Chapter 109 – The Lord

The lord of Doleiz City was named Getela Heide, sixteen years old this year. It was said his family possessed a history no less ancient than the Dillon Kingdom’s royal family, having even intermarried with the royalty in the past.

However, though the Heide Family still controlled considerable territory, their lineage had grown increasingly sparse with each generation. By Gollat’s generation, the entire Heide Family consisted solely of sixteen-year-old Gollat himself.

Yet this did not affect the young lord’s ruling status. He had loyal—or at least seemingly loyal—ministers handling internal affairs, and a devoted Knight Commander managing military matters. Most importantly, their family’s protector discovered three centuries ago—the thirteenth-level Formal-Level dwarf warrior Bahanger—remained alive and well. All these factors allowed Doleiz City to maintain its longstanding stability… provided no unforeseeable catastrophes occurred!

But what catastrophe could be more unexpected than a widespread, rapidly spreading plague?

Gollat had been roused from his warm bed before dawn by the head maid, the reason being that his ministers had urgent matters to discuss. This greatly surprised and irritated Gollat, who hadn’t concerned himself with internal affairs for nearly a month. In his view, nothing could be more important than his three newly acquired pretty young maids.

Attended by several young maidservants, Gollat donned his oppressively ornate robes, refilled his one-day-old sachet with precious noble-exclusive spices, impatiently picked at the already tiresome “exotic delicacies,” and along the way pushed several young maids into a pond for amusement, watching them scream for help. Only after the chamberlain reminded him repeatedly that the ministers had been waiting long did the still-unsatisfied Gollat leisurely proceed to the affairs hall amid his entourage of servants.

The affairs hall was located on the second floor of Doleiz’s central castle. The entire room was steeped in heavy aristocratic style, with various gold-embossed decorations and luxurious ornaments making the hall resemble a ballroom more than a place for handling official matters.

In truth, the hall stood empty most of the time. All administrative affairs were handled by Minister of Internal Affairs Hett at his own residence. Sixteen-year-old Lord Gollat paid no attention to so-called governance, spending his days frolicking with bevies of young maidservants.

On this day, the opulent hall unusually carried a trace of solemn atmosphere. Even Gollat, seated upon the lord’s throne, could sense this impending storm.

“Your Lordship, a large-scale plague has recently emerged in Doleiz City and its 364 subordinate villages and towns. Numerous infected rioters are advancing toward Doleiz City. For the safety of the urban population, we urge the city lord to promptly close the city gates and prevent the rioters from entering!”

A hunched, unseemly old man shuffled forward from the ranks, delivering the plague report in a tone that feigned consultation but bordered on direct command. As Minister of Internal Affairs, Hett’s behavior demonstrated almost complete disregard for Gollat.But Gollat did not mind Hett’s words and actions. This minister had been Gollat’s tutor in various aristocratic knowledge since childhood. For a young lord without strong opinions, following the other’s “suggestions” was completely natural.

Under Hett’s unquestionable “suggestion,” Gollat only symbolically glanced at the silent ministers bowing their heads before unhesitatingly preparing to agree with Hett’s proposal. He was still thinking about returning to “favor” the new maid he had acquired yesterday once more!

However, just as Gollat’s mouth opened halfway, a resounding voice echoed from the entrance of the hall.

“Absolutely not, Your Lordship.”

Accompanied by the clear and powerful voice, a stern and imposing middle-aged knight strode into the council chamber. His golden armor gleamed brilliantly, and the military boots encased in his armor stepped onto the exquisite carpet, producing a clanking sound of metal friction. As he approached Gollat, the knight gracefully lifted his crimson cloak, and with a crisp clang, the sound abruptly ceased. The imposing knight knelt halfway on the carpet, performing a perfect knight’s salute.

Immediately after, he raised his stern, clean-shaven face and fixed his blazing gaze on Hett beside him. In front of all the ministers, he mercilessly rebuked him.

“Hett, how dare you suggest that His Lordship shut out the citizens and stand by while tens of thousands of commoners perish? Where do you place the prestige and teachings of the Heide Family? And where do you place His Lordship?”

Faced with the knight’s questioning, Hett involuntarily took a step back but quickly regained his composure. Though his eyes were filled with hatred, he completely avoided addressing the knight’s words.

