Chapter 1011 - Making a Big Splash (1/2)

Chapter 1011: Making a Big Splash

Translator: TransN Editor: TransN

Now that the new administrative system had significantly sped up information transmission, the news about the king’s coronation and wedding quickly spread from west to north, causing a stir along its way.

In the past, this kind of news was usually spread by merchants and boatmen. Now, however, the local government of each town and city posted bulletins in the busiest streets and sent staff to explain them to the public. It seemed as if the government wanted every person to know the king’s decision. Under such circumstances, the news became the hottest topic in all towns and cities within just a few days. Everybody was so fervently talking about it that they had even forgotten about the cold weather.

As always, most civilians loved to gather around a fireplace to drink ale and discuss the recent news and hearsay. This traditional recreational pastime for the people brought brisk business as well as various views and information to taverns. Covert Trumpeter was such a place.

Black Hammer, the new owner of the tavern, grinned from ear to ear in these days. His business usually languished in winters, but this winter, his tavern was flourishing because of the news about the king’s coronation and wedding. Seeing the rapid increase in his income, he felt really good.

He predicted that his business would continue to boom until the end of the king’s coronation ceremony.

“What a wise decision to hold the ceremony in the Months of Demons!” he thought as his heart melted in gratitude. If he could meet His Majesty in person now, he would immediately get on the ground to kiss his boots.

After all, gold royals were the most adorable thing in the whole world.

Unfortunately, as a former Rat, he probably would not be allowed to meet Roland Wimbledon. He even seldom got a chance to meet Theo.

Black Hammer knew his limits and never expected a sudden status upgrade.

Theo was not a poor patrol leader or an ordinary guard of Prince Roland anymore. Since Timothy’s defeat, he had become the most powerful man in the old king’s city. He had easily sent the previous owner of Covert Trumpeter, Nagy, who had treated Rats like cr*p, to some remote place. In the clean-up operation against Black Street, Black Hammer and his friends had followed Theo’s advice to split off from Skeleton Fingers. That was how they became official subjects of the city and took over this tavern.

Black Hammer could never forget about Theo’s help.

He wanted to express his gratitude to him personally, so he planned to visit Theo’s home with Silver Ring, Pott and Little Finger before he left the old king’s city. Though this might cost him some gold royals, he believed that as long as he could keep a good relationship with Theo, he would earn them back sooner or later.

Despite that, he also knew that he should do his job properly.

He needed to collect information for Theo. Once he heard some valuable information from some bragging trader or traveler, he would write it down and send it to the connector.

At present, he was on watch for potential insurgents.

There were some suspicious-looking people on the 6th table.

“Do you really believe that’s just a coincidence?” A red-faced merchant grumbled. “How come the king hastily arranged his coronation ceremony all of a sudden? Do you really believe he just happened to find his eldest brother’s widow and son when he announced that he was going to marry a witch who can never bear a child?”

This statement was echoed by some people. “I’ve heard that His Highness Gerald didn’t like women at all. Someone stated that he had an affair with a young knight. How come he suddenly had a fiancee?”

“Really?”

“You aren’t from here. Of course, you don’t know anything. Unlike Prince Timothy and Prince Roland, he seldom attended banquets, so it’s probably true.”

“And think about it,” the merchant spoke again. “His Majesty only said that he was going to bring them to Neverwinter. He didn’t confirm that the child was Gerald’s son. He did this on purpose. He wants us to discuss whether the boy is a lawful inheritor of the throne. When we focus on talking about where the boy’s mother came from and whether he’s an offspring of the Wimbledon family, either of which will take us at least several years. By then, we would’ve forgotten about the most important thing.”

“What… exactly are you trying to say?”

“What’s the most important thing?”