A dark, cold castle can be made palatial even if it is whitewashed.
The venue for the banquet was chosen by the Earl in the main hall on the first floor of Haniri Castle, and when Austin arrived with Baron Navia, he could hardly believe that this was the original hall with mottled walls and a cold atmosphere everywhere.
Now, nearly 100 candlesticks are lit here, illuminating the entire hall extremely brightly, and with the use of a large number of red and yellow colored curtains, the ugly walls and stone pillars are all covered, and everything looks very different and becomes luxurious.
Uniformly dressed waiters carried elaborate silver trays back and forth, and on the long dining table were enticing aromas such as roast suckling pig, whole goose, leg of lamb, etc., which were obviously filled with precious spices from the Far East, and a goblet filled with fine wines from Marcelona in the south was delivered to each guest.
The Count also invited the best harpists and singers of the city of Oni, and let them play melodious music that surrounded the whole hall.
All of this was so new to Austen, after all, it was the first time he had attended such a noble banquet. However, tonight he looked no less than anyone here, and under the background of the luxurious black velvet dress, his originally delicate face was also a little more noble, like a noble young man from a big family. If you don't know his details, I'm afraid you won't believe that just a month or two ago, he was just an inconspicuous gangster.
He followed closely behind Baron Navia, still a little nervous.
Along the way, many well-dressed people rushed up to greet Baron Navia, and they were full of meaning. They were all very eye-catching people, and soon noticed Austin following the baron, and asked the baron who this strange-looking young man was.
Baron Navia also enjoyed this feeling of being respected and respected, so he always had a smile on his face, and was kind to everyone who took the initiative to greet him, and introduced Austin to them with great enthusiasm, "Ladies and gentlemen, I think some of you have seen him, not long ago, when the Count ordered the formation of an investigation team, he joined on behalf of the court!"
"Oh, it's him. Everyone looked like they had a sudden realization. Although most of them have never seen Austen, no one in Oni City will not know about the serial murder incident that caused a storm in the city, and of course they have all heard of several 'heroes' who have contributed to quelling this matter, in addition to the Cassano knight of the city defense army, there is no doubt that Austin, the senior apprentice of the Jersey mage, is the most eye-catching.
As a result, Austin received a lot of praise such as 'young and promising' and 'promising'. But just as he was about to respond modestly, a word of extreme disdain came from behind the crowd: "Isn't it just a level 1 special mage? "
"It's Young Master Puyi!"
After the crowd whispered the identity of this person, everyone slowly dispersed with great tacit understanding. Puyi's father is fighting for the inheritance with the second son of the earl supported by the Navia family, and there is nothing present that no one knows about it, and no one wants to be rashly involved in the dispute between the two sides, otherwise one will be crushed if he is not careful!
Of course, Austin remembered this guy named Puy, and the last time he went to see Ritter, he was barking. Now it seems that he has not changed in the slightest, and even at the Count's banquet, he cannot hide his completely obnoxious nature.
But without Austin opening his mouth to fight back, Baron Navia took the initiative to take the words: "Oh, isn't this Young Master Puyi? Unfortunately, Austin is now a level 3 special mage, and with his bloodline talent, there is no problem in advancing to the high level, maybe in a few years, you will have to call him master, or Your Excellency." "
The baron's volume was not loud, but every word was loud enough for the people around him to hear clearly.
As soon as these words came out, Puyi's face, which was already pale due to the loss of essence, became even more bloodless, and he stared at Austin in almost disbelief, he really couldn't understand, how long has it been since he was promoted from level 1 to level 3? Pero is on top, how is this possible!
Others are more concerned about the latter words, and they will be able to rise to the high level in a few years? No one will doubt Baron Navia's words, this judgment must come from the mouth of Master Zeciel, a high-level mage has recognized Austin's bloodline talent so much, can it be worse?
What does this mean? Maybe in a few years, the Navia family will have the support of another high-level spellcaster!Hehe, in this way, even the rulers of Oni City, the Count Haniri family, may not be able to suppress Navia.
Before they could fully digest the news, Baron Navia struck while the iron was hot and announced again: "The little girl Catherine and Austen are in love, and I am ready to make a marriage contract between the two soon!
This time it was not only the others, but even Austin fell into a stupor, what did the Baron mean?Want Miss Catherine to marry me? I will be the Baron's son-in-law?And when will I fall in love with Miss Catherine?He looked at the Baron with a puzzled look on his face, but Baron Navia only gave him a hint to go back and talk about it for a while.
