Chapter 124: The Absurd King
Among the aristocracy, there were a lot of smart people, and Justin was not the only one. Although the nobles did not say anything, they knew very well that everyone had come to investigate the situation. It can also be said that it is a gathering to get information.
At this point, if you can meet some new army heroes, it's not too late to prepare gifts in advance.
Until the end of the award, no one knows who the new king will award to the next duke.
After the end of the Dragon Slayer War more than a decade ago, five new dukes were born at the banquet, which is extremely rare.
Although the scale of the "First Bar" is not small, and the decoration is not luxurious, it is crowded at this time, but it is not noisy at all. It's a world away from the average pub across the street.
Every time the nobles met someone they knew, they would take off their hats and salute, and they were meticulous and very gentlemanly.
They all deliberately lowered their voices and exchanged the latest information they received.
At this time, a thin man dressed in ordinary clothes and not particular about appearance walked into the bar.
All the nobles looked at him, but there was no disdain in their eyes.
One of the marquis hurried up to the thin man and asked, "Jaco, do you have any new news?"
The man named Jacole made a gesture, and the Marquis quickly handed over five gold coins.
Jaco frowned and said, "Young Master Terna, you're too stingy."
The corners of the Marquis Terna's mouth twitched a few times, and then he gave her five gold coins.
After receiving the coins, Jaco said, "The new reward list has not yet been decided, but the quota has been basically decided! There are 30 people who will be rewarded with the rank of noble. That's all there is to it!"
The man spoke loudly without any courtesy or attention. But even so, the nobles were polite to her. After all, she is the most well-informed person in the Imperial City.
This emaciated woman named Jaco has been exchanging gold information, which the people of the Imperial City call "Infotong".
No one knows how she, as a low-ranking person, obtained secret information. There was a lot of information that even the ministers of the palace might not know, but she had a way to know in advance. It's her own means.
After announcing the news and getting paid, Jaco swaggered out of the first bar.
As for the news that had just been received, the nobles naturally began to get busy again. They had previously received the news that 15 new nobles were about to be born, so basically only 15 gifts were prepared for each of them.
Now the latest news is 30. It seems that this award is really unusual. In addition, the accuracy of this "newscasting" information has always been high. Since she said that there were 30 new nobles, she was not wrong.
Soon the nobles began to order their servants to prepare ten more gifts.
However, although Jacos mentions the number of new nobles, he does not mention the specific list, much to the disappointment of the nobles.
Because once they know the specific list, they can choose different gifts according to each person's preferences.
About an hour later, Jacole was back at the First Bar. This time, she brought a list, a list of eight people.
Although this is not a complete list, the nobles are still willing to pay her.
"Listen, I'll only say it once. The eight men are Henry, Zavalado, Arak, Leon, Kara, Calero, Drew, and ......" Jacco said this, but stopped suddenly. She smiled and said to the nobles, "Guess who is the last one?"
Almost all the nobles couldn't help but scold him. Isn't that obvious? The first seven were all members of the Demon Slayer Squad. The eighth man is, of course, Monchi D. Ace. Is it necessary to think about it?
But Jacole continued, "I think you all think the eighth man is Monchi-D-Ace, right?"
At this time, the eyes of the nobles were a little confused. Isn't this the eighth man, Ace?
"Eighth place isn't Monchi-D-Ace, it's Garolo!" When Jacques had finished, she was very happy, for she loved to see the nobles amazed. Only then will she be able to show what she is capable of!
"Garolo? I've never heard of this guy!
」
"Who is Garolo? I already know the list of military achievements of the Legion, but I've never heard of Garolo!"
For a while, the aristocracy could not sit still. This "Garolo" is indeed mysterious. Many people hear the name for the first time.
Who is Garolo? That's the registrar in charge of recording the results of the army!
As time went on, the aristocracy of the first bar also grew. After that, almost all the people who came in were confined to standing, without seats.
Usually, the taverns of the imperial city received so many nobles at once. The tavern owner had to be very hospitable to come out and entertain them personally.
However, this is not the case. Not only did the owner of the "First Bar" not show up, but there were not enough seats in the bar. He didn't let anyone try to solve the problem, so he let the late nobles get up.
During this time, there was also a small incident, where two viscounts had an argument over their seats, and they were directly driven away by the bartender of the "First Bar".
However, the other nobles did not care about this. Everyone knows that the owner of this "No. 1 Bar" is not simple. Otherwise, how could he open a bar near the palace?
