Imperial Crown.

Chapter 399: Treason
1201 11 Month 14 Day.

If you mention the Nord Province, perhaps 7% of the people in the Empire don't know where it is.

And if you ask about its capital, 3% of the remaining 9% will remain silent.

After all, in this era, no one cares about things that have nothing to do with them.

But if you mention Eagle City, few people don’t know it.

That is the home of the Griffith family, the only new earl family in the empire in nearly 400 years.

Today, the Eagle City, famous throughout the empire, opened its gates and held a grand banquet.

Anyone can walk through the city gates and enjoy the fine wine and food inside.

The gift money was nothing more than a phrase like "May the Griffith family prosper forever" or "May Earl Raven live a long and healthy life."

Only officials of all levels under the Griffith family can enter the castle hall, but there are no restrictions on the square outside. No matter what your background is, you can eat, drink and have fun here freely.

But the crowd will naturally divide into boundaries, and the distribution of people in the square is also very regular.

The outermost circle is the local subjects, the middle circle is the merchants from local or other places, and the innermost circle is the lower-class nobles from the surrounding areas who did not receive an invitation but came here on their own initiative.

It was a great honor for the local people just to be able to come in. They toasted to each other, ate and drank, and immersed themselves in joy.

The merchants inside, on the other hand, focus on money.

Calculating how much this banquet cost and how much profit the organizers and hosts could have squeezed out of it, the more he calculated, the more excited he became.

This banquet will cost at least 15000 gold coins, and that's just the cost for the outside venue.

This also means that even if the scale of the Griffith family's banquets is reduced, the cost will not be too low. Even if there are only 3 or 4 gold coins at a time and there are only 20 times a year, it is still a market of nearly 10 gold coins.

Some merchants were trying to figure out how they could establish a relationship with Eagle City and get them to use their goods; others were so impatient that they wanted to move their shops here immediately.

Compared with the "mercenary" merchants, the nobles were much more calm.

They sat quietly at the table, sipping wine and putting delicious food into their mouths gracefully.

Then they would whisper to each other from time to time, talking about the proportions of this dish, the craftsmanship of that dish, the history of its shape, the richness of its flavors...

It comes easily and leisurely.

"It's like a dream." Knight Conchi of Teda Territory sighed:

"Nine years ago, Lord Raven was just a baron. Who would have thought that he would suddenly become an earl?"

"Strength, luck, and vision are all indispensable." Knight Jennings of Kogar echoed:

"I bet that no one else in Lord Raven's position could achieve what he has."

The two looked at each other and saw envy in each other's eyes, as well as a deep sense of powerlessness behind the envy.

The title of nobility has always been difficult to obtain.

Knights like them belong to the tail of the nobility and the top of the common people, so they have a deep understanding of the difficulty of ascending the title.

To be promoted from a knight to a baron, a family needs to work hard for hundreds or even thousands of years, and also needs the right opportunity to be promoted.

There is often only one successful family out of a hundred.

The vast majority of knight families would lose their titles and inheritance for various reasons, falling back to the class of commoners or even serfs.

The promotion from baron to viscount and from viscount to earl are two even more insurmountable chasms.

The most obvious example was the battle against the Death Hand Cult nine years ago.

In that battle, 127 knight families in the Nordic province were destroyed; 17 noble families were stripped of their titles and lands, and 11 noble families were extinct, including 26 barons and 2 viscounts.

But after the war, only two people were successfully promoted from knights to barons; and only one person was awarded the title of viscount, and he was Hyde, a member of the Earl's family Slater.

The empire is tightening its control over the provinces and trying to reduce the number of nobles. This is a fact that all nobles are well aware of.

And it was a miracle that Raven was able to be promoted from baron to earl under such circumstances.

That’s why these knights feel so powerless—

Only legends can achieve miracles. For ordinary people like them, it is a luxury to imagine them.

Unlike the square, the scene in the hall is quite different.

Raven hadn't arrived yet, so even though all kinds of delicious food were on the table, no one touched them. Chit-chatting about all sorts of things became the main focus.

Therefore, it is particularly noisy.

All those who could sit here were officials of all levels who had followed Raven to the present. Some were from administrative agencies of various territories, and some were from the military. Although there was a clear distinction between civil and military officials, they were all gathered together.

There was a smile on everyone's face.

Because they knew that with Earl Raven's magnanimity, someone would become successful after this banquet.

The most excited ones were the orphans in the flying squadron.

"Hoyaz, if you are promoted to knight, please remember to appoint us as squires!" An orphan named Youmin teased with a smile.

Hoyaz blushed and waved his hand, "No, everyone has made great contributions in Eivor, and it's hard to say who will be knighted."

