Upon arriving at the Saint Grace Canon Law School base, Li Xin, who had been visiting frequently, surprisingly found the place quite nice. Compared to the Canon Law School, Hedan’s feng shui was more comfortable, and the facilities were far superior, with a more pleasant atmosphere. Of course, this was largely due to Simmons. Interesting people always made the environment better.

As soon as Li Xin arrived, everyone at the base gathered around chattering. Unbeknownst to him, Li Xin had already earned the respect and trust of everyone. In the Canon Law School, nothing was more convincing than strength, and any discontent had been exhausted in battles.

“The notary is Prince Achilles?” Li Xin was taken aback, “Are duels so grand nowadays?”

Simmons gave a wry smile, “Prince Achilles naturally loves excitement. Anthony’s matter has caused great controversy in the Cabinet, and I’ve been dragged into it.”

“After returning, the family held a special meeting. This battle only allowed for success, not failure,” Celestia said. “Those relatives probably believe Leysie is just as much a wastrel as Anthony.”

“If it were a duel with Anthony, I could manage with one hand,” Simmons said.

When effort and talent stack together, life doesn’t lie. Didia belonged to a generation of knights who were truly harsh on themselves, had talent, and carried a strong belief. People like this often received the favor of the Earth Mother Goddess while their strength improved. Simmons considered himself diligent, but in terms of faith and focus, Didia was one of the few he admired.

Usually, those like Lancer and Rock, who liked to boast, were silent as well. Boasting was enjoyable, but at times like this, talking nonsense was quite foolish. The eight Viscounts of Moncalleta weren’t achieved through boasting. They had the King’s recognition, and barring unforeseen events, they would inherit the family’s title.

If Simmons could win this battle, it would undoubtedly surprise everyone and leave a deep impression on the royal family. The family considered this a golden opportunity. Compared to leading the Canon Law School to victory in the Glory Battles, which was unlikely, this opportunity was right in front of them. The family highly recognized Simmons, given he came from the Secret Castle. However, the older generation had little regard for the Canon Law School, seeing it as a mere follower of the Knight Academy for another hundred years. In the George Family, as long as the old Count lived, he called the shots.

“Is Prince Achilles the only option for notary?” Li Xin asked.

“One is chosen by each side,” Simmons replied. Originally, he wanted his grandfather to invite someone highly influential to at least save a life. Knight duels weren’t necessarily to the death, unless it was an irresolvable feud. But Celestia said he was foolish, recalling the situation at the Ivory Bay Restaurant, and suggested there was a better notary.

“Shall I accompany you?” Li Xin asked.

“Brother Li, having you with me gives me peace of mind.” Simmons sighed in relief. He couldn’t find anyone as significant as a prince, but in the Secret Castle, Brother Li was on the same level as the prince, who also seemed to respect him.

“Rest assured, though I’m not quite at ease. If this person’s strength is similar to Zheng Shengxun’s, the chances of you being killed are high. Training starts today. Brothers, I’ll warm up with Young Master Xiong Ying first, and then spar with everyone later,” Li Xin said.

“Brother Li, you should just focus on being with the captain. We’re in no hurry,” Lancer said, still feeling sore.

“Come on, we’re all comrades in the same boat. We can’t favor some over others. Besides, aren’t you participating in the Earth Mother Goddess’ Glory Battles?” Li Xin curiously asked.

“Brother Li, don’t listen to their nonsense. These guys just need some discipline,” Celestia glared fiercely at everyone. Where would they find such a skilled person? These people were actually chickening out. Usually, they pretended to be macho men, but they couldn’t hold up when it mattered.

Celestia’s disdainful glance worked, prompting Lancer and the others to decide to give it a shot. They couldn’t let their goddess look down on them. What if Celestia ever fancied Li Xin? How could they rationalize that?

The Hex Bird Society’s Fifth Branch in the Holy Grace District recently made a fortune from the Anthony Viscount incident, with sales skyrocketing and slapping the Hedan Daily in the face. Of course, with the King’s daily announcements, the controversial matter has temporarily subsided, and everyone can peacefully await the investigation results. The King holds significant authority in the people’s hearts, and they trust that he will deliver them justice, ensuring the real culprit won’t escape punishment.

With this mindset, people finally noticed the strange stories in Hex Bird Report’s weekly edition—one being a novel with metaphorical writing, “The Tale of Utopia Mountain.” This straightforward depiction of the lower-class’s stories resonated most, especially the vengeful ones. Combining the innate sense of justice in ordinary people with Anthony’s incident, attention began to rise, even leading to a peculiar demand for purchasing back issues.

Previously, reactions weren’t as great because the public’s focus was on the Inner Demon, and the Bird Report wasn’t delivering, causing dissatisfaction. But now everything had flipped around. The Bird Report represented justice again, and “The Tale of Utopia Mountain” exploded.

The newspaper received numerous letters from readers and lots of gifts. In Lirong, it was mainly about major events and Hex-Tech news. In Hedan, people loved art, so interviews or works of famous painters and writers were published occasionally, receiving praise and gifts. But never had they seen such passionate and exaggerated responses.

The editorial department held an urgent meeting on whether to reprint the previous issue of the weekly because the price for buying that edition on the market had doubled. President Ma was anxious not to earn this money since entertainment and public relations nearly emptied the Bird Society’s funds. However, after discussions, they decided against it. Other news on the weekly was outdated and unsuitable for reprints, but as for the novel, they could publish a book once serialization reached a certain point. Watching the black market price of that edition rise, the president painfully did not earn this money.

Kristy, as the secretary, practically managed the Bird Society. Staring at a pile of gifts, she felt overwhelmed. She had seen popular reports or artists before, who might be invited by nobles and gain both fame and fortune. Some proud artists remained in control of their lifestyle despite the coverage. Most of these had already built a reputation. Li Xin’s novel was quite something, suggesting a huge hit.

Frankly, at first, she merely found it interesting and looked forward to it, not expecting such expression from the Night Patrol. But she overlooked her unique identity and task; having seen many secretive events, her thoughts were different. If she found it fun and readable, imagine the impact on regular people.

The tale of a kind, brave young man falsely accused and imprisoned in a hidden world, unable to escape. The protagonist seemed doomed; his traps went free. Despair reflected the helplessness many felt, intensifying anger and anticipation. Just then, the dungeon floor opened, revealing a mysterious old man with a hidden identity. What then?

What could the old man bring about?

The Inner Demon incident concluded as people mistook Anthony for the real culprit, awaiting the King’s trial. Involving nobles, Hedan citizens knew it wasn’t simple. The Cabinet must compete, but how to show fairness?

Coincidentally, “The Tale of Utopia Mountain” resonated with a similar situation. Could justice be returned to the protagonist?

Kristy realized the current fervor wasn’t its peak. It was just the beginning, as that weekly edition’s circulation wasn’t high, and many hadn’t heard the story yet. Once word spread, the true fervor would arrive.

The president sent reporters to conduct market research on this week’s weekly print run, unwilling to let resellers profit all. Earning would also please Count George more, reinforcing his support of the Hex Bird Report. The Bird Report needed internal support from Hedan now; though it appeared to be just a Count, he represented a certain power.

Ma Zhe was busy lately, so Kristy was tasked with handling Li Xin’s submissions since she was more familiar with Li Xin than he was.

Kristy found herself a bit embarrassed. After the last incident, she acted impulsively,

originally intending to cool the relationship for a while, but now that seemed unlikely,

Though young, Li Xin wasn’t treated as inexperienced by Kristy. A moment of inattention could lead to being manipulated by him.

Work, undoubtedly, had to proceed.

If he invited her for drinks again, should she accept or refuse?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep