Chapter 15: On the Wine Table
It was already dark, and the lights in the distance flickered in the night. Turks was tired of waiting, and dinner was about to begin, and the guests in the palace chatted happily, as if it would be several years before such an opportunity would be gathered. The attendants began to serve food to the table in the hall one by one, and the lords had completely forgotten that there was such a thing as eating, and continued to talk to each other.
"Why hasn't my father come back yet? It's getting dark. "Turks are very strange, Coren told him beforehand that he should have come back long ago to get something outside, and if it wasn't for the lords chatting happily, dinner would have started long ago.
"It's okay, anyway, this is in the Missus country, and your father must have been delayed by something. Jack reassured.
As they spoke, a few lights in the direction of the bazaar caught their attention.
"It should be my father's return!" said Tex excitedly.
The lights are getting closer and closer, and the faces of the people carrying the lanterns are becoming clearer and clearer, and it is indeed Coren who has returned with his attendants.
"Father, dinner is ready, the lords have arrived, just waiting for you to return," Tex greeted Coren and helped Coren light the way with the squire's lantern.
Jack noticed that there was a man with him who did not look like a nobleman, but was a bit rustic in terms of his dress, with unkempt and messy hair, but his eyes were bright. When Jack's eyes saw him, the man also happened to look up and see Jack, and the two made eye contact, and Jack suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if he had been seen through his whole body.
The group had apparently traveled a short distance.
Coren took the unfit man into his seat, close to his throne. The palace was already brightly lit, with candles made of gold candlesticks everywhere, a bright red carpet on the floor, and tableware neatly arranged, as if a feast was about to begin.
Before the meal, Cologne, who had just sat down, gave a dinner speech, saying:
"Thank you, lords of the city-state, for taking time out of your busy schedules to come and gather at the palace. As I believe you know, there is nothing important, and I will not call you over in a hurry. Today, I have three things to tell you. First: Welcome to my son Tex, who can return safely from the Holy Ape Country!"
When Turks heard this, he felt uneasy, but he still smiled and stood up to signal. He remembered again that Coren had almost lost his life for a runaway trip. Jack sat beside him, seemed to see his thoughts, hurriedly held his hand, and gestured with his eyes: It's okay, listen to your father's speech. Tex settled down at this time.
When Coren finished speaking, the crowd cheered and applauded. This atmosphere, in Jack's opinion, is like his parents taking him to a family meeting when he was a child, and he stared blankly at the scene and clapped his hands. It's hard to believe that the state affairs of the Missilean country can be discussed in such an atmosphere.
Second: In three months, the ten-year covenant as we all know it will come. But I am glad to announce that the Missy nation has no need to fear any power!" continued Cologne, speaking excitedly.
The crowd remembered the cheers that were even more enthusiastic than before, but Jack was stunned. He had just quietly observed, these fifteen lords, all of them were plainly dressed and had relaxed expressions, and they couldn't see the appearance of a catastrophe at all. Even if this is the rule of the Missy country, no military uniform is allowed without war, but there are still three months, and it is time for Gabo's appointment, and it is impossible for anyone to joke with their lives without dealing with it!
"Third: Immediately following the previous one. I'm glad to announce that we've got a key person in mind who can save Missus! So, tonight, everyone should be happy to eat and drink as always!"
The cheers rose again.
Jack and Tex didn't quite understand, obviously they didn't do anything, why did they say that there was already a way to save Misso, and besides, where was this key person? It couldn't be the rustic person who just took over? Besides, if he was really the key person, then why did he go to greet him?
Questioning, Jack glanced quietly at the man who sat next to Coren and said nothing. From the beginning to the present, he has never spoken or laughed, as if everything that happened has nothing to do with him.
Jack couldn't help but suspect that the silent special guest was the key to saving the Missus.
The meal was still going on, and the lords on both sides of the table were toasting and chatting with each other, as if the world had been saved.
Turks was chatting with the others at this time, and this young man in his twenties was really good enough to mingle with them, while Jack was drinking the Missusian's homemade Kodi on the side, his mind was full of thoughts, and he was also observing the silent "mystery man" around Cologne.
Why didn't Coren explain who the key figure was, and why did he say that the Missicus was saved? What can be done? Isn't it here to discuss today, is it just a simple announcement and the end of it?
