Chapter 329 - No Banquet is a Good Banquet

Chapter 329: Chapter 84 No Banquet is a Good BanquetArriving at the main hall of the banquet, Lu Hong casually picked up some food from the table and grabbed a glass of fruit juice, enjoying it all by himself in a corner.

Little Hui caught up and plopped down next to Lu Hong, "Why did you walk so fast?"

"I don’t want to be gawked at." Glancing at Little Hui, Lu Hong said, "Do you believe that soon someone will definitely come over and try to make friends with me?"

"Obviously, you defeated Zhuang Pao, so of course people will want to get to know you, especially those young masters who were always bullied by Zhuang Pao. They see you as a mountain to lean on." Saying this, Little Hui pointed at a group of young men and women not far away, "See, those are the ones scared by Zhuang Pao."

"Ah!" Lu Hong sighed helplessly, "You can handle them for me. I’m going to hide." As soon as he finished speaking, he scooted away swiftly.

Little Hui was about to follow when a woman rushed over and grabbed her, "Sister Little Hui, is he your boyfriend?"

"Yes," Little Hui admitted, "It’s just not public yet."

"That’s great, can you introduce us to him?" The woman was somewhat excited, "He looked so cool when he stormed Zhuang Pao just now." Realizing something, she quickly added, "I mean no offense, I just think your brother-in-law is quite impressive."

"Yes, yes, we all hold your brother-in-law in high regard," others chimed in behind her.

Little Hui couldn’t help but smile, "Alright, he knows why you’ve come. He specifically asked me to tell you, should Zhuang Pao trouble you again, just use his name. If anything happens, he’ll have your back."

"Really? That’s fantastic, thank you, Sister Little Hui!"

Lu Hong escaped the scene, strolling leisurely within the manor, venturing deeper into the deserted back garden.

"Why does it feel like I’ve entered a labyrinth?" After wandering around, Lu Hong surprisingly found himself back where he started.

The manor was so peculiar that Lu Hong couldn’t help but be on guard. If his own house had an arena and the back garden a labyrinth, it was clear there were secrets not to be shared.

At that moment, the manor’s owner appeared from behind, "Lord Lu Hong."

"Are you the boss?" Lu Hong remembered him as the one who activated the protective shield.

"Hehe, my name is Jordan Qi, and I am the owner of this manor," Jordan Qi said with a smile. "Your presence here truly graces my humble dwelling!"

"You know me?" Lu Hong always felt the man knew who he was, otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to make such flattery statements.

"Of course, I know you. You are a close friend of Archbishop Jin Fu; how could I not recognize you?"

So it was tied back to Jin Fu. Lu Hong nodded, "I see that there’s something about your back garden here."

"It’s all to keep the honest people honest and deter the thieves. If someone really forced their way in, just a single fire would make this maze as good as nonexistent."

"Makes sense," Lu Hong nodded in agreement.

Jordan Qi continued, "Today, all the Earls from the eastern region are here. Do you know what for?"

"I heard it’s just a gathering."

Jordan Qi shook his head, "Yes, but no. This gathering actually covers a very important matter, the reshuffling of the Eastern Earls’ powers."

"How so?"

"There are a total of three hundred and eight Eastern Earls, divided into three main camps. The first, led by the Earl of Songfu, is the expansionist group, consisting of eighteen Earls and nearly a thousand Viscounts and Barons. They are keen on expanding their power, often joining forces in battle, invading the territories of other nobles to claim for their own."

"The second major group is the opposition faction, led by Earl Bacon and Earl Zhuang Ze, which is a coalition of thirteen Earls. They support each other in defense and resistance against Songfu’s expansionist attacks."

"As for the last group, it is the weakest, encompassing all the remaining Eastern Earls, Viscounts, and Barons."

Lu Hong was puzzled, "That’s so many people; how can they be weak?"

"Because they lack a leader, they can only huddle together for warmth. When someone is invaded by Songfu and seeks help, the others will only issue statements denouncing Songfu but will not send troops to aid, fearing bringing trouble upon themselves."

"I get it, a bunch of spineless weaklings."

Jordan Qi smiled and nodded, "Lord Lu Hong speaks sensibly."

With that, Jordan Qi extended an invitation, "Would you care to listen in on their conference?"

"You can get me in?" With nothing else to do, he might as well hear what these people were discussing.

