This time, the Propaganda Department suddenly became arrogant, especially when facing the Military Department. They believed that since Russell had left, the Military Department should now be humble, and their working attitude immediately changed. Several Propaganda Ministers even refused to give face to the Generals of the Military Department; matters that originally required personal discussion were handled by secretaries. Those lower in the hierarchy followed suit, sitting comfortably and making the Military Department run around. This wasn’t just embarrassing the Military Department; it was specifically targeting Gordon, making him so angry that he stormed into the Propaganda Department with people, and furiously berated the ministers in public, treating them like grandsons. Under the long-standing authority of the Military Department, not a single person dared lift their head to argue. Later, the incident spread widely, becoming a joke within the Gazalin Nobles Circle.
The Gazalin Nobles Circle is very complex. Besides such conflicts, there are also clashes due to the different camps supporting heirs to the throne. However, on the surface, no one explicitly supports anyone, though various covert actions are ceaseless. Among the nobles, some have been long-term allies, bonding through marriages that have lasted hundreds of years; while some nobles are sworn enemies. Newer nobles depend on seasoned ones, and within the Military Department and each department, both chief and vice roles, another form of division occurs based on power factions, all intertwined. Only their minds have a ledger, which is unreliable and changes with shifts in interests or power positions.
The noble children mingling long in such circles are not all dumb; in a certain sense, they see and know far more than ordinary people. They know when to step forward and when to remain silent. According to their fathers’ factions, they also have their circles. Standing united, this is the basic condition for maintaining status within these small circles.
Carey, being one of the core members among these people, naturally stepped out to back Martin, the son of the Deputy Minister of the Propaganda Department, when he suffered. Besides, the conflict between the Military Department and the Propaganda Department was well known; Gordon had already been sidelined. This was now Stephen’s graduation celebration dance, secretly supported by Carey’s family. If they couldn’t stand tall now, they’d never lift their heads in this circle again.
Christina, enraged by the other party’s unreasonable behavior, had her pretty face flushed red, momentarily at a loss for words.
Such matters, Fatty was the best at handling. This guy smiled sincerely, "I didn’t hit him, he came at me, I just wanted to push him away, afraid he’d bite me."
Everyone around burst into laughter. Carey glared at Fatty and said, "I saw you hit him!"
Fatty shook his head earnestly, "No, I really didn’t hit him."
The person next to Carey said, "Cut the crap, how are we going to explain this! You dare to hit people here, you’ve got guts!"
Fatty kept shaking his head, humbly saying, "I didn’t hit him, what should I say?" The source of thɪs content is NovᴇlFɪre.nᴇt
"Fatty, I’m telling you, stop talking nonsense!" Carey was getting impatient; he couldn’t figure out whether Fatty was genuinely dumb or pretending. Arguing would be disgraceful.
Fatty sighed helplessly, "I’ve told you, I didn’t hit him."
"I really didn’t hit him!"
"If you don’t give an explanation today, bear the consequences yourself!" Someone in Carey’s group started to get tough.
"I really didn’t hit him."
"I didn’t hit him anyway." Fatty’s honest facial expressions were rich, switching between sincerity, earnestness, helplessness, and indignation, repeatedly stating he didn’t hit anyone. This stirred the agitated noble kids, making their heads spin, regardless of their threats or anger. Fatty, seemingly naive, simply didn’t take any of it seriously.
"Ah... that’s right!" Fatty looked at Carey, suddenly realizing something, and pointed at Carey, shouting, "That’s right, I even saw you! At Kazek, you were with him, holding two women."
Carey didn’t expect Fatty to say such things, and was momentarily stunned with anger.
Fatty gleefully said, "Now it’s good, someone can witness for me! Tell everyone, wasn’t Martin with you at Kazek?" He looked relieved, feeling all problems could be solved, finally having someone to prove he wasn’t lying.
Everyone around exchanged glances; whether true or false, this dumb Fatty was ruthless. Publicly bringing up low-end red-light district visits, demanding others to witness—that would surely be a scar for Carey and Martin, a subject for attack or mockery.
Seeing Fatty’s naive appearance and his eagerly anticipating gaze, so kind and honest, the onlookers couldn’t help but turn to Carey. Regarding suspicion, these extravagant noble kids indeed weren’t very trustworthy.
Carey finally reacted, his face pale, laughing coldly, "Do you think anyone will believe you?"
Fatty was stunned and said, "Why wouldn’t they believe me? I’m not lying. As long as you tell the truth, everyone will naturally believe. But don’t you dare say you’ve never been there!"