Chapter 264: Angel
Chapter 264: Angel
The carriage set off on its journey.
Bastian quickly adjusted his identity, transforming from a fellow traveler to an employee of the Marquis.
This was not a disgrace.
Being able to serve a Marquis was a privilege that many couldn't even dream of attaining.
On the road to the Royal City, there were numerous refugees fleeing, and from time to time, they could see troops rushing by.
"Earl."
Bastian spoke up, "The Kolons have pushed their way to the outskirts of the Royal City, and I heard that many nobles from Gando have fled to other countries."
"This is probably a good time to buy property."
He was a coachman who frequently traveled to the Royal City, and despite his lowly status, he was privy to quite a bit of gossip.
"Hmm." Karl nodded, "What's the situation with the property prices in the northern suburbs?"
"The northern suburbs?" Bastian thought for a moment before replying, "I don't go there often, but I've heard that those are the estates of important figures, and the prices... should have dropped as well."
"But even if they've dropped, they're still not cheap."
Karl used to live in Signo City, where the prices of suburban estates ranged from one thousand to three thousand gold coins, including renovations and most of the interior furnishings.
The property prices in the Capital City were several times higher than those in Signo City.
Even with a price drop, they probably wouldn't go below five thousand gold coins, a figure that many wealthy merchants couldn't accumulate in their entire lives.
As for ordinary people...
They dared not even think about it.
"Bastian."
"Yes, sir."
"Pull the carriage to the side."
"..."
Bastian was a bit surprised, but he obediently stopped the carriage and pulled it to the edge of the road.
After he finished, a commotion came from the front, followed by hundreds of Gando soldiers rushing towards the civilians on the road.
"What are you doing?"
"What's going on here?"
"..."
Chaos ensued on the road.
"Conscription!" A soldier dressed as a sergeant rode on a tall horse, holding up a notice and shouting loudly, "By the King's order, all men between the ages of thirteen and fifty-five must report to the battlefield."
"Grab them!"
The fierce soldiers rushed into the crowd, ignoring the cries of women and children, and seized all the men who met the requirements.
"You!"
Two of them came to the carriage and yelled at Bastian and Karl, "Get down here!"
Bastian's face turned pale, and his body trembled. If he went to the front lines, Rita would be left without care.
And with his physical condition, enlisting in the army was as good as signing his death warrant.
"What's wrong?"
Karl sat upright in the carriage, pointed to the noble crest hanging on the carriage, and asked with a frown, "Can the army forcibly conscript a noble?"
"A noble?" The soldier sneered, "Is that what you say it is?"
"..." Karl was speechless for a moment, then shook his head lightly, "I understand."
"Get your superior over here."
His voice wasn't loud, but the two soldiers' expressions changed, and their eyes widened as if they were looking at a terrifying beast.
Battle Aura!
And it was the aura of a Great Knight!
They were soldiers who had just come from the battlefield, so they naturally understood what a Great Knight represented.
Not long after, an officer hurried over. Upon seeing the noble crest, his eyes narrowed, and he bowed respectfully, "Please forgive the soldiers' ignorance, my lord. They... are just following orders."
"Hmm..." Karl remained expressionless, "You're quite lenient with your subordinates, but if I were really forcibly taken to the battlefield, who would I complain to?"
"What if something unfortunate were to happen to me on the battlefield? Who would be held accountable?"
"This..." The officer's face changed, and he said urgently, "My lord, there are commanding officers on the battlefield who verify identities, and we are willing to compensate for any nobles who are affected."
As he spoke, he untied a money pouch from his waist and offered it respectfully.
"I never expected that even Gando's army would be this corrupt." Karl didn't take the money pouch, shaking his head in disappointment, "No wonder the war situation is so dire."
From the Church priests to the noble lords and even the military generals, it seemed that bribery had become a common practice.
Gando...
Had become rotten to the core, from top to bottom!