Soon, the sun was setting in the west, and it was already evening, and it was getting closer and closer to the evening feast.
At this time, almost all the nobles came to wait outside the palace.
At the same time, the heroes who were invited to the banquet also arrived.
For a while, the nearby "First Bar" was even noisier, with an unprecedented grand scene.
Ace is naturally one of them.
He stood with several members of the Demon Slayer Squad and whispered about the upcoming feast.
"Big brother, this meal is not worth mentioning, the reward after the meal is the most important thing! Still, big brother, you don't have to worry at all. After all, if you are the number one on the military merit list, you will definitely get a good reward." Leon rubbed his hands together as he spoke.
Arak said from the sidelines, "Fatty, you and I have both been touched by the light of Ace, we have achieved a lot in the war. I think there are some rewards as well, but this title can't be more than Ace."
Leon also looked looking forward to it: "My father has been looked down upon by many aristocrats for many years. Now I can achieve the status of nobility by virtue of my combat achievements. My father would have been so proud of me! I, Leon, didn't lose face in front of the Vicky family, haha!"
Ace has been laughing at the conversation between the two brothers. On the surface, it looks calm, but the waves inside are already turbulent.
The upcoming dinner is absolutely crucial for him. If he is not careful, he may even lose his life.
Ace was clearing his thoughts, planning how to deal with what was about to happen, when suddenly, he felt a pull on his sleeve.
He turned his head and saw Kara looking at him with concern, "What's wrong with you? It feels like you're always a little uneasy."
Ace was a little surprised. He was surprised that he clearly showed enough calm on his face. But why does Carla still find him weird?
"Oh, that's okay! This is just the first time I've faced this situation. I'm a little nervous." Ace tried to hide his embarrassment with a smile.
Kara frowned, then quickly looked away, not knowing what she was thinking.
At this moment, the tall young man not far away felt his heart stabbed.
Henry turned sideways, facing Calero, trying not to show sadness.
Calero smiled faintly and said, "Ace is such a monster. I remember the first time I met him, I didn't notice him at all. On the contrary, I was more impressed with Arak. But now, this man has grown into a famous genius in the empire. It's really hard to predict!"
Henry smiled and nodded, "Indeed, this guy is growing too fast. I think he'll overtake me in a year or two."
Looking at Ace, who was chatting and laughing quietly with Leon and Arak not far away, Henry and Calero didn't look the same.
Zavalado walked up to Ace, put his arm around his shoulder, and said, "Ace, you're going to show off your skills this time! Not only will you get good rewards, but you'll also get very
What a beautiful woman's heart!"
Ace was about to retort, but Zavalado suddenly twisted his body. He saw four or five aristocratic girls in colorful clothes not far in front of him, whispering and laughing.
Ace looked back, and they were all smiling, and their eyes were full of charm. The posture is also becoming more and more charming. The slender waist and upturned hips are as soft as a dancing snake.
When Ace saw their wolf-like eyes, he couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth and turned to look away.
"What's wrong? Which of those noble girls do you like? You can pick two of your own, and I'll take the rest!" Zavalado whispered.
Ace waved his hand again and again, "Whatever you want. I won't be participating! You can take it all if you want!"
"How's that going to work? We are good brothers. There are so many beautiful women. Of course we should share it together. As a brother, how can I eat alone?" Zavalado said solemnly, as if he was discussing something serious with Ace.
Ace is a little annoyed by this guy, especially since Kara is not far from him. Even though Zavalado's voice was not loud, Ace was sure she could hear everything Zavalado said.
When Ace was at a loss, the door of the palace slowly opened.
Everyone's eyes suddenly focused on the gates of the palace. The aristocrats, who were still talking and laughing, also stepped forward and put on a respectful appearance.
Soon after, more than 20 palace guards came out and stood on both sides of the road.
After that, a fat man in formal attire comes out. He twisted his fat body and slowly came to the nobleman.
This man was none other than the Minister of Finance of the New Delhi Empire.
He cleared his throat, then raised his voice slightly, and said, "Everyone, please take out the invitation card and prepare to enter the palace for dinner!"
For a moment, everyone held the invitation in their hands.
Just as the nobles were about to bring their servants into the palace, the Minister of Finance stood in front of them.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this banquet is special. No servant is allowed to enter the palace!" The Minister of Finance said to everyone.
