Golden Mage - Chapter 65
Volume 3, Episode 5
Chapter 2: Tollian Kingdom Central Conference
Meanwhile, King Redolph was holding a meeting with Duke Lyrus.
King Redolph, who usually wore a serious expression due to the constant power struggle, had a surprisingly bright smile on his face at the moment.
Taking a sip of his tea, King Redolph spoke, “It’s fortunate that Troll Valley has been subdued, isn’t it?”
Duke Lyrus, sitting across from King Redolph, nodded in agreement. “Indeed. Frankly, I still find it hard to believe. The Troll King I encountered when I infiltrated Troll Valley five years ago was a monstrous being with unmatched power in a direct confrontation. To think that we have now defeated that monster and eliminated the trolls that plagued us for over a millennium… It truly proves the incredible strength of El’s Tower. It’s hard to fathom the extent of El’s abilities.”
Duke Lyrus expressed his genuine surprise. He was truly amazed.
Compared to the trolls pouring out of Troll Valley, the orcs from Orc Forest, which the Tollian Kingdom faced every year, were not as challenging to deal with. Each troll possessed the strength to match a knight in combat, making them formidable opponents.
While well-trained soldiers could handle orcs, defeating trolls required a seamless combination of fortified walls and soldiers.
Now, imagine a place with a staggering 50,000 trolls gathered together. It would be nothing short of a living hell.
Yet, they managed to eliminate all those trolls and even gathered the people near Troll Valley to establish a village.
Although El never boasted about his accomplishments, the king had an extensive intelligence network throughout the kingdom. While he might not know all the details, he had a rough idea of how Troll Valley had transformed based on circulating rumors.
The Fantasy City, Golden Valley – a place where life was better than anywhere else, and boundless prosperity and happiness overflowed. It was considered the paradise of this era.
That was where El’s Tower, the marvelous structure, stood in Troll Valley.
“It must have been the Golden Golem that could face such monsters,” King Redolph remarked, recalling the Golden Knight who overwhelmed swordmasters with overwhelming force when the kingdom was attacked.
Hearing this, Duke Lyrus responded, “Honestly, possessing such a Golden Golem is remarkable. How can an individual Golden Golem rival a Grandmaster in strength? El, the Demigod Tower, is like an onion, revealing new layers of mystery with every glimpse.”
Duke Lyrus likened El to an onion, a person with boundless abilities and the capability to come up with unexpected ideas.
King Redolph chuckled at the comparison. “Haha! An onion, huh… You make a good point. He is indeed like an onion. Possessing endless abilities and constantly surprising everyone with his unconventional ideas… He is a person of great significance. His presence is a blessing to our kingdom, and his willingness to attend this conference means a lot.”
The king laughed, and Duke Lyrus watched him cautiously before speaking again. “But will El truly act according to your intentions? Typically, the Towers don’t involve themselves in matters of the throne, do they?”
Concern filled Duke Lyrus’s inquiry, but King Redolph’s laughter subsided as he answered, “Hm… Are you underestimating El? Though he may be young, I believe his abilities far surpass his age. He is a remarkable individual, capable of sensing the emotions of those around him and understanding the psyche of his opponents. El probably has some inkling of my intentions. Yet, despite that, he accepted my request, which means he intends to support me to some extent in this struggle for the throne.”
“I see,” replied Duke Lyrus, expressing admiration.
Duke Lyrus was a knight who had honed his skills with a sword throughout his life, typical of those in his position. Unlike his younger brother, Duke Tergenvalli, he had no interest in politics, which made him less politically savvy. However, his unwavering loyalty had earned him the trust of King Redolph.
King Redolph simply smiled faintly.
“We shall find out if my eyes are accurate or not tomorrow. El will be here for the meeting.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Duke Lyrus said with a glimmer in his eyes.
He wanted to see for himself what King Redolph, who had precise judgment, had seen in the young wizard. He was eager to witness El’s exceptional talents.
