Chương 97: Chapter 97: Whose Influence?
Shimmering City was bustling with activity today. The streets were adorned with decorations, and the crowds were thick with people moving about.
Golden banners bearing the emblem of the Shimmering family lined the streets, a symbol of their influence. In a distant square, tables laden with beer barrels and food awaited the people.
The entire city was enveloped in a festive atmosphere.
Inside a carriage, Mu Zhuo lifted the curtain, eagerly observing the lively streets and the throngs of people.
"Shimmering City has become much more vibrant than it used to be," he remarked.
Sitting across from him, Otter nodded. "Indeed, Shimmering City is now the center of the Golden Rock Province."
After defeating the Marquis of Golden Rock, Marquis Key had designated Shimmering City as the provincial center, maintaining the original baron's manor as the lord's mansion, albeit expanded. Now, Shimmering City was both the political and economic hub of the entire Golden Rock Province, naturally becoming more prosperous.
"President, I heard that the Grand Duke of Starry Principality and five other marquises have sent envoys to congratulate. Is that true?" Otter asked curiously.
Mu Zhuo chuckled. "Of course it is. Marquis Shimmering certainly holds enough sway for that."
"Quite the spectacle indeed."
As they spoke, the carriage arrived at the lord's manor. The space in front of the estate was filled with luxurious carriages, each adorned with a variety of noble crests—at least two or three hundred different ones by estimate.
Otter even spotted a few very familiar crests, belonging to nobles from the Thorn Blossom Principality!
"Even our principality's nobles came here. Marquis Shimmering's influence is immense."
Mu Zhuo's response was cryptic. "Influence, yes, but it might not entirely be Marquis Shimmering's."
Otter paused, his expression turning thoughtful.
After handing over their gifts to the servants by the entrance, the two presented their invitations, underwent a simple check, and entered the manor, where they were guided to the hall by a servant.
From afar, they could hear the sounds of laughter and joy emanating from the hall.
The bright, spacious hall was filled with white-clothed tables laden with a variety of food and drink. Elegantly dressed men and women, exuding an air of nobility, gathered in small groups, holding wine glasses and engaging in lively conversations.
Mu Zhuo scanned the room, recognizing many familiar faces—people who were rarely seen by the common folk, including several viscounts and even counts.
These figures, often considered high and mighty, were now gathered in the hall, eagerly awaiting the host's arrival.
Mu Zhuo chuckled inwardly, his gaze falling on two small groups that were drawing significant attention.
The first group consisted of a number of middle-aged men in the center-right of the hall. Unlike other nobles present, these men exhibited less refined behavior, displaying a more rugged, military-like demeanor.
These were likely the newly promoted military nobles under Marquis Key.
Their rise was recent, making it difficult for them to integrate with the established noble families, so they formed their own group to chat.
Mu Zhuo scanned the group and, as expected, spotted a few familiar faces—Viscount Braid, Baron Joton, and Baron Stally. Having frequently led trade caravans to Shimmering City, he was well-acquainted with them.
The other group was composed of teenagers.
Their youthful, fresh faces stood out among the adults, drawing significant attention. Yet, no one dared underestimate these young individuals; many kept a watchful eye on them.
After all, these youths were students of "that one."
Some nobles, with smiles on their faces, approached, attempting to join their conversation, only to retreat shortly after with a look of frustration, suggesting their attempts were not successful.
Mu Zhuo glanced around again but didn't spot Sunan. He quickly realized that Sunan wouldn't make an appearance at this moment and dismissed the thought. He gestured for a passing servant to stop, took a glass of wine from the tray, and forced a smile as he approached a nearby group of nobles.
Meanwhile, Otter was directed to another hall where the guards accompanying the nobles were gathered.
"What a dull party," Corey grumbled, watching the noble guests with a hint of impatience.
"And a bunch of dull people."
Atil laughed. "Don't say that; it's the lord's wedding. If the teacher hears you, he'll definitely reprimand you."
Corey huffed, though he concealed his impatience. He held deep respect for his teacher. In truth, if not for the teacher's presence at the wedding, he wouldn't have bothered attending at all. He would have preferred to spend the time learning spells or crafting another Black Rock Panther.
Nearby, Shayman chuckled quietly, feeling a mixture of nostalgia and irony as he looked at the opulent hall and the well-dressed nobles. In the past, his only opportunity to attend such high-society events was to clean up the mess afterward with old Roger.
But now, he was a guest at the banquet, someone many nobles sought to curry favor with. It was a stark reminder of how much things had changed.
"Senior Shayman."
A voice called out, and Shayman turned to see Ethan, an apprentice from the second batch to enter the base.
"I heard there will soon be a batch of Red-Eyed Crows at the base. Is that true?" Ethan asked curiously, drawing the attention of the newcomers behind him, who were also intrigued.
Shayman smiled and nodded. "It's true. From what Lady Amy said, the teacher brought them from elsewhere. They've already hatched, and after some training, they'll be ready for use."
"Really? Red-Eyed Crows?"
"I've never seen such magical creatures."
"The books say Red-Eyed Crows can spot prey hundreds of kilometers away."
"That's amazing! I have to get one as a pet."
The newcomers buzzed with excitement, eager to learn more about the Red-Eyed Crows. As novices just beginning their magical studies, everything was new and fascinating to them.
Shayman chuckled. "You'll need to work hard. Only a level 2 wizard apprentice can contract a magical pet. You've got a long way to go."
"Yes, Senior Shayman," the newcomers responded with determination, confidence shining in their eyes.
Shayman and Atil exchanged a glance, both feeling a twinge of nostalgia. These newcomers hadn't yet faced the harsh challenges of training, which was why they were so confident. Once they spent more time meditating, they'd realize how difficult it was to construct star rings and increase mental strength.
