Blue Marquis fief, Marquis residence, third floor corridor.
Hodge looked at the hall with people coming and going, looking at the elegantly dressed and polite gentlemen with an indifferent expression, like a spectator or an audience.
Once upon a time, he was also a member of this stage play, but as times changed, he decided to jump out of the chess game and change from a chess piece to a mover.
Hodge knew very well that the enemy had already planned everything and was just waiting for the party to be over.
There are too many high-ranking people from the empire gathered now, and even the Beyonder guards are extremely large in number.
At this moment, the entire mansion is at its most heavily guarded.
If you take action at this time, you will not only suffer a strong counterattack, but it will also cause shock to the entire empire and attract saints, top-level experts at the angel level. The gain outweighs the loss.
After the dinner is over and all the guests leave, everyone's spirits will relax.
Attacking at this time can be unexpected and work wonders.
Who would have thought that the enemy would attack after the party was over?
On the night of the massacre, after the party, Hodge lay down on the bed to rest.
Everyone thought the matter was over, but the tragedy happened just when they were most relaxed...
"Master, aren't you going down?"
A gentle female voice sounded from Hodge's side.
Hotch turned to look and saw Anna, who was wearing a blue and white maid uniform and black stockings, holding a black formal jacket in both hands, standing obediently not far away, looking at him quietly.
The years are quiet and beautiful, and the beauty is by my side.
In a daze, Hodge had an illusion in his mind. Maybe the experience of the past few days was really a nightmare?
How could anyone dare to attack the Marquis of the Empire without opening his eyes?
But soon, Hodge calmed down. The heart-wrenching memories and the painful and desperate experience made him dare not forget it for a moment, and he could not forget it for a moment!
The more peaceful the years go by, the more people are carrying the burden forward.
Only this time, Hodge will be the one carrying the burden.
Thinking of this, Hodge showed a bright and warm smile on his face and responded softly: "Okay, I'll go down right now."
Anna looked at the smile on Young Master Huo Qi's face. For some reason, she always felt that the man in front of her suddenly felt a little strange, a little unlike him in the past...
This feeling is like... changing into a different person in an instant.
"Ana, please don't go down there today."
"I don't need you to entertain me. Just stay in the maid's room on the third floor and rest. I'll give you a holiday."
Hotch touched Anna's head, took the black coat from her hand, put it on himself, remembered the buttons, and walked downstairs step by step.
"Yes..." Anna looked at Huo Qi's leaving figure, her thoughts changed, she opened her mouth, but said nothing.
Hotch was not aware of Anna's emotional changes. At this moment, his eyes were deep and his face was expressionless. He did not look like the host attending the banquet at all, but like a soldier who was about to go to the battlefield.
Yes, for Hodge, at this moment, the banquet is a battlefield.
When Hodge walked downstairs to the hall, he saw his mother chatting with a lady. The lady had long yellow hair, slightly rolled up, and her face was quite delicate. Under the cover of cosmetics, there were almost no obvious wrinkles. She was sky blue.
With beautiful eyes, wearing a purple dress and a ruby pendant hanging around her neck, she has an elegant temperament.
After her mother, Mrs. Belle, saw Hodge, a smile appeared on her face and she whispered: "Mrs. Nia, this is my son, Hodge Dickens."
"Hodge, this is Mrs. Nia."
"Mrs. Nia, it's our first time meeting you." Huo Qi gave a slight greeting.
Mrs. Nia was also quite kind and responded with a smile: "Hello, Huo Qi, first time we meet."
"Mrs. Nia, is my son good?" asked Mrs. Belle.
"With such a talented person, when he comes of age, he will definitely attract many noble ladies when he goes to the imperial capital." Mrs. Nia praised.
Mrs. Belle covered her mouth and chuckled: "Okay, I will remember this sentence. If not, Mrs. Nia, you will have to introduce some suitable noble ladies to Hooch?"
"Definitely." Mrs. Nia responded with a smile.
Listening to the pleasant conversation between the two, Hodge asked softly: "Mom, where is father?"
"Your father is discussing something with his guests in the small living room?"
"Don't disturb him."
Mrs. Bailey pointed to the small living room on the left and explained.
"Okay, mother, Mrs. Nia, you guys talk first, I'll go shopping elsewhere." Hotch nodded slightly, saluted again, and said.
"Okay, go ahead." Mrs. Bailey nodded and said.
"See you next time, handsome guy!" Mrs. Nia joked with a smile.
Hotch smiled and nodded, then turned and left.
…
On the first floor, there is a small living room.
"Lord Marquis, long time no see."
A brown-haired man wearing a green uniform, with epaulettes, a ribbon on his chest, and a six-pointed star sword and shield military emblem bowed and said.
The brown-haired man is tall, more than 1.9 meters tall, with a long sword on his waist. He has a strong face, piercing eyes, and is very powerful.
"Bernard, what do you want from me?"
Marquis Bach, who was wearing a formal black tuxedo, asked in a calm tone.
"Your Majesty, Marquis, you are still so unkind." Faced with Marquis Bach's indifference, Bernard didn't care at all and continued to say enthusiastically: "My lord, Marquis, to be honest, sometimes, I really envy you.
He was able to achieve so many military exploits, and at the peak of his glory, he chose to give in, exchange for a title, and retire with success."
"Everyone says you have great wisdom, but I don't think so..."
"What exactly do you want to say?" Marquis Bach looked at the third leader of the Royal Knights, his expression still unchanged.
Bernard looked at Marquis Bach, at this living legend, at this great hero of the Salom Empire, the Grand Marquis, with a smile on his face, and his tone suddenly turned cold: "Mr. Marquis, now
You seem to be a little out of touch with current affairs."
"Ten years ago, you retreated bravely, gave up military power, gave up the glory of the Royal Knights, chose wealth, and chose to retreat. Many people said that you were smart, knew how to make choices, and knew the current affairs."
"But now, ten years of peace seem to have worn away your will. Why are you so ignorant of current affairs now?"
"Are you here for the New Gill area?" Marquis Bach's expression remained calm and lukewarm, showing no other emotions due to Bernard's change in attitude.
"You could have come to me directly, why bother asking your wife to come forward?"
"You know, I hate this social model."
"Of course I know, my Lord General." Bernard chuckled, staring at Marquis Bach, and said word by word: "But I just want to anger you, I just want to use what you hate.
I know that family is a taboo for you, but I want to use this method to get close to your family so that you have no choice but to see me."
"Since you know me, you should know that it is impossible to anger me in this way." Marquis Bach responded calmly with his face as usual.
"Of course I know." Bernard nodded and smiled: "But you still saw me, didn't you?"
"I know that because of your family, you will choose to compromise. Just like you before, you would rather give up the glory and power of the Cavalry Regiment to become an idle marquis and spend time with your family at home."
"Just because of a woman, you gave up everything and abandoned us..."
Having said this, Bernard sneered unconsciously, as if he thought all this was ridiculous: "Haha, Lord Marquis, if you had chosen to stay back then, with your merits, you could have run for the new consulship.
The leaders of several major branches of the regiment will support you. As long as you win over some neutral nobles, you have a good chance of being elected."
"Isn't the consulship of the empire worth less than the title of a marquis?"