Chapter 160: Anxious Manny
Manny Haydon’s mind was in turmoil.
The Haydon Clan was a family of Kingdom Viscounts, but they were now in decline. Their title carried more weight than their actual power.
As such, his status as the Viscount’s heir meant very little.
And Duane?
From the rumors circulating today, he was close with Count Kais and must have the Count’s support.
Having caught the eye of the Kennedy Clan, Black Forest Island was likely facing a major development opportunity.
Manny, who had been looked down upon since birth, was deeply afraid of powerful nobles—even this Baron before him.
Besides, Lakefront Manor had once been Duane’s home.
Manny was filled with regret. ’How could I have forgotten something like that?’
At the same time, a sense of resentment toward Harrison began to build within him.
Harrison clearly knew Duane. What he’d said earlier wasn’t a joke; it was a trap laid for him.
"Baron Duane!"
Manny stood up and bowed deeply, full of apology. "Please, forgive my impertinence!"
This sort of thing could be a major incident or a minor one.
If it was minor, an apology would suffice.
But if it escalated, the crumbling Haydon Clan might be skinned alive.
Duane replied with a hint of sarcasm:
"I am under the King’s protection. If you wish to interrogate me, I’m afraid you’ll have to seek His Majesty’s permission first."
Manny wiped the cold sweat from his brow. Duane was responding to his earlier threat to drag him to the Holy Hall for interrogation.
"You must be joking! This is all a complete misunderstanding!"
Duane didn’t want to make things too difficult for Manny, nor did he want to stir up more trouble with the new and rising Holy Radiance Court.
Doing so would only benefit Harrison.
So, he offered Manny a way out.
"The doctrines of the Holy Radiance Court are good, but their execution depends on people. If just anyone can incite you all like this, you’re only going to cause trouble for Grand Mage Clement."
As Duane spoke, he glanced up at the Light Armor Warrior, a believer, who had just accused him.
The man had turned deathly pale and was trembling, having collapsed weakly to the ground.
Manny jolted and reacted immediately.
"Guard Knights of the Holy Hall! Seize this sinner who slandered a nobleman and sowed discord between the Church Court and the Baron! Take him to the dungeons to await judgment!"
"No, no, I..."
The man was so scared his tongue was tied, unable to speak a coherent sentence.
In his mind, nobles always traveled with guards. So it had never occurred to him that Duane was a member of the Nobility.
He had only wanted to display his piety, never imagining he would be throwing his life away.
Duane stood aside, quietly watching them take the man away.
He hadn’t heard of Clement being ennobled, but it was now clear that the Holy Radiance Court had been granted the authority to interrogate criminals.
He had, however, heard from Lloyd that the King had placed his own people in the management of the Holy Light Court to better control and restrain it.
It seemed that King Eric must have granted the Holy Radiance Court powers beyond just running hospitals.
This would help to divide the policing authority in the Royal Capital, siphoning off some power from the established forces and weakening them.
Viewed this way, the Holy Radiance Court was more like the King’s newly recruited private army.
"Baron, are you satisfied with how this was handled?" Manny asked cautiously.
Duane nodded and glanced at Clear Water Lake behind him. "Let’s leave it at that. It’s just a shame my good mood was ruined."
"I’m so terribly sorry!"
Manny apologized again. As long as Duane didn’t press the issue, he’d be willing to say sorry ten thousand times.
Harrison looked Duane up and down. There was so much about him that felt unfamiliar; the two of them no longer seemed like they were of the same age.
"Black Forest Island really is a fine place. It’s even brought about such a great change in you!"
Duane snapped back to the present. Harrison’s tone was as passive-aggressive as ever.
"When I left Lakefront Manor back then, you made a special trip to see me off, wishing for my early return. I’m back now, so why do I only see disappointment on your face?"
"You’ve become more confident," Harrison remarked flatly.
To be honest, he was genuinely surprised that Duane had reappeared before him so soon.
