Chapter 297 - 295: Sit Down and Talk

Chapter 297: Chapter 295: Sit Down and Talk

Raymond and Duke Kelvin strolled away from Black Forest Port, following the sounds of hammering and construction to Dawn Town.

A large number of workers were immersed in the town’s reconstruction, where a few houses with gabled roofs were particularly eye-catching.

"The architectural style here is rather peculiar!"

Sigmund moved closer to observe. He considered himself a man who had traveled many nations, even crossing the great ocean to study on the Sunset Continent, yet he had never seen architecture of this style.

The shape of the roofs was peculiar, and the gray tiles used on them were equally unusual.

Raymond prayed, ’The Lord had better get here soon,’ as he took on the role of a guide, explaining:

"As Your Highness knows, my Lord enjoys design. He has his own ideas about both fashion and architecture."

"Dawn Town is being built according to the Lord’s vision, specifically designed to receive foreign dignitaries. However, construction has only just begun. If you were to come back in a couple of years, you should be able to stay here!"

Sigmund nodded slightly. "I look forward to that day’s swift arrival!"

Duke Kelvin, however, paid little mind to the buildings. He was focused on observing the surroundings and also noticed that the people bustling about seemed somewhat different.

People performing labor service were usually in a state of exhaustion and numbness, but the people here didn’t seem to be.

In fact, the eyes of some even shone with a glimmer of hope.

The Duke was filled with doubt. ’How was this accomplished?’

’Could it be that these people have been placed under some kind of "joy" spell to stimulate their motivation to work?’

As the group was touring, a clatter of hooves rang out, and Duane’s figure came into view.

"Duane is here!"

Sigmund and the others looked over.

"Duane’s horse seems unusual."

Duke Kelvin had a sharp eye. Especially after becoming a Scorching Sun Level Warrior, his ability to perceive his environment and its energies had increased significantly.

He could see the warhorse’s peculiarities at a glance.

And as the warhorse drew closer, he judged with great certainty, "That is a Magic Warhorse."

"Hahaha!"

Duane’s hearty laughter rang out.

"I never expected Black Forest Island to be graced by the presence of the Crown Prince and Duke Kelvin. I was delayed by some matters, so please forgive my tardiness!"

He noticed Mitchell and Clement standing beside the two, but he deliberately chose not to greet them.

At this moment, neither of the two looked very pleased, especially Mitchell.

As the Saint Hall Grand Commander, not only had he been criticized by the King a few days ago, but now he was being publicly ignored by Duane. A nameless rage flared up inside him.

However, he was not Orisien; he knew what he should and should not do.

Therefore, aside from looking displeased, he showed no other reaction.

When it came down to it, this was all the Holy Son’s fault for being too willful.

Perhaps Orisien had grown accustomed to a smooth and easy life on the Sunset Continent. Upon arriving in the Pruck Kingdom, he likely expected to look down on his peers, only to be publicly defeated.

The sharp contrast and sense of loss made him lose his reason, leaving him with only the desire to cause trouble for Duane.

"Duane, we meet again."

The Crown Prince said with a smile, "I just didn’t expect that by this meeting, you would already possess a level of strength that I can only look up to!"

"Your Highness jests."

Duane spoke humbly, offering a platitude, "Regardless of my strength, I will always serve His Majesty and the Royal Family."

With that, he nodded to Duke Kelvin, who said, "Duane, back at the tournament, I suspect that even if I hadn’t intervened, Kurudo’s attack wouldn’t have been able to harm you, would it?"

Duane smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying it.

Kelvin didn’t press the issue. It was obvious that Duane already possessed Silver Moon Level strength during the tournament; otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to defeat Thomsen.

"I’ve come here this time on behalf of His Majesty, along with Sigmund, Mitchell, Clement, and the others, to have a proper discussion with you."

The Duke was leading the negotiations and stated their purpose directly.

"It would be my pleasure!"

Duane made an inviting gesture. "Please, follow me to the castle to rest."

At this point, Mitchell finally spoke his first words since arriving on the island. "I wonder, Lord Count, if you would allow Thomsen and Orisien to come out and speak with us?"

"Of course!"

Duane had no intention of refusing. He ordered, "Raymond, go to the constabulary headquarters and have Orisien and Thomsen carried to Forest Castle."

"Yes!" Raymond mounted a swift horse and galloped away.

