Soon, servants set up over a dozen long tables inside the spacious great tent. Unlike the rough-hewn log tables the knights dined at outside, these were refined and elegant. The servants laid white fine linen tablecloths across them and arranged fresh flowers and assorted fruit.
There were twelve tables in all, arranged in two rows, with twelve chairs on each side.
The central tables were reserved for the lords. Apart from Lorist and Viscount Kenmais, who were seated facing each other at the first table as co-hosts, the remaining seats were arranged according to rank, with noble ladies and young misses interspersed among them. The tables on the far ends were for invited guests or the Gold Knights who had accompanied their lords. Lorist noticed that, besides Josk, only two other lords had brought two Gold Knights along. Sedecamp, for instance, had been given a seat for his role representing the Norton Family in organizing the tournament.
This was Lorist's first formal noble banquet, so he felt somewhat stiff. Viscount Kenmais, seated across from him, was full of witty remarks and animated conversation, impressing everyone with his breadth of knowledge. He had especially insightful commentary on the sensational events occurring across the Galentea Continent, and the Northland lords around them listened with rapt attention.
Lorist used his silver knife and fork to cut a piece of the delicious, juicy veal steak and bring it to his mouth, all the while listening to Viscount Kenmais hold forth on the customs of various nations. The viscount was just discussing
Last year? Nothing seemed to have happened — at least nothing he'd heard of before leaving Morant City. Lorist shook his head. "I received word from the family and returned last year. I don't know what happened in Morant City."
"What a shame — you came back too soon. At
No need to worry — the man you're talking about is sitting right in front of you. Feel free to stare as much as you like…
"Oh, I know him. Instructor Locke's swordsmanship is truly extraordinary. He deserves that title," Lorist said without the slightest blush.
Viscount Kenmais smiled and raised his silver cup, smoothly changing the subject. "This knight tournament has been going on for twenty-seven days, and Baron Norton only shows up today. Surely you haven't grown so accustomed to the excitement of a great metropolis like Morant City that you look down on the little Northland tournament? Perhaps the Baron ought to do something to show his appreciation?"
Lorist raised his own silver cup. "Ha, I truly had no choice — there's been too much to handle in my territory. Everyone knows I just inherited the title and lands, so being unable to get away is understandable. But speaking of which, Viscount — or rather, I should say Count now. I hear Count Lopeas has passed his title and lands on to you. Congratulations! This drink is to toast your advancement."
Lorist's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to every ear in the great tent. The noisy hall fell silent in an instant, and every pair of eyes snapped to Viscount Kenmais. Several lords from the eastern regions immediately looked restless, as though they wanted to take their leave and rush back to their own territories. Baron
Viscount Kenmais's smile froze on his face, but he recovered quickly, putting on a pained expression. "Ah, as everyone knows, I've been here attending this tournament the whole time. I never imagined such a turn of events. As everyone is aware, Count Lopeas and my father have always been close friends — inseparable, really. Who would have thought he'd suffer grave injuries fighting the Mountain Barbarians? He wrote to me some time ago requesting aid, so I dispatched my family's armed forces under his command. Then yesterday I received word — Count Lopeas, on his deathbed, entrusted his title and lands to me, asking me to look after his two sisters and fend off the Mountain Barbarians' raids. Looking after his two sisters is my unshirkable duty, but fending off the Mountain Barbarians? That's beyond me. I'm worried sick."
Lorist smiled and comforted him. "The Kenmais family is a great merchant house — you'll surely find a way to coexist peacefully with the Mountain Barbarians. As long as they don't raid, the Lopeas territories you've inherited will see tremendous development…"
"Thank you for your kind words, Baron. But I've heard that the Norton Family recently refused Duke
"…two battalions of the Northland Corps, over four thousand men, invaded our family's territory, led by the Gold Knights Chevani and Hennard. Once inside, they slaughtered every resident of Northwild Town who had served as their guides…"
Lorist clearly saw the flicker of delight and shock in Viscount Kenmais's eyes.
"A massacre?" Viscount Kenmais stammered.
The delight was because Duke Lukins's forces had already penetrated the Norton Family's territory — the Duke must have found another way in. The shock was at the atrocity. The Northland was vast and sparsely populated, perpetually short of labor for development. Even when two lords went to war, they generally wouldn't harm the common folk — at worst, they'd plunder a bit. For Duke Lukins to carry out a massacre in the Northland — once word spread, it would provoke censure and hostility from every lord in the region. No one wanted to deal with a cruel and greedy overlord.
A wave of whispered discussion swept through the great tent. Every lord and guest was talking about what Lorist had just revealed. When the noble ladies and young misses who knew Josk learned that he was a knight of the Norton Family, they flocked to offer sympathy and inquire about the details, leaving Josk overwhelmed and drenched in sweat.
Many lords looked at Lorist with sympathy. Two battalions of the Northland Corps — over four thousand men — plus Duke Lukins's chief Gold Knight Chevani and Gold Knight Hennard. That should have been more than enough to crush the Norton Family. Sure, the new head of the Norton Family was sitting here at this banquet, but he'd probably already surrendered to the Duke, been stripped of everything, and only escaped destruction by the skin of his teeth. He was probably just putting on a brave face. After all, everyone present knew the Duke's true nature.
