Chapter 116: The Marquis’ Welcome Party (Part 1)

After passing through the bustling streets and brushing shoulders with the noisy crowd, the street before them suddenly widened a little. A squad of patrolling soldiers stood guard in front of a large gate. Upon seeing Baron Jandu approaching, they immediately saluted and then slowly pulled open the great gate behind them—a gate wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side. Amidst creaking sounds, it slowly opened from the inside.

Unlike the noise of the Lower District, the Upper District was much quieter.

Of course, the security was also much tighter.

Dean spotted at least five hidden sentries among them—but he was not surprised by this.

On the contrary, given the caution and cunning of Marquis Vauban, such an arrangement was the most appropriate.

After all, in his past life, it was this Marquis who guarded the last territory of Emerald. If illness had not taken his life, he would undoubtedly have been another hope for Emerald.

If Marquis Vauban could have been twenty years younger…

This was the wish of all the resisters in the Emerald Kingdom when they heard of Marquis Vauban’s death from illness.

Of course, this included Dean.

After all, apart from the fact that Marquis Vauban stood in the same camp as him and firmly opposed the invasion of City, more importantly, Marquis Vauban was the most steadfast supporter of the Emerald Grand Duke.

If that were not the case, Seandel Fortress would not have appeared outside Vauban City.

“We meet again, Old Marquis!”

Dean muttered to himself. His gaze looked toward the Inner District higher up, where the Ancient Castle was hazy in the dark night, just like a sleeping giant beast.

In his past life, he and the other party were two of the three banners of Emerald after the Grand Duchess passed away. The other party and that Young King guarded Seandel Fortress, while he moved within the lost territories, bringing hope to more resisting Emerald People. Therefore, the two sides were not strangers; in fact, they should be considered quite familiar.

However, their meetings could be counted on one hand.

In his past life, before Dean became famous, he was undoubtedly a nobody.

And after becoming famous, it was already when Emerald had fallen. At that time, Dean moved through the lost territories, completing his revenge, and had no time to meet with Marquis Vauban.

Therefore, Dean held a trace of anticipation for this meeting.

The convoy stopped in front of the drawbridge leading from the Upper District to the Inner District. Most of the followers were arranged to stay in residences specially prepared by Marquis Vauban in the Upper District. Only a small number of people could enter the Inner District to meet Marquis Vauban—and among the group from Tier Territory, aside from the young lady of the Tier Baron Family, only Dean had this qualification.

In fact, whether it was Tier Territory, Defendi Territory, or Janel Territory.

They were all representatives of their respective territories, accompanied by their own Guard Captains.

Of course, Churde Defendi’s Guard Captain was newly appointed.

And upon seeing the awkward appearance of his newly appointed Guard Captain, Churde Defendi once again cast a fierce glance at Dean and the young lady of the Tier Baron Family—of course, he thought he was being very secretive.

However, it all fell within Dean’s sight.

Regarding this, Dean lowered his eyelids to hide his killing intent.

“It is truly lucky to come to Lord Marquis’ Castle again! Miss Lily…”

“I need to rest later; this journey has been really tiring!”

Baron Janel, who knew nothing of his surroundings, exclaimed loudly, and then instinctively wanted to issue an invitation to the young lady of the Tier Baron Family.

However, before he could finish his words, he was rejected by the young lady of the Tier Baron Family.

“Alright, it should be so, it should be so!”

Baron Janel looked at the young lady of the Tier Baron Family. When he saw Dean standing beside her, a trace of dread flashed across his face, and he immediately tried to laugh it off.

Creak… creak…

With the sound of the winch turning, the drawbridge slowly lowered. With a ‘clang’, the entire drawbridge steadily landed on the opposite bank where Dean and his group were standing.

“Please follow me!”

Baron Jandu invited Dean’s group with a Knight’s etiquette.

After returning the salute, Dean’s group stepped onto the drawbridge one after another.

The drawbridge was not wide, only allowing one carriage to pass, but it was very long. The rushing water in the moat and the black shadows flashing from time to time underwater all indicated that the defense here was exceptionally tight.

That ambitious Churde Defendi looked at this arrangement with a look of helplessness and loss.

Clearly, he had not found a weakness here.

Baron Janel, on the other hand, let out exclamations of surprise from time to time, especially when he saw the monster fish covered in Fangs suddenly leaping out of the moat, he let out bursts of strange cries.

The young lady of the Tier Baron Family walked quietly on the drawbridge, her gaze sweeping around, with undisguised admiration in her eyes.

“An ambitious man, an ignorant person, a kind person, and… an old fox!”

Dean looked at the performance of the three Nobles and instinctively raised his gaze to look at the Ancient Castle, which seemed to be within arm’s reach, evaluating Marquis Vauban in such a way.

Although the other party was a firm supporter of the Grand Duchess and was in the same camp as him, Dean did not think that such an evaluation of the other party was excessive.

In fact, Dean thought that such an evaluation was fitting.

