Chapter 283: Wonderful! (1/2)

Basil felt dazed when he was escorted out of the reception room by the footman who led him there, not quite understanding what was going on.

The Twin City Cup?

To be fair, it did sound like a tourney.

‘What is even going on? I’ve brought imperial military elites here, ready to make a display of martial force only to be sucker-punched before I reach the city. And now, the one I was about to show off to is going to show off his power instead?

‘Isn’t this straight up treason!?”

Basil recovered with another pinch of cold sweat dripping over his body.

Nonetheless, he noticed certain unusual things after he calmed down.

True, Lancaster was a relatively prosperous trading city which paid the most in annual taxes across the North, matching even several important cities in the Valla Empire—and that was without the imperial capital taking a closer look at their books.

Nearby, Tunaya, which was the political hub of the Silver Eagle Duchy was certainly a bigger thorn in the new emperor’s side.

That being said, claiming that the two fiefdoms were capable of crushing the Valla Empire’s rule would be underestimating the depth of the empire that stood for over four hundred years.

After all, the Silver Eagle Duchy was one of the weakest duchies split out of the Valla Empire. In fact, they weren’t a match for the Magnolia Duchy—their western neighbors who were governed by a bunch of barbarians, let alone the Rominos Duchy who stood in equal footing against the Empire herself.

Neither Corinth, mayor of Lancaster nor Horan, the Silver Eagle Duke would be that unwise.

Could they merely be flexing their muscles and signaling that they were not to be crossed?

Basil couldn’t help feeling puzzled.

Meanwhile, he and the footman had arrived at a much plainer room than Basil’s guest room.

It was spacious but virtually unfurnished aside from wide mattresses, making it appear no different from a servant’s lodgings.

Naturally, it was the room set aside for Monan and the other imperial military elites, who appeared at once surprised and delighted when they saw Basil—they hadn’t completely screwed up their duty of keeping Basil safe, at least.

“My lord, you may call for me anytime if you have any request or if you wish to return to your room.” The footman told Basil before leaving the room, seemingly uninterested in the conversation of the diplomatic corps.

Basil breathed a sigh of relief, only to feel even more confused.

What could the people of Lancaster be thinking? They appear so uninterested in their strategy, as if they were confident in winning the so-called Twin City Cup.

Could the tourney be rigged in the first place?

Nonetheless, Basil refuted that idea immediately.

Rigging a tourney which express purpose was flexing one’s power would only ruin public recognition and make themselves look all-talk, defeating the purpose of the event entirely.

“My lord, did those brutes from Lancaster did anything to you?” Monan asked worriedly when he saw Basil’s distracted look, afraid that he was tormented spiritually.

Still, Basil did recover from his questionsuddenly inspired even as he looked at the knight before him.