Storm of Gods

Chapter 210 Brothers
News of Simmons's accident soon reached Didia's ears.

At Nasser Manor, Didia was having a gathering with a group of noble scions to send off his duel the next day. Actually, it wasn't really a duel, because everyone knew that even two Simmons wouldn't be a match for Didia. It wasn't that they all looked down on Simmons; there were only a handful of people in the entire Heldan who dared not take Simmons seriously. Unfortunately, Didia was one of them, and the most certain one at that.

The execution of Anthony caused panic among the noble circles, especially among the more reckless younger generation. Every beginning is difficult, and with the first one executed, it would be easy to control those who committed further offenses. Of course, they dared not question the king, but the matter was widely rumored to be related to that old man from the George family. He was quite old and looked like he was on his deathbed seven or eight years ago, and he still looked the same now.

Didia didn't usually have that many friends, but because of his duel with Simmons, he suddenly gained a lot of like-minded people. In the past month, his number has grown rapidly, and he has become the center of attention, making Didia the leader among the Eight Dukes.

Didia didn't seem particularly happy. When Anthony was alive, he always refused these social engagements, and his family didn't need him to do these things. But now that Anthony was dead, he had to deal with them. Even though he knew he was going to have a duel tomorrow, these people were still incredibly enthusiastic, showering him with praise. Admittedly, some were awful, but others were quite good. However, Didia wasn't interested in any of it. He knew he couldn't show a cold shoulder, so he had to get through the day. Fortunately, it was mostly others talking, and he only needed to listen with a smile.

Every now and then, someone would pass on news from Simmons to him. Most of these noblemen were good-for-nothings, but when it came to gathering information, nothing could be kept from them. Simmons had been training extra hard these past few days, which made Didia somewhat hopeful. He couldn't refute Anthony's story, but he had to defend his and his family's honor with a knightly duel. This was a tradition of the Montaletta people, and he didn't want his opponent to be a coward.

"Didia, Simmons has been taken to the hospital. I heard even Metropolitan Werner went there. Apparently, he was invaded by the Abyss. What a karmic retribution!"

"I think it's fake. What a coincidence. They're probably just trying to back down tomorrow."

"The George family are all despicable people who only know how to use underhanded tricks behind people's backs. We can't let this go!"

"Didia, if he dares to back down tomorrow, don't worry, we will definitely unite and make the George family unable to hold their heads high!"

...The crowd was instantly agitated. They genuinely loathed Simmons and the George family, especially the Hexbird newspaper from the George family. Their reporting on the Hunter's Club had directly led to the disbandment of this top-tier entertainment organization. All members were now keeping a low profile, and some had even been warned by their families.

Some time ago, one of their group's recreational activities was sabotaged by someone who smeared it, and they were seriously injured. One person's penis was crushed, and even the bishop of the Mother Goddess Church couldn't recover from it. Now, he cries as soon as he opens his eyes.

This was a joke to everyone else, but the problem was that the city guards were just going through the motions and didn't seriously investigate the murderer!
Such a serious case of attacking nobles went unpunished; in the past, this would have been considered a catastrophe.

Influenced by the king's ruling that princes are subject to the same laws as commoners, everyone is now unsure of the implications. To put it another way, it would be best if someone wanted to test the waters. Everyone is eager to try, but no one wants to be the one to do it.

It's clearly impossible for the Anthony case alone to completely change the atmosphere. These people are using the Didia and Simmons match as a starting point and a catalyst. If Didia wins tomorrow, they will start a grand celebration "event".

Didiah was unaware of these matters; he was not a member of the Hunters Club and did not care.

"Whether he fights or not, we'll know tomorrow, gentlemen. The George family is skilled in strategy, and this could very well be part of it. I also need to make some preparations. Please enjoy yourselves, Salami. Treat everyone well."

“Yes, young master,” the butler Salami said, bowing.

Didia wasn't interested in entertainment, but the rest of the Nasser family were, with Anthony being the most prominent among them. Salami, of course, knew how to satisfy these young masters and ladies, and the ladies of the pleasure club had even more elaborate entertainment options.

Didia returned to his room alone, gradually silencing the sounds that were bothering him. The duel was over, but Didia did not find the peace he expected; instead, he became even more confused. However, he forced himself not to think about it; he only wanted to be a pure knight.

