Chapter 283 Wonderful!
Basil felt dazed when he was escorted out of the reception room by the footman who led him there, not quite understanding what was going on.
The Twin City Cup?
To be fair, it did sound like a tourney.
‘What is even going on? I’ve brought imperial military elites here, ready to make a display of martial force only to be sucker-punched before I reach the city. And now, the one I was about to show off to is going to show off his power instead?
‘Isn’t this straight up treason!?”
Basil recovered with another pinch of cold sweat dripping over his body.
Nonetheless, he noticed certain unusual things after he calmed down.
True, Lancaster was a relatively prosperous trading city which paid the most in annual taxes across the North, matching even several important cities in the Valla Empire—and that was without the imperial capital taking a closer look at their books.
Nearby, Tunaya, which was the political hub of the Silver Eagle Duchy was certainly a bigger thorn in the new emperor’s side.
That being said, claiming that the two fiefdoms were capable of crushing the Valla Empire’s rule would be underestimating the depth of the empire that stood for over four hundred years.
After all, the Silver Eagle Duchy was one of the weakest duchies split out of the Valla Empire. In fact, they weren’t a match for the Magnolia Duchy—their western neighbors who were governed by a bunch of barbarians, let alone the Rominos Duchy who stood in equal footing against the Empire herself.
Neither Corinth, mayor of Lancaster nor Horan, the Silver Eagle Duke would be that unwise.
Could they merely be flexing their muscles and signaling that they were not to be crossed?
Basil couldn’t help feeling puzzled.
Meanwhile, he and the footman had arrived at a much plainer room than Basil’s guest room.
It was s.p.a.cious but virtually unfurnished aside from wide mattresses, making it appear no different from a servant’s lodgings.
Naturally, it was the room set aside for Monan and the other imperial military elites, who appeared at once surprised and delighted when they saw Basil—they hadn’t completely screwed up their duty of keeping Basil safe, at least.
“My lord, you may call for me anytime if you have any request or if you wish to return to your room.” The footman told Basil before leaving the room, seemingly uninterested in the conversation of the diplomatic corps.
Basil breathed a sigh of relief, only to feel even more confused.
What could the people of Lancaster be thinking? They appear so uninterested in their strategy, as if they were confident in winning the so-called Twin City Cup.
Could the tourney be rigged in the first place?
Nonetheless, Basil refuted that idea immediately.
Rigging a tourney which express purpose was flexing one’s power would only ruin public recognition and make themselves look all-talk, defeating the purpose of the event entirely.
“My lord, did those brutes from Lancaster did anything to you?” Monan asked worriedly when he saw Basil’s distracted look, afraid that he was tormented spiritually.
Still, Basil did recover from his questionsuddenly inspired even as he looked at the knight before him.
‘I’m not dragging my old bones into the tourney anyway, even though I would still earn favors if we win. Losing could only mean that the imperial military is useless, and taking anything else into consideration is just meaningless.’
Hence, his facial muscles relaxed and his usual calm, unaffected visage returned. “It’s nothing, although the Lancaster mayor had informed me about something interesting.”
“Something interesting?” Monan did a double take.
Old Basil nodded and told them about the Twin City Cup.
But contrary to his expectations, none of the knights offered themselves as tribute even though some really looked eager for the challenge. After all, they were now rested and recharged, tapping their chest and promising to do their best in the tourney so as to wash away their embarra.s.sment before.
That certainly left Basil puzzled.
‘Could the rewards lack charm, or you military men have tossed your honor aside?’
In the end, it was Monan who spoke out first. “My lord,” he explained, “we may be champions amongst the imperial military, but frankly, tourneys like this one isn’t suitable for
us.
“How so?” The old man was keen on the explanation.
“We develop our killing instincts on the battlefield and train our survival skills with the military. Those skillsets are simple, practical and extremely lethal, but it also means that we’re blunt instruments, limited and inelegant, with our weaknesses easily exposed in duels.” Sir Monan spread his hands helplessly. “Moreover, it is clear that this tourney involves supernatural champions. We are confident in ourselves, but when those characters are involved… you know.”
“True.” Basil nodded, immediately getting the idea.
Indeed, the Lancaster mayor’s faction must have saved up considerable wealth by now to be able to invite a supernatural champion at a hefty price.
Even though those characters weren’t exactly useful in battle, they would take down over hundreds of veterans if they went one-on-one.
There was therefore little wonder why they would choose to show off their power in such manner—they knew that the diplomatic corps wouldn’t be able to partic.i.p.ate, and there would only be humiliation even if they did.
As expected of the old fox Corinth.
Basil frowned. “In other words, we can’t do a thing and could only watch the show?”
“That’s not entirely true, my lord.”Monan grinned. “We can’t leave since we’re confined here, but you could throw your weight around to move around freely. As such, you could try to contact the imperial capital with a messenger and request his imperial majesty to send in some champions to take part in the tourney.”
“Impossible.” Basil shook his head. “The journey here is as far as it is horrid. Moreover, every supernatural champion in the capital lives like royalty-they are never coming here to help.”
“That is true, my lord, and his imperial majesty would think so too. Even so, his imperial majesty holds our mission in equal high regard, which is why he would come up with another solution.” Monan countered confidently.
“What solution?” A vague idea came to old Basil’s mind, but he asked anyway.
“The Brilliant White Church is the official religious body of our nation and holds strong ties with our emperor… and under these circ.u.mstances, his imperial majesty would definitely decree for the church in the capital sent out their forces.”
Monan promptly revealed his idea. “And to face the supernatural champions, they would at least send in bishop-cla.s.s individuals to take part! When the time comes, you just have to come up with an excuse to have the archbishop invite you to his parish as a guest, escaping the Lancaster mayor’s control while gaining sanctuary in the church!”
Old Basil put his hands together and laughed.
“Wonderful!”