For all I know, that might have been the case, but a the sa ti, I might be completely wrong with that speculation of mine.
Right now, the Earl of Selmar was waiting for what the Dukes response to his words was going to be.
I-I guess you do have a point there.
Right? So with that being said, I think it would be perfectly reasonable of you to show that your intentions are sincere and that youre not trying to fool . Just for a little bit.
And what exactly would you have do in order to prove my sincerity?
Uhm, Duke? I think the answer to that question is actually quite simple. If you really want to show to the Earl of Selmar that your intentions are sincere, there is no simpler way to do it than to prostrate yourself before him sowhere on the ground here. In Japan, this is a thod that usually yields the best results. But then again, I guess a noble like the Duke is not going to prostrate himself and grovel on the ground before just about anyone since his pride will probably not allow him to do it.
But if he cannot show his sincerity in such a way, then how can he do it, exactly? Ugh, why do things always have to be so needlessly difficult whenever the nobles are involved?!
You dont have to prove anything, but it would be I lie if I told you that there is still not a little bit of doubt in my mind. That being said, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt on this one.
In that case, does that an?
Yes, exactly.
A satisfied voice of the Earl of Selmar echoed throughout the throne room.
It was most likely thanks to the Dukes attitude, but it looks like the Earl of Selmar is confident that I am an Adventurer.
Most likely, the Earl of Selmar is confident that I am an Adventurer because of the Dukes attitude. The question now is: does he intended to press this matter on for so sort of concession between him and the Duke?
The Duke made testify that Heinz had the Ring of Determination, and he Earl of Selmar pointed out that I was an Adventurer and I shouldnt have been brought along to the throne room. Are both of them going to pull out and declare a draw, or is there perhaps sothing that I can do here to improve the Dukes situation?
I an, I dont really care about their petty squabble or whether or not both of them have their own reasons for not backing down, but at this rate, their pointless bickering is only going to cause trouble for Cassia, and seeing her bothered after she went through such great lengths to organize this entire eting in the first place is the last thing that I want to witness.
Therefore, I raised my head and spoke out.
All right, I understand. Ill have my Intelligence Card checked if it will help clear your doubts, your lordship.
With that said, I slowly walked to the Knight who was standing at the back of the throne room.
You dont have to do as he says, Lord Michio! I wont allow you to be insulted like that!
Its okay, I dont mind.
You might be fine with it, but Im certainly not! Because forcing you to do that is not only going to be an insult towards you, but also towards the Adventurers who ca here with us and towards Cassia who only invited you here with the best of intentions in her mind as well!
Even though it is not possible for the Duke to know that I am actually not an Adventurer and thats why I think nothing of it, he was clearly enraged by this whole situation, and that is the first ti that I have ever seen him act in such a way before. However, that would have to an that the Dukes speech that he delivered to the Earl of Selmar was a bluff.
With how the situation has escalated, I wont be troubled even if Im going to have my Intelligence Card checked by the Earl of Selmar, but it is definitely going to place the Earl in the troubled position. Well, since he has already taken the bait, so all that is left for us to do is to make sure that he wont let go of it so that we could pull him out of the water together with the line and the float, thus causing him to drop out of this absurd little ga that he and the Duke have been playing with one another ever since we ca to the throne room.
I wonder what is he going to do now? Is he going to prove that hes as much of a political personality accustod to negotiations as the Duke and is going to proceed with the checking of my Intelligence Card, or is he going to try and weasel his way out of the proceedings now that I have expressed the desire to have my Intelligence Card checked myself.
No, theres no need to go that far. The Duke and Cassia need to bow to and apologize. That is all that Im asking for.
I dont want to offend your Lordship with my words, but with all due respect, I wont allow the Duke and Lady Cassia to bow their heads because of . I am the suspicious one here, so please, go on ahead and check my Intelligence Card.
My bold declaration cause the Earl of Selmar to be stunned speechless for a brief mont, and I dont know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. I certainly hope that its not going to lead to anything bad happening, because I dont want to be rembered as soone who caused a war between the two neighboring territories because he couldnt keep his big mouth shut.
Lord Michio, nobody here wishes for you to be subjecting yourself to such discrimination. Unless that was your intention here all along, Earl of Selmar?
N-No, but..
The Duke and the Earl were apparently having a battle of bluffs with one another in order to see whos going to have a more advantageous position during this eting, but unfortunately for them, I am not bluffing.
I simply extend my left arm to the Knight in front of .
Like I said just now: I cannot have the Duke and Cassia bow their heads for . Now please, go ahead and check it.
Cassia stares at with the eyes filled with anxiety, and the Duke watches in silence while maintaining a poker face.
Do it.
Did the Earl of Selmar see through Cassias and the Dukes bluff from the change in their expressions? Did they lose the chance to go on the offensive? Or does that an that the Earl lost his ability to pull back when he still had the chance?
Whatever the case here might be, the Earl gave the order for his Knight to proceed with the checking of my Intelligence Card while the Duke looked up to the heavens above. If he thought that this little ga between him and the Earl was a lost cause, he would have definitely done sothing more besides that, like holding his head in his hands, but that reaction of his showed that he still must have so hope for a positive outco. Whether this little gamble of his is going to be of advantage to him or sothing thats going to be his undoing, I guess we are about to find out.
The Knight then proceeds to read my Intelligence Card.
Michio Kaga, a Freeman. He is an Explorer.
The Knight announces the result of the check loudly so that everyone gathered here could hear him clearly.
Of course its going to say that Im an Explorer. There is no way it will show as an Adventurer, because I am not an Adventurer.
The Duke and Cassia have turned around towards with surprised looks on their faces, and the Earl of Selmar was literally frozen solid.
I will inquire with you further regarding this matter so other day. But for today, allow us to excuse ourselves.
The Duke turns on his heel and goes toward the exit in large, springy steps, and Cassia chases right after him.
The Knight who read my Intelligence Card, hurriedly runs to open the door for them, and then the Dukes two Knights who were waiting outside of the throne room imdiately rushed to his and Cassias side to escort them back.
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