"I want to know, why have you and Count Kais come to the Royal Capital this time?"
"You don’t know?"
Duane feigned surprise, then adopted a look of sudden understanding before continuing:
"Oh, right. His Majesty probably felt there was no need to inform the Bloom Clan."
Hearing the undisguised mockery in his tone, Harrison grew displeased.
"Duane, I didn’t expect you to not only become more confident, but arrogant as well."
He turned, mounted his horse, and prepared to leave.
Duane sized up the guards around him. "Where are Kaliya and Fell?"
He had a vague memory of those two Warriors, who had once wanted to follow his predecessor but later switched their allegiance to Harrison.
Sitting on his horse, Harrison cracked his whip hard. The steed neighed and galloped away.
Watching the dust kick up, Duane clicked his tongue.
Among the nobles he had met, Harrison and Elwin were probably the only ones with no manners.
Both of them shared a common trait: they were the sole sons of their respective families, with two or three older sisters each.
As the only male heirs, they had received immense attention and care from a young age. A lack of education in certain areas had resulted in their current personalities.
"Baron."
Manny, who had lingered nearby, spoke up with some hesitation.
"If I’m not mistaken, the two people you just mentioned... they must have died in the Secret Realm."
"What?"
Duane was incredulous. "Weren’t all the Demon Beasts in the Secret Realm eliminated?"
"While the powerful Demon Beasts were mostly wiped out by the soldiers led by your father, there are always some that get missed."
Manny explained, "A few months ago, Lord Harrison was ambushed by a Demon Beast in the Secret Realm, and several of his guards died. Since then, Earl Orlando has increased his security detail."
As he spoke, he looked at the distant figures. "Among those men, there are at least two Earth Tier Warriors. The rest are either Human Tier or Advanced."
Duane’s eyelid twitched. ’Damn,’ he thought, ’what a powerful retinue.’
’It’s a good thing we didn’t come to blows just now, or I would have definitely been the one to lose out.’
Compared to them, Duane’s foundations were still shallow.
’When I get back, I need to organize more hunts for Fire Attribute Demon Beasts. Even if it means taking a loss, I have to lay a solid foundation for the talented children.’
He wanted to recruit powerful Warriors from the outside world, but that seemed quite difficult at present. Even if he succeeded, the numbers would be very limited.
Therefore, it was essential for Black Forest Island to cultivate its own talent.
The process would be long, but it had to be done no matter what.
He tied up his fish basket, packed his fishing rod, and swung himself onto his horse, ready to leave.
Manny stood by to see him off, looking awkward. "Um, Baron, about today..."
"It was just a misunderstanding. I haven’t given it a second thought."
Duane gently squeezed his horse’s belly and departed from the shore of Clear Water Lake.
Manny let out a long sigh and wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart still pounding with fear.
’Thank goodness Baron Duane is broad-minded. If it had been anyone else, this would have been a disaster!’
It was only through the Haydon Clan’s cooperation with Grand Mage Clement that he was able to serve as the Knight Commander of the Radiant Sanctuary, under the Holy Radiance Court.
According to his father, Charlemagne, the Holy Radiance Court was likely to become a new department of the Kingdom. As one of the first to join its middle management, he would have more opportunities in the future.
Manny had no intention of losing such a promising position over something trivial.
’That Harrison... he’s just as treacherous and cunning as his father!’
Muttering curses, Manny walked back. He was determined to severely punish the one who had lied.
But just as he returned to the church, a female Priest in a white linen robe approached him.
"Knight Commander, the Lord Bishop is waiting for you in his study."
Manny’s heart skipped a beat. "The Lord Bishop is back?"
"Yes, he just returned and happened to see the believer who was brought in."
Manny immediately corrected her, "That was no believer. He is a criminal who has damaged the image of the Holy Radiance Court."
He said no more and walked toward the castle across the way, his mind heavy with worry.