“Knight Commander Kaiskaser, this is a serious council session. Neglecting your duties by arriving late is already an act of treason. Now you interrupt His Lordship’s deliberations in public—is this what you call chivalry?”

Knight Kaiskaser paid no heed to Hett’s challenge and offered no explanation for his tardiness. As if he hadn’t heard Hett’s question at all, he turned to face the lord and forcefully stated his “suggestion.”

“Your Lordship, not only has a plague suddenly broken out, but a cult is also running rampant. They are forcing…”

“Silence, Kaiskaser! How dare you slander the Tisha Xia’er Church as a cult without evidence? Are you blaspheming a great deity without any grounds?”

Upon hearing the words “cult running rampant,” Hett shrieked like an old cat whose tail had been stepped on.

“You are the one who has gone too far, Hett! I don’t know what benefits the Tisha Xia’er Church has given you, but Doleiz City is in grave danger now. This is not the time for power struggles.”

“You… you…”

Hett could not conceal his fear as he watched Kaiskaser stand up. The fury in the knight’s eyes was almost tangible, and faint fluctuations of battle aura emanated from his body, as if the old man before him uttered one more word, the knight would “eliminate the scourge for the people” on the spot.

Hett swallowed his saliva and ultimately held back the torrent of words he had intended to say.

Seeing Hett finally fall silent, Kaiskaser cast a disdainful glance at the resentful Hett, then bowed deeply and declared loudly:”Your Lordship, I suggest we immediately dispatch the city guard to eradicate the Cult, pacify the populace, reopen Doleiz City, and take in refugees who haven’t contracted the plague!”

Gollat on the throne had been listening in confusion as his two most trusted ministers argued back and forth. From start to finish, he felt utterly bewildered – truth be told, he hadn’t been paying proper attention to their dispute at all. Weighed down by his heavy ceremonial robes and struggling to breathe, Gollat just wanted this “tedious” meeting to end quickly so he could return to frolicking with those pretty maids.

Hett keenly detected his lord’s impatience. He knew that if someone didn’t speak up soon, this pleasure-seeking lord would unquestioningly approve the Knight Commander’s proposal without a second thought. Gritting his teeth against Kaiskaser’s imposing presence, he raised his raspy voice in a near-shout.

“Absolutely not, Your Lordship! How could we allow those lowborn commoners to set foot in the sacred city of the Heide Family? Moreover, they’re filthy and carrying the plague! What if it spreads to you, Your Lordship? Could your health possibly be less important than the wretched lives of some peasants?”

“Hett, you’re talking nonsense! With proper screening, the plague won’t enter the city at all! And if we abandon our people, wouldn’t our lord become no different from those tyrannical rulers? Aren’t you afraid of being condemned by thousands? Aren’t you afraid of being hunted by righteous adventurers?”

Whether it was because the furious, nearly murderous Kaiskaser was too intimidating, or because his latter threats had hit home, Hett seemed to choke on chicken bones. His face flushed red, and it took him a long while to stammer out:

“Doleiz City’s garrison is already undermanned… and military funds are insufficient… how could we possibly manage all this…”

“Then prioritize aiding the refugees! At the very least, we cannot let the Heide Family’s reputation be tarnished!”

Kaiskaser glared angrily at the resentful Hett. He knew exactly whose pockets those military funds had ended up in, but now wasn’t the time to pursue that matter. Suppressing his urge to slay this treacherous minister on the spot, he took a deep breath and turned as calmly as possible toward the fidgeting young lord who could no longer sit still, awaiting his decision.

Gollat had grown thoroughly impatient with these deliberations. He was accustomed to leaving all matters to his two ministers. He had little understanding of plagues or cults, and now that his two “assistants” had reached some conclusion in their argument, he naturally agreed without further thought.

As for specific actions… of course, they would be entrusted to the diligent and respected Knight Commander Kaiskaser.

Kaiskaser cast a disappointed glance at Gollat, who was already eager to leave the council chamber, then swept his weary eyes over the ministers who had remained silent throughout, before finally heaving a heavy sigh and striding toward the main entrance.

Only the contorted, venomous face of Hett remained, glaring bitterly at Kaiskaser’s retreating figure!

(End of Chapter)