Chapter 2801 - 1199: Each Has Their Backer (Part 2)

Chapter 2801: Chapter 1199: Each Has Their Backer (Part 2)

Initially, it was a group of merchants huddling together, forming a trade association. Now, it has developed into a cross-regional alliance integrating assassins, spies, merchants, and armies, effectively controlling areas, even above conventional nations like the Tesser Kingdom.

No one was willing, nor dared, to easily provoke such a trade association, including the warlord nobles present here.

The methods these trade associations use to deal with their territories are more than imaginable.

Poisoning, assassinations, spreading plagues, buying high and selling low, inflating commodity prices, cutting off trade routes, etc.

Anyway, their territories are inanimate and cannot be moved.

Conversely, it’s hard to uproot those merchant organizations because often, you may not even fully know their members, and there might be someone in your vicinity who is one of them.

After whetting everyone’s appetite, Duke Walter slowly said, "There is evidence pointing out that he is a Shield Knight, and it is highly likely that he is an Inner Ring Knight!"

"Shield Knight? Weren’t they disbanded a century ago, accused of involvement in the assassination of Montoria IV?"

"Since when did Duke Zeber become so naive? How could such an organization simply disband? Surely, there’s what’s on the surface, and underneath, there’s something else; they have just transitioned from overt to covert!"

"This explains why I always feel that an invisible giant hand is manipulating everything around us, with a large portion of the wealth of the territories being unknowingly harvested—it’s the Shield Knights causing trouble. They must be colluding both inside and outside; there are members of theirs among us."

"They want to make a comeback and reinsert themselves into our Tesser political scene!"

"If they indeed are Shield Knights, then it is troublesome, for we have no idea how many nobles and merchants are involved."

The term Shield Knight caused all the dukes present to change color abruptly, and their gazes towards their companions became notably nuanced.

This organization was originally called the Shield Knights Templar, a loose network between a knights templar and a trade association, formed by nobles and merchants, initially built to share intelligence, thereby ensuring significant influence in their respective domains.

The origin of this organization can be traced back fifteen centuries, to the founding of the Tesser Kingdom, where they pledged allegiance to the founding King Strom, offering strategies and advice.

Many important knights around King Strom were members of this organization.

After the establishment of the Tesser Kingdom, they had Dragon’s Merit, and naturally, many knights held high positions and became kingdom nobles.

Later, due to involvement in a palace coup, the entire organization was directly labeled as evil, and the core members suffered a bloody purge, making the organization a thing of the past.

As the ruling class of the Tesser Kingdom, these dukes knew some secret affairs unknown to ordinary people.

For example, the bloody purge of the Shield Knights by the royal family was not because of their participation in treason but because their power had grown so immense as to threaten the royal family’s rule.

Also, their families were among the beneficiaries of the purge of the Shield Knights.

This game of power has ups and downs.

As beneficiaries, when the Shield Knights were purged, the vacated positions naturally would be filled by others.

If indeed the person next to Harried III is a Shield Knight.

Then it belongs to the Reversal Heavenly Power.

The former Dragon Slayer incarnated as an Evil Dragon, while the Evil Dragon transformed into a Dragon Slayer.

"The Shield Knights belong to an evil force and must never be allowed to re-touch the reins of power in our Tesser Kingdom."

"We must not let our King be blinded by those treacherous villains; we have the duty to clear the king’s side to rectify the situation."

"Whether or not it’s the Shield Knights, they cannot be allowed to continue manipulating Prince Harried, turning him into a tool against us. We must take action."

The Tesser Dukes, who have always held differing opinions, quickly reached a consensus on this matter.

The stance against the Shield Knight’s influence was one of resistance, not giving them a chance to rise again in the Tesser Kingdom. 𝚏𝗋ℯⅇ

"I understand your sentiments," Duke Walter sighed softly, "but the problem is, we are not only facing the Shield Knights now.

There’s also a Lord Zalanda, who has received the blessing of the gods. By comparison, she poses a greater threat to us; from her current mode of governance, no positions have been left for us.

In comparison, our conflicts with the Shield Knights are not utterly irreconcilable.

As long as His Excellency Islam can persuade Prince Harried to return, what harm would there be in adding another duke to our council?

Darama City is the most suitable for becoming the new Duke’s Domain!"

The other three dukes exchanged glances involuntarily.

Duke Zeber, who had always been at odds with him, couldn’t help but nod first in agreement this time, "If we take too aggressive an attitude, it cannot be guaranteed that the Shield Knights won’t be pushed to Zalanda’s side.

Once Prince Harried chooses to ally with Lord Zalanda, we will indeed be in danger.

In comparison, our priority should be to eliminate the primary threat, and then think of dealing with what remains.

The Shield Knights’ glory is a matter of centuries ago.

We are Tesser’s present, and if we unite, we will certainly be able to control Tesser’s future!"

"I also agree with the opinions of the two lords, but there is one point I need to add: merely bringing back Prince Harried is far from enough."