Noon, Kenya Hall at the Royal Academy.
This was the territory of the Fierce Lion Society. When the Second Prince studied at the Academy, he bought Kenya Hall as a gathering place for his own faction.
Here, the Fierce Lions made their exchanges of interests, plotted, formed alliances, and took action.
Pino Lavaud was nothing more than the current generation’s leader of the Fierce Lion Society; with both capability and background, he was the perfect person to keep the new generation of nobles in check.
“The task you gave me is complete. I deliberately chose a method that would anger him, and I used the stone to test it, but didn’t find anything unusual.”
Pino, inside a secret chamber, held a communication stone and reported to someone.
If any other student saw this scene, they would likely be very surprised.
Because at the Academy, Pino always put on an air of supreme arrogance. Yet right now, he was being polite and showing the refinement befitting a noble.
“You’ve worked hard. I’ve checked with them—right now, the time is not yet ripe. But what we lack most is time. That madwoman Cielsa is sweeping through the upper city with her knight order. Damn it, I hope they do a thorough job.”
“We need a plan. We must proactively awaken that one, so we’ll have the leverage to keep her in check.”
“Ah—”
The voice on the other end of the communication stone heard Pino’s hesitation and said directly, “What is it, Pino, do you have doubts about something?”
“It’s nothing… El is a good man. Even though we’re on different sides, I do feel a bit sorry for him. Please rest assured, it won’t affect my judgment.”
“Haha, Lord Regis truly is a model for the new generation of nobles, an excellent aristocrat. It’s just that his existence hinders our plans. If possible, I wouldn’t want to harm Lord Regis either.”
“His sacrifice will be worthwhile and will bring a brighter future to the Empire. Naturally, the Lavaud Family will also benefit from it.”
The person on the other end of the stone was clearly skilled in political maneuvering. He first put himself on the same side as Pino, making his words more persuasive.
Then, he spoke of the greater good and promised great rewards, dispelling Pino’s concerns.
“There’s another problem that worries me. Those people from the Demon Cult act too recklessly. The day before yesterday, they performed a blood sacrifice on two civilians in the lower city.”
“Fortunately, it was within the Bogut Marquis’s jurisdiction, so things were suppressed.”
“I’m troubled by that too. For now, just try to satisfy their demands as much as possible—at least, until I take the throne. My relationship with them is only mutual exploitation. When the storm passes, we’ll deal with them.”
“As for those two civilians, have they been settled? Give enough compensation and don’t let anything else arise.”
Pino replied respectfully, “Yes, everything is as you wished.”
“Very good. That’s all I have to say. Until you receive further instructions, just live as usual at the Academy. Also, remember my warning…
Do not get too involved with the Demon Cult. They are very dangerous, and before you realize it, you’ll be influenced by them. I do not wish for my loyal subordinate to become a fanatic for demons.”
After leaving these words, the person on the other end of the communication stone took the initiative to hang up.
After a long silence, Pino began to mutter to himself, “I understand the reasoning, but they can give me power, so I won’t have to be controlled by my foolish brother anymore. Forgive me, Princess Felice, on this point, I can’t listen to you.”
Behind the brown-haired young man, an ominous black mist emerged, gathering into a grinning, ferocious ghost face.
***
Afternoon, outside the Lavaud Duke’s residence.
“Lord Lavaud, you go to such lengths to block my way. Could it be you’re actually colluding with heretics?”
Unusual.
Cielsa wore an ivory-white silk gown, its hem flowing elegantly, her peach-pink hair coiled up, studded with flower-shaped jewels and braided magnificently.
At this moment, this princess, beautiful enough to have stepped out of a fairy tale, was watching the gray-haired old duke with a half-smile.
“Your Highness jests. The Lavaud Family has served the Emperor loyally for generations. The Goddess can bear witness.”
The unspoken meaning was, the Lavaud Family serves the Emperor, so why should they obey a mere princess?
“Oh? But I’ve already received the Action Permit from his hand. The entire Royal Knight Order is investigating the Demon Cult. Since Lord Lavaud is so loyal, why not let us in? At least it would clear the Duke’s name, wouldn’t it?”
