Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 93: Surrender (Vote for Monthly Tickets!) (1/2)
Chapter 97: Chapter 93: Surrender (Vote for Monthly Tickets!)
Before leaving Nasir Town, Byrne went specifically to the basement to explain the situation to Irene and Chris.
“While I’m gone, the Fischer family must be cautious. The Kesse family is likely to seek revenge, as our actions have clearly humiliated them.”
He knew the Kesse family’s domineering style well, and with the Garcia family backing them, they were certain they could completely overpower the Fischer family.
Thus, having been fiercely slapped in the face by the Fischer family, they must brace for the possibility of retaliation.
Irene nodded with her arms crossed, her expression serious as she said, “Mm, we will keep as low a profile as possible and not leave Nasir Town. Even if we must leave, we will do so with caution and secrecy.”
Chris also nodded silently.
He considered whether to assassinate key figures on the Kesse family’s territory, but since Byrne and Irene had decided to act with discretion and subtlety, that plan would have to wait.
When Byrne left Nasir Town, he only brought Guard Captain Theo with him and did not take anyone else on the road.
After departing Nasir Town by carriage, he did not head directly to Fein City but first made a detour to the nearby Ourde Village toward the west.
Although it was originally a Royal Family enclave, its distance from the Cyart Royal Capital made it effectively impossible for the Royal Family to control, leading to the Kesse family taking charge of the area.
While the Cyart Royal Family still collected taxes and knew they could not manage such distant territories, they had no choice but to let this situation persist.
The village appeared unremarkable, with just over a thousand inhabitants living in relative poverty but managing to survive.
Its true value, in fact, lay in the dense and vast jungle outside the village.
This area, adjacent to the endless jungle north of Nasir Town, was dozens of times larger than the village itself. The mysterious creatures within steadily produced Class 2 and occasionally even Class 3 Extraordinary Material.
Even for various baronial families, Class 3 Extraordinary Material was undeniably of great importance.
Whether breaking through from high-level Beginning to low-level Transmutation, or from low-level to mid-level Transmutation, one needed Magic Potion made from Class 3 Extraordinary Material as an aid.
Without a doubt, the Fischer family had suddenly snatched the fattest piece of meat from the mouths of the Kesse family.
Byrne could understand their hostility; anyone from any family would grind their teeth in anger upon hearing such news, unable to sleep all night.
“Theo, let’s go.”
The two set off by carriage on the road to Fein City.
Along the way, Byrne, inside the carriage, was reading books about tea while contemplating whether to bestow the Power of Consecution on Theo.
“Theo.”
“Yes?”
Theo, who was driving the carriage with graying temples and nearing fifty, was a bit puzzled and replied immediately:
“Lord, what’s the matter?”
Byrne inside the carriage closed the book about tea with a smile and asked calmly:
“I realize I’ve never asked you before, do you believe in any deity?”
After hesitating a bit, Theo answered honestly, “Actually, I’ve discussed this with Mr. Lucius before, and Madam Irene has also asked me.”
“Truth be told, I’m not particularly interested in religion or deities. To me, practical things are most important—the things you can see.”
He contemplated and finally added, “Like money, family, friends, weapons… I’m too simple, Lord, I just can’t grasp things I can’t see with my eyes.”
So that was it. Byrne smiled and nodded, a very down-to-earth view that indeed perfectly suited Theo’s serious and earnest nature.
Good.
Compared to the invisible and intangible gods, the existence and the powers bestowed by the great Lord of the Lost were undoubtedly very real and unquestionable.
Theo had been with the Fischer family since Byrne’s father’s time; back then, he was even Byrne’s swordsmanship teacher, and now he served as the Captain of the Guards.
Theo’s loyalty was beyond question; otherwise, they would never entrust him with such an important role.
Now, perhaps it was time to give him a chance.
Byrne guessed that the Path of Conquest would suit Theo best because he was, without a doubt, a true warrior.
Yes, they would decide whether to offer Theo the Power of Consecution during the next discussion about bestowing powers on John.
Finally, they reached the distant Fein City, a place Byrne had frequented over the past few years, witnessing firsthand its transformation.
In just a few years, the population of Fein City, the only city in the East Coast Province, had exploded significantly.
However, with the sharp increase in population, Fein City was now plagued by unstable law and order, chaotic construction, and infectious diseases, leaving the city hall officials frantically overwhelmed.
The Leone family of Viscount Bast had several manors, but the most commonly used was Herbstblatt Manor, situated at the foot of the mountains some distance from Fein City.
It was an extremely vast area, with three huge and luxurious mansions connected together, surrounded by lush greenery and shallow green ponds, looking poetic from afar.
As soon as Byrne arrived at Herbstblatt Manor, he noticed there were many people waiting in line here.
They had come from all over the East Coast Province, without exception seeking the urgent counsel of the Lion Leone family, many with looks of extreme tension and anxiety.
It was not only Byrne who thought his matters were important; everyone in line here felt the same.
In fact, with millions of people in the East Coast Province, those wanting to see Viscount Bast every day were too many, and many who didn’t qualify for an audience were not even allowed into the manor.