"My lord." The officer's face turned red, and after a moment's thought, he took out an invitation, "There's a gathering in the suburbs tonight, attended by Earls, Marquises, and a high-ranking military official. There will be many valuable items up for trade at the gathering, and you might find something of interest."
Karl glanced at the invitation, "Bastian, take this."
"Yes."
Bastian nodded and hurriedly took the invitation.
"Let's go!"
"Yes, sir."
The carriage set off again, and the soldiers on the road quickly made way, watching as the group departed.
---
Cloud Manor.
The name, so different from the typical 'Gando' style, caused Karl to pause for a moment.
By now, it was already dusk.
It was too late to rush to the Royal City, so they decided to stay at the manor for the night and continue their journey the next day.
"Count Karl."
The manor's butler checked the invitation and spoke, "Your servants can stay in the rooms over there. Do you require a female companion to attend to you?"
"6◇9◇Book◇Bar"
If needed, he would arrange for Rita to wait in the guest room upstairs.
"No need," Karl shook his head.
"Prepare some food for them."
"Of course," the butler nodded. "Dinner will start soon, and we've prepared exquisite food for the guests' attendants."
"Thank you."
The sky was already darkening, and the manor was brightly lit with unique crystal chandeliers hanging from the dome, creating a dazzling display.
"Electric lamps!"
A well-endowed and beautiful woman approached and spoke, "The Colonnians have brought many troubles to this nation, but they've also brought many good things to the world."
"Just like electricity..."
"Something that only deities could control in the past is now accessible to every household, allowing people to enjoy the light of the day even at night."
"Yes," Karl nodded. "Technology changes lives."
"Well said!" The woman's eyes lit up. "Respected Count, may I use this line as the title for tomorrow's Daily News?"
"Daily News?" Karl tilted his head.
"Yes," the woman bowed her head. "Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier. I'm Sarah from the Churchill family, the wife of Marquis Muri, and the current editor-in-chief of the Daily News."
Sarah.
An independent woman of the new era.
One of the first graduates of the Kingdom University and an independent writer.
"Sure," Karl nodded.
"It was just a casual remark."
"Perhaps this line will become famous," Sarah shrugged.
"I don't know how to address you?"
"Karl," he replied. "Karl from the Bergman family."
Seeing her frown at the mention of 'Bergman,' he chuckled, "Don't worry, my family is quite inconspicuous, and the title was recently purchased."
"Count Karl is truly..." Sarah paused, "...forthright."
"Indeed, it's a great opportunity to purchase a title these days."
In the past, one had to perform great deeds for the kingdom to earn a title, but now, it could be bought with money.
Of course,
Only up to the rank of Count.
Her frankness about her title caught Sarah off guard; there were only two reasons for such behavior.
First, the person might have low intelligence.
Second, they didn't care much about the origin of their title, perhaps even indifferent to titles altogether.
"Sarah."
"Yes?"
"As the editor of the newspaper, you must be well-informed. I'm thinking of buying an estate in the northern suburbs of the Royal City for my retirement. Could you help me find a suitable channel?"
"If the deal goes through, a portion of the price will be your reward."
"An estate in the northern suburbs?" Sarah pondered. "Many people have left for other kingdoms in recent years, and there are indeed some estates for sale. But I'll need some time to confirm."
"No problem," Karl said, his gaze momentarily shifting to a figure in the hall. "Remiel, is she here too?"
"I believe the Count is mistaken," Sarah shook her head. "That's Bishop Louis from the Church, but this female bishop rarely leaves the Church. It's quite rare to see her here, but she doesn't grant interviews. I'd love to ask how she became a bishop at such a young age."
Karl smiled but didn't respond.
He hadn't mistaken her; Remiel had also glanced in his direction earlier.
A bishop,
An angel descended to the Church, serving as a bishop—wasn't that normal?
Yes.
Remiel was an angel, and Karl had interacted with her twice when she had just become an angel.
(End of Chapter)
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