Chapter 21: Nobles Banquet (3)

Some nobles usually have a private residence in the capital for certain events. Whether it's a banquet, coronation, festival, and so on. As for events in other regional leaders, private lodgings are usually provided.

The Kingdom of Marithus consists of 4 regions. The entire Northern Region is part of the capital. The Western Region is led by Duke Rudolf. The Southern Region is led by Duke Morin who used to be a Count. The Eastern Region was led by Marquis Hemlock.

Although the Free City was at the northernmost part of the Gigana Continent, it belonged to the northern part of the Marithus Kingdom, not the northwest. Because the Marithus Kingdom divides its territory into vertical and horizontal, not diagonal.

In the Northern Region, the Marithus Kingdom Castle was located in the center, where there was a large road connecting the Eastern Region and the Northern Region. Thus, it was necessary to use a horse-drawn carriage to travel around the dense city.

Again, at night, Arthur asked his father for permission and now he was allowed as long as he brought a knight out. Fortunately, the spies stationed around Count Rubel were royal knights. So, Roby, who had taken the place of the spy, took over as the royal knight and went out with Arthur.

That night, Arthur was contacted by Dean to clarify the sponsorship contract between Count Rubel and Kalypt as a theater actor. So, he got permission to go to meet the two.

Roby had brought two teleportation scrolls and took them to the inn in the city center. Since it was crowded, they didn't bring a horse-drawn carriage.

"Forest Green Inn" was the inn. Arthur, who was wearing a cloak over his body and Roby, who was wearing a knight's outfit, entered there. They went straight upstairs to the room where they met.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The door to the room opened. Leon with his usual appearance opened it. Inside, Count Rubel, Kalypt and Dean were already there. Roby stood at the door to keep watch.

Arthur asked, "Have you heard all the explanations from Dean-nim?"

Dean immediately looked at Arthur when he heard that man refer to him politely. It was something Arthur had to do so that Count Rubel wouldn't look down on Dean Volton's position as Leader of the K-Night Assassins Guild.

Count Rubel looked like he had been doused with water. He staggered a bit. Then, with confusion on his face, he said, "Are you really Arthur Rudolf?"

[The character "Count Felix Rubel" feels something strange about you!]

"Of course. What are you asking me?" Arthur dodged the question by answering in a brusque tone.

Count Rubel pointed at Dean using both hands politely. "This gentleman is Dean, Leader of the K-Night Assassins Guild, number one guild in the Gigana Continent and this person is ...."

He then pointed at Kalypt. "Is this the person from the K-Night Guild who will enter as an actor in the theater under my responsibility?"

Arthur nodded at the question. Before Arthur could say anything, Count Rubel had already spoken.

"That's very unbelievable because the one who has connections with them is one Arthur Rudolf. The Young Master who is known to be a cute puppy, a philanthropist and he is looks very holy. K-Night is a rational guild not to start a conflict with someone who has the goal of living peacefully like Arthur." Count Rubel muttered very loudly.

Pffft...

Arthur heard the sound of suppressed laughter. He glanced at Dean who was bowing his head with one hand touching his face. That man was obviously the one holding back the laughter.

'How innocent do I look out there and how low am I in the eyes of that bastard Count Rubel?'

Leon who saw the interaction between the two just bit the pen while Kalypt shook his head. Seeing the reactions of all of them, Arthur wanted to put Count Rubel's head in the trash can.

"I just realized that being generous without feedback is detrimental. Peace? As part of a person who works in politics, you can't live in peace." Arthur said with great annoyance.

"Hey you!" Arthur pointed at Leon.

Leon pointed at himself. "Me?"

"Yes, you gave the contract to Count Rubel."

Leon hurriedly handed the contract document to Count Rubel. That man accepted and then read it.

"Wait, what do you mean by the conditions here? The theater that will be held will be a ritual site? How does that mean?"

Count Rubel looked confused. Arthur said, "Leon, explain."

"H-huh? M-me?"

Arthur looked at Dean. That man who was stared at immediately put on a cold face and said to Leon. "Explain."