"Look, not only is he brave, but Hojaz has also learned the humility that nobles are used to." It was Fourier who spoke. He put a hand on Youmin's shoulder and winked at Hojaz:
"I think the knights can't stop Hoyaz. Maybe in a few days, we will call him Baron Hoyaz!"

A chubby orphan next to him said in a thin voice, "Baron Hoyaz, Lord Baron, do you need me to accompany you?"

Lennon gently pushed him and said with a smile: "Bigo, don't be so disgusting!"

The joy of the orphans was a microcosm of the Eagle Army officers present.

They were either standing or sitting, teasing each other loudly, and constantly glancing at the side door, expecting the Earl to arrive.

As time went by, the originally lively atmosphere in the hall gradually became deserted.

Because Raven never showed up.

Not only Raven, but Eric, Hyena, and Link also did not show up.

A feeling of uneasiness began to spread in the castle.

……

The time goes back to a few hours ago, when night had just begun.

On the top platform of Eagle City, 18 flying mounts stood quietly, only one was the Wind King, and the other 1 were all ordinary horned hippogryphs.

Besides these, there are some other people gathered here.

Eric, Hyena and Link gathered together. They all had a premonition of what was going to happen next, so they didn't speak. Instead, they sat in the pavilion with their eyes closed, resting their minds and taking the time to recover their energy.

Not far to their left, there were five people standing, and they looked quite out of place together.

Because the age range is a bit large.

The youngest one looks to be in his early 20s, but the oldest is at least 30 or even 35 years old.

Usually, those who are older will always become the default leaders in a circle.

Although these five people formed a circle, the oldest one had a slightly hunched back and showed a relaxed smile with a slightly flattering look.

Because the other four are: Turo and Baido, the sons of Fili; Henchdon, the son of Cuman; and Magid, the son of Koru.

They were all sons of civil servants who were in charge of the political affairs of a fiefdom.

The oldest one was Pip, the son of the clerk Junasson.

These five people all joined the Eagle Army's Royal Guard Battalion before the Eivor War, and later made considerable contributions in Eivor's several wars. In the process, they were granted divine potions, and now they have awakened and become extraordinary.

On the right side of Eric and others, there were four people standing there.

The two of them were chatting happily, one would occasionally interject a word, while the other remained silent.

The most conspicuous one was wearing armor with the family crest. Although his every move was roughened by the army, his noble air could not be erased.

He is Raven's old friend, Moas, the youngest son of Count Jonah of Molinier Province.

The man with whom he had a very pleasant conversation was named Gran.

He was a graduate of Griffith College and came from a merchant family. After graduation, he joined the 2nd Corps of the Eagle Army and served as a military policeman responsible for enforcing military discipline.

The one who occasionally interrupted was named Beta, the son of Baron Kate of Mor, Snow Maple County. Baron Kate had pushed him in before Raven led his army to attack Eivor.

The one who listened with only one ear was named Severin. Like Grand, he graduated from a comprehensive college.

His father was a knight, but his family fell into poverty and offended the current baron, so the knighthood could not be passed down.

Not far away, there were five more people gathered together.

One person kept chattering and couldn't stop, while the other four would occasionally interject.

He was the tallest and had the longest face, so much so that even his helmet was specially customized. From a distance he looked like some kind of strange work of art. People had even forgotten his original name, and everyone would call him "Donkey Face".

Next to him is his fellow sufferer, known as "Freckles".

Because he had so many freckles, it was like he had a face made of freckles. And according to the Eagle Army soldiers who had taken a bath with him, his body was also covered with freckles.

The other two normal men looked handsome against their background.

One of them is called Hervey and the other is called Lamb. Although they are both in their early 26s or 7s, they look more mature than their actual age.

These four people are all officers from the 4st Corps of the Eagle Army.

The one who was chattering away was only as tall as their stomachs - because he was a gray dwarf.

His name is Ping Erko. Among the many gray dwarves that Raven brought down from the Bloody Highlands, he is the only one, except Sohei, who has awakened the molten fighting spirit.

But he had no interest in forging or craftsmanship. What he liked most was to smash people's heads with a big hammer. He insisted on joining the army, which made Sohei very angry. He said that he was unworthy of the blood of the gray dwarves.

Of course, apart from not liking forging, he still has many characteristics of a gray dwarf.

For example, he has two big braided beards, likes to drink, and can't stop chattering once he starts.

"I'm telling you, that woman didn't believe in my ability at first, but in the end..."

From fighting to drinking, and from drinking to bed, the four people next to him showed expressions of disbelief, but there was no disgust.

Even though this guy is a big talker, his hammer is quite powerful when he's on the battlefield.

Julia, who was further away, looked over here, curled her lips, and hid herself in deeper shadows.

Squeak.

The door opened.

Raven appeared in front of everyone wearing leather armor.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, stood up straight, faced Ryan, and saluted together:
"My Lord Count!"

