Including the Speaker, the eyes of nine high-ranking mbers around the marble round table of the secret council hall focused on Chen Lun, imdiately making him feel an invisible pressure.
Apart from Mulenga, Peggy, Bindu, and Yasmin, whom he was slightly familiar with, four other Governing Officers—three n and one woman—were quite strange to him. Their attire matched that of Kingsberg by their side, wearing retro knightly armor underneath and a layer of exquisite gray robes with gold trim on the outside.
On the collars hung two scarf-like red decorations with white edges.
Most of the Governing Officers' gazes held kindness and admiration, while the few unfamiliar ones contained curiosity, doubt, and indifference.
The Speaker, dressed in a very ordinary gray robe without even a gold pattern, looked like an ordinary landlord from a low-rent district, casually seated on a high chair behind the other Governing Officers, with a calm expression and a slight smile at the corner of his mouth.
He was a middle-aged man with short black hair, profound facial features, and a high nose bridge. His eyes, in particular, caught Chen Lun's attention; they shone bright like sapphires, radiating intelligence and indifference.
"Golden Cup councilor Jack Spett, I have seen Your Majesty, and also all the Governing Officers,"
Chen Lun took off his hat and bowed, hand on chest.
The Governing Officers nodded in acknowledgnt.
"Jack, please take a seat,"
The Speaker gestured affably, pointing to an empty high-backed chair.
Chen Lun noticed that he wore three extravagant rings on his hand, each set with a large gem of black, red, and green. He guessed that these must be so sort of high-level Mysterious Objects, rather than re decorative items.
After taking his designated seat, Kingsberg also took his place among the seats of the Governing Officers.
The Speaker chuckled lightly and then began:
"This should be our first eting, Jack. You may call Azjiluo."
"Lord Azjiluo, thank you for your esteem all along,"
Chen Lun responded with reverence.
The Speaker maintained the smile.
"A very humble young gentleman, but the club, as well as the Mutual Aid Society, should also thank you for your contributions... We were able to triumph over our old enemies and secure a position in the Righteous God Church, and your role was indispensable."
He slightly lifted his finger, and a ball of shadow coalesced on the marble table in front of Chen Lun.
"This is a small personal gift from , a welco present for you."
Chen Lun's gaze sharpened as he noticed that the shadow in front of him had transford into a palm-sized press bell, naly a dark golden service bell made of brass.
It looked no different from those seen on the counters of restaurants or hotel front desks.
However, after inspection through the panel, it was a one-ti consumable containing terrifying power, capable of releasing a high-position holder's mythical strength for slaying enemies.
'This must be a Mythical Object from the Speaker, endowed with His power,' Chen Lun thought.
He pocketed the service bell and bowed his head to the Speaker.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the gift."
"Don't ntion it,"
As the Speaker spoke, he turned the topic to the reason for inviting him over.
"The Mutual Aid Society has officially been renad the 'Generous Council'. On the first day of the Solar Calendar year 4420, which is today, we beca one of the Seven Righteous God Churches of the Tresor Empire. We will be overseeing various places in the Empire, participating in maintaining order and stability... At the sa ti, we take on the duty to spread the gospel of the King of Slaughter."
Azjiluo stood up from His high position, hands folded, artificially raised to His chest.
Wearing a devout smile.
"Jack, I appreciate you, and the Governing Officers are also fond of you..."
Upon seeing this, Chen Lun imdiately stood up, with his right hand adorned in brown leather gloves lightly touching his left chest as he bowed.
The Speaker's expression slowly turned serious again.
"Everything is just the beginning; we have many more formidable tasks to complete... In this struggle for the position, even with the Twilight Tea Party's assistance, one of the Governing Officers unfortunately perished in confrontation with the Rothfuss Family."
He turned his head to look at one of the empty seats among the nine Governing Officers at the round table.
The expressions of all the other Governing Officers were also extrely solemn, their eyelids slightly drooped.
"Knight Savant was a mber of the Round Table Knights, having earned considerable rits for the club. Unfortunately, he did not live to witness today's glory... May he return to our King's side and enjoy peace."
The Speaker said gravely.
"Due to this, a seat in the Senate is vacant, yet there is no suitable candidate... Jack, with your achievents, you were fully qualified for the position, but since you have not yet ascended to high rank, I have to postpone this decision."
Chen Lun appeared slightly startled.
He couldn't help feeling a bit of disappointnt in his heart.
But then, Governing Officer Kingsberg looked at Mulenga Peiji and others, speaking slowly:
"Your Majesty, this is the very beginning of constructing the 'Generous Council'; we need such a Governing Officer to share the burden and participate in building the council... Personally, I think that although Jack is still at Mid Sequence, his actual Combat Power is no less than a typical Incarnation of the Saint, possessing far more strength than other Golden Cup councilors. He should be able to join the Senate as a deputy Governing Officer."
After listening, the Speaker fell into slight contemplation.
Seeing this, the other four Governing Officers who had not expressed their views, Mulenga, Peggy, Yasmin, and Bindu, all spoke out:
"Your Majesty, we second the motion,"
They then turned to look at the other four Governing Officers who hadn't taken a stand.
Three of them exchanged glances.
"Hmm, I agree with Kingsberg's opinion. The workload of the Generous Council is many tis greater than before... Without Savant, we are indeed more busy and do need new mbers to join."
