This is a banquet hall for a dinner party, but there are a few differences from ordinary banquets.

First of all, almost all the guests present wore masks that covered the upper half of their faces. However, even if you hide your identity, you can still see everyone's proud and noble atmosphere.

However, this is only superficial at best, and it is difficult to determine whether their qualities and mannerisms are the same. After all, in the Terrence Empire, especially in this imperial capital [Zesetoria], there are probably very few nobles with high moral character as in the past.

Secondly, the lighting decoration in the hall is not as bright and brilliant as the usual banquet, but is decorated with a soft and enchanting peach-purple magic crystal lamp, which makes the air in the hall seem oppressive and weird.

Rutga?? Count Crusnell, as if he had gone to the wrong place, appeared in the hall. He wore a mask like everyone else, waiting for the 'what' to come.

That's right...... Lutga didn't know anything about the content of the banquet or who held it, and after all, he didn't come here out of his own volition, but was 'forcibly entertained' by someone who was unidentified.

Moreover, now he is alone, his daughter Sophia, and her casual guards are not by his side at the moment. As for why it has evolved into the current situation, it has to start early this morning, before entering the royal capital.

**

"Father, before we enter the city, let's go our separate ways. ”

On the official road in the south outside the royal capital, in the carriage of the carriage, there are two long ponytails on both sides of the head, wearing a set of black silk skirts embellished with various cute decorations, and his youngest daughter - Sophia?? Al?? Crusnell suggested to himself with a calm demeanor and tone.

"Eh, split up...... Sophia, you don't want to do something dangerous......"

Of course, Lutga was disgusted at the first time, after all, he had just had Alice's criminal record. What's more, the imperial capital [Zesertoria] is a demonic realm that is incomparable to the cities of the Western Alliance, full of all kinds of complex forces, like a quagmire engaged in open and secret battles. Of course, he didn't want his young daughter to be in danger, even if her daughter was above him in all abilities, which is the so-called parental heart.

"No, Father, please listen to me. ”

Sophia responded calmly to Rutega's concerns, "Now that my father is going to the imperial capital, there are about three situations that can be guessed - first: surrounded by soldiers from the imperial capital and captured on the spot, second, attacked or assassinated, and third, warmly welcomed and even invited to a welcome banquet. ”

"Uh...... I can understand the first and second, but what's the matter with the third? Why would anyone welcome me?"

Lutga's doubts can be said to be taken for granted, after all, judging from his current identity - the head of the rebel alliance is undoubtedly a thorn in the side of the nobles of the imperial capital. They will certainly do whatever it takes to root themselves out as a way to dismantle the Western alliance.

Even the Duke of Celtic, who has always been steady, will not tolerate a tough attitude in the face of civil strife. What's more, the knight of the 'Legendary Blade', Senilo, had already led his troops to launch a surprise attack on Celia a few days ago...... The attitude of the imperial capital can be seen.

"On this issue, it is necessary to first mention that the magnates of the imperial capital are now divided into three camps. ”

"The three camps?"

"First, there is the royal faction that is content with the status quo. They turn a blind eye to the current situation of the empire, and are short-sighted ** aristocrats who are satisfied as long as they live a prosperous and rich life. In the eyes of these people, my father is undoubtedly a rebel who urgently needs to be eradicated, and they will definitely use their military power to arrest my father and execute him as soon as possible. ”

"Well, that's right......"

Regarding the fact that the nobles of the imperial capital would take drastic actions, Lutga had no doubt that when he came to the imperial capital before, he had already felt the superficiality and short-sightedness of the nobles of the imperial capital, and had personally experienced the strong self-centeredness and xenophobia. If it weren't for the Celtic Earl's plan in the audience hall, I am afraid that he would still be locked up in the prison of the imperial capital for the ridiculous reason of 'disobeying the king's order'.

"Second, it is the henchmen of the Goddess Cult, as a sect that praises the equality and peace of mankind, in order to demonstrate the fairness and openness of their teachings, they will never use armed force to make a big show in front of the public in the imperial capital, but they regard their father as a thorn in their side, and this has not changed, so I am afraid that they will use the power of the 'Holy Maiden Chorus' to secretly carry out plots, and it is impossible to prevent it. ”

"Does the Church of the Goddess do such a thing......?"

"Believe my experience, this is a common tactic of radical religious sects. ”

As always, Sophia has no sense of trust in the 'armed order' that preaches ethnic discrimination, and completely treats the other party as the most radical and dangerous element.

"Then Sophia, won't the nobles of the royal power assassinate me?"

"No, in order to demonstrate their power and legitimacy to the public in the imperial capital, they will definitely follow the route of righteous adjudication with great fanfare. However, it is not clear whether the method of trial can really be called 'justice'. ”

"I see...... And what about the third?"

Finally, we got to the point of the topic -- why did anyone welcome him, and who did he do?

