A person can never completely understand another person, just like the eyes on the head. The eyes can only see the front of the other person, but not the back. And the eyes can't see themselves.
Canton Dirna, Arnest Valley.
Thick iron chains extend from the inner wall of the valley, firmly holding up the floating island in the center of the valley. The black castle on the floating island has existed for many years. The years have not destroyed it, but have made it settle, becoming more solemn and unstoppable.
Shake. It is the Black Chain Castle, the core of the Lane family, their glory, and the nightmare of other families.
However, there seemed to be an irresistible cold wind blowing into the valley. It was more powerful than ordinary winds, so that the entire floating island shook imperceptibly, and the huge iron chains holding the floating island tightly let out small screams of pain.
, but no one heard it. The people in the Black Chain Castle were still busy.
Someone stepped onto the long bridge leading to the floating island, it was Alpha Lane.
The corners of his mouth are always curved upward in a standard arc. Even the picky elven etiquette officer cannot find the flaws in this smile. But this standard smile always makes people uncomfortable. It is a mask, firmly attached to Alpha
On his face, no one could see what was underneath the mask. Therefore, when the front view could not be clearly seen, this person made people wary but impossible to guess.
"Lord Marquis, the meeting of elders has begun."
The head butler of the Lane family, who was single-handedly promoted by Alsis, appeared at the end of the long bridge. He was half-bent, but his face was raised. His eyes flickered and fell on Alpha, saying: "Please follow me."
Alpha nodded and followed the pace of the housekeeper. Behind him, there was another figure, Vera, who was rescued by Alpha. Her appearance did not change at all, her neck-length short hair was neatly trimmed, and there was a light layer of color on her face.
Cosmetic powder commonly used by aristocratic women, she was wearing a neutral dress, just like an ordinary maid. But the vague aura exuding from her body revealed her strength, and her faint coercion was stronger than before.
It's much stronger sometimes.
"The elders have reached a consensus on the time for your expedition to Kaiyi State."
The chief butler led Alpha through the gate of the Black Chain Castle, walked up the spiral staircase, and entered the brightly lit corridor. As he walked, he said: "But... Regarding the matter of Lady Elita Lane being detained by you, the elders are all
We are aware of it, so please be prepared.”
Alpha's eyes turned toward the talkative butler. The corners of his mouth were still curved upward, without opening. He just nodded towards the butler.
In the elders' conference room of Black Chain Castle, several large stone chairs surround a semicircle, and in the center of the semicircle is a high chair embellished with sapphires. This is the current head of the Lane family, Duke Alcis Lane.
At this time, the Duke looked drowsy. The beautiful maid stood respectfully beside him. The tray full of fruits in his hand had only one less fruit than before.
Fruit, but this valuable fruit was held in the Duke's mouth and he forgot to bite it - he seemed to be falling asleep the next moment.
But he always kept his eyes half-open, his gaze focused on the ceiling of the conference room.
The elders sat on their own stone chairs. There were seven chairs in total, but only six elders were present. The remaining chair originally belonged to Nice Lane, the member leader of the founding king's line, but after his death, this chair became
was vacated. And the new leader of the founding king's line was actually a young boy. To the elders, Alpha was not qualified to sit in Nice's original position, but his current status was similar to that of Nice.
The same right to speak.
The atmosphere was a bit dull. Neither the sleepy Duke of Alsis nor the six elders with expressions on their faces made a sound. They were waiting.
Finally, the door to the conference room was pushed open.
Alpha Lane kept his smile and walked into the conference room unhurriedly. The chief butler and Vera were left outside the conference room. The junction between this conference room and the corridor was not something they were qualified to cross.
Alpha's eyes naturally fell on Alsis in the center. He bowed respectfully and said, "Junior Alpha Lane, I have met the head of the family."
"If you go slower, I'll fall asleep."
Alsis replied, but there was not much blame in his voice, but instead a kind of good humor.
Alpha straightened up, just nodded towards the six elders, and said: "I have met Elder Goethe, Elder Lampmann... It is our family's honor that all the elders are in good health."
The last ambiguous words made several elders let out cold snorts. Alpha ignored it, his smile remained unchanged, and continued: "So, have the elders finally come to a conclusion about the expedition to Kaiyi State?"
At this time, Lampman stood up, turned to Alpha, and said: "Since Elita has left Kay State, we will naturally not stop you from going to Kay State to defeat Alanza Tulip... However,
You seem to have imprisoned Elita because of her well-being, which is unreasonable!"
Lampman's last few words were pronounced in a very strong tone. Elita was the one with the strongest bloodline among the mercenary kings, and now she was a prisoner of the founding king's line. It's no wonder that Lampman's tone was so serious.