"What? Can't you bring a servant? Didn't they all allow servants to come in before?"
"You can't bring a servant, we're all ready..."
The man coughed several times and almost blurted out the word "gift" when he was excited.
Although the nobles knew each other very well, it seemed to them a bit rude to speak out, in front of so many people.
The aristocrats considered this to be the biggest difference between this banquet and the past.
However, as they handed over their invitations and crossed the long road leading to the palace, they found court guards standing on either side of every road in the vicinity.
It is reasonable to say that the palace should be a bright sight at night. After all, the Empire does not impose a curfew on His Majesty.
However, on both sides of Palace Road, the lights are dim and there is not enough illumination. But even so, the sword in the guard's hand still glowed terribly in the dim light.
Everyone is confused and always has a strange hallucination. They did not seem to have come to a banquet, but to a very serious trial meeting.
If this was just a banquet held by the Empire, how could it need so many guards to guard it?
Ace couldn't help but frown. Somehow, he always felt that these guards might have prepared themselves.
Early summer nights are supposed to be cool and comfortable, but somehow, tonight's palace always gives an indescribable bitter cold.
However, despite everyone's confusion, they did not dare to speak out. After all, they have already entered the palace.
The etiquette in the palace is much more elaborate than outside. If someone is punished for his impoliteness, he may be punished by a new king who has just ascended the throne.
After all, the new king had to establish a certain degree of authority for himself, and the most appropriate thing to do was to abolish a few minor nobles.
Because of this, despite the confusion in their hearts, they all walked forward without saying a word, not daring to pause at all.
When all the invitees had submitted their invitations, the gates of the palace were quickly closed.
The heavy sound of the door slamming hit everyone's hearts and made them feel even more uneasy.
Under the leadership of the Minister of Finance, everyone slowly walked towards the banquet hall. No one dared to speak along the way. Even if someone can't help but cough twice, he must keep his voice as low as possible and not too loud.
After going in with the Minister of Finance, I don't know how long it took. After passing through a luxurious garden, everyone finally entered a magnificent palace.
They can only see that the place is completely different from the outside. There is an atmosphere of peace and tranquility inside.
The rich aroma of fine wine is intertwined with the aroma of a variety of delicacies. The sound of the instrument playing is pleasant, but not noisy.
On top of that, when people walked into the palace, a feeling of warmth also followed, making people feel very comfortable, which made the originally stiff legion nobles and soldiers want to stretch their bodies.
Ace stood in the doorway, looking around. He saw that the palace was already filled with all kinds of food and wine.
The bright lights here make the palace, which was originally dominated by gold, even brighter and more ornate.
Looking up, there are many lifelike portraits carved on the ceiling, which are more than 20 meters high. There are angels, gods, and all kinds of rare animals.
On the walls on both sides of the palace, there are more than a dozen boxes, divided into upper and lower levels. In each box stood two noble court servants.
Apparently, the boxes were intended for nobles or ministers of high status.
Looking ahead, above the central position in front of the palace, there is a stacked platform. There is a long golden table on the platform, and behind it is a throne encrusted with precious stones.
This is clearly the seat of the new king, but the new king who has just been appointed has not yet arrived.
Just as the nobles were talking and laughing in a low voice, gradually regaining their relaxed mood, a loud voice echoed through the grand hall.
"His Majesty is here!"
All of them quickly took off their hats, bowed their heads, and saluted the door behind the throne.
At this point, the sound of the instrument also disappears.
Throughout the hall, only clear footsteps can be heard.
As footsteps slowly walked up the stacked platform, a proud voice rang out, "Alright, please sit down according to your position."
At this time, all the people dared to raise their heads and began to look for seats.
Ace inadvertently looked above the throne and saw the new king dressed in blue and purple runecloth robes. The gold thread embroidery on the robe glittered in the light, and the crown was worn on the head.
However, the sitting and posture of the new king is indeed a bit flattering.
His face was filled with anxiety and impatience, and his sitting posture was incorrect. His body rests on the throne, which is not what a king should have.
Seeing this, Ace couldn't help frowning.
He had heard before that the newly appointed king was the younger brother of the old king, and the worst of all. All he knew was that he was addicted to alcohol all day long, and had no interest in government affairs.
Prior to this, Ace did not take this idea seriously. After all, it is very impolite to slander the king. But judging from the first impression at the time, Ace had a preliminary judgment in his heart, as if this rumor was true.
