Chapter 366: The Backstabber
Chapter 366 The Backstabber
Looking at the warm and even green eyes of his men, Paul felt a pang of fear in his heart.
He himself wouldn’t be overthrown by a coalition of them if he couldn’t give them what they wanted, would he? Just like Myron’s old man.
The people of the Council of State is okay, they are after all the civil system, throw out a bunch of honorary titles plus some material rewards can be dispatched.
But what about the generals in the army? They’ve all been decorated for their service.
Of course, Paul sat on the lord’s seat has been two years, led a soldier, fought a war, suppressed the lawless pirates, fighting over the arrogant Kent family, is also considered to have seen the wind and waves of the people, although the heart of the fear, the face can still maintain a dignified full of appearance.
On the surface, he did not move, his heart pondered how to respond.
“Splat” a loud bang, broke the previous moment of tranquility.
The sound interrupted the various thoughts of those present in the hall, and people coincidentally looked towards the source of the sound.
Ladi Sertia Gerard, the bright green-haired female counselor and Acting Director of the Department of Education, closed her notebook with a heavy thud.
The female advisor stood up nonchalantly, and she steeped herself into the center of attention in the hall, having been silent and taking notes during her usual meetings.
“Gentlemen,” the female advisor said slowly, “the Lord Earl has adjourned the meeting, and it is time for us to return to our work.”
The tone of her voice was small and level, but it carried an ineffable power – or so Paul felt.
She nodded to Paul, “Lord Gladman, I’ll leave you to it.”
Then picking up her notebook, she turned and walked away.
“Ah, we’ll take our leave as well!”
“Gotta hurry back to work.”
As soon as Lardy left, the crowd got up and excused themselves, leaving the hall, though one had a dismayed expression.
Leaving a puzzled Paul behind.
Just …… go away?
What about pushing the palace!
Ah blah blah blah! Am I suffering from paranoia of victimization? How can one be so suspicious of (so far) loyal minions.
After a long moment in his chair, Paul hammered his palm.
It had to be! Laddie must have used some unknown tactic to get the people who came to the meeting to behave themselves.
After all, Paul had seen what Laddie could do at the church in Port Frank, and she had called it “hinting”.
What? Is Laddie now so evolved that she doesn’t have to glare at you over her glasses to get a hint?
Am I being brain-controlled by her without even realizing it?
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
What? By the way, hints seem to be based on the premise that the other party also thinks it is correct, that is to say ……
Paul had to think of a way out, Paul turned his brain, began to think about it.
To choose someone who is loyal and has the best interests in mind, he must also be a great success ……
Decided that it is you!
……
“Achoo!”
Bryce, sitting in the 1st Infantry Battalion’s headquarters, sneezed, rubbing his nose as his mind continued to wonder about what had just happened at the end of the meeting.
Really, could Lord Earl have forgotten about that?
The Greiman family has the power to divide the vassalage now! This news quickly traveled amongst the higher-ups, and for a while everyone floated around.
Especially the generals in the army! Not to mention the fact that more than half of the senior officers have been “knights” of the Greiman family for generations, let’s just say that since the Count succeeded to the throne, they have all made great achievements.
Eliminating the pirates, quelling the rebellion of Bairdine, defeating the eyeing Kent family, a series of wars made the population and territory actually controlled by the Gleiman family actually expand several times.
How can this be considered as opening up the frontier, right?
The most appropriate reward for this kind of credit is naturally to grant a fiefdom to the meritorious person.
A fief of nobility with a sword! Even someone like Bryce had his heart set on it. Before, they were just a bunch of unrecognized wild knights, but now they could skip this step and be promoted to true nobles!
I’m not greedy, I just need the five villages near the estate and the grove. A title? Just make it a viscount …… Ah no, just make it a baron, people should be contented!
Heh heh heh! Thinking of a piece of land and a title that can be passed down permanently to his children and grandchildren, Bryce’s heart was bursting with excitement. Not only will it benefit future generations, but even the ancestors of the Alder family will become honored, and his family will be able to repair their family tree in a dignified manner.
With the territory, he would continue to stay under the Earl’s command, continue to work for him, and when he was old, he would return to the territory to spend his days.
Daily unrestrained, flying eagles and dogs, bullying men and women …… Delete this last one.
What a cozy life!
“Report!”
The guard’s voice interrupted “Lord Bryce’s” bright thoughts about the future.
“Come in.”
“Steward Philip of the Lord’s House is here, saying he wants to see you.”
“What? Quickly, please!”
The old butler with white hair but hale and hearty was quickly invited into the office.
Bryce got up to greet him, “Aiya, Butler Philip, isn’t it enough to send someone to call me if there’s anything? I promise to rush over at the first time.”
Old Philip held up his glasses and said with a smile, “It was Lord Earl who asked me to come personally.”
“Oh? What’s so important about Lord Earl?”
“It’s not anything important, His Excellency would like to invite you to dine with him at 7pm at the lord’s mansion.”
“That’s so! I am so honored, may I ask if there are others?”
Philip shook his head, “No, as far as I know you are the only one invited.”
“What?”
Bryce was a bit surprised, he immediately responded, “Please reply to Lord Earl, I will definitely be there on time.”
After respectfully sending the old butler away, waves rippled in Bryce’s heart.
Lord Greiman to invite me alone!
What is this about? He thought left and right, it can’t be about the reward, right?
Lord Graiman didn’t look for anyone else, he looked for me alone. Bryce’s heart was thrilled again.
That’s right, when it comes to the true backbone of the Gladman family, in addition to old Ford, it’s himself, and even that Cecil fellow has to be ranked in the back.
This point Bryce was quite confident.
“I’m just one of the Earl Lord’s loyal dogs.” He had always held this realization.
He immediately sent someone to the house to inform him that he wouldn’t be going back for dinner in the evening, and then carefully prepared himself.
……
“Ka-ching! Ka-ching!”
Accompanied by the sound of metal rubbing together, an oddly dressed person came to the main entrance of the Lord’s Mansion.
The reason why it was said odd was because the visitor was wearing a full set of knight’s armor – the kind that covered the entire body tightly from head to tail.
After Paul reformed the army and equipped it with muskets, this kind of line of work had disappeared for a long time in Lake Town.
Nowadays, the Arda army also had metal defense equipment, such as breastplates and helmets, but it was much lighter.
What was even more exaggerated was the fact that the visitor was wearing a big red cloak on his back.
It was almost like a character that came out of a knight novel.
The heart of the lord’s guards spat so.
Just as they went forward to interrogate, the “knight” took off his helmet with a mask.
“Lord Bryce?”
(End of chapter)