong-willed figure, he won’t disappoint us."

"I hope so, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

On the other side, in the corner of the banquet.

Amelia was adorned with jewels, wearing a complete set of enamel jewelry gifted by Surya, personally blessed by the Emperor himself. The Empire Countess sitting aside was a beautiful sight, but alas, she was very aloof, making her difficult to approach.

Yet, someone still went up to chat.

"Greetings, beloved Lady," Laine’s godfather, Griffin Duke Ivan appeared. This centenarian elder with long flowing hair and somewhat unkempt, wore a full set of Divine Seal Plate Armor, with a snow-white cloak behind him. "It’s an honor to see you here."

"Perhaps." Amelia did not give the Grand Master of the Griffin Knight Order and Griffin Duke any face, sitting on the soft sofa chair, "You’re not staying at your Griffin Cliff and Hammerfall Town? This is not like you."

"Don’t be so harsh, my Lady, I always thought we were friends." Ivan knew what Amelia was referring to, and he smiled, "Occasionally, one must attend some events, like banquets or something."

"For Laine’s sake, reluctantly so." Amelia had no intention of standing up, maintaining her noble sitting posture while one of her legs elegantly crossed under her skirt, she asked impatiently, "What do you want with me?"

"Oh! Amanoli, there you are, where is Laine?" The Emperor also appeared, Carl Franz holding a drink, approached from afar, "Why did he leave you?"

"You don’t need to worry about it, Carl, if you have something to say, say it straight, if not, don’t waste your time here." Amelia still cast a sidelong glance, thinking what both Laine’s and Frederick’s godfathers, Carl Franz, wanted to do?

"I have an idea..."

... I’m wasting time separating line ...

Amid the palace banquet, in another part of the Imperial Capital’s affluent district, inside a small noble estate with a courtyard.

In the midwinter month of January, though the sky had temporarily stopped snowing, the courtyard was still covered with deep snow. The estate was almost completely dark, quiet inside.

In the basement of the estate, two women stood in the ice cellar, examining a corpse.

"Is this the reason you called me out, Ollica?" Surya, fully armed, the lady knight wearing a full set of masterwork vibranium plate armor, Leonais Sword at her waist, White Wolf God Cloak behind her, and adorned with Divine Gift Jewelry, was not the poised noblewoman and gentle mother but the gallant lady knight.

"It’s my discovery, madam." The dark elf, dressed in tight leather with a cloak, hood, and mask, Ollica held out her hand towards the corpse inside the ice cellar. "He was a servant from the Brunswick Royal Hotel, he’s been dead for two weeks now."

"What did you find, Ollica, tell me everything!" Surya’s golden beautiful eyebrows knit together.

"I discovered..."