In the eastern district of the city, at the Duke’s Mansion.
The Duke of Bold, his hair flecked with grey, lay half-reclined in his chair, eyes lightly closed.
Behind him, a maid who had undergone professional training was carefully massaging his shoulders with techniques said to have been handed down from the Elf Clan.
Thin tendrils of smoke gently rose from the incense burning on the table, enswathing the room in a hazy veil.
This was a kind of magic incense that could calm the mind and spirit. Originating from Moon God Island, it helped to relax one’s mood and had so revitalizing effects.
From ti to ti, coughing fits wracked the old Duke’s body, shaking him violently. The severe coughs that sounded as if they would expel his heart and lungs made one’s own body feel uncomfortable just hearing them.
However, the old Duke had long since grown accustod to this.
He knew his health was failing more with each passing day.
Birth, aging, sickness, and death were all part of the human condition. Although he had struggled against it, and tried his best, now he had co to terms with it.
He would be content if he could simply ensure the smooth succession of the family inheritance.
"What is Laino up to?"
After a few coughs, the Duke of Bold slowly asked.
The attendants looked at each other, and finally, one stepped forward and answered with trepidation:
"Lord Duke, today the Holy Royal Court’s Assessnt Team is visiting, and Lord Laino has gone to the Grand Cathedral to attend the ceremony."
"Attend the ceremony, huh? Heh, that boy is hardly the type to care so much about the Holy Royal Court. He must have gone to see that Demon Hunting Institute’s lady Knight, hasn’t he?"
The old Duke snorted softly, his words tinged with mockery.
All present lowered their heads, busying themselves with their tasks amidst palpable anxiety and tension; none offered a reply.
The Duke found it all rather dull and said no more.
He knew his son harbored affection for a certain female Knight.
He had even personally investigated the matter; indeed, she was a fine prospect, a young Second Tier Knight of the Silver Moon.
But alas, she was of common birth, not a Noble.
Laino’s own background was already flawed, and the Duke of Bold would not allow the future Duchess of Bold to be of even lower birth.
So what if she had extraordinary talent?
Talent only represented potential, and the future was always fraught with uncertainty.
Since she was not a Noble, she fell outside of his considerations.
Laino’s lineage was flawed enough; even with all the preparations he had made, it was not guaranteed that Laino could gain the acceptance of other Nobles, especially those peer Lords within the Kingdom.
Without their acceptance, the position of Duke would never be secure.
The Duke of Bold could not allow a crude rcenary Knight to beco the new Duchess.
But his considerations alone weren’t sufficient.
A father knows his son; he was aware that Laino, that scoundrel, would definitely not give up.
With this in mind, the Duke of Bold thought for a mont and then said indifferently:
"Send soone to contact the Great Priest, after the assessnt... have her transferred away."
The Duke of Bold could not personally act against a Knight under the Church’s service, especially a Silver Moon Knight.
But while he could not, there were others who could.
By moving her away from Bold, out of Laino’s sight, and relying on his years of connections, the old Duke was confident he could discreetly deal with her without dirtying his own hands.
He was well-practiced and experienced in such matters.
Considering this, the old Duke’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Both high and low in Bold believed he had been dealt a foul hand by the Castel family and the Church, and that his foolish brother thought his own covert actions went unnoticed...
But who could know that he, in fact, was well aware of all his foolish brother’s undertakings?
As the ruler of Bold, there was little in the Duke’s Mansion that could escape his notice.
From the mont he learned he had an illegitimate child wandering outside, the Duke of Bold had already begun paving the way for the future.
However, just as Bold Duke was pondering how to deal with the minor trouble that was Knight Kara, a Personal Guard Knight rushed back from outside:
"Duke! Sothing’s happened! There’s been an incident at the Grand Cathedral!"
Looking at the panting knight, the old duke frowned:
"What happened?"
"The Great Priest has been arrested by the Church Assessnt Team that ca from the diocese!"
The Personal Guard Knight replied.
"Cough cough... cough cough cough...!"
Hearing this news, Bold Duke couldn’t help but erupt into a violent cough.
He sat up from his recliner, eyes wide, and asked in surprise,
"What did you say? The Great Priest has been arrested?"
"Yes! It is said there was an anonymous tip-off, claiming the Great Priest is a protector of the Drunk Dream Saloon and has also colluded with the Blood Demon Church!"
Anonymous tip-off?
Soone else knew the secret of the Great Priest?
Bold Duke’s expression turned solemn.
He quickly stood up from his recliner, feeling an inexplicable unease in his heart.
He was currently using the Drunk Dream Saloon as a pretext to handle the nobles within the Duchy.
If the secret of the Great Priest being a protector got out, could the fire reach his own head, who had made certain deals with the Great Priest?
However, after careful consideration, the old duke quickly cald down.
If the fire were on his head, the one bringing the news would definitely not be a Personal Guard Knight from the Duke Mansion, but rather a Judgent Knight from the Assessnt Team.
He sat back down, closed his eyes, and reflected for a mont, assuring himself that he should have left no tangible involvent in the Blood Demon Church’s turmoil that lasted for over a decade.
Even if the trades with the Great Priest were exposed, he could claim it was to avoid disgrace to the Bold family.
The role of Tulip Count was evident at this ti.
As for himself... Ten years ago, indeed, he had taken more aggressive and riskier actions indirectly transacting with the Blood Demon Church.
But at that ti, he remained in the background, and those who were in the know had since died.
Bold Duke believed that these secrets had been thoroughly buried in history over ti, existing only in his mory.
With this thought, Bold Duke regained his composure.
Being arrested by the Holy Royal Court, the Great Priest was likely finished.
Life was unpredictable, even he hadn’t anticipated the other party would et such an abrupt downfall.
"Even I only speculated about so of the Great Priest’s matters, who could have tipped them off?"
The old duke couldn’t help but think.
At this mont, he suddenly felt that within Bold City, there seed to be a power he was unaware of, manipulating everything.
For a mont, he thought of that terrifying entity that had defeated the Fla Demon that night, thought of that mysterious Evil God.
But he quickly shook his head.
That Evil God was so powerful, if It wanted to accomplish sothing in Bold, no one could stop It, so why make this redundant move?
And just at that ti, noise ca from outside; Laino pushed through the knights guarding the doorway and stord into the study with a fierce montum.
Seeing Laino, the old duke frowned, reprimanding him with dissatisfaction:
"What’s the rush? Not a bit of noble dignity. Have you forgotten all the etiquette I taught you?!"
However, Laino only looked at him coldly and threw a piece of parchnt in front of him:
"Dignity? If noble dignity ans fraternizing with evil, then I’d rather be without such dignity."
The old duke’s expression darkened.
He picked up the parchnt, glanced at it casually, but his gaze imdiately froze.
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