Chapter 62: 062 Q&A 1
Translator: 549690339
A clever answer.
It basically amounts to no answer at all.
Being “loyal to the St. Hilde family”, does not mean loyalty to the currently reigning Duke St. Hilde.
Marquis Garcia is also a member of the St. Hilde family.
In Colin’s view, regardless of what finally happens in Ice Rock City.
The master of the North Territory will only be born from the St. Hilde family.
And the key figure in all this is actually Marquis Garcia.
Because the Dark Cavalry, this terrifying army, possesses the force to settle matters once and for all.
Whether they choose to assist the Golden Lion Legion or the Lords’ Coalition, the other side will have no chance to resist at all.
Now, it all depends on whether Marquis Garcia chooses to continue being loyal to his elder brother or decides to take up the mantle of ruler of the North Territory himself.
From his previous actions, Marquis Garcia’s position seems to lean more towards the latter.
After all, he was the first to accept the invitation of the lords of the North Territory and enter Ice Rock City. He even sent Earl Dawson to attend the lords’ meeting and sign the petition.
This seems to clearly represent that Marquis Garcia supports the lord group.
However, Colin is not sure.
Because just two months ago, when everyone thought Marquis Garcia was going to fight with his older brother, he led the Dark Cavalry in a lightning raid, annihilating the Troll’s army of three hundred thousand.
Who knows if these two brothers are putting on another show this time?
“Smooth operator!” Marquis Garcia chuckled, clearly not satisfied with Colin’s flattering response.
So, he changed his question: “If you were I, which side would you stand on?”
Colin felt a headache, thinking Marquis Garcia, tonight, is hard to serve, why does he always ask these death-inviting questions?
Moreover, this time, it seems he can’t be clever.
After hesitating for a long time, Colin decided to choose the most upright answer: “If I were you, I would choose to be loyal to my oath!”
Marquis Garcia’s steps paused, he looked at Colin seriously, apparently wanting to confirm whether the other party was speaking his true feelings.
The so-called oath, of course, refers to Marquis Garcia’s oath of loyalty to Duke St. Hilde.
Therefore, Colin’s answer, essentially, is to choose to stand on the Duke’s side.
“Oh? Is that so?” Marquis Garcia continued to question, “An oath? I’ve seen too many betrayals, I no longer believe in oaths. Colin, you must come up with a better reason.”
Colin regretted it very much.
He shouldn’t have gone out to eat late at night, he screwed himself over.
Moreover, he felt that Marquis Garcia was acting very abnormal tonight, why did he keep asking him such questions?
Unless…
Marquis Garcia himself hadn’t made up his mind yet, so he kept pressuring Colin.
Actually, if Colin were really standing in Marquis Garcia’s shoes, he would definitely choose to betray his older brother.
He wouldn’t want to put up with that Duke’s scorn, to bear endless suspicion, and to face constant suppression.
If he could control the Dark Cavalry, then he would never give up the position of the ruler of the North Territory to others.
However, he did not dare to voice these true feelings.
Although it seems right now that Marquis Garcia might be thinking the same thing.
But Colin’s intuition tells him that if he actually says this, he would definitely lose the favor of Marquis Garcia.
Colin suddenly realized that perhaps this was the Marquis’s final test for him!
“I can’t offer a better reason, My Lord Marquis!” Colin decided to take a gamble.
In his view, among all those who are in power, none would want their subordinates to be disloyal.
Betrayal is something that those in power are always wary and cautious about.
So, Colin stopped in his tracks and sternly continued, “Regardless of the burden I have to bear, regardless of the fate I have to endure, I will not betray my oath!
It is the basic conduct of a knight, and the greatest honor of the Angler family!”
Marquis Garcia also stopped, looking at Colin with keen eyes.
Colin fearlessly met the Marquis’s gaze.
The cold moonlight shined among the trees, a soft breeze blew over, rustling the leaves.
After a long while, Marquis Garcia finally withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and continued forward.
Colin blinked his slightly sore eyes and hurried to follow.
Did he pass the test?
He was somewhat confused.
Marquis Garcia didn’t say a word, just kept marching forward.
It was unclear how long they walked, and the two gradually moved deeper into the forest.
Just when Colin was considering suggesting they go back to sleep, Marquis Garcia suddenly spoke again:
“The Dark Cavalry will side with the Duke, and those foolish lords will pay the price for their betrayal!”
As expected!
Colin’s heart shivered.
He had gambled correctly!
This was another trap!
The lords who attempted to stir things up had been fooled by the two brothers again!
“Exactly! The betrayers deserve to die!” Colin quickly echoed.
At the same time, he also quietly celebrated.
Fortunately, he hadn’t joined those troublemakers or else he would have been doomed.
Then, he started gloating.
Because among the trouble-making lords, there was Count Uman, who seemed to be the lead organizer!
Hehe, that’s for sending someone to assassinate me!
That’s for coveting the nobility of my family!
Let’s see how you die this time!
Just as Colin was inwardly delighted, Marquis Garcia spoke again: “However, my choice is based on more than just the original oath.”
“Then why?” Colin immediately became curious.
Marquis Garcia stopped again, looking up at the crescent moon in the sky, and murmured, “In fact, this plan was decided long ago. It has been carried out for three years.”
“Three years ago?” Colin immediately thought of the significant event that happened three years ago: Marquis Garcia was called back from the frontline and the Dark Cavalry was put on standby!
Could it be?
“Yes.” Marquis Garcia seemed to guess what Colin was thinking, “Stepping down from the frontline was part of the plan.”
Colin gaped.
This secret caught him off guard.
Moreover, he finally connected all the dots.
The parts he used to doubt, the parts he couldn’t comprehend, became clear at this moment!
He suddenly felt a chill all over.
Because such a grand plan, or conspiracy, was carried out at the expense of two hundred thousand northern warriors!
And its targets were the Trolls and all the lords in the North Territory!
Colin could understand taking action against the Trolls.
But taking action against the lords who were loyal to him was something Colin couldn’t quite understand.
Unless, the St. Hilde family no longer wanted to share the North Territory with the various lords…
The Duke wanted to consolidate power!
“I never thought that Duke St. Hilde was such a… well-thought-out man!” Colin hesitated for a moment but still used a positive term.
But right now, he felt only deep dread towards the Duke whom he had never met.
“The plan was not devised by the Duke.” Marquis Garcia, however, denied Colin’s speculation.
“Who, then?” Colin asked curiously.
He doubted Marquis Garcia had devised it, as he knew from their previous interactions that the Marquis wasn’t a fan of conspiracies.
Marquis Garcia softly blurted out a name that Colin could never have anticipated:
“Count Uman.”
‘What?!”
Colin was taken aback once again.
His initial schadenfreude rapidly dissipated.
Replacing it was a greater shock of fear!