Only Baron Filim of the Pegasus Family regarded Lorist with suspicion, because Lorist's behavior suggested he wasn't the least bit concerned about the matter. He had even called the Duke a son of a bitch — no one who had surrendered to the Duke's army would dare use such language.
"Yes — men, old and young, all killed. Only about a thousand women and girls were left to be sold to slave traders. That son-of-a-bitch Grand Duke — is he even human? To do something like that. The reason I couldn't get away was precisely because I was dealing with all of this. I only finished a few days ago, which is why I've just arrived for the tournament." As he spoke, Lorist speared a piece of sliced beef with his fork and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing until his lips glistened with oil. "Mm, your cook's skills are excellent. This is really delicious."
"Blegh… sold to slave traders… how dreadful…"
Lorist turned to look and saw a young lady standing beside Josk clutch her chest dramatically and collapse against him in a faint — a perfect display of a noble lady's compassion and virtue upon hearing of a terrible atrocity. Poor Josk was utterly helpless: he couldn't hold her up, but he couldn't let her fall either. He could only cast a desperate look toward Lorist.
"Serves you right — who asked you to be so handsome and dress up like a white peacock spreading its feathers…" Lorist turned away, pretending to see nothing.
"If the Baron would like, I can have another veal steak prepared for you." Viscount Kenmais kept rotating the silver cup in his hands. The moment Lorist swallowed his mouthful of beef and took a sip of wine, he asked impatiently, "And then what?"
"And then what?" Lorist was pondering whether he really should have another steak.
"Good grief — didn't you say the Duke sent an army of four thousand into your territory and massacred Northwild Town? What happened next?" Viscount Kenmais wanted nothing more than to hurl his silver cup at Lorist's head. Can you answer the question before you eat? When was the last time you had veal steak? Are you really that famished? Did the Duke's army ransack your family so badly that you can't even get beef to eat?
"Oh, that army of four thousand-plus from the Duke? Heh — totally wiped out. Easy enough to get in, but there was no way out." Lorist said it as casually as if he were discussing the weather.
Clang! The silver cup slipped from Viscount Kenmais's hand and hit the floor. Not just him — the sound of dropping cups followed in rapid succession. Every lord in the tent stared at Lorist, dumbstruck.
"Wh-what did you say? Wiped out?" Viscount Kenmais didn't bother with his fallen cup. He leapt to his feet, pointing at Lorist and trembling.
"Well, I did wipe out that army of four thousand-plus the Duke sent. What's there to be so shocked about? A grown man who can't even hold a cup — how careless. I was actually thinking of asking you a favor, but now I'll have to reconsider." Lorist said in an unhurried drawl.
"That's impossible…" Viscount Kenmais cried out.
Back when their cohort of newly enfeoffed lords had arrived in the Northland, the strongest among them had been a Gold Knight in the service of the
"Oh, and what about Chevani and Hennard, the two knights?" Viscount Kenmais asked urgently. If Lorist claimed to have destroyed over four thousand Northland Corps soldiers but said the two commanding Gold Knights had escaped, it would prove Lorist was lying. Knight Hennard might have fled, but Knight Chevani — Viscount Kenmais knew him well from long acquaintance. A stickler like him would never abandon his troops and run.
"That's actually what I wanted to ask you about." Lorist regarded the viscount with a serene expression. "I hear you're on good terms with that damned Grand Duke?"
"W-well, reasonably so. What does this have to do with them?" Viscount Kenmais wanted to tear Lorist's mouth open. Could the man stop being so coy?
"Here's the thing — Knight Chevani died bravely in battle. I recovered his remains and would like to ask the viscount to deliver them to his family. Additionally, we captured Gold Knight Hennard and over a dozen Silver Knights. They wish to ransom their freedom. So I'm handing you the list — you can pass it on to their families and friends, or their comrades in the Northland Corps, and have them come here to pay the ransom." Lorist said.
"Shouldn't the list be given to the Duke instead?" Viscount Kenmais asked, puzzled.
"Well, I asked them about that," Lorist replied. "The captured Silver Knights don't believe the Duke would pay ransoms on their behalf. They'd rather seek help from their own families and friends."
Viscount Kenmais froze for a moment, then immediately grasped the implications. What a move — what a scheme! If word of this reached the Northland Corps, who would ever be willing to fight and die for the Duke again? But this was something he was more than happy to help with — causing trouble for the Duke meant buying time for his own family to grow and thrive.
"All right, I'd be glad to help with this." Viscount Kenmais looked at Lorist and asked with apparent concern, "You destroyed the Duke's army, but you must have suffered considerable casualties. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."
Ha — Lorist looked at Kenmais with amusement. Still hankering after that private hoard of ten thousand gold Fordes, are you? Trying to probe our actual strength to see if you can take advantage of the situation?
"Sigh, yes… the casualties were devastating…" Lorist sighed deeply. "We lost a full twenty to thirty men and had nearly a hundred wounded. The losses were catastrophic…"
Viscount Kenmais turned on his heel and walked away, unwilling to listen to another word of Lorist's nonsense.
Lorist called after him, "Hey, don't leave! Didn't you say you wanted to help?"
…