"Thirdly, it is the same as my father...... No, it should be said that they think that their father is the same as them. ”

"What do you mean?"

"It means that the eyes of the 'rebels' lurking in the imperial capital. ”

His daughter's words made Lutga's eyes widen, "Imperial rebels?"

"Nothing surprising, Father. There are countless noble lords, all of whom are suffering from the current situation of the empire, and the differential treatment of those regions and some blatant local repression policies have made them accumulate dissatisfaction.

The towns around the imperial capital were in turmoil, and there were also frictions with the borders of other countries from time to time. According to the industry intelligence provided by Uncle Jonathan, many rebellious lords have planted cronies and eyeliners in the imperial capital to monitor the movements of the royal faction and the movements of the 'Legendary Blade'. A few days ago, during the family meeting, I also mentioned that I want to create turmoil in the imperial capital...... It was the plan to exploit the power of these rebels. ”

That is to say...... These forces may come to me to negotiate and even propose alliances and cooperation?"

"Exactly. In fact, this time, my father's adult visited the imperial capital, and the possibility of encountering the third situation was overwhelmingly high. ”

"Huh, why is that?"

Once again, Lutga was puzzled by his daughter's judgment. Because judging from the background and scale of the three camps exemplified by Sophia, the core nobles who support the royal power and the goddess religion, which is the state religion, should be more responsive and easier to act than the eyes of the rebels.

"If my father rushed to the imperial capital through the normal official route, through the cities west of the imperial capital, and through various checkpoints, then it would definitely be the royal power faction or the goddess sect that took the first step. But the situation is different now. ”

"Different?"

"Father, you must know that we came to the town south of the Imperial Capital through the 'Teleportation Magic Array', and traveled to the Imperial Capital through unpredictable routes. For such an irregular circuitous route, the intelligence network of the rebels will be more sensitive. Not only that, but in view of the convenience of the 'Teleportation Magic Array', the journey that originally took a month was shortened to only five days, and this kind of unreasonable path was unimaginable for the Monarchy Sect and the Goddess Cult. ”

"Oh...... Sophia, you're smart......"

For his daughter's reasonable judgment of the situation, Lutga did not hesitate to praise her, and even felt a trace of fear from the bottom of his heart for her cold analysis.

"Well, please touch my head and praise me more. ”

Unexpectedly, the daughter, who was as cold as a black cat, suddenly made a 'snap' and her body turned over, and her little head pillowed on her thigh, and she was coquettish without warning. This made the young earl smile and raised his hand to gently stroke Sophia's soft hair.

"Okay, okay, my little princess, you are so smart and cute. ”

"Well, I've always been a smart and sweet daughter. ”

Sophia repeated the words of praise indifferently in a tone that did not fluctuate, while narrowing her eyes and gently rubbing her cheek against her father's clothes as if she was enjoying it.

"But what does this have to do with us going our separate ways?"

"Don't worry, Father, this doesn't mean that I'm going to go it alone, but I'm going to take Cam and Shephelia with me to keep you safe in secret. No matter what kind of response we encounter after entering the city this time, our ultimate goal is to meet His Majesty the Emperor.

If you are arrested, we will rescue you that night and take you directly to His Majesty's bedchamber. If there are assassins, I will preemptively eliminate them. If you encounter the invitation of the rebels, then you can grasp the background of the other party and blackmail it...... Ah no, it's asking the other party to provide us with all kinds of assistance in the imperial capital. ”

"I am, so I see......" Lutga only felt that he was stroking the back of his daughter's hand, and he was constantly squeezing out cold sweat, and sure enough, he ...... Sophia's thoughts are sometimes terrifying. The accuracy is excessive, and even hides a kind of ruthless coldness. Although he hopes that his daughter can grow up healthy and upright, Lutega also knows that in the dark pool of this country today, Sophia's character and style of behavior are more reasonable and safer.

As a result, Rutega agreed to his daughter's suggestion. Before entering the city gates, Sophia took Cam and Shephilia in another carriage, hiding her breath and traces. And alone, he stepped into the dangerous imperial capital [Zesertoria].

After entering the imperial capital, Lutga did not leave the carriage immediately, and he traveled all the way through the lower city, taking the magic cable car, to the upper city where the nobles lived. And just as he set foot on the land of the upper city, suddenly, a strange man in a waiter's suit handed him a bright red invitation sealed with fire paint, and a strangely shaped half-face mask.

- Invite the Lord of Celeria, Lutga?? Count Crusney, to the dinner we have to give, please come with the waiter's carriage.

The family crest of the fire paint has never been seen before, and the curly tail of the parchment is not signed without any signature. The content is introduced, but it is full of a mysterious flavor of "not seeing the light". It can only be said that it is very much like an invitation made by the 'rebels' in secret. Moreover, he has only stepped into the uptown for a few seconds, and his identity has been exposed-

"It seems that Sophia really guessed it......"