Chapter 44: 044 Hunting_1
Translator: 549690339
“The Marquis is not in the castle?”
“Yes, the marquis has gone hunting in the suburbs.”
Colin and Vera came up empty-handed, Marquis Garcia was not in the castle at the moment.
“Could you take us to see him, then?”
“Of course, it’s my honour.” The marquis’s guard could not refuse Vera’s request.
Consequently, Colin followed the marquis’s guard to the stable to fetch the horses, and Vera went back to change into more suitable equestrian attire.
Upon arriving at the stables, Colin encountered a familiar face.
“Good morning, Knight Cynthia.” Colin greeted cheerily, already internally badmouthing her as “crazy woman”.
Cynthia seemed to have just returned from outside. Upon seeing Colin, she was taken aback, and then asked with a displeased face, “What are you doing here?”
“Well, I’m not here to find you.” Colin, seeing the rude behaviour of this mad woman, retorted back in kind.
Cynthia bulged her eyes, her right hand instinctively reaching for the sword at her waist.
Colin was startled, this woman truly was crazy, ready to fight at the slightest disagreement?
The marquis’s guard standing beside them was also frightened by all this. He quickly stood forward to explain, even before understanding the situation completely, as things were about to go haywire:
“Knight Cynthia, Knight Colin was invited by Miss Vera to visit the castle. He is now preparing to visit Marquis Garcia in the suburbs.”
Cynthia had initially planned to scold the guard who dared to interrupt her, but after hearing the name “Marquis Garcia” and seeing the black lion emblem on his chestplate, she immediately backed down.
You have to be mindful of the owner when you hit a dog.
The guards of Marquis Garcia were no ordinary guards.
Cynthia might be crazy, but she wasn’t stupid.
Seeing Cynthia back down, Colin was about to make some jibes, but on taking a closer look at the servant leading Cynthia’s horse, he immediately burst into laughter.
Another familiar face.
The dutiful son, Sael!
“Knight Cynthia, the servant leading your horse looks good. Do you want to sell him?”
“No!” Without hesitation, Cynthia immediately refused.
Colin was not surprised by Cynthia’s reply, instead, he casually commented,
“Don’t rush to refuse, aren’t you going to hear my offer first?”
Cynthia’s eyebrows arched slightly, showing hesitation, then nodded and said, “Well, let’s hear your offer.”
Upon hearing her response, Colin’s mouth curved into a grin.
She took the bait.
Though Sael continued to keep his head down, Colin noticed his clenched fists and instantly stiffened body.
He was a venomous snake!
This was Knight Blis’s assessment of Sael.
Colin agreed wholeheartedly.
What couldn’t a man who could betray even his father betray?
Cynthia believed that Sael would be grateful for her protection,
But Colin knew very well that as long as Cynthia showed the slightest inclination of wanting to sell Sael to him, that would surely plant seeds of hatred towards her in Sael’s heart.
“Ten gold coins!” Colin nonchalantly suggested.
Cynthia snorted, “Knight Colin, has the Angler family become so desperate? At this price, you’d better take your chances at the slave market in the west of the city.”
Honestly, a price of ten gold coins was not low.
Naturally, it was not high either.
In fact, as long as Colin’s price did not significantly exceed Sael’s value, Cynthia would certainly refuse to annoy Colin.
But Colin didn’t really expect Cynthia to accept.
All he needed was for her to ask about the price.
The seeds of hatred had been sown, waiting to take root and sprout.
Upon hearing Cynthia refuse Colin, Sael visibly relaxed. But just like Colin predicted, deep inside, Sael had already embedded a profound resentment for Cynthia.
At this moment, Sael was reminded of something his father once said:
“Don’t get too close to the nobles!
We are sheep, and they are tigers.
We eat grass, they eat meat
Our meat!”
Sael never thought highly of his father, deeming him too conservative, too timid, and not ambitious nor adventurous enough.
But in regards to those statements, Sael mostly agreed.
These nobles indeed had never considered commoners as their equals, nor have they cared about their lives.
However, Sael didn’t completely share his father’s views.
For in Sael’s viewpoint, his destined fate doesn’t necessarily equate to a lifetime of eating grass!
He also wanted to eat meat!
The meat of the nobles!
Colin would never have guessed, what he had sown in Sael’s heart was not only hatred for Cynthia, but also resentment towards the entire nobility!
This resentment was gradually gathering, and one day, it would become a tidal wave engulfing the entire North Territory!
After Cynthia left with Sael, Colin waited for a while before the tardy Vera finally arrived.
