Chapter 240 - 17: Engagement (Part 2)
Chapter 240: Chapter 17: Engagement (Part 2)
Take Marshal Grantham, for example. He genuinely clawed his way into the kingdom’s high command through battlefield merit. But what earned him the most resentment was that, in creating his own faction, he forged a new shortcut to high nobility.
This was unacceptable to all the old noble families of the Frank Kingdom, including Marquis Oscillate.
"Young Jeffrey, come and meet your future friend." Viscount Viduo pulled Viscount Jeffrey forward from behind him.
"Robson, we meet again," Jeffrey said with a smile, looking at Robson.
"How about a hug?" Robson asked, opening his arms.
Viscount Viduo hadn’t expected their relationship to have progressed this far. He simply smiled and nodded.
Jeffrey wasn’t particularly favored within the Edward family; Marquis Oscillate himself usually forgot he even had such a descendant.
Viscount Viduo, on the other hand, had always seen potential in Viscount Jeffrey. Viduo had gone to great lengths to help him secure his title, and he naturally hoped for a more stable future for the young man.
It was Baron Otto’s first time visiting Marquis Oscillate’s estate. He wasn’t like Robson. In his previous life, Robson had seen countless skyscrapers; in his eyes, no matter how magnificent the Edward estate was, it couldn’t compare to the grandeur of the Forbidden City.
But Baron Otto was different. This was the first time he had ever seen such a magnificent estate.
"Sir Otto, I’ve long heard of your great name. Please, come in. The Patriarch has been waiting." Viscount Viduo was the first to salute Baron Otto. His etiquette was meticulous. Calling him "Sir" instead of "Baron," and referring to Marquis Oscillate as "the Patriarch" instead of "the Marquis"—these subtleties revealed the purpose of their visit.
...
Led by Viscount Viduo, Robson arrived at a garden within the estate. It was currently filled with nobles engaged in discussion and conversation.
A single glance told Robson the origin of all the carriages outside the gates.
Just as Robson was about to step inside, he suddenly sensed a presence materialize behind him. In an instant, a cold sweat broke out across his back.
He had been a bit relaxed lately, but it was impossible for him to feel nothing at all. ’If this were the battlefield,’ he thought, ’I’d already be in grave danger.’
"Grandfather, you’re here." Just as Robson was wondering, Valentino curtsied to the person behind him.
At once, the nobles chatting and laughing throughout the garden fell silent, their gazes turning in unison to the space behind Robson.
Robson instantly understood. He turned to offer a salute but was stopped by an unseen force.
"We’re all family here. There’s no need for such formalities. Relax." Marquis Oscillate smiled and nodded. He was surprised that Robson had actually been able to sense his presence.
After all, though Marquis Oscillate was only at the Golden Eighth Tier, he had specialized in the Qi Concealment Technique.
This was related to the Marquis’s experiences in his youth; he had always been a cautious man.
"Has everyone arrived?" Marquis Oscillate asked, looking toward Viscount Viduo.
"Essentially everyone who will be heading to the Eastern Front is here."
Hearing Viscount Viduo’s reply, Marquis Oscillate nodded and then turned his gaze to Robson.
"I’ve had a look. They’re all young people, and you youngsters have your own things to talk about...
You’ve met Jeffrey, I presume? The boy isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. In the future, I’ll need you to look after him," Oscillate said with a chuckle.
Robson now understood. Marquis Oscillate was here to personally back him up.
These people were likely all the southern nobles who would be accompanying him to the Elysian Province.
Although Jeffrey had already ceded his leadership, and the Elysian Province would most likely be under Robson’s command, the other minor nobles were not yet aware of this. Viscount Jeffrey still had the blood of the Edward family in his veins, and it was possible someone might try to use him to stir up trouble in the future.
Now, with Marquis Oscillate stepping forward, he had directly eliminated that possibility. The Marquis himself had officially declared that Viscount Jeffrey would be following Robson from now on, to say nothing of the others.
"My Lord, you are too kind. It is what I ought to do," Robson said.
"And now, you can change how you address me..."
After saying this, Marquis Oscillate turned to look at Baron Otto.
"Sir Otto, it’s been a long time since the battle of Sligov," Marquis Oscillate said with a smile to Baron Otto.
Clearly, Marquis Oscillate had sifted through his memories and pinpointed the exact occasion of his meeting with Baron Otto.
This was hardly a difficult task; the Edward family had a dedicated system for such things.
Baron Otto, for his part, was surprised the Marquis still remembered the events of that year.
"Marquis..."
Baron Otto had just begun to salute when Marquis Oscillate stopped him.
"We’re old friends, and we’ll be family in the future. No need for that.
What do you say? We old bones shouldn’t disturb the young folk. Shall we go upstairs for a drink or two?" Marquis Oscillate said with a laugh.
...
Once Marquis Oscillate and Baron Otto had departed, the garden erupted in conversation once more.
A crowd of noble lords surged forward to greet Robson and Valentino.
No one there was a fool; they all understood the implications of what Marquis Oscillate had just said.
Since the Marquis had made his stance clear, they naturally fell in line.
This was no small matter. In the future, they would all be living under the threat of the Beastmen’s blades.
Setting aside long-term concerns, considering the current situation on the Eastern Front, their potential future fiefdoms were still in the hands of the Beastmen.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Viscount Robson was bound to have a place in the Supreme Command Department for the Eastern Front campaign. While the Beastmen would certainly be driven out, the extent of their expulsion and other minor details still needed to be considered.
If they could build a good relationship with Robson now, things would certainly be much easier for them in these matters down the line.
To everyone’s relief, although the young Viscount Robson was young, he lacked the typical arrogance and rebelliousness of youth.
On the contrary, as the crowd greeted him and tried to build connections, Robson displayed a maturity that belied his age.
For the assembled nobles, this was undoubtedly welcome news. After all, they might soon have to rally around Lord Robson. If Robson were an arrogant Warrior, the entire Elysian Province could descend into chaos.
Robson had expected to spend the day awash in flattery and claims of bizarre family connections. He never thought he would see a familiar figure in the crowd.
"Hey! Robson...
Oh, good heavens... by the Lord of Dawn, I can’t believe how much you’ve changed." It was Knight Ed, who in a few days would be called Baron Ed.
Ed looked at Robson, still in a bit of a daze. There was a time when Robson needed his help to get out of trouble.
He never imagined that in less than a year, he would go from being a Count’s eldest son to a newly-minted pioneer noble, while his friend had won the hand of a beautiful lady.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t envious, but for Ed, his well-wishes for his friend outweighed any jealousy.
Robson hadn’t expected to run into his old friend here. He smiled and gave Knight Ed a hug.
"I didn’t expect to see you here! What about you? Are you heading to the Elysian Province as well?"
Robson was still fond of Knight Ed.
Back when Robson was at Sunset Fortress, Knight Ed had been a great help in allowing him to raise his own army.
Robson prided himself on his ability to judge character, and in his eyes, Knight Ed was a friend worth having.
Even setting all that aside, Knight Ed was the first true friend Robson had made since arriving in this world—even if that friend didn’t always seem the most reliable.
"Of course! Wherever the Beastmen are, that’s where I’ll be!" Knight Ed’s voice was filled with conviction. It was clear the death of Count Offman had left an unforgettable mark on him.
"Of course," Robson nodded. "Wherever the Beastmen are, that’s where we’ll be."