The Bishop’s Visit
Translator: Cinder Translations
...
"Useless!"
A thunderous roar echoed through the hall.
Inside the Duke's residence in Sente City, originally a place for celebrating Duke Fraule's birthday, a group of people had gathered.
Sitting in the main seat of the hall was Duke Fraule's heir—Earl Maltz Kent. Flanking him were both vassals of the Kent family and former vassals of Duke Fraule who now saw Maltz as their lord.
At this moment, the earl's eyes were wide with anger as he glared at a man kneeling on the steps—his son, Jaius Kent.
Jaius kept his head lowered and remained motionless on the ground, enduring his father's wrath.
"Our family's reputation is going to end because of you!"
Maltz Kent was deeply pained; this defeat was a blow he could hardly bear.
Generations of family heads had, through their hard work, made many enemies suffer. Through their tireless efforts, they had gradually established the Kent family as the second most powerful in the northwest bay area.
Every time Maltz Kent recalled the glorious achievements of his family's history, a sense of pride surged within him.
Now, his own son had shattered that pride with his own hands.
An army of over 8,000 was torn apart in a single battle, and only about 2,000 had managed to escape with Jaius. It was utterly disgraceful!
How would others view his family now? A beautiful vase that shatters with a single blow? Such disparaging descriptions kept flooding Maltz Kent's mind.
"You said there were crossbows on the other side. I even specially sent over 1,500 archers for you—archers trained over many years! And yet, you, this useless fool, have ruined them all!"
Maltz Kent furiously berated his son, his face a mask of agony.
It wasn't just the lost reputation; real military strength had been squandered by his son. Although this archery unit originally belonged to Duke Fraule, as the Duke's heir and the de facto ruler of Sente City, it was effectively his.
Unlike ordinary soldiers, this archery unit trained for two afternoons every week. How could he not feel the pain of losing such "elite troops"?
Seeing that his uncle seemed to be about to continue his tirade, Emerson Wilde, the "royal representative," quickly stood up to interject: "Uncle Kent, no one can predict the outcomes of the battlefield. I'm sure Cousin Jaius has deeply reflected on this. We must not lose our composure in the face of setbacks."
After Emerson spoke, others in the hall also began to offer their encouragement.
Maltz Kent resumed his seat, took a few calming breaths, and asked, "Any news from Crystal Glare?"
Emerson cautiously replied, "Not yet. The royal family is busy dealing with the rebellion in the south, so they likely haven't had time to focus on the northwest."
"Hmph! I hope they remain preoccupied. If our 'King' sticks his nose in, who knows how long it will take to deal with these troublemakers!"
Despite the defeat, he remained confident that the outcome of the war would ultimately reflect the overall strength of both sides.
The Earl's emotions gradually calmed. He regretted his earlier outburst; as he was about to become a duke, he should have maintained his composure.
He softened his tone and said to Jaius, "Alright, my child. As Emerson said, no one can predict battlefield outcomes. I can tolerate a temporary failure. Get up for now!"
Jaius finally stood up and silently walked to the side, casting a grateful glance at Emerson as he passed by.
"Father, please allow me to gather another army. I must personally restore our honor!"
"Don't be in a hurry. First, send someone to scout the situation over there. On one hand, we need time to figure out how to deal with the crossbows and thunder hammers. On the other hand, spring planting is approaching, and it's not a suitable time for war."
…
After the meeting with the vassals concluded, Earl Maltz Kent received an unexpected visitor—the Bishop Leonard of the northwest.
This surprised the count greatly. The bishop usually stayed in the church, preaching and teaching, and generally avoided interactions with nobles like them. What could have prompted him to visit in person?
Could it be? The count had an ominous thought and quickly called a trusted guard, instructing, "Keep an eye on my young friend and our Duke."
Watching the guard leave, the earl reassured himself: It'll be fine; I'm always so cautious.
He went to a small reception room and instructed the servant to bring the guest there.
…
Bishop Leonard, accompanied by the servant, walked slowly into the reception room and immediately saw Maltz Kent waiting for him inside.
The duke's heir stood up and said, "Welcome, welcome. With you, Bishop, visiting, our entire Duke's residence is bathed in the light of the Lord."
"Earl, you flatter me. The light of the Lord shines upon each of us at all times."
Leonard gave a slight bow and salute. Even though he was the regional bishop, he had to be cautious in the presence of Maltz Kent, who was soon to become the most powerful secular lord in the northwest bay area.
As the two settled into their seats, Leonard suddenly felt a tinge of unease.
Despite the smile on the count's face and the warmth of the fireplace in the room, Leonard felt a cold shiver both physically and mentally.
The sensation was even more pronounced when he focused his gaze on the count.
Although he had met Maltz Kent several times before, this close encounter revealed a significant difference in the earl's demeanor compared to previous meetings.
What kind of person is this?
With a thin face, well-trimmed beard, and an aura of calmness and grace, the earl seemed like an ordinary middle-aged noble.
However, one surprising detail was that the count's complexion was not the healthy red of a vigorous person but rather the pallor of someone who might be ill. Yet his eyes were sharp and vibrant, almost as if they could shoot flames. From just those eyes, one would never doubt that the count was full of energy and vitality.
The presence of such contradictory traits in one person was truly peculiar.
"Bishop, is there something you need to discuss?"
The count's question snapped Leonard back to reality. "Oh, pardon me."
He carefully chose his words and said, "I've come to disturb you, Earl, because there is indeed a matter."
"Please, speak, Bishop." Maltz Kent continued to maintain a friendly tone.
Leonard stated his purpose: "I was wondering if it would be possible for me to have an audience with the Duke?"
"Oh?"
Earl Maltz Kent narrowed his eyes.
(End of the Chapter)
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