The unspoken threat: if you dare stop me, I’ll cut you down with the knights and blame you for colluding with heretics.
The Duke’s composure began to crack, “Your Highness, it’s not that I do not support your investigation. If it were just you alone, of course we would welcome you. But so many knights—this truly damages the dignity of the Lavaud Family.”
“Dignity, huh. Even the Hoz Duke’s residence was searched this way. Or is Lord Lavaud somehow nobler than him, hmm?”
Cielsa covered her mouth with a pale little hand and yawned, clearly running out of patience.
“Are you not aware what a loss of prestige this will bring to the Lavaud Family…”
A nobleman behind the old duke grew agitated, even forgetting to use honorifics.
As he spoke, he leaned forward, looking as if he would charge at Cielsa at any moment.
Cielsa carelessly signaled with her eyes.
The next instant, a flash of sword light swept past. A deep slash appeared before the man, who collapsed to the ground in terror.
“Do not disrespect Her Highness.”
Wald said calmly.
Unlike ordinary knights who wore their swords at their waist, Wald, with a scruffy beard and dressed in plain clothes and ragged trousers, cradled his sword in his arms, standing unobtrusively in a corner.
Seeing this, the old duke hurried to step forward, “My son was rude, please forgive him, Your Highness. Since Your Highness wishes to thoroughly investigate the Demon Cult, the Lavaud Family will, of course, fully support you.”
He moved aside and spread his arms, indicating for Cielsa and her people to proceed.
The powerful duke at this moment seemed more like the steward of his own residence.
“Sigh—if you’d done this sooner, Lord Lavaud, I wouldn’t have had to make things so ugly.”
Cielsa walked elegantly past the old duke.
Behind the princess strode a knight standing four meters tall, entirely encased in spotless armor that reflected a sacred light, like a small giant.
The knights crowded around Cielsa as they entered the duke’s mansion. Fortunately, the roads were wide enough for five carriages to drive side by side.
Wald was like a ghost; he wasn’t responsible for the investigation, his only duty was to ensure Cielsa’s safety.
“Oh, right, Lord Lavaud.”
She suddenly turned back to the old duke.
“Your heir is far too foolish. I have a rather pessimistic view of the Lavaud Family’s future.”
After Cielsa left, Sainote, the old duke’s eldest son, gritted his teeth and said, “Father, are we just going to let her do as she pleases? Even knights can trample over the Lavaud Family’s territory as they wish—what about our honor?”
“So tell me, what should we do?” the old duke asked indifferently.
“You want to use force against her? Never mind what happens after, just look—over twenty elite knights from the Royal Knight Order, all of them Gold-ranked. And Wald—just him alone, and the entire Lavaud Family together couldn’t deal with him.”
“If you want to talk reason, she holds the Action Permit, representing a royal order. If we refuse the investigation, we’re defying an imperial command.”
“How can that be? Master Mage Dotok and Master Warrior Royas are both masters in their fields. No matter what, we should have a chance at victory, shouldn’t we?”
The old duke sighed, “There are differences even among masters, how do you not understand such a simple principle? Look at the Royal Knight Order’s elites; out there, they could easily defeat five or six others of the same rank—those so-called adventurers.”
“Wald is this generation’s Sword Saint. If he got serious, there’d hardly be a handful in the whole capital who could match him.”
“You have to learn to judge the situation, Sainote. Just now, I only put up token resistance against that woman, to save some face for the Lavaud Family.”
Sainote stood to the side, nodding obediently.
The old duke sighed. The eldest son was obedient and sensible, but honestly too dim to shoulder great responsibility.
The second son was capable, but far too ambitious—not suitable for leading a Lavaud Family already subject to the Emperor’s suspicion.
By comparison, he still preferred handing the family to Sainote, whom he had cultivated for many years.
With the right subordinates supporting him, Sainote might still become a competent, if mediocre, caretaker.
The old duke had kept many of his dealings with the Second Prince from Sainote, precisely to keep him from getting too deeply involved. If things ever came to light, the impact on Sainote would be minimized.
Of course, Sainote’s stupidity was also a factor.