Ace quickly found his place, but to his surprise, his place was in a corner of the palace, far away from a few of his comrades.
However, Ace did not have any complaints about this. For these superficial things, Ace didn't pay much attention.
Instead, Leon and Arak ask the Minister of Finance if there was a mistake in arranging Ace's position.
However, the Minister of Finance was right. He arranged his seats according to the list provided by His Majesty the King.
After Ace sat down, he looked at the boxes on both sides of the palace and found that all the people sitting in the boxes were famous nobles of the Empire.
Three of the five dukes are here today. The archbishop did not attend, nor did Ayr, who was badly wounded.
The other people who were eligible to sit in the box were basically marquises. However, Ace found a familiar figure,
That was Garolo, who was in charge of documenting the achievements of the army.
"How can he be qualified to sit in a box?" Ace was very surprised by this.
"Cough, cough, cough!" At this time, the new king Terrera, who was sitting on the throne, coughed a few times and said, "The feast can now begin!"
Under the command of the Knights, vocal music was everywhere, and the banquet that everyone had been waiting for finally began.
Terrella stood up a little lazily, picked up his glass, and shouted to everyone in the room, "Come, do this glass!"
All the people at the banquet immediately stood up and drank together.
At the moment, there are still many nobles who cannot understand the temper of the new king. They only know that he is greedy for beauty, so they are more cautious in their words and deeds.
After a drink, Terrera poured herself another glass, and the people at the banquet naturally had to raise their glasses again.
After three glasses in a row, the new king, Terrella, finally stopped raising his glass and leaned back on his throne, as if he was a little sleepy.
Seeing that the king did not continue drinking, everyone could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. If he continued to drink like this, it was estimated that there would be less than ten drinks, and almost everyone at the banquet would be drunk. After all, the amount of alcohol is too much.
Ace looked at the sleepy new king and shook his head helplessly.
Although the old king did not do anything during his lifetime, at least the country was peaceful and the people were safe.
And now the new king is a complete waste. Nothing compares to the old king.
Ace couldn't help but shake his head, confused: has the old king become an idiot? How dare you pass the throne to this brother who has no future!
The melodious sound of the instrument turned into a clicky hypnotic music. Soon, a loud snoring came from the throne.
The nobles and soldiers of the imperial army who attended the banquet did not dare to make noise, for fear of waking up the new king and causing trouble.
In this way, the banquet was held in a quiet and awkward atmosphere. Since the new king fell asleep, the originally lively and harmonious atmosphere became quiet and strange.
In this way, the wine made by the master becomes dull and tasteless in people's mouths.
I don't know how long it took, but Terrella finally woke up.
His face flushed, and his eyes were half squinted. It doesn't seem to be fully awake yet. He seemed to be talking, but snoring and couldn't say anything clearly.
Terrilla tried to stand up, but his body seemed weak. Sit down in the middle and start wheezing.
The Minister of Finance hurried over to the new king and asked with concern, "Your Majesty, are you alright?"
Terrilla shook off Alba's hand and tried to help him, angrily saying, "I'm not that old fellow, I don't need your help."
Although the words were slurred and not loud, Ace could hear them clearly.
The Minister of Finance hurriedly looked around. After confirming that no one had noticed the new king's inappropriate remarks, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty, it's almost time for the feast, it's time to issue a reward!"
Terrella held the throne in one hand, half-supporting herself. He blushed with all his might, and struggled to get to his feet.
He relaxed, then stretched.
The Minister of Finance, who was standing on the sidelines, whispered again, "Your Majesty, it's time to ......."
"Shut up!" Terrera whispered, "Are you the king or am I the king?"
The Minister of Finance quickly fell to the ground, but although he was outwardly afraid, he was not at all afraid, because he was well aware that the king in front of him was just a puppet, and the one who really had the right to speak was not there today.
Terrera shook her head slightly, the crown on her head almost falling off.
"Alright, that's the end of the feast!" Terrella's voice was not very loud, but because the banquet hall was so quiet, the voice of the new king still reached everyone's ears clearly.
Everyone sat up straight, lowered their glasses, and looked sideways in the direction of the click.
They have been waiting for this moment today. At this point, the banquet is over and the real show is finally beginting.
Terrera lowered her head and was silent for a moment. He seemed to be clearing his mind. Over time, he said, "
Today's feast is mainly to celebrate the return of the heroes."