Next to Lampman, Goethe's face became even more gloomy. As the only supporter of the Hero King line, Ilita's presence in Kay State has always been a powerful excuse for him to delay time. Therefore, the Mercenary King line also
They stand in the same camp as him, but now, because Elita fell into Alpha's hands, this camp is no longer as unbreakable as it used to be.
"What I want to say is..."
Alpha suddenly interrupted Lampus. The corners of his mouth finally raised a little more, and he said: "I am really sorry for causing all the elders to suffer for so long... However, I have decided to give up the expedition to Kay State, and
Withdraw relevant applications..."
"What?!"
Several elders stood up in shock. Alpha's words had exceeded their expectations. Similarly, Goethe also stood up, but under his wrinkled eyelids, his eyes were still clear. He knew that Alpha's words would not be so simple.
"oh?"
The sleepy Duke Alsis also cheered up. His body leaned forward slightly, and then he remembered the fruit in his mouth. So, while chewing, he asked: "Alfa, you are indeed beyond expectation.
Tell me, what are you planning?"
The crunching sound was particularly harsh.
"because……"
Alpha's eyes turned, but fell on Lampman. He said word for word: "Instead of caring about the guys who were kicked out of the family, I think maybe we should focus on the inside of the family... For example,
Convicting Elita Lane..."
"What did you say?!"
Alpha's words completely angered Lampman. Elita is the key to the Mercenary King series. Anyone who dares to attack him is going against the entire Mercenary King series. Lampman slammed the crutch in his hand on the ground.
, making a loud slapping sound, his eyes were filled with anger, and he looked straight at Alpha, saying: "What's wrong with Elita? How dare you convict her?!"
Lampman's voice became louder and louder, and he continued: "Elita's behavior has always been rigorous and accurate. At least she has never made an unforgivable mistake. Even if she followed Aranza later, it did not violate any of the family's rules.
There is a rule that family members are free to decide which mercenary group they want to join!"
"So it is."
Alpha's expression was particularly calm, and he defended calmly: "I remember that your family once sent two strong men to support the mercenary guild coalition to encircle Alice Fortress. In that battle, the two strong family men were killed by Aranza.
Killed... This is also one of the reasons why I applied to go to Kaiyi State. I believe all the elders know it..."
"What does this have to do with Elita?!"
Before Alpha could finish speaking, Lampman refuted sharply. In his opinion, Alpha was simply being unreasonable.
"So..."
Alpha was not moved by Lampman's anger, his voice remained calm, and said: "Alanza Tulip killed our people, he is our enemy, and the Thorn Mercenary King he led is our enemy...
But before that, you separated Elita's joining the Thorn Mercenary Group from this. As a member of the Lane family, joining the hostile camp, isn't it enough to convict her?"
He actually pierced the paper!
Everyone is not a fool. They all know the reason Alpha said, but because they are not fools, they pretend not to know. You must know that Elita is the most precious treasure of the mercenary king line. Touching her is equivalent to touching the entire world.
The line of mercenary kings. And Alpha also knew this, so he didn't use it as an excuse to do anything before. However, at this moment, he actually crossed the line that everyone was cautious about!
"you!"
Lampman was too angry to speak.
"Bang!"
He knocked the crutch in his hand to the ground again. This originally healthy old man had already become haggard because of Elita's incident, and had to use crutches to walk. But in anger, the crutch actually knocked the black crystal floor beneath him.
There were long and thin cracks, which were the continuation of his anger.
After venting, Lampman seemed calmer. He looked at Alpha coldly and said, "What do you want?"
Alpha did not give in at all and replied: "Submit an application to punish Elita Lane to the Presbyterian Council later in the meeting. By then, your Excellency will know..."
"In that case..."
At this time, Duke Alsis, who was enjoying the farce in the middle of the conference room, suddenly spoke. His speech made everyone else have to shut up. His eyes circled around the room, and finally fell on Alpha, saying: "
In this case, let’s wait until the application is submitted to the Presbyterian Council to discuss this matter. I’ll give you some time to go back and think about it carefully.”
Alpha's proposal was too unexpected, and everyone understood that it not only meant the fate of Elita, but also the fate of the Mercenary King line. Everyone really needed time to think about such a thing.
As a result, the meeting ended without any results after an unexpected process.
The angry Lampman left first, with Goethe following behind him. The other elders gathered together in the corner of the corridor and whispered. The branches they each represented were not as powerful as the mercenary king line and the founding king line.
At this time, the head butler stopped Alpha who was walking on the corridor and said: "Dear Lord Marquis, the master of the house invites you to have dinner. I'm sorry, but you cannot refuse this request."
After hearing this, Aranza's expression did not change and she said, "Your Excellency, you are worrying too much. It is my honor to have dinner with the head of the family."