All kinds of questions linger in Jack's mind, and perhaps, that mysterious figure is the key to solving the problem. However, from the outside, he is really just a farmer in his early forties, and there is nothing special about him. If there's anything that catches the eye, it's probably the way he stares at Jack all the time.
The eyes of the two collided countless times during the dinner of the night, and Jack was uncomfortable with him.
At this time, Turks suddenly led the two lords to Jack's side, obviously, Turks drank a little too much: "Jack, what are you doing sitting, stand up and drink together! Don't you think the taste of Missus's Kodi wine is not to your taste? It doesn't matter, drink it tonight, and tomorrow I will take you to drink the old good wine!" Jack was a little confused by what Tex said, but because he was drinking, he couldn't say anything, so he had to laugh.
"Hey, these two, it's Lille of Eddard and Fury of Chalon, you've seen this afternoon. Let's get to know you officially. Tex blushed, calling the lords by name and pointing to introduce Jack to them.
The two lords probably drank too much, and Lille said, "Jack, Jack, well, good name, this name, like a strong man should have." I'll give you a drink!" Fury on the side also said: "What I said is that this name is only available to the strong, and the strong should be like you!" After speaking, he also picked up the golden cup that had been spilled with half of the wine, squinted his drunken eyes, and wanted to drink with Jack.
Jack, who had been lifted very high, was ashamed of himself, and thought that the people of Missoux were so proud of everyone, so he also took up the full wine glass, held it high above the top, and did it first as a respect.
Before Lille and Zaron had drunk their wine, they applauded and shouted, "Young is good! We are both old, it is time for you to play! What we have not done, it is up to you!"
Jack was confused: what depends on us, what we play, they have drunk enough of this!
The drunken Turks looked at Jack with a misty look in his eyes, and put his arm on Jack's shoulder and said, "My good friend, welcome to the Missours, here, I can help you fulfill all your wishes! Isn't it just the Garland people emigrating? No problem, I'll help you do it in two days! Everything is negotiable!"
He had drunk too much and had completely forgotten the purpose of returning to Miss. Jack only listens, and doesn't care. What he cares about is to sort things out on this continent and let the Garlandians return safely to where their ancestors were.
"Everyone, be quiet, be quiet!" said Cologne, who suddenly tapped his fork against the plate on the table.
After a while, the crowd gradually calmed down from the noise, and all the lords looked at Koren who was standing in front of the main seat. Coren was also slightly drunk, and his cheeks were as youthful as a teenager.
"I forgot to introduce you to a friend," said Cologne, who helped the "mystery man" sitting next to him, "this is Luther, and I spent half a day inviting him from Stan. He, the Divine Envoy you've heard of, has managed to make time to come here!" Coren happily introduced the crowd, and some in the crowd nodded and pointed.
"It seems that this is not a mysterious person, and it is only I who I don't know. I don't know if Turks has heard of it," Jack thought to himself.
Coren has been introducing Luthor as an amazing person, predicting natural disasters and sea beast invasions, saying that Luthor is a god, and emphasizing that those things are true.
But to Jack's ears, all of them were untrustworthy things, all superstition and deception. But, it's worth noting that Colon has been speaking at the table, and Luthor has been staring at Jack.
After a few glasses of wine, Jack finally couldn't help himself, and after Coren finished speaking, he asked, "King Cologne, thank you for your hospitality tonight, Jack feels very honored." I know that Luther's greatness is incomparable to that of ordinary people, but, I wonder if Luther is invited today, is there anything he has to say?" Jack sat down when he finished speaking, waiting for Cologne's answer, and stared sharply at the man who had watched him all night today.
The excited Coren was even happier after hearing Jack's words, laughed and patted Luther on the shoulder and said, "Luther, they all say that you are a great person, then, now please tell me, what are you going to say when you come today?"
Everyone's eyes were drawn to Luther. Luthor had obviously experienced a big scene, and he was still not flustered under the focus of so many eyes, his eyes swept around, grabbed the golden wine glass on the table, and made a symbolic toast to everyone, and after drinking, he put down the wine glass and had a long aftertaste.
"It's not that I can save the world, it's that I told King Coron that a month ago, I found someone who could save the world." Luthor uttered a heavy drunken remark that caused the banquet to fall silent.
"Hahahaha!" Coren broke the awkward scene with a barrage of laughter, "Did you hear that, Luthor said he found someone who could save the world!"