Translator: Cinder Translations
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Under Stanford's arrangement, Alvey and his guard Marek boarded a mail ship heading to the Northwest Bay. A team would escort them to Alden Town.
Having always lived inland, the two were amazed by the large ship that could sail without rowers. Alvey, with his scholarly curiosity, asked the sailors in detail about the principles of sailing. There was nothing secretive about it, and the crew, fond of the distinguished yet amiable old man, shared everything they knew.
After several days of sailing, the mail ship arrived at Frand Port. Alvey, stepping onto the dock, was stunned by the bustling scene. The more knowledgeable one is, the more they rely on existing knowledge to observe and understand the world. In Alvey's previous geographical knowledge, the Northwest Bay was a primitive, backward, and isolated place. However, what he saw with his own eyes was completely inconsistent with the records in books.
When they arrived at Alden Town, a grand wedding was taking place.
Paul and Catherine, the two families of Grayman and Rodney, the lords of the Northwest, and the royal family of Crystal Glare, formed a stronger and more reliable bond on this day.
The team sent by Stanford not only protected Alvey but also represented Stanford and the Northern Three Territories to present gifts and sincere blessings to the lord's grand wedding.
The lord's mansion in Alden Town was freshly painted, blending luxury and solemnity, showcasing the glory and status of the only marquis in the Aldor Kingdom. The newlyweds took a carriage from here to the church in Alden Town, where they held their formal wedding ceremony.
Under the towering vault of Alden Town Cathedral, colorful light filtered through stained glass windows, illuminating the ornately decorated altar. Catherine wore a silk gown embroidered with gold thread, a jeweled crown, and held a bouquet of lilies symbolizing purity. Paul, dressed in a splendid robe embroidered with his family crest, wore a finely decorated knight's sword at his waist. Hand in hand, they walked slowly to the front of the altar, where Bishop Leonard presided over their marriage.
The guests, dressed in fine clothes and adorned with jewelry, whispered to each other. The air was filled with the fragrance of spices and flowers, and solemn prayers echoed in the church. After the ceremony, the guests moved to the grand hall of the lord's mansion for a lavish banquet. The tables were filled with delicious dishes and exquisite desserts. Musicians played melodious tunes, and dancers performed gracefully. The celebration would last for several days, full of luxury and joy.
Among the wedding guests, the highest-ranking was Rodney XVIII of the Aldor Kingdom. His last visit to the Northwest Bay was under the orders of the previous king, Rodney. Now, revisiting as the king, the development speed of the Northwest Bay was beyond anyone's imagination. In just a few years, it had become unrecognizable to Rodney XVIII.
The representatives sent by Stanford requested a private meeting with the lord, which was granted. They met Paul Grayman, who had not yet changed out of his wedding attire.
They conveyed the blessings of the military and political leaders of the Northern Territories for Paul's wedding and then explained about Alvey.
"This is quite unexpected, someone from the Gabella Scholars' Tower?" Paul recalled many years ago, a scholar named Mond Landon, also from the Scholars' Tower, came to the Northwest Bay demanding a youth involved in a riot. As a condition, Mond promised to recommend his classmates to work in Alden. Indeed, several scholars came later, playing a significant role in Alden's talent-starved environment.
Unexpectedly, the second-in-command of the Scholars' Tower had also come to him.
Paul called his attendant and instructed, "Ensure the safety of Master Alvey. I will meet him as soon as possible."
The next afternoon, Alvey was invited into the lord's mansion and met Paul Grayman in the reception room.
"I can see, Lord Grayman, that you had a wonderful night!"
Although Alvey was over fifty, he was spirited and elegant, his words both appropriate and witty.
Paul, radiant and rosy-cheeked, had just completed a significant phase in his life with Catherine, and both had grown a lot.
The young marquis smiled slightly and gestured towards the sofa, "Please sit, Master Alvey."
After both were seated, Paul said, "I have heard about your deeds. As an Aldorian, or rather, as a human, I greatly admire your stance for the greater good of humanity. If only human nations could unite to eliminate the orcs! Unfortunately, reality always brings various issues that make us wary or even conflict with each other, giving those bandits the chance to plunder the poor civilians. By the way, do you have anything to add regarding the new Gabella emperor and the orcs?"
Alvey nodded, "Recently, I have delved into the many miraculous events that have occurred in the Northwest Bay and Aldor over the past few years. I have a faint feeling that you—Marquis Paul Grayman—are the driving force behind these events, or perhaps the core of the vortex would be a more appropriate metaphor."
Paul raised an eyebrow, both surprised and somewhat proud, "You flatter me, Scholar Alvey. The true driving force is the multitude living on this land. I merely go with the flow."
Alvey smiled slightly, "Because of all this, after coming to Aldor, I did not seek out your king but came to you—Marquis Grayman. I believe only you have the ability to solve the crisis we face now. Let's return to the topic. Regarding Gabella Emperor Antonio Griffin, it's not as simple as you know."
"Oh? Please elaborate!"
"The direct origin of the orc invasion suffered by Aldor was the collusion between the Gabella emperor and the orc chieftain. This collusion was at the expense of Aldor. The emperor activated his spies within the kingdom, and with their covert cooperation, the orcs' attack was so successful that they took over the entire northeastern territory of the kingdom."
"In fact, Gabella had the strength to defeat the orcs. The emperor was in such a hurry to collude that he even activated his long-hidden spies because, having just seized power, his foundation was not stable. There were many within Gabella who opposed him, and he had to free his hands to deal with them first."
Paul asked, "Could it be... that his rise to power was not entirely legitimate?"
Alvey confirmed, "Yes!"
(End of the Chapter)
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