Despite being level 1 wizard apprentices for over two years, neither Shayman nor Atil had managed to construct their third star ring. Their mental strength was still far from reaching the level 2 standard. Advancement seemed a distant goal.
The more they trained, the more they appreciated the difficulty of gaining power. Consequently, their admiration and respect for their teacher grew.
Lady Amy had mentioned that the teacher became a level 2 wizard apprentice in about a year. The speed of his advancement was something they could only dream of achieving.
"The lord has arrived!" a voice suddenly announced, interrupting Shayman's thoughts.
He looked up to see Marquis Key entering the hall, arm in arm with his bride, both beaming with happiness. They wore exquisite formal attire adorned with jewels and fine embroidery, and the bride's crown enhanced her beauty, making her the center of attention.
"The bride is stunning," Atil couldn't help but remark, her eyes sparkling.
Shayman smiled, about to tease her when he noticed a figure out of the corner of his eye. Turning, his expression immediately became respectful.
"Teacher."
Corey, Atil, and the newcomers also noticed Sunan, quickly bowing in greeting.
Their actions immediately drew the attention of many nobles. Seeing Sunan, their eyes lit up with anticipation, eager to approach him. However, with the main event now underway, they reluctantly held back.
The hall quickly quieted down.
Sunan stood with a smile, watching the newlyweds in the center of the hall.
In this world, devoid of churches, wedding ceremonies weren't held in chapels, nor did they involve exchanging vows or rings. The ceremony was more akin to a celebratory banquet, solemn yet lively.
Sunan appreciated this approach, free from excessive formalities.
After a series of speeches and blessings, the banquet officially began. Guests began mingling, toasting, and chatting cheerfully.
Many nobles, wine glasses in hand, turned to engage Sunan in conversation, only to find him already gone, along with the young apprentices. Their disappointment was palpable.
In a reception room behind the hall, Sunan reclined on a sofa, sipping wine leisurely.
Before long, Key entered and, seeing Sunan's relaxed demeanor, chuckled. "I knew you'd be here. Why not stay longer? Many guests are here because of you."
Sunan shrugged wordlessly.
He was well aware of this fact. Yet, despite knowing, he had no interest in socializing with them and had the privilege to choose otherwise.
"And what about the bride? You left her alone?"
Key, catching Sunan's attempt to change the subject, didn't mind and sat down, pouring himself a drink.
"She's resting. An eighteen-year-old girl, after a long day, she's quite exhausted."
Sunan raised an eyebrow. "Poor health isn't good for the next generation's genes. Give her more Dragon Blood Fruit."
Genetic inheritance was more pronounced in this world. The offspring of knights typically had better potential to become knights themselves. If both parents were grand knights, their children were almost guaranteed to become knights, and legendary knights' offspring even more so.
This was why noble families, with lineages spanning centuries, often produced many strong individuals, with knights emerging continuously—a testament to improved genetics.
If both parents were knights, the probability of their children becoming knights was nearly 70-80%.
Unfortunately, female knights were rare in this era. Noblewomen focused more on etiquette and social arts, learning singing, playing instruments, and table manners, possibly including court dancing and horseback riding, but not martial training.
However, none of that mattered if physical fitness was improved. With Dragon Blood Fruit, enhancing physique significantly in a short time wasn't an issue.
The two chatted idly for a while before the conversation shifted to the current state of the Spark Church.
"Currently, the Spark Church's faith spreads most smoothly in the Red Leaf Province and the Frost Province."
"The former has the Grand Duke's endorsement, facing little resistance from the top down."
"The latter is under reconstruction; the people are in dire straits. The Spark Church can easily gain followers by providing some food."
"As for the Lake Blue Province, Soman Province, and Purple Bamboo Province, while they haven't openly supported the spread of the Spark Church's faith, they haven't actively obstructed it either. They're probably still observing."
Key made no mention of the White Tower Province. However, given the Marquis of White Tower's choice to ally with him through marriage, his stance was clear.
"We need time to build strength, but we can't just let the Spark Church expand unchecked. Do you have any ideas?" Key asked seriously.
Sunan pondered.
They couldn't intervene directly in other provinces, so disrupting the Spark Church's activities there was out of the question.
The only feasible action was to unite with the White Tower Province to prohibit the Spark Church's entry.
Of course, there was another potential avenue.
The Golden Rock Province might not be an option, but they still had the Forest Cabin.
Perhaps they could leverage that.
"I'll think of something," Sunan said.
Hearing this, Key visibly relaxed. He had great confidence in Sunan, and since Sunan said he would handle it, he must have a plan.
Knock, knock!
A knock at the door interrupted them.
"Come in."
Braid entered quickly, his expression serious.
"Lord, Lord Sunan."
After greeting them, Braid continued gravely, "The patrol reported that a village about ten kilometers north of the city has vanished!"
Key's expression hardened. "Do we know what happened?"
"The patrol reported signs of beast claw and fang marks, along with a large amount of blood. It's suspected that a beast horde attacked the village, killed everyone, and dragged the bodies away."
"A beast horde?"
Key frowned, puzzled and uneasy.
Beast attacks on villages weren't uncommon, but for an entire village to vanish without a single survivor to report it was odd.
How large must the horde have been to accomplish such a feat?
On this day of celebration, such news was deeply unsettling for Key. He ordered, "Investigate this personally. Find out who attacked the village!"
"Yes, my lord!"
Braid acknowledged solemnly and left promptly to gather a team.
"Such an incident on a day like this..." Key sighed.
Sunan rose, patting Key's shoulder in reassurance. "Focus on the wedding. We'll deal with this tomorrow."
Key nodded, returning to the hall. After all, he was the star of today's event and couldn't be absent for long.
Sunan moved to the window, gazing northward thoughtfully.
"A beast horde, huh..."
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