Chapter 103.A Spy Among Nobles
A week later, at Ulfrod, the capital of Grimbow Kingdom.
Inside the King's Palace, in a discussion hall. There was a large rectangular table in the middle around which were tall, high-back chairs. Sitting on those chairs were the upper echelon of Grimbow Kingdom.
''We can't send our army that quickly, Sir Walter,'' a well-dressed count replied to Duke Walter De Philips.
''But the Karsuda Province is in chaos now!''
''Don't you know that's a necromancer we are dealing with?!''
The noblemen under the Duke hit the table and spoke loudly. The other faction under Marquees Jones and Prince Splennar replied with greater ferocity. While not forgetting to be politically correct, of course.
A minute hadn't passed since the last peaceful conversation and they were already like dogs and cats.
Sophia Letecia Philips, the current queen of Grimbow, looked at them with her tired green eyes. She was Averon's 2nd wife, a 40-year-old woman who looked no older than 25. A beauty matching that of elves, she had been the princess of a small nation prior to marrying the king.
Despite being a mother of two equally beautiful daughters and a valiant son, this blonde hadn't lost a bit of her glamor. But it might be because of the recent trouble in the kingdom, a hint of tiredness blemished her expression.
''Why must they be like this?'' she muttered, glancing at the nobles.
The Royal Guards beside her were silent as statues. It was as if they had never heard these nobles saying they didn't want to send their forces while pandemonium was brewing in Karsuda. Or that they couldn't care less what happened in the other province.
A few nobles were genuinely concerned, yet those speaking loudly didn't let the voices of the wise be heard.
''Stand!'' Everyone suddenly heard the guards shout. The nobles looked at the tall door of this hall and stood up along with the queen.
''Salute!'' The two guards immediately hit the floor with their right foot, their voices thundering throughout the room.
With commanding and fast steps, a tall, blonde man entered the meeting room, dressed in regal red robes. The golden crown on his head shined due to the light coming from the chandelier.
A taller armored man walked beside him. His every step was filled with power, as if he was born to lead and battle. There was a sort of radiance about this man which even overshadowed the king's aura.
''Kneel!''
The Royal Guards simultaneously knelt while the nobles all bent their waists, placing their right palms on their left chests.
''Our humblest greetings to the King and the Royal Commander.''
The nobles' voices echoed inside the hall.
Averon Philips II was the current king of Grimbow Kingdom. He was a 4th Circle Grand Knight, 121 years of age. Despite being so old, he looked like he was just past his fifties.
Reflecting the faces of each noble gathered here in his blue irises, he nodded heavily. Averon sat on the seat his queen had reserved for him. It was the largest chair which was placed at one end of the rectangular table.
''Sit.''
The nobles sat as soon as they heard the king. Unlike the earlier bickering, they were dead silent this time. They didn't necessarily fear the king. Quite a few Grand Knights were among the nobles as well.
The one who kept them in check was the Royal Commander, the king's younger brother. Sir Bors De Philips, 'The Storm Holder,' was a 5th Circle Radiant Knight on whose shoulders the whole of Grimbow depended.
Uninterested in ruling the kingdom, he had not contested for the throne 70 years ago when the previous king, his and Averon's father passed away. He wanted to lead wars and conquer. The position of a commander fitted him perfectly.
If not for the trust and bond between these two brothers, the Grimbow Kingdom couldn't have been what it is. Even though it was but a mid-sized nation, the surrounding powers were hesitant to invade because of this single Radiant Knight's power.
In front of such a man, all nobles forgot about their fiefs' interests and cast away their pettiness. They had not wanted to come here because Bors made them feel uncomfortable, but it was the King's Summon.
''I am sure you all know why I have held this emergency meeting today,'' Averon spoke and everyone nodded. The king then gestured for a nobleman to speak.
Everyone looked at the black-haired, blue-eyed man who gracefully stood up.
''He is from Karsuda province and brings news we may not yet know,'' Averon spoke.
''I humbly thank the king for granting me this opportunity. My purpose is to aid in restoring peace in the kingdom.'' The man spoke elegantly with a smile on his face.
No one could sense the hypocrisy in his tone, not even the silently standing Radiant Knight.
He was Baron Leo, here to spread misinformation and act as a spy upon his master's orders.
…
Inside Jake's dungeon, on the 65th floor.
''She is so pretty!'' Lena chirped as she flew around Minerva, who was standing with a pleased smile on her face.
She had buried her undead soldiers on this floor after reaching here today. It took exactly 7 days for her to come here, quite fast compared to Jake's initial expectations.
At present, she and Jake were looking at the huge wyvern tied by thick metallic chains. The Dark Knight was silently leaning on a nearby wall, his eyes closed.
Irene was in front of that monster, strengthening the chains while trying to wake it up. She seemed to hate it for some reason.
''It will surely try to kill us after getting full power. Master, is there any way to tame this monster?'' Irene asked.
However, Jake didn't answer. He was looking at the wyvern's stats again.
[Name: None]
[Species: Wyvern (Lesser Dragon)]
[Bloodline: ??? Dragon Bloodline (3%)]
[Title(s): Forest Ruler (+??? Reputation among lesser monsters, +40 Natural Intimidation), ??? (+25 Agility +??? Mana in the sky, Small-area Weather Control), Village Destroyer (+35 Hostility among elves), Terror ??? (Any ordered place would be in a state of chaos when this creature appears.)]
[Strength: ??? (297) / Agility: ??? (315) / Stamina: 443 (281) / Vitality: ??? / Intelligence: 124 / Mana: 386 / Charisma: 40 / Will: 398]
[Abilities: Frost Breath (Uniqueーlvl. ???), Human Speech (Rareーlvl.10), Flight (Uniqueーlvl. ???), Chilly Aura (???ーlvl. 4), ??? (Rareーlvl. ???), Deadly Claws (Rareーlvl. 7), ??? (Superiorーlvl. 9), Wind ??? (Uniqueーlvl. ???), Sonic Roar (???ーlvl. 6), ??? Stinger (Rareーlvl. 10), Wing ??? (Uniqueーlvl. 4)
''I think I do have a way to tame it…'' Jake said, realising that despite being this strong, the wyvern was pretty dumb.
[Ding! Congratulations, one of your skills has leveled up!]
[Demon Eye (lvl. 5 → lvl. 6)]