Mitchell and the others noted that Duane had used the word "carried." It was obvious that Thomsen and Orisien were heavily injured.

A short while later, the group arrived at Forest Castle.

Its dilapidated state matched the Crown Prince’s and the Duke’s perception of "impoverished."

’This is more like the place the Island Master of Black Forest Island should be living in.’

After they were seated, Sigmund began to inquire about the situation on Black Forest Island.

From the people’s livelihood to the economy, there seemed to be nothing special about the place.

However, they could also see its potential for development.

After a period of small talk, the Duke finally turned the conversation to official business.

"We came here this time primarily to resolve the misunderstanding between you and the Holy Radiance Court."

He said, "Thomsen and Orisien infringed upon your authority and harmed your people. The King will deal with them."

Duane immediately asked, "If I may ask the Duke, how will His Majesty deal with them?"

As the conversation turned to serious matters, his tone was no longer so humble.

Kelvin didn’t mind and said slowly:

"First, as Chief Judge, Thomsen failed to manage himself and his subordinates. His Majesty will have him expelled and ordered to return to the Sunset Continent."

Thomsen was a Silver Moon Warrior, after all—a rare talent by His Majesty’s side.

To be expelled immediately after a single defeat was something Duane hadn’t anticipated.

In reality, Eric did this primarily as a concession to the nobles who had protested jointly.

And sending Thomsen back would also allow him to report the situation here to the Holy Radiance Church Headquarters, prompting them to send more people over.

The King needed more manpower to counterbalance the Noble Alliance that might be developing within the kingdom.

The Duke continued, "As a Baron of the Kingdom, Orisien openly interfered with your authority. This is a provocation to the noble system. His Majesty demands that he publicly apologize to you and, at the same time, pay ten thousand Gold Coins as compensation!"

Ten thousand Gold Coins was no small sum.

Eric was doing this mainly to appease Duane, this young powerhouse.

"In addition to these two conditions, the Holy Radiance Court will unconditionally cast the Great Blessing Technique on Black Forest Island once, as compensation for the suffering caused to your people."

Hearing this, Duane frowned slightly.

"This incident was provoked by Orisien and Thomsen. It is enough that the two of them pay the price."

He glanced at Mitchell. "I’ve heard the Great Blessing has a high cost. The Holy Radiance Court need not waste its energy on my behalf."

’It’s just Blessing Magic. It’s not like only the Holy Radiance Court can use it. I’ll be able to use it in the future, too.’

Duane didn’t want the Great Blessing to give his people a favorable impression of the Holy Radiance Court.

Kelvin asked with a smile, "So you’re saying that as long as the first two conditions are met, this matter will be settled?"

Duane considered it.

This incident had already given the Counts, Marquises, and others leverage to attack the Holy Radiance Court and strengthened their own negotiating positions. That was enough.

If Duane were to show too much consideration for them, it would make the King think he had already formed an alliance with the others, thereby challenging the King’s authority in handling disputes among the nobility.

’As long as I get the benefits and the chaos stops, it’s fine.’

So, he said with certainty, "Yes. As long as those two things are done, this matter can be considered over."

Just then, Raymond had Thomsen and Orisien carried in.

The reason it had taken so long was mainly that the two had been washed and changed into clean linen robes.

But when the crowd saw Thomsen and Orisien’s appearance, they were still stunned.

Mitchell and Clement, in particular, nearly cried out in alarm.

The moment Orisien saw Mitchell, he roared, "Grand Commander, you must make Duane pay!"

As Orisien’s friend, Sigmund’s face suddenly turned grim as he looked at the blood seeping from the man’s lower body.

"What is this?"

Before Duane could answer, Orisien shrieked hysterically:

"Sigmund, my friend, he ruined me! He ruined me!"

The agony of the past ten-plus days had driven Orisien nearly insane. He screamed over and over, wanting everyone to punish Duane and avenge him.

Thomsen was the complete opposite. He lay silently on the stretcher, as if he had passed out.

Everyone’s expression changed. They all stared at Duane in disbelief, and even Duke Kelvin frowned.

They hadn’t known the specific details of Orisien’s injuries. If they had known that Duane had wounded him so severely that he could no longer be a man, the terms of the negotiation would have been completely different.

At the very least, they wouldn’t have made Orisien pay ten thousand Gold Coins on top of a public apology.

Sigmund’s tone was sharp as he questioned, "Duane, don’t you think you’ve gone too far?"