Entering is obviously out of the question; I cannot attend their confidential meetings either, but... in this decrepit estate of mine, I naturally have my ways." Saying that, Jordan led the way: "This way, sir."

Passing through the labyrinth garden, the endpoint was a glass conservatory. After Jordan opened the secret passage, Lu Hong followed him into an underground chamber.

It was quite spacious inside, with a long table at the center.

Jordan activated magic, and at that moment, three mirrored images slowly emerged, each corresponding to the locations of the three major faction councils.

The Song Manor faction seemed to have been in session for a long time, nearing conclusion, with a group of Earls continuously circling and marking the map as if to determine the future expansion direction.

From the largest and most loosely aligned faction, there were noisy disputes. They were mostly complaints such as "Why didn’t you help me when so-and-so attacked me years ago?" or "Why didn’t you stand up for me when so-and-so humiliated me?"

Listening to this was hardly interesting; Lu Hong shook his head: "It really is like a dish of loose sand."

"Indeed." Jordan nodded: "Despite their numbers, all it takes is for someone to take the lead and command the overall situation. The Song Manor would not dare to offend them so easily, even if they are belligerent."

"That’s true." Lu Hong nodded, and then focused his attention on Earl Bacon’s camp, whose council seemed to have just started.

Earl Zhuang Ze was still worried about his son, who had just been knocked out by Lu Hong, appearing absent-minded.

Bacon took the seat at the head of the table. Had Zhuang Ze not conceded and had challenged him, Bacon would not have directly assumed the top seat. Now with Zhuang Ze’s compromise, apart from Bacon himself, who else had the power to dare to sit in this position?

"Earl Bacon, this Eagle Expedition is the time for our Eastern Alliance to prove itself. I wonder if your lordship has made arrangements to let our East make an appearance within the entire alliance, to ensure other nobles can no longer look down on us."

"Indeed," another Earl agreed: "We must also subdue those people from Song Manor while making them lose a substantial sum of money."

"But I’ve heard that most of the top fighters from the East have been recruited by Song Manor. The participants you, Earl Bacon, are dispatching to the competition seem to be small fries that Song Manor discarded?" An Earl friendly with Zhuang Ze bluntly said: "I’m afraid you, Earl Bacon, don’t seem to be holding much hope for this Eagle Expedition?"

Bacon narrowed his eyes and chuckled: "There’s no need to worry, I have already arranged everything properly. Just follow my betting in the upcoming competition, and I guarantee you’ll fill your coffers."

"And what if we lose?" the Earl pressed on: "The upcoming elections are like taking money from several Marquises and a few Dukes. Only those with timely information can make surefire profits, and having powerful contenders is the key to a secured bet. May I ask how much Earl Bacon knows about the other participants?"

"Nothing." Bacon shook his head.

"Nothing? As the leader of our thirteen Eastern Alliances, even with the upcoming turnover, you don’t seem to consider the Alliance at all. Do you still deserve to hold this position?!"

Bacon didn’t respond, only looking toward Zhuang Ze.

Zhuang Ze understood what Bacon meant and said indifferently, "Xi Lai."

Xi Lai Earl eagerly responded, "Earl Zhuang Ze, please say something."

"Follow Earl Bacon’s lead. He’s not a reckless man; otherwise, I would not have given up the position willingly last term."

"You?" Xi Lai was unaware of their deal and looked utterly shocked. Then he became flushed with embarrassment; without Zhuang Ze’s support, what he had previously said and done was no different from a clown performing antics.

"Alright, today’s most important matter is to elect the next leader of our thirteen Eastern Alliances, to lead our alliance to another twenty years of glory," said Earl Bacon. "I feel that I still have the energy to continue contributing to our thirteen Eastern Alliances."

"I concur."

"I also concur."

"Concurred."

Earl Bacon’s supporters voiced their support immediately, while the original six Earls leaning toward Zhuang Ze watched him intently, awaiting his statement.

"I..." Zhuang Ze slowly raised his right hand: "Concur!"

This? Although surprised, Zhuang Ze had stated his position, so what use was their insistence?

Having seen this, Lu Hong turned his gaze back to Jordan: "Your estate must have hosted many Alliance nobles, hasn’t it?"

"Yes, aside from the four Dukes, many Marquises also temporarily use my estate for their events."

"You must have heard quite a few secrets then."

Jordan prayed devoutly: "Everything is to serve Lord Jin Fu."