Well, women always take a long time to change clothes.
Moreover, generally, the prettier they are, the slower they dress.
Of course, upon seeing Vera in her fresh clothes, Colin felt that no matter how long he had to wait, it was totally worth it.
She changed into a snow-white riding uniform over a purple chiffon blouse. Tight riding pants accentuated her round and straight long legs, firmly attracting an LSP’s gaze.
Seemingly aware of Colin’s gaze, Vera’s small face turned somewhat pink.
“We should get going, Colin.”
“Sure ! ”
The three mounted their horses and rode off towards the suburban area.
Spring morning, under the radiant sunlight was beautiful.
Even though Colin now had some aversion towards the direct sunlight due to bloodline issues, he still had to admit, it was a beautiful morning.
Perfect for a spring outing with beauty.
Regrettably, the atmosphere wasn’t quite right.
The current tense situation left Colin and Vera no cheer for small talk. They galloped all the way in silence.
Under the guidance of the Marquis’s Guards, the three gradually approached the Dark Cavalry’s camp on the outskirts of the city.
The strong aura of imminent combat was so intense that Colin didn’t even have the luxury to appreciate Vera’s graceful horseyard postures.
Something isn’t right!
It’s just a hunt, why so much killing intent?
Knitting his brows, Colin thought hard about how he could persuade Marquis Garcia.
Honestly, he didn’t have much confidence.
In his opinion, the matter had gone beyond rectification ever since the night when Marquis Garcia forced Marquis Charles to abdicate his title.
Honestly, regarding this matter, Colin always thought Marquis Garcia didn’t handle it very smartly.
Take Count Uman for example. He first used Cain Sudor as a decoy to attract enemy fire, then seemingly mediating the disputes while pulling Marquis Garcia into the conflict.
Count Uman subtly achieved his goal without getting himself deep into this vortex.
The execution was incredibly smooth, advancing and retreating freely.
This exhibited the true quality and tactics of a veteran politician.
As for Marquis Garcia…
This figure whose military prowess outshines rest of the North Territory, appears somewhat… naive when it comes to politics.
While Colin was lost in thought, the three had already arrived at the Dark Cavalry camp and saw Marquis Garcia.
“Uncle!” “Marquis!”
Marquis Garcia nodded at them, seemingly not surprised by their arrival.
“Uncle, where are you going hunting?” Seeing the ready Dark Cavalry, Vera had some apprehension in her heart.
At this point, Colin’s heart had already sunk.
Although the persuasion hasn’t started yet, looking at the Dark Cavalry like this, there is no point in persuading them now.
They are about to start a war!
While Colin was sinking in despair, Marquis Garcia raised his whip and pointed to the north:
“Sky Ice Plain.”
“Sky, Sky… Ice Plain?”
“Yes!” Marquis Garcia gave a subtle smile and confirmed, “I plan to hunt in Sky Ice Plain!”
Vera was still shocked, but Colin had already figured it out.
We’ve been tricked!
The entire North Territory has been tricked!
No, not only the North Territory but probably even the Trolls have been tricked!
Marquis Garcia deliberately created a tense situation by opposing Duke St. Hilde, probably to distract and numb the enemy.
He made everyone believe that the Dark Cavalry was going to provoke Civil unrest in the North Territory.
However, Marquis Garcia had only one target from beginning to end – Trolls!
Colin thought about his criticism of Marquis Garcia’s political incompetence just now, looking now, the other party was merely putting on an act.
But he was fooled like a fool from the beginning to the end!
“Knight Colin.” Marquis Garcia suddenly turned to Colin, “Some people told me that you were born for the battlefield. Would you dare join me in hunting in Ice Plain?”
Colin only felt a sense of excitement rushing to his head, like a residual consciousness of his previous life nagging.
It also felt like his personal unwillingness to see the people of North Territory suffer.
And also the joy of no more indecision for Vera caught between her father and uncle.
In short, at this moment, the image of Marquis Garcia in Colin’s eyes suddenly became grand.
No wonder his previous life admired him so much.
The Military God of the North Territory, the protector of the human race, the idol of all young people in the North Territory!
How could such a figure get trapped in political infighting?
His sword had only pointed in one direction forever – Sky Ice Plain!
Having realized this, Colin felt a sense of relief.
At the same time, he started to feel affection for this commander of the Black Flag Army.
Immediately he loudly responded: “What’s there to fear!”
Marquis Garcia laughed loudly, waving the whip, he issued a command:
“Departure!”
50,000 cavalry, like a hide cover the sky-like black tide, roared north!