A middle-aged Governing Officer with a goatee spoke out.
"However, I believe there can be more candidates... For example, Governing Officer Gewas, who not only has deep seniority but also possesses the expertise of a seasoned Sequence Five, ranked in the top three for contributions in this struggle for the position."
"Your Majesty, we agree with Houston and suggest there can be more options, and I personally recomnd Governing Officer Ryan,"
"I recomnd Governing Officer Tapiya,"
Another male and female Governing Officer said.
The Speaker glanced at them, chuckling lightly.
"Since that's the case, let these four Golden Cup councilors strive for it themselves..."
He turned to look at Chen Lun, asking with an almost smiling tone:
"Jack, do you accept this decision? Compete with three others, and the winner of the assessnt will join the Senate with the title of a reserve Governing Officer."
Chen Lun's heart instantly enlightened.
This was likely sothing the Speaker had anticipated all along. By speaking thus, He was giving himself a chance, an opportunity to enter the true upper echelons of the Generous Council as a Mid Sequence Transcendent.
"Of course, it would be my honor, Your Excellency the Speaker... I am willing to accept the trial."
He spoke in a grave tone.
The Speaker nodded.
"Hmm, then you, Gewas, Ryan, and Tapiya, four Golden Cup councilors, will participate in the assessnt together... After the Rothfuss Family was defeated in battle and fled, I need you all to exterminate them completely."
His voice was calm, as if recounting an insignificant matter.
Chen Lun was sowhat shocked upon hearing the details of the assessnt.
Although the Rothfuss Family had lost to the Round Table Knights, a cal starved to death remains larger than a horse. The remnants of such magnitude handed over to four Golden Cup councilors might prove too difficult a task.
However, given that the Speaker had spoken and the expressions of the other Governing Officers showed no change, there must be so reason behind it.
Sure enough, the Speaker continued to explain:
"The higher-ups of the Rothfuss Family have suffered heavy casualties, almost all fleeing to the deeper layers of the Spirit World. Only two damaged Incarnations remain active outside... Besides them, there are but a handful of Mid and Low Sequence family mbers left."
He flicked four black card-like invitations.
Three landed among the Governing Officers, and one landed in front of Chen Lun.
Chen Lun glanced at it; it was a list written in white pignt containing nas. In addition to the two Saint Incarnations from the Rothfuss Family, there were nine Mid Sequence family mbers, and twenty-two Low Sequence ones.
"Of you four Golden Cup councilors, whoever finishes the task first, or contributes the most... will be considered the winner."
The Speaker spoke slowly.
"Yes."
Chen Lun bowed in salutation.
The three unfamiliar Governing Officers who had spoken earlier to recomnd candidates also turned to the Speaker, saying:
"We will convey the assessnt to them, Your Excellency the Speaker."
"Hmm."
Azjiluo nodded.
Then, with a gesture of His hand, He indicated:
"You first go to the Great Hall to maintain order, and prepare for the upcoming first eting."
Kingsberg and the other nine Governing Officers rose slowly.
Their heavy armor scraped against the chairs, making a crisp sound.
"Yes, Your Excellency the Speaker."
They bent in a bow and then filed out of the secretive chamber's Great Gate.
As they passed by Chen Lun's position, these Governing Officers once again smiled at him.
They were well aware that the Speaker must have had sothing to say to Jack alone, which is why He had them leave first... This further proved from the side how highly the Speaker thought of Jack.
But Chen Lun noticed that despite the smiles from the four unfamiliar Governing Officers, there was not much warmth or sincerity in reality; what lay hidden in the depths was extre indifference.
'It seems that within the Senate, one can roughly distinguish two camps... Kingsberg and the other five Governing Officers lean towards , not getting along too well with these four.'
From their recent endorsent of candidates, it was apparent that they each had their own close subordinates and did not wish Chen Lun to join the Senate.
However, Chen Lun did not feel any tension or worry.
Firstly, he had confidence in his own strength, not intimidated by the other three competitors at all; secondly, the highest authority, Azjiluo the Speaker, along with five other Governing Officers, were all on his side.
What was there to worry about?
All he needed to do now was to complete this assessnt with the most outstanding performance.
Not to let them down.
"Jack."
The Speaker slowly spoke out.
In the entire hidden chamber, only the Speaker and Chen Lun remained.
His voice was not loud, but it resonated clearly within the room.
"Your Excellency the Speaker, may I ask if there is anything you wish to instruct?"
Chen Lun maintained his bowed stance, respectfully inquiring.
"Not an instruction, but there is sothing I want to tell you..."
The Speaker revealed an affable smile.
"Would you like to know why I hold you in such high regard?"
Chen Lun was slightly stunned.
Could it be...
It wasn't due to his recent contributions to the organization that had caught the attention of this power figure?
"You are talented and gifted, and you have dedicated a lot to the Generous Council... but these are not the main reasons."
The Speaker placed His hands behind Him, His stance erect, and His gaze smiling.
"It's because of the 'Oracle of Slaughter'."
"The Oracle..."
Chen Lun's pupils constricted.
The Speaker nodded, gazing directly at Chen Lun and slowly said:
"Yes, His Majesty the King of Slaughter Himself decreed an Oracle, commanding to watch over you more closely."
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