The conversation between them took place just one day before the Kingdom Central Conference.
Kingdom Central Conference, held annually, was the grandest gathering of the Tollian Kingdom, with over a hundred nobles in attendance.
Traditionally an open forum, all titled nobles were allowed to participate, and two immediate family members were also allowed to attend as observers.
This year’s conference had a much higher attendance than usual. Usually, nobles engaged in the central politics dominated the numbers, but this time, local nobles were also present in large numbers.
It was evidence that the power struggle for the throne had intensified, and many nobles were watching their every step. Moreover, it indicated that many nobles saw this power struggle as an opportunity to ascend in central politics.
The conference hall, which had over 500 seats, was divided precisely into two factions.
On the left were the nobles supporting Prince Maxell, and on the right, the nobles supporting Prince Kran.
In the center, a few nobles who supported Prince Udmion and some undecided local nobles were seated.
Rowellin, the Viscount of Luviere, was seated at the center as a local noble.
“…”
Although hundreds of people were present, the conference hall was eerily quiet. One wrong word could entangle them in factional conflicts, so both sides remained silent, and even Prince Udmion’s faction was unable to speak up due to the stifling atmosphere.
However, as the silence continued, a loud voice from the main stage announced the arrival of the king.
“His Majesty, the great ruler of the Tollian Kingdom, is entering!”
With that, King Redolph appeared, slowly walking towards the conference’s main seat.
His crown and the aura emanating from him left no doubt about his status as the ruler of a nation.
Thump, thump!
Upon King Redolph’s appearance, the nobles all rose from their seats. Though divided by the power struggle, they were still loyal to King Redolph, and now, as he entered, they all bowed their heads in respect.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
They all simultaneously greeted King Redolph, and he responded, “So, it’s a pleasure to see those of you who always work hard for this kingdom. Please be seated, everyone.”
King Redolph took his seat, and the nobles followed suit.
Once everyone was seated, King Redolph began the meeting with a solemn tone.
“Now, let us begin the conference. As usual, it will be open-ended without a specific topic. Anything related to the future of our kingdom is welcome. So, who will be the first to share their opinions?”
As King Redolph spoke, the nobles started to exchange glances, trying to gauge who would be the first to speak.
The local nobles hesitated, not being accustomed to the atmosphere of the conference. However, the central nobles knew the significance of being the first to speak at the meeting.
The first speech could determine the leadership of the conference and provide substantial advantages in shaping the future political landscape of the kingdom.
Usually, the first speech was reserved for dukes or marquises, those at the highest ranks.
As the nobles looked at each other without saying a word, Duke Tergenvalli, who had been observing the members of Prince Maxell’s faction, quietly stood up from his seat.
All the hundreds of noble eyes turned to him. He calmly received their gazes and cleared his throat before starting to speak.
“Ahem! Your Majesty, if you permit, I shall share my opinion.”
“Duke Tergenvalli, go ahead,” King Redolph said, as protocol dictated that he should be addressed as such during the meeting. Unlike when they were in private, the king couldn’t show his deference in this formal setting.
Once King Redolph’s approval was granted, Duke Tergenvalli began to speak about the concerns raised by Prince Kran’s faction.
“Well then, allow me to express my thoughts. Currently, the power of our kingdom can be considered at its peak. Thanks to Your Majesty’s leadership, we were able to repel the monsters from Monster Land, which had been causing significant damage to our kingdom every year, without much harm. Moreover, due to last year’s abundant harvest, we are currently enjoying a period of unparalleled peace and prosperity.”
Although it was Terandell Viscount, not El, who received the reward for repelling the monsters, Duke Tergenvalli refrained from highlighting his own accomplishments, attributing all the praise to King Redolph’s merits.
However, King Redolph, who received commendations for deeds he didn’t do, was not in the best mood. It felt like an unnecessary flattery. With a slight furrow of his brow, he said, “What exactly is your point, Duke?”