Chapter 866 (1/2)

Chapter 866: Smashing a Glass

Translator: TransN Editor: Meh

Things took a sharp turn after Edith’s second question.

Four nobles were escorted out of the crowd by the new King’s guards.

The crowd began to stir.

“Your Majesty.. what..?”

“Hmm, you guessed right. The four of them were telling the truth,” Roland said with his hands laid out. “Their courage and their willingness to try earned them the qualification to come aboard my wagon. What we need for a reform, is people who dare to try” He then turned to the chosen nobles, “Do your best. Don’t waste this opportunity that has landed in your hands.”

“Yes, yes… Your Majesty!” the four nobles said, feeling somewhat flattered.

“Nonsense!” George could not help but growl in his heart. “Courage? Qualification? You must be kidding! Those guys are nothing but Barons who are on the verge of going bankrupt. They are title to nothing but barren lands with pathetic yield, poor management, and a lack of manpower. The output of their lands can barely make ends meet. So of course, they won’t have a problem giving up on their lands. The lands under these “nobles” are but symbolic. Upon losing the lands, they won’t even be invited to the banquet. People like them actually got the new King’s special attention? Or… perhaps they’ve colluded with Roland Wimbledon to put on this absurd show?”

“Wait a minute…” He suddenly recalled an unsettling story that came from the King’s city not too long ago.

There were only a few witnesses to this story about Prince Roland. It was said that after taking over the King’s city, the Prince held a trial in the holy palace for those great nobles. Judging from the result, almost all the nobles who had controlled real power in the King’s city had been swept away. Even Timothy was not spared. He had been sentenced to death. Rather than a trial, it would be more fitting to call it a purge.

The proceedings of the trial were extremely bizarre.

He heard that Roland had convicted the nobles with a Q&A game.

The nobles had been asked to answer ten questions. If they responded to any question incorrectly, they would be sent to prison—it was said that this seemingly ridiculous rule was due to mind reading.

Back then, George didn’t heed this rumor any mind and had considered it a story fabricated by the nobles who had luckily escaped punishment to conceal their guilt and cowardice. He firmly believed that this so-called mind reading was just Roland judging the nobles based on his personal preference as he would never spare the former king’s ministers.

But now, George was not so sure about his original judgment anymore.

“Could… the rumors be real?”

“Here comes the third sentence. Listen carefully,” Edith’s voice sounded once again, “I have no intentions of giving up my land and power, but in front of overwhelming power, I wouldn’t want to lose my life over them either.” She gestured to the crowd. “Now your turn.”

The atmosphere in the hall changed.

Those who initially repeated after Edith carelessly were now filled with mixed feelings after they saw the first batch of nobles being escorted out the crowd after earning the new King’s recognition.

This time, even the timing of the responses were off.

Yet the guards still picked out more nobles.

To George Nery’s surprise, Earl Delta was also among them.

“What’s going on?” Guye quietly moved to George and asked with a low voice. “Does this mean the new King has persuaded them?”

George did a head count. Altogether, 21 nobles had been chosen, among whom a few actually discussed with him the plan to fight against Roland not long ago. Without those nobles and their servants, the crowd was downsized a half.

“Im-Impossible. If Roland had contacted so many of them, I would have noticed.” George gritted his teeth. “They must have been chosen on the spot.”

“Then… why didn’t they say so?” Baron Levitan also scooched closer to George. “That guy Huth was still with us in the beginning!”

“What?” George glared at him. “‘My lord, you have wronged me. My lands are more important than anything else. I’d rather die for it’. Would you say something like that?”

“Um, I…”

“What an idiot.” Georgy thought angrily . “The point here isn’t the nobles who are being chosen, but those left behind. Roland Wimbledon could just close his eyes and pick anyone as his follower, then suppress those who are left behind. But how could he make sure those who support the Lord of Redwater City instead of himself aren’t left behind?