Chapter 10: Embers
"Labor and money...... That shouldn't be the Marquis's style. The Marquis was my idol when I was a child, and I remember that he proposed to His Majesty that there be little or no food tax in the flooded villages, and that he also build schools in his own estate, as the Bansa people did...... He was a great lord. β
After listening to Master Vega's account, Viscount Oakliford sighed: "Now, he may really be old and confused. β
"Maybe."
Angus replied absent-mindedly.
Viscount Oaklifo suddenly turned his head, met Angus's somewhat indifferent eyes, and showed a gentle and somewhat humble smile: "Speaking of which, Lord Viscount Ketugaya, you are also my idol. β
"Huh? What did you say? β
Angus was slightly stunned.
Viscount Oakliford said sincerely: "I have wanted to meet you for a long time. I've always thought that if there was only one family of Titan that could be called true nobles, it would be the House of Ktugya. β
The young man with bright blonde hair crossed his fingers in front of his chest and said slowly.
His eyes were focused on Angus, his eyes seemed to be shining, and at a glance, it seemed as if there was a fire burning.
It was this look in Angus that made him feel confused.
Yes, he undoubtedly felt a very strong hostility towards Viscount Oakleford; But at the same time, his admiration for himself is not disguised. This strange sense of contradiction made him hesitate.
So, Angus couldn't help asking, "So, Lord Viscount Oakliford, where do you think our philosophy is right?" Or what do you think of as a 'real aristocracy'? β
"That's true nobilityβ"
Viscount Oakliford blurted out: "There is only one thing in this world that is the most noble, and that is to give your life to the people!" β
"Well said!"
Vega nodded in agreement.
Viscount Oakliford seemed to be encouraged, and an innocent smile appeared on his face: "It would be great if you could agree and understand." I can't find anyone in this land who can listen to my voice. β
"Let's talk about it."
Suddenly, Angus interrupted Viscount Oakliford.
He looked up and looked into the eyes of Viscount Oakliford, "If you have time, you might as well talk to us about your thoughts...... Roland is on top, maybe we'll be best friends. β
Roland ...... ? Rowland...... Gauze...... Orchid...... Profound...... Lan ......"
But to Angus's strange thing, Viscount Oaklefort was distractedly muttering the name of Saint Laurent, as if to get some comfort from it.
After he repeated the name several times, the blond-haired young man froze slightly, and suddenly spoke without warning: "If you want to, I will tell you...... All. β
After a short silence, the young man spoke: "About eight years old. I was looking at the book and suddenly I had a question about why people were fighting each other. β
"But, as you understand the Oaklifords, my question is not answered by anyone. The answer they gave me was the same as every parent in every family would say to their children - 'You'll know when you grow up'. β
But I was not reconciled, and I searched all the books I could find to find the answer to this question. However, I failed. None of the books write why people fight each other, as if everyone takes for granted the answer to this question. β
"But I don't know, so I'm not reconciled. That's when I began to realize that the books around me weren't all there was to the world. They are neither comprehensive nor correct. β
"What changed my life was a passing wizard. Without alerting anyone, he entered the enclosed study that was supposed to be mine alone. Surprisingly, I didn't feel any panic or fear when I saw him. Inexplicably, I'm so sure that this person can't hurt me. β
"-Wait."
Suddenly, Angus interrupted Viscount Oakliford's narration.
He asked solemnly, "Do you remember what that person looked like?" Did he introduce himself? β
"He didn't tell me his name."
Viscount Oakliford shook his head regretfully: "He was supposed to be my first mentor. But luckily, I still remember what he looked like. β
"He's tall, about a Titan; He also wears gold-rimmed glasses and speaks more like a poet than a wizard. On top of that, he has black hair and black eyes. I've never seen anyone with black hair and black eyes before, so I was very impressed with him. β
Viscount Oaklev recalled: "He asked me, 'Little thing, where is your lord?' Then I said to him very calmly, 'Sir, I'm the only one here.......' Immediately after that, he offered to take me out. β
"'You must be a liar, sir,' I said at the time, 'no one will try to take me away. This is my world'," Viscount Oakleford scratched his head a little shyly, "it's a shame, but that's exactly what I said at the time. β
But instead of being angry, the gentleman laughed. He said to me, 'When you can go out, you can go north!' The North has your chances! With that, he was gone, leaving behind only a defiled travelogue. I told my parents and brother about this man, but no one believed me, the only one who believed in me was my sister. β
"So, you saved His Royal Highness?"
The corners of Angus's mouth twitched, and he asked lightly.
Not only the old viscount, but if his children said this to him, Angus would not believe it.
Yes, except Lily.
Viscount Oakliford spread his hands helplessly: "I know you won't believe it." But that's just the way it is. Not only did I save the prince in the north, but I also met my other two opportunities in Karal and Suze...... That's how wonderful the world is. β
"When I was nineteen years old, the lowest year of my life, I instinctively went north, and then I met my life mentor, the great mentor who changed my whole life, Marco."
"At that time, I was bewitched by the cultists, and it was Master Mark who woke me up and rescued me from it."
At the mention of Marco, Viscount Oaklifo couldn't help but become a little excited, and his voice became slightly high-pitched: "Master Marco told me the answer to the question that had plagued me for ten years. He told me that the world needed me; He told me that our family's philosophy was wrong. Our friends are the people. And the power of the people is endless. β
"Master Mark told me that there should be a torch in this world that can stain to ashes what has been twisted by men's desires and become sinful - he said that there should be a flame in this world that can burn all evil."
"We should be one. All human beings should be a collective! Whether imperial power, aristocracy, or gods, all groups that have given to mankind a desire other than progress to unite the power of men should be destroyed - the people must be given rights, and power must be checked. Only then can the world be saved. β
Viscount Oakliford's expression was like that of a saint at this moment, and he solemnly preached his sermon to Angus and Vega.
Vega listened very intently at first, but when he got to the back, his face began to look strange, and there were large drops of sweat dripping down his face, breaking into several petals.
Angus's fists were clenched, but he didn't dare to move.
There was no doubt that he was aware of Viscount Oakliford's anomaly.
Destroy the imperial power? Exterminate the nobility? Overthrow the gods?
No kidding, do you think you're Roland?
There is no doubt that the camp to which Viscount Oakliford belongs should be the Circle of Ashes sect that has been active in Titan recently.
However, Angus discovered this too late.
His transcendent perception told him that a terrible monster had been eyeing him underground since the second half of Viscount Oakliford's speech. And he didn't have the slightest chance of escaping.
"Sorry, old friend......"
Under the cover of the speech of the fanatical Viscount Oakliford, Vega's pale face was full of apologies: "I don't know ......"
"It's none of your business, Master Vega...... It's all the trickery of the scoundrels. We're caught in a trap. β
Angus bit his lip and touched the silver cross in his pocket. Took a deep breath.
Yes, he has one last chance. (To be continued.) )