Chapter 11: Norton’s Confidence

The turbulent public opinion gathered into a storm, and it became more and more intense!

Early the next morning, the violent crowd quickly gathered in Hiro City.

Under the law-enforcers who were maintaining order, the parade began in an orderly manner.

Yesterday's petition was fruitless, and it did not obtain Napoleon VII's promise.

Today's parade team became even more intense.

Their slogan had changed from asking His Majesty to take back his orders, to eliminating cheating in exams, and then to fighting corruption and promoting integrity.

Under the deliberate guidance of people with ulterior motives, the goal of the demonstration gradually became clear.

It change from all the nobles to a part of the nobles.

And this part of the nobles targeted had a common characteristic.

They rose up to power in the army and were closely tied to the Tulip family.

..

Duke Tulip's residence, Norton's study room.

"General, what should we do!"

In the study room, a strong-looking man asked anxiously as if his butt was on fire, "This dog emperor is going to attack us."

"General, we can't continue to be afraid."

As soon as the man finished speaking, a man with golden-rimmed glasses suddenly stood out from the study.

"As long as you give the order, we will follow you no matter what."

"Oh!"

Norton raised his head and looked at Larksey with a faint smile.

This person was the military advisor in his army and an important figure in their chain of interests.

He was considered the second-in-command in their circle.

Usually, this person was extremely calm. He would never say such rash words, or even heinous words.

There must be something fishy behind his abnormal behavior today.

Sensing Norton's gaze, the gold-rimmed-glasses man did not panic. He took a step forward and stood in the middle of the study.

"Everyone, we grew up together."

"Not only that, we control almost half of the empire's military power. No emperor can tolerate us."

Larksey's eyes turned cold and he said ferociously,

"Napoleon VII is not a character who can be easily fooled. Ever since he ascended to the throne, I have been paying attention to him. I think his real goal this time is to withdraw powers from us!"

Everyone nodded and looked at Larksey who was standing in the middle with expectant eyes.

"Now, the public opinion has been mobilized by him and those people who are jealous of us. Once the exam is over and Young Master Hughes is recruited into Hiro Royal Academy, the boiling public opinion will reach its peak."

"They only need to add fuel to the fire behind the scenes and just these angry people are enough to make us suffer."

Speaking up to this point, the eyes of the man suddenly became vicious.

"If you ask me, why don't we learn from the Habsburg family and lead our men to directly rebel against this old bastard!"

More than 1,500 years ago, there was a civil war in the Hiro Empire.

The Duke of Habsburg raised the rebel flag high and led a group of nobles to establish the Aodong Empire.

After that, the east and west of the Hiro Empire split and formed two countries.

"Why can't we do what Habsburg 1st did? Although our strength is a little weaker than theirs, the current Hiro Empire is not the same as before."

Larksey's words instantly stirred up the emotions of the people in the room.

These people looked at Norton, who was sitting at the head of the table, with fervent eyes and looked forward to his decision.

"Let's postpone this matter for now. It's not the time yet."

Norton said casually.

"General, we can't postpone this. If we don't counterattack, that old brat Napoleon VII will be riding on our heads."

"Once the exam is over, the citizens of the imperial capital will start to confront us directly. Those aristocratic families who have been hesitating will be led to our opposite side by Napoleon."

"At that time, the situation we will be facing won't be the same as now!"

Larksey walked up to Norton with a face full of eagerness. His eyes were full of desire.

"Larksey, do you think that Napoleon VII is unprepared?"

"If we are to rebel at this moment, how do you think the soldiers under us would think of us!"

"Even if we are to rebel, now is not a good time. We need a reason. A reason, understand?"

Norton let out a long breath and said tiredly,

"Do you think that I don't want to? For all these years, every emperor has been thinking of ways to the non-central military powers, but do you know why, after so many years, only the Hapsburg family has succeeded?"

"We're not as lucky as them, nor do we have a mad emperor who refined the anti-magic stone!"

Larksey took two steps back in a daze. In fact, he knew the crux of the matter better than anyone else.

The reason why he made this suggestion today was mainly because he wanted to take a risk. What if Norton agreed.

But just as Norton said, this was not a good time. They lacked a reason.

"Are we just going to sit here and wait for death?"

Larksey muttered to himself and walked to his seat in a daze.

But before he could go far, Norton's voice sounded in the room.

"Everyone, now is not the time for us to do anything big, but the whole thing is not that bad."

"Napoleon's just wants to gather the public's opinion, mobilize the resentment of the lower-level mages, and force the nobles in the imperial capital to stand with him."

"If this plan had been in the past, it might have succeeded, but it's impossible now."

Everyone was shocked.

They knew about Hughes. Three years ago, when Hughes had awakened, he had already been proven to have no elemental affinity.

Even if Hughes had the innate talent of full-grade mental strength and had a solid magic theory, it was impossible for him to pass the final three magic tests without his affinity with the elements.

That would require him to cast a tier 2 spell!

A person like Hughes, who had low affinity with the elements, could not even cast a Tier 1 spell, let alone a Tier 2 spell.

Everyone looked at each other, and only one person's eyes lit up.

"General, could it be that young master Hughes has recovered his talent from the past and is able to cast a Tier 2 spell?"

The person who spoke was Larksey. He had worked with Norton for many years and knew Norton's character very well.

Norton was a very calm person. He would not say anything if he was not confident in it.

When he thought of the oath that Hughes had made three years ago, Larksey quickly understood what Norton meant.

"No, no, no. My son has not recovered his talent from the past."

"However, he has already refined the anti-magic stone and passed the weakened stage. He can even cast a tier 3 spell much less a tier 2 spell!"

Anti... anti-magic stone!

Everyone felt as if they had been struck by lightning!