Fairy Tale: Little Red Riding Hood's Wolf Mentor

Chapter 42 The Duke's Request
The door opened, and a eunuch whom I had never seen before came in.

"Sir Special Knight, the Duke invites you."

Poro was stunned for a moment, then realized that "Special Knight" was the second-in-command's position here with the Duke, or in other words... he was the person sent to control the stronghold.

Poro glanced behind the eunuch and asked casually:

"Why isn't the special envoy coming this time?"

"The Special Envoy has something going on in his hometown, so he has to take his leave and return home."

The eunuch explained expressionlessly, and then urged, "The Duke is still waiting, please hurry!"

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to the other two people in the room:
"His Excellency the Duke has specifically instructed that your entourage must also go with him."

"Okay, excuse me, friend. We need to get ready."

Only after the eunuch left did Poro's expression return to calm.

He turned and looked at Lake and Hans and said:

"I think the envoy is dead. The Duke still invited us over this time. It could be a so-called 'reward,' but it could also be a Hongmen Banquet."

"That envoy...is dead?"

Hans put down the bottle in his hand and asked with some confusion.

"Ah, I guess."

Poro didn't say much, but Lake guessed how he knew it.

[Circular Return: Lucky Hans: The Luck of Losses]

[Unsealing Ceremony Completion Progress 5/6]

[Completed: Whetstone, Goose, Pig, Cow, Horse]

He smiled and handed me a knife. I cut off my own flesh and blood to satisfy the devil's appetite. Perhaps, for someone like me, seven years of life is no different from an ant in their eyes!

……

The Duke's Mansion was huge, with a banquet hall, exquisite walls, and a mahogany door. Guards in golden armor stood expressionlessly in front of it.

They looked at each other, and then Poro walked forward and pushed open the wooden door.

A eunuch led the Poros to sit at the lower seats of the long dining table, then left.

Above the head, a golden carved chandelier hangs high.

The golden-red candlelight swayed slowly, casting luxurious light and shadow.

The Duke sat at the head of the table.

At his side was the gray-haired Red Witch.

There were also many other retainers and confidants who were also sitting silently on both sides, looking at the three people who came in!
"Welcome back, you're doing great over there in the village."

The Duke smiled and waved his hand, and a guard next to him brought a plate with a lot of money on it.

"Please accept these things. I never mistreat those who are loyal to me."

The Duke said, glancing meaningfully at the Poro, and then continued, "My envoy resigned last night, and I am very sad. Now I need someone. What do you think?"

"Thank you, Your Excellency the Duke. I will do my best to live up to your trust!"

Poro was stunned, but he had already made a plan, and his face showed extremely sincere gratitude.

"Ah."

The Duke nodded with satisfaction and finally moved his gaze to Lake who was next to Poro.

The bright red cloak attracted the Duke's attention.

Magic equipment?
The Duke swallowed unconsciously.

Rumor has it that the kingdom's new queen possesses a magical artifact...

"Wouldn't you like to introduce me to these two followers you brought with you?"

Poro had already made a plan for this, and he began to introduce:

"These two came to our stronghold a few months ago and took refuge there. They killed countless people and slaughtered an entire village. They are very skilled fighters. After they became bandits, I took them in as my subordinates."

"Well, not bad, they are all talented!"

The Duke did not look at Hans, but even if he had he would not have recognized him.

Countless civilians have died at his hands, and countless people have been exploited as laborers.

Not to mention... Hans's less-than-perfect lifestyle after returning home has completely changed him from the way he was a few years ago! "Then... you don't have to go back to the village anymore. Stay and work in the mansion."

The Duke said calmly.

"Thank you, Your Excellency the Duke!"

The Poro looked grateful again.

"Then... your two subordinates don't need to follow you anymore. I will entrust them with important tasks." The Duke continued.

"what?"

Poro really didn't expect this, but the Duke didn't notice his daze. Instead, he stared at Lake and Hans, waiting for them to thank him.

However, in Lakehans's opinion, the Duke's meaning was almost the same as "reward".

So they just paused for a moment, and then said one after another:
"Thank you, Your Excellency the Duke."

The Duke picked up the red wine glass on the table, shook it slowly, raised it slightly towards the Poros, and then drank it all in one gulp.

After prior preparation, the Poros also picked up the wine in front of them and toasted back.

However, after drinking, the Duke raised his hand again.

A eunuch brought another plate with several stacks of silver coins on it and placed it in front of Lake alone.

"Your Excellency, what does this mean?"

Lake did not take the plate. She also understood that a villain like the Duke would never give away money for no reason.

"The cloak you are wearing must be a magical item, right?"

The Duke was not angry, but showed concern. "You work for me, so you don't need things like this. It would be bad if they got dirty. Of course, I have no intention of spying on you. I'm just helping you keep a few."

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency the Duke."

Upon hearing this, Lake decisively shook her head and refused, "This cloak was given to me by my only relative. I can't give it to you!"

"Why? I'm a high-ranking duke of a country, how could I covet your wealth?!"

The Duke's expression instantly darkened. "I, a criminal like you, will not care about your past and give you a high position! You are unwilling to lend me your belongings just to take a look?"

In an instant, several guards around drew their swords!
The clanging sound never stops!
Beside them, Hans and Poro also looked gloomy.

This time, the Duke's Mansion is too big and there are many innocent people, so... taking the same poisoning approach as in the cottage is obviously not an option!
Although there is a proposal to take action during the meeting, that is only the last resort!
It is not a rational idea to directly assassinate a country's grand duke.

But sometimes, plans cannot keep up with changes!

"I don't want to!"

Lake stood up and pushed the plate in front of her to the ground. "People like you don't even have the qualifications to touch my cloak!"

"you--"

The Duke obviously did not expect that the cloaked girl in front of him would dare to speak to him like this in the depths of the Duke's Mansion, which was heavily guarded!

For a moment, he was so angry that he was shaking all over!

"presumptuous!"

The Duke shouted, raised his hand and pointed at Lake, "Come here! Give me this lowly thing——"

The candlelight, the golden and red light, flickered in the banquet, and the atmosphere in the whole place suddenly froze.

The silver dishes, swords and knives reflected the scorching glow!

However, before the Duke finished speaking, a shrill sound came from above, interrupting everyone's tense thoughts!

"Crack—sizzle—"

The noise of metal tearing!
A shocking change that no one present had expected happened!

The huge chandelier on the dome suddenly broke apart at the connection with the ceiling, and fell down with flickering flames!

The target is exactly the top of the Duke’s head!

"Bang!!!"

With a loud bang, the huge and heavy golden chandelier fell right on the Duke's head!

In just a moment, the Duke's fat head exploded like a watermelon!
Blood and white brains instantly splattered all over the dining table!

The whole audience fell silent.

(End of this chapter)