Baron Navia's words were undoubtedly aimed at Puyi, and they were also intended to deter those small families who wanted to lean towards the earl's eldest son.
"You... You—" Puyi was speechless and weakly pointed at Baron Navia and Austin with trembling hands. At this moment, I am afraid that he was the most angry since he was born, and he was ridiculed and slapped in the face by the lower nobles in front of the public!
In fact, in normal times, Baron Navia would not be like this, Puyi is the grandson of Count Haniri after all, no matter what he says, he has to give Count Haniri face. But recently, the struggle between Puy's father, Fili, and Ritter's father, Haniel, has intensified, and he is about to come to light, and he needs to take this opportunity to suppress the morale of Fili's party.
"Silence, silence!"
At this moment, there were two consecutive silences, and there was a dull sound of a cane hitting the ground, and then the musician's tune changed and began to become passionate and solemn.
The most important big man is coming out tonight!
Austen was led aside by Baron Navia to stand, dodging the main aisle in the middle of the hall, then turned his head to the entrance of the hall, paying homage to Count Haniri as he slowly walked in.
On the red carpet, the old count, dressed in a dark gown, carrying his jeweled scepter, and draped in a cloak embroidered with a silver cross sword and Haniri Castle, solemnly walked to the top of the hall. The silver cross sword originated from the top wealthy Clotis family of the Neuton Kingdom, Haniri is its branch, in order to distinguish and the main branch, 300 years ago, the first Earl Haniri, the castle he designed and built into the coat of arms of his branch.
Behind the Count, his two sons, Fili and Hanil, walked side by side, nodding their heads in response to the greetings of the nobles standing on either side.
Austen met Puy's father and Ritter's father for the first time, and although no one gave him a special explanation, he still immediately recognized who the second son of the Count was, Hanniel was tall and burly, and quite similar to Ritter, while Puy's father, Fili, was a thin and cold middle-aged man, with a hooked nose and eyes, and he knew at a glance that he was a cold and cruel man.
Now that the most important men had come, the feast was about to begin, and the harpist, after the Count had come up to the stage, turned to face all the guests, and stopped playing, and the chatter in the hall had died down until there was silence, and their ruler was about to give his opening speech!
"Distinguished guests, allow me at the outset to extend my warmest welcome and most sincere thanks to all of you for taking the time to attend this banquet. After the opening remarks, the earl paused temporarily, raised the wine glass handed by the waiter, and toasted everyone, but he was old, so he just put the wine glass between his lips, and did not drink a drop of wine, but almost all the guests in the audience took a sip in response, and even some were excited, and directly drank a full glass, and immediately, the surrounding waiters served another new glass.
"Although today is not a special holiday, but the weather is getting cooler, autumn is getting closer and closer, I am an old man, my heart is inevitably touched, a little sad, so I invite you, come to the lively and lively, want to see you again, after all, I am really old, maybe one day will close my eyes. "
"Hehe, people are old, and they are a little tired of saying this, so let's start the feast! Fili, Hanniel, you greet the guests on my behalf. "
After speaking, Count Haniret took out a handkerchief to cover his mouth and coughed heavily, then waved his hand to everyone in the audience, and slowly left the field with the support of the attendants.
I don't know if it was intentional, but when he passed by Baron Navia, he stopped, pretended to have just seen it, and asked, "Belul, you are here too, but why didn't you see Master Zecil?"
But before the baron could answer, Count Haniri tilted his head again, and said to Austin, who was standing on the side: "Austin, well, you are here too, very well... Excellent!"
"Hello, Honorable Earl!" Austin, the newly promoted Level 3 Special Mage, bowed deeply.
Baron Navia, on the other hand, only bowed slightly: "I'm sorry, my brother is conducting an important experiment, and he really can't get out"
Although the House of Navia only held the title of baron, and their territory was only a small town within a radius of 10 miles, over the years, with the help of Jersey, they had firmly controlled the judiciary of Oni City, and had a large number of industries in the city, and their influence increased day by day.
This investment in Hannil is quite a bit of a win over Haniri, the second family of Oni City. In addition, because of the news released today, there is no need to wait for Hanniel to take the position, and the Navia family will quickly occupy this position purely by their own strength, and there is also the possibility of fighting upward.
"Well, maybe I'm really old, I especially want to meet the people I used to know, forget it, next time, next time. The Count shook his head, ignored Baron Navia and Austin, and left the banquet with a sigh...