Noticing the hostile gaze Joel Crais directed at the young woman standing beside the Bishop, City Lord Gunther Hoffmann narrowed his eyes, seemingly guessing the situation.
‘It seems this girl and the squad leader have a grudge against each other.’
‘It’s only natural; otherwise, her acquaintance wouldn’t have been captured by the Church of Holy Light.’
After a moment of consideration, Gunther realized that as the host, he should be the one to ease the atmosphere and explain the situation.
Gunther Hoffmann stood up with a beaming smile to welcome the newcomer, speaking warmly, “Lord Crais has arrived? My apologies for the lack of a proper welcome!”
“Grand Knight Commander Locklen wrote to me a few days ago, and I thought you wouldn’t return for several more days. I didn’t expect you to arrive so soon.”
‘Locklen? Master?’
Hearing his master’s name, Joel Crais did not dare to be negligent and replied with polite formality, “I only arrived yesterday. Some issues arose, otherwise, I would have paid my respects to you much sooner, City Lord!”
As he spoke, the blonde knight shot a sidelong glance at the pointed-eared girl with deep golden hair sitting at the table.
The two elves offered no response to this provocation.
After all, this man had lost one of his lives to Lance, so it was only natural for him to be emotional.
Gunther Hoffmann, who had nothing to do with the matter, naturally didn’t mind.
After the pleasantries, he quickly invited Joel Crais to take a seat and signaled the servants to begin serving the appetizers.
“Come, come. There are no strict rules in my manor, so there’s no need to be so formal.”
“Sit down, Joel. You must taste the delicacies unique to Siofra today; you won’t find these in the Holy Capital.”
However, the young man did not take his seat as invited.
Seeing that the City Lord’s attitude toward him was friendly while the two elves opposite him didn’t react to his previous provocation, he assumed they wanted something from him.
His confidence grew instantly, and he spoke up, “There is no rush to sit. The Holy Capital does not have a habit of sharing a table with sinners.”
“I heard that the City Lord was originally an Adventurer, so I imagine you aren’t fond of beating around the bush. Why don’t you tell me directly what we’re here to discuss?”
After saying that, Joel Crais stared intently at the elf girl, a fierce light flashing in his eyes.
As for the elf beside her who looked like an elder, this young noble from the Holy Capital didn’t care about her at all.
It was no secret that the elves and the Nature Church were closely linked, and many elves held Holy Offices within that church.
He assumed this dinner was simply arranged by this elven elder through her connection with the City Lord.
‘Hmph!’
Since the City Lord of Siofra was currently the only Saint-Rank Expert in Siofra, Joel would naturally show him some respect.
Coming here in person was already a great deal of face given to this fake Saint-Rank.
But his respect wasn’t so cheap that he would extend it to just any random person!
Hearing this, Gunther Hoffmann’s brow twitched slightly, but he didn’t speak to stop him.
The light-golden-haired elf sitting next to the girl had already made a move.
Valerie had a smile on her face, but her words were anything but polite. “Brat, who are you calling a sinner?”
“Who? Her, of course!”
Faced with the question, Joel Crais erupted, pointing an overbearing finger at Astrid, who had remained silent.
This was Astrid’s first time trying to get someone out of custody at a banquet, so she didn’t know the proper procedure, but the current situation felt very wrong.
However, due to their previous agreement, Astrid did not argue with the blonde knight.
With her aunt there as an elder, she felt it was best to follow her lead.
Thinking this, Astrid turned to look at her aunt, seeking her opinion.
But when she looked, Astrid was startled.
The smile Valerie usually wore had vanished without a trace.
The chill in her eyes seemed capable of condensing into countless ice blades to pierce through the rude, ignorant boy.
Ever since Astrid could remember, she had never seen such a serious expression on her aunt’s face.
Staring into those eyes, Joel Crais felt his hair stand on end.
He involuntarily took a step back, and the hand pointing at Astrid quickly retreated.
Seeing this, Gunther Hoffmann finally spoke up to play the peacemaker, “Ha ha ha! Joel, perhaps you don’t know since you just arrived in Siofra.”
“In Siofra, we discuss matters while enjoying fine food. Don’t just stand there; sit! Sit!”
Seeing the City Lord intervene, Valerie forcibly suppressed her rising temper.
Although Astrid’s talent wasn’t the best and she was only at the late stage of the High Rank after all this time, she was still the only Princess of the current direct bloodline of the Elgar Family.
Before she had ever mentioned the rebellious idea of leaving the Elgar Family, she had been the pearl of her father’s and elders’ eyes.
It was no exaggeration to call her the sole jewel of the Elga Royal Family. How could a human brat be allowed to insult her?
This was no different from slapping the face of the Elga Royal Family!
Valerie swallowed her anger and closed her eyes for a moment to compose herself.
After all, there was a host here.
As the Bishop sent to Siofra by the Nature Church, Valerie naturally didn’t want to offend this legend who had emerged from the Holy War.
Otherwise, the church affairs she managed would surely become difficult.
As the saying goes, a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake—especially when this person wasn’t just a local snake, but the “Black Dragon” recognized by the unique laws of Siofra.
As long as he remained within Siofra’s territory, he was a true Saint-Rank Expert who could stand toe-to-toe with the Knight Commanders of the Great Churches.
‘I am only a Regional Cardinal at the Elemental Tier after all…’
With that thought, Valerie decided to take a step back and not pursue the blonde knight’s rudeness, treating him as an ignorant and fearless junior.
But to both of their surprise, the young noble from the Holy Capital did not appreciate the gesture.
Joel Crais’s face flushed red. Now that he had regained his senses, he felt an immense sense of shame for having been frightened into backing away.
“You… you! You dare show killing intent toward me! Do you know who I am?!”
“My master is Locklen, the Commander of the Hammer of the Sanctuary! My father is one of the twenty-four Cardinals of the Holy Capital!”
“You’re finished! You’re all finished!”
In his shame and anger, Joel Crais completely abandoned all etiquette, pointing at Astrid and Valerie as he shouted, “Once I return to the Holy Capital, you are all finished!”
The moment those words left his mouth, the polite smile on Gunther Hoffmann’s face finally crumbled.
‘What a brainless brat!’
‘He isn’t giving me any face at all!’
Cursing inwardly, Gunther Hoffmann’s expression darkened.
“Impudent!”
“How dare you be so disrespectful to Regional Cardinal Valerie!”
‘Regional Cardinal?’
Hearing that title, the blonde youth regained a sliver of his sanity.
He suppressed the threat of turning them both into slaves.
But then, Joel realized he had been scolded by this fake Saint-Rank, and his fury flared up even more.
“Regional Cardinal? So what if she’s a Regional Cardinal! Do you think I haven’t seen plenty of Cardinals before?”
“A fake Saint-Rank like you dares speak to me like that? I am Locklen’s discip—”
Boom!
A massive crash echoed as the young knight was sent flying by a single palm strike from the Black Dragon of Siofra, Gunther Hoffmann, slamming into the stone wall of the manor.
Dust and debris flew everywhere.
The City Lord’s face was grim as he summoned a messenger waiting outside the door and commanded, “Tell the Radiant Saintess to come and collect him.”
“Yes, City Lord!”
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