Raven whistled and Xiaobai fell from the sky.

Grabbing Xiaobai's reins, Raven glanced at everyone:

"set off!"

……

Hippocrates, Binziman County.

Changzi Fort.

Torches were connected on the city walls, and there were braziers every few steps on the streets inside the castle. The entire Changzi Castle, inside and outside, was illuminated as if it were daytime.

The soldiers on the city wall were staggering, and some even fell asleep accidentally and were then awakened by the feeling of frustration.

In fact, ever since Raven returned to Nord, the atmosphere inside and outside the Castle of the Firstborn has become increasingly tense, and as Raven's journey approached Eagle City, martial law began.

It has been going on for nearly a month.

The soldiers in Changzi Fort are not iron men. Even if they work in two shifts, they are bound to accumulate fatigue and numbness in such a tense atmosphere.

Now it is midnight again, and even though the people above have repeatedly warned him, he just can't muster any energy.

when--

The big bell on the castle rang, waking up the soldiers standing on the watchtower.

"Damn it..." The soldier opened his mouth and yawned loudly. He looked outside casually and prepared to adjust his posture and take a rest.

He just closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them again, leaned his hands on the edge of the watchtower, and his body suddenly began to shake.

18 flying monsters are coming from the sky!
Now, in the entire Nord Province, the only ones capable of raising so many flying monsters, apart from the Slater family, are Griffith - the Griffith that Lord Little Flayed has been talking about for a long time!

"Enemy attack——"

Screams pierced the night sky, and the entire Changzi Castle came alive!

Little Peeler, who had been sleeping in his clothes, got up from his bed, put on his boots, strode out of the castle, and came to the edge of the castle wall on the second floor.

"What's going on?" asked Little Peeler.

His personal guard leader, Knight Dalton, said, "Raven is here... I saw his Wind King Xiaobai."

"How many people?" asked Little Peeler.

"...Except Raven, there are 18 in total." Dalton said:
"Currently, we have landed outside the castle gate."

"Ha, you can see that I have an ambush on the castle platform. Raven has quite a good eye." Little Peeler frowned, and a hint of mocking anger appeared at the corner of his mouth:

"But he only brought 18 people here. Is he crazy or am I crazy!?"

The guards at the city gate had the same idea. They all laughed out loud as they watched Raven and his group jumping off the backs of the horned hippogryph outside the city gate.

Although Changzi Fort is not a strong fortress, it is a viscount's castle after all. Do you think such a small number of people can attack the city?
A man walked out of the team and strode to the city gate. In the light of the fire, the guards on the city wall immediately recognized him.

It's Eric.

His iconic different-sized eyes are so easy to recognize.

The knight guarding the city gate shouted:

"Hello! Knight Eric, are you here to deliver a message?"

However, to his surprise, Eric did not answer, but took a deep breath.

The light on the walls was abundant, but the iron fighting spirit emanating from Eric was even more dazzling at this moment, and his martial spirit unfolded behind him at this moment.

It was a set of exquisite plate armor that looked as if it had been hammered and forged thousands of times!

He stretched out his arms, and silver-colored steel fighting spirit floated out like a cluster of dust and landed on the two city gates.

hum, hum, hum...

The city gates are shaking!
The nails embedded in the door panels jumped out one by one. With a few loud bangs, the wooden boards wrapped around the outside slammed to the ground, revealing the steel skeleton inside.

From the 5-meter-high steel skeleton, faint chains of fighting spirit extended out and wrapped around Eric's palm.

Eric suddenly clenched his fist and then pulled it back hard!
Crunch, crunch, crunch!!!
The two metal grids that were almost firmly embedded in the city wall twisted and collapsed like hemp ropes, and then, amid a burst of flying bricks and stones, they were pulled out of the city wall alive, smashed into the ground, and splashed dust all over the sky.

The knights guarding the city wall froze in place, their teeth chattering.

What kind of monster is this? How can the iron fighting spirit have such power?

Those two city gates, just one of them, weighs tens of thousands of pounds!
Eric, on the other hand, seemed to have done the most insignificant thing and returned to Raven.

The smoke and dust cleared, and Raven took a step forward and walked calmly into the gate under the protection of the other 18 people.

He raised his head slightly and his eyes fell on Little Peeler's face.

Their eyes met, and it was as if a bolt of lightning was struck in the sky!
Dalton's heart tightened.

It’s not like he hasn’t seen Raven before, but the Raven now is completely different from the one he was three years ago.

It is less humble and reserved, but more majestic and unchallengeable!

"Attacking a noble castle without authorization is tantamount to treason..."

Dalton heard the sound of Little Peeler gritting his teeth. In addition to the tension in his voice, there was also a bit of relief as if a stone had finally fallen to the ground:

"Dalton, bring your men over and kill them all!"

……

(End of this chapter)