The simplest example was this ‘private auction’ that brought benefits to the entire Vauban County.

The private auction of Vauban County was famous throughout the Four Northern Counties, attracting merchants and Nobles to flood into Vauban City, bringing countless treasures and spending large amounts of Gold Pulton, and then taking away the ‘specialties’ of Vauban County.

The circulation of coins and goods brought prosperity to the entire Vauban City.

And all Marquis Vauban paid for was organizing the ‘private auction’.

As for the cost of organizing the auction?

One must know that to enter Marquis Vauban’s private auction house, Nobles entered for free, but merchants had to pay enough Gold Pulton.

Simply put, Marquis Vauban just stood out and gained everything, becoming the biggest winner.

After all, after the auction items were sold, he would also take a 10% tax.

As the Lord of Vauban County, this Marquis had such a right.

Moreover, there was a more important point: in the Four Northern Counties, such an auction was simply impossible to replicate—

First, one needed immense prestige. Among the Four Northern Counties, apart from that Marquis of York, the other two Earls simply did not have such prestige.

And it was well known that that Marquis of York had no interest whatsoever in such ‘commercial activities’; he only cared about various military facilities and matters regarding cavalry and infantry.

Secondly, family background; one needed a sufficiently rich family background.

As a Noble who had existed since the Founding of the Emerald Kingdom, Marquis Vauban had gone through twelve generations. His family background far exceeded ordinary people’s imagination, enough to convince anyone.

Finally, and most importantly: safety.

Vauban Castle, with its wide moat, towering walls, and squads of guards, would bring you a sense of security.

Of course, if you worried about safety after the auction, there were enough people for hire in the city—these people were naturally loyal to that Marquis Vauban.

Therefore, you still needed to fork out a portion of Gold Pulton.

Turning an auction into a commercial chain and becoming the biggest beneficiary, if such a person was not considered an old fox, then who was?

As for the Three Southern Counties?

The Grand Duchess naturally would not have a conflict of interest with her ally.

Therefore, Marquis Vauban’s auction became the unique auction of the Emerald Kingdom, held two or three times a year.

And this once again reflected the wisdom of Marquis Vauban—not being blinded by immediate interests, knowing when to stop, and understanding even better the principle that rare things are valuable.

If Vauban County held ten auctions a year, I’m afraid it wouldn’t have the reputation it has now!

“Welcome, everyone. Lord Marquis is waiting for you in the hall!”

An old man who looked like a steward walked out to welcome Dean’s group.

Immediately, the three Nobles and Noble descendants began to return the salute, and then followed behind this old man, passed through the corridor of the Castle, and walked toward the inner court where music was already sounding.

Clearly, the welcoming banquet was ready to begin.

Of course, the guests would not be just them.

Guests from the Four Northern Counties, and even the Three Southern Counties, had already arrived in the hall—Dean glanced at the Formal Attire on the young lady of the Tier Baron Family beside him; this Formal Attire had been changed in the carriage.

Undoubtedly, the young lady of the Tier Baron Family had been prepared.

Of course, not only the young lady of the Tier Baron Family, but even that good-for-nothing Baron Janel was wearing a set of Formal Attire; however, that kind of gorgeous fabric on him… was truly a bit of a waste.

The gates of the inner court were wide open. When Dean’s group appeared under the leadership of the old man, the people inside could see them at first glance—as the last to arrive, they naturally attracted many gazes.

Facing the numerous gazes, Dean clearly heard the rapid breathing of the two Guard Captains from Defendi Territory and Janel Territory beside him.

Even the three Nobles and Noble descendants were a little nervous.

However, the good upbringing of their Families prevented them from making any major mistakes.

The six people walked slowly in two rows, front and back—out of etiquette, the Guard Captains naturally had to stay one step behind the person they were protecting.

From the gate of the inner court to the stage of the banquet, it was about thirty feet.

And the guests in the inner court were looking back and forth during this time.

Compared to the previous sizing up, the looking over at this moment was obviously more pressured, especially when several distinguished guests in the inner court joined in, this pressure almost doubled—the newly appointed Guard Captain of Defendi Territory was already sweating on his forehead.

Although the Guard Captain of Janel Territory was not sweating on his forehead, his footsteps were a bit unsteady.

And the situation of the three main characters was also a bit bad—

With every step, Baron Janel would unnaturally twist his fat body.

And the Nephew of Baron Defendi had a slightly stiff smile.

As for the young lady of the Tier Baron Family?

Although it was hidden by the long dress, Dean could sense that her steps had become uncoordinated.

“Ah!”

Just as Dean finished observing his companions and was about to look at several aggressive gazes in the hall, the young lady of the Baron in front of him suddenly let out a low cry of surprise, and then her whole body fell forward unnaturally.

Undoubtedly, she had stepped on the hem of her dress in her nervousness.

“It’s over, I’m going to be so embarrassed!”

The young lady of the Baron closed her eyes, her heart filled with despair.