Chapter 586: Chapter 586: So-Called Nobility

The Duke gazed at Calvin, who appeared as if possessed, with eyes free of emotion, only a cold scrutiny: “Foolish, do you think you can wield the power of other-planar demons? The increase in strength you feel is nothing but a toxic spirit corruption fed back to you by that creature.

It planted a seed in you, using the souls within the castle to nourish itself. When it grows to a certain extent, or when you can no longer provide enough nourishment, you will become its final, and most delicious, meal.

I destroyed it, which is equivalent to cutting out a tumor on you, in a sense, I saved your life.”

“Nonsense! You lie! That is my power! Power I worked hard to obtain!” Calvin refused to listen, the residual corrupting power within him seemed to retaliate in response to his extreme emotions, making him increasingly unstable, as he bared his teeth and claws trying to pounce at the Duke.

“Enough!” Earl Lauren shouted in anguish, ordering to the outside, “Guards! Come in! Take young master Calvin back to his room and guard him closely! Without my command, he is not to take a single step out of the door!”

Immediately, two strong guards rushed in, ignoring Calvin’s frantic struggles and curses, forcibly dragging him out of the study.

The study regained its silence, but the atmosphere was even heavier than before.

Earl Lauren seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, he slumped back into the chair, his voice hoarse: “Duke Wizard, I am embarrassed to show my face… I never expected that the cause of all this tragedy turns out to be my own son…”

The Duke calmly said, “Lord Earl, the corrupt power has already eroded his mind. Although the creature has been eliminated, the lingering effects may not completely disappear. I suggest you find a Priest from the Divine Hall of Light skilled in mental calming or purification for his long-term treatment.

Furthermore, the ritual in the castle basement can no longer be used, but the erosion from the other plane sometimes leaves undetectable marks, and any future anomalies must be immediately taken seriously.”

He paused, then continued, “As for my payment, settle it according to the contribution points agreed upon in the Knight Hall mission.”

Earl Lauren nodded quickly, “Of course, of course! Thank you again, Duke Wizard, I have one more request…”

“Please speak.” The Duke said calmly, already vaguely guessing what the other party was about to say.

Earl Lauren hesitated for a moment, lowered his voice and said, “When you go back to the Knight Hall to hand over the mission, regarding… the matter of that ritual, could you… could you leave it unmentioned?

Or, just say it was some unknown natural phenomenon or an ancient lingering curse? After all, conducting such… rituals that communicate with other planar existences, in the Seville Empire, is a very serious matter, with blurred boundaries with the actions of Evil God Cultists. Once recognized by the tribunal, the entire Lauren family might face utter annihilation…”

The Duke fell silent for a moment, fully understanding Earl Lauren’s fear.

In a country like the Seville Empire where knights and wizard powers coexist, and demands for order and loyalty are extremely high, privately conducting dangerous rituals involving other planes, especially those resulting in casualties, is indeed viewed as extremely dangerous and nearly treasonous behavior.

Severe punishments, including stripping of nobility, confiscation of property, and even execution of those involved, are not out of the question.

However, the Duke was merely a traveler visiting, he did not wish to entangle himself in potential troubles of local nobility, nor be burdened with any unnecessary risks or responsibilities.

He raised his eyes, looking calmly yet resolutely at Earl Lauren, slowly shaking his head: “I’m sorry, Lord Earl, I cannot agree to this request.”

Earl Lauren’s face went pale.

The Duke continued to explain, “I, through the Knight Hall, took on the mission, after completing the mission, I have the duty to provide a truthful and complete investigation report. Concealing critical information, especially the core root involving other planar rituals that is sensitive and dangerous, is irresponsible to the entire Seville Empire and may lead to future similar incidents not being correctly evaluated and warned.

Besides, papers can’t hide fire, the tribunal or the empire’s intelligence agencies might have other channels to know of clues.

If discovered later, and I had deliberately concealed it, it would instead land me in a passive position, even suspected of being connected to the ritual.”

He had no personal ties with Earl Lauren, there was no need to conceal on behalf of these nobles, involving himself in their matters.

Earl Lauren opened his mouth, finally nodded in despair, his face filled with bitterness.

He knew what the Duke said was true, and understood that a wizard, especially a foreign wizard, could not possibly take such a huge risk to deceive official institutions for his family.

“I… I understand, thank you, Duke Wizard, for your honesty.” Earl Lauren’s voice was somewhat dry, “I will immediately arrange for someone to accompany you to the Knight Hall to handle the payment and contribution points.”

“Thank you.” The Duke did not say much, then under the guidance of Ossen the steward, went to the Knight Hall to prepare to hand over the mission.

…

Watching the Duke’s figure fade away beyond the study door, the polite smile that Earl Lauren had been maintaining instantly crumbled, replaced by endless fatigue, pain and a trace of deeply embedded ruthlessness.

Only he remained in the study, the heavy silence pressing down to the point of suffocation.

The Duke’s words were like a cold judgment hammer, shattering his last sliver of luck.

Concealment? Impossible, a wizard, especially one from the West Coast, has no reason to bear such a great risk for the Lauren family.

Reporting the matter of the ritual truthfully to the Knight Hall was inevitable.

So, what awaits the Lauren family?

The Seville Empire severely punishes private communication with other planes, especially when it results in serious consequences.

At minimum, deprivation of nobility, confiscation of estates, leading to the ruin of a family’s century-old foundation, and at worst… being identified as an Evil God follower or degenerate, sending main family members to the stake.

Calvin, his foolish, greedy, power-blinded second son, by his selfishness, would drag the entire family into an abyss of irredeemable doom.

“No… it cannot be…” Earl Lauren murmured, his muddied eyes flashing a trace of despair, but was soon replaced by a more complex painful emotion as a family head and a father.

He couldn’t stand by and watch the family’s destruction, watch the ancestors’ glory buried in his hands.

A cold and resolute thought sprouted, growing clearly within his heart.

He slowly stood up, walked to the window, looking out at the red rocky fortress bathed in the heroic color of the sunset, which belonged to his family.

Here lay the foundation of the Lauren family’s struggles for over two hundred years.

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