On the other side, the doctor treated the three of them and then discharged them from the hospital. In fact, with the metropolitan bishop's intervention, it was just a formality. Celia only felt weak and had no other discomfort. Her personality was optimistic and positive, and she didn't care about any future troubles. She would deal with them as they happened. There was no need to worry about things that hadn't happened yet.

A carriage took Li Xin back to the inn. Simmons had originally invited Li Xin to his home, but Li Xin declined, preferring to stay at the more comfortable Carp Dragon Inn. Simply put, Simmons is Simmons, and the George family is the George family.

Inside the carriage, Celia looked at the calm Simmons. "You don't seem worried at all." "Worried? What's the use? It's already like this," Simmons said. "Don't ask so many questions. The priest said we need to rest."

Celia looked at Simmons suspiciously. "Are you hiding something from me?"

"Yes, I do. I'm thinking about women. Is that okay? What if I die tomorrow and still don't have a girlfriend? Wouldn't that be a huge loss?"

"Isn't it a bit late to realize this now? What were you doing when my friend came over?"

"What friend?"

"I mean, I wanted to introduce you to people before, and I took you to parties, but you didn't go. You missed out on so much!"

"If I survive this time, I'll change." Simmons tilted his head and looked out the window, but then his pupils contracted as he fell into memories.

After falling into the mist, he was unable to move, but his consciousness remained. He knew he was going to die, but he didn't expect to drag Li Xin down with him. Li Xin could have let go of him, but instead, he was dragged into the mist with him. According to the books he knew, once you fall into the mist, no one will survive.

But now he is actually sitting alive in the carriage.

Although he couldn't see, hear, or move, he sensed three powerful forces, all at the divine level: one from the Moon Goddess, one from the Abyss, and the other, unknown, emanating from Li Xin.

He didn't know what Li Xin wanted to do in Herdan, but it didn't matter anymore.

Even in his despair, he did not let go.

Monday, a day many people had been looking forward to. Early on, the Holy Zeal Academy had already gathered a large number of people. However, only students were allowed to enter the academy, and since Prince Akris would also be present for the duel, unauthorized personnel were not allowed to approach. Of course, this did not dampen everyone's enthusiasm, and as time went on, more and more people gathered.

Li Xin slept soundly in just his shorts. Although he had enjoyed the healing effect of the Grand Bishop, he was still quite exhausted this time and felt completely drained. He fell asleep as soon as he got back and didn't even respond to Daenerys's calls. However, he got hungry again in the middle of the night, so he got up and sneaked into the kitchen. After all, it was a place where he had struggled and shed sweat before, so he knew his way around and cooked himself a small meal. After cooking, he went back to sleep.

Inside the Church Council base, Didia had already arrived. Many people had requested to witness this yesterday, but Didia had refused. His Highness Acris did not like a crowd gathering to watch the spectacle, so the busybodies could only wait outside the base. Of course, they were allowed to enter the Church Council.

Of the eight dukes of Montaletta, Heldan held four, but the other three did not come. Regardless of the outcome, this commotion would not benefit them. On the one hand, it involved choosing sides, and on the other hand, it felt like they were carrying Didia's sedan chair. The four dukes were based in the royal city and were all representatives of old noble families, at the height of their power. While they helped each other, the competition was also fierce.

Simmons, as the landlord, arrived early. When he and Celia returned home last night, they did not see their grandfather. Simmons understood that this meant he was left to figure things out himself.

Simmons was already dressed in his aristocratic dueling uniform, with the George family's eagle embroidered on his chest and cuffs. If Daenerys were here, she would definitely be drooling. The already handsome Simmons looked like a male model in this sharp aristocratic suit.

Celia stayed by his side, but whether she could stay and watch depended on His Highness Aklis's decision.

As a commotion arose outside, Simmons knew that Didia had arrived. The students of the Holy Zeal Academy booed loudly, which sounded harsh to Didia's ears, but he had no way to refute them. Meanwhile, the Knight Academy members who supported Didia shouted at the Academy, but the Academy members didn't take it seriously. The Academy's status was simply a protective umbrella provided by the King.

(End of this chapter)