***

Few minutes had passed. Arthur looked over the contract while Leon explained what would happen in the theater.

At first Count Rubel was incredulous and accused Arthur of slandering the nobles of the Crown Prince Faction. However, Dean quickly explained that it was his long-standing investigation that Arthur happened to help with recently.

Count Rubel was only a victim and the culprit was indeed the noble above him. Leon also explained that Count Rubel would be used as a scapegoat.

"In that case, if the summoning of the demon race is successful, what then?" Count Rubel asked haughtily.

"Originally, we had a plan. The guild members will be divided into two. One will be disguised as another guild and the other will act as the K-Night you hired for security that day. Although royal knights are good, but you as the person in charge want the best." Arthur explained.

He continued, "If someone is summoned whoever it is, the undercover member will pretend to kidnap it and say it's their plan to perform the summoning ritual. Then K-Night will help stop them and help the nobles escape."

Count Rubel hearing that was still in disbelief. The Crown Prince he believed to be his master was a descendant of a necromancer?

"Damn it, I'm still confused. Then, the guild that you guys are covering up for will be the scapegoat? Wouldn't that be detrimental to them?" He wanted to continue refuting.

This time Dean opened his mouth. "There's one annoying guild that should be wiped out from this world. They deserve what they get."

That man muttered in a cold tone while recalling the incident a few days ago. He helped the person he hated from the people of the guild that human trafficking. The day Dean helped Helena.

Count Rubel still showed an incredulous face. He looked at the friendly-faced man named Kalypt who would later become the actor, then Leon who seemed to tremble every time Dean raised his voice.

A very strange combo, but they were reputed to be the best on the Gigana Continent. It was quite believable, except that Count Rubel still didn't accept it.

"If it all turns out to be a lie, you're responsible, Arthur." Count Rubel threatened him angrily.

Then he pulled back the contract Arthur was holding. "I'll just sign here, right?"

After signing, Count Rubel looked at Dean. "You damn bastard, your body looks like a wild animal."

Dean frowned. "I am indeed a beast people."

Count Rubel continued to show his trashy attitude. "I don't pity you. I just pity your client. Don't you feel sorry for him? When you see you with him, rather than a client, he looks like a tortured employee due to your duties."

Without even pointing a finger, Arthur felt that Count Rubel was talking about him. That man already wanted to slap the back of Count Rubel's head.

"Pffftt... Hahahaha! You've brought in a pretty fun client, Arthur."

This time, Dean didn't hold back his laughter anymore. He laughed because what Count Rubel said was true. Dean recalled the first meeting between him and Arthur at the headquarters. He thought that Arthur was his subordinate back then too, not a customer.

Count Rubel felt his value rise in Dean's eyes. He looked at Arthur with a satisfied look.

Ting!

[The character "Count Felix Rubel" has improved his level!]

[The character "Count Felix Rubel" is likely to advance in position!]

[A new "Protagonist" character is emerging!]

Arthur stared at the screen in front of him. What does it mean that Count Rubel could become the protagonist?

Hey, he hasn't even become a novel character yet, but someone else already has a chance to become the protagonist!

Ting!

[The reading eyes smile at you.]

"Huh?"

Arthur was so bewildered that an astonished sound came out of his mouth. He was asked by Count Rubel, "What's wrong? Did I take my joke too far?"

"No."

The screen suddenly disappeared. Arthur couldn't help but ignore it. He felt strange.

Kalypt suddenly interrupted Arthur's reverie. "Young Master-nim, don't think anything will come out later. You're still working with us even if this plan fails, right?"

'What is this mysterious person talking about?'

"Of course." Arthur was annoyed that Count Rubel was still trying to talk to Dean.

Dean was a person who could only respond when others spoke to him. Actually, his mind was elsewhere.

Arthur said goodbye to them all because it was getting late. He went out and saw Roby still lingering outside.

"Are you also assigned to the banquet?"

Roby replied, "Yes, Young Master-nim. By the way, there was some talk among the knights today."

Arthur was not interested, but he tried to respond anyway. "What is it?"

"The captain of the Western Region Knights Brigade is coming to the capital."