The Survival Rules of NPCs

Chapter 7: The Banquet!

Allen Wood was the Minister of the Interior for the third lord of Holy Stone City. He led the miners to explore the forest mines and unearthed ores containing extraordinary magical power, which revitalized the economy of this remote town. He also persuaded the lord to change the city's name, successfully attracting a large investment from the Milan Dirne Bank. This caused the value of Holy Stone City to increase rapidly in just a few decades. He was loved by the people and praised by the local nobles and merchants. His reputation was arguably much greater than that of the two previous lords.

Logically, it would be inappropriate to hold a banquet after the city lord had just been assassinated. However, the reason for holding the banquet was that Gina Wood, the eldest granddaughter of the Wood family, was holding her coming-of-age ceremony. Many nobles from other places had been invited to the banquet half a month ago, so it was understandable that the banquet was not canceled easily.

The banquet was held in the most famous clubhouse hall in the noble district. Unlike the northern nobles who like to build fortresses and hold all banquets inside fortresses, southern nobles prefer to build large cities, and the noble groups prefer to designate a villa area in the city to live in.

"Hasn't Lady Eliza arrived yet?"

In the clubhouse hall, the city's well-known noblewomen had already come to join in the fun. Compared to the men who were busy with politics or business, the noblewomen were more enthusiastic about banquets and socializing. Moreover, the purpose of this banquet was for the Wood family to showcase their jewel. No family in Holy Stone City did not want to marry into the Wood family, so the noblewomen naturally wanted to come early to win the favor of Miss Gina.

"How could she possibly be in the mood to come here?" A plump, brown-haired noblewoman covered her mouth and said, "I heard that Lord Martin's condition is very bad this time, and he might..."

"Really?" Another tall woman in a blue dress quickly interjected, "Didn't news just come out yesterday that Lord Martin was out of danger?"

"Whether someone is out of danger or not isn't something you can just say," another noblewoman said quietly. "From yesterday until now, no one has left the city lord's manor. None of the doctors who were temporarily summoned to the city lord's manor have been able to go home. Their families have been anxiously inquiring outside the manor since this morning. If they are truly out of danger, shouldn't they at least be allowed to go back and let their families know they are safe?"

"Mrs. Wright makes a good point." The group nodded in agreement, all vaguely speculating that the Luther family was small in number this generation, with only two heirs. After Martin Luther was confirmed as the heir to the title, his second son, Lance Luther, answered the king's call and went to conquer the New World in the south.

One is enjoying a life of luxury at home, while the other is going to the New World to risk his life to expand his territory. Their treatment is worlds apart. Once it is known that Luther is in trouble, Lance Luther can immediately apply to the Empire to return to inherit the title, while Eliza, the childless bride, will likely get nothing at all.

Rumors were swirling among the noblewomen, and the men were also quite agitated.

Almost all the nobles, high and low, from across the city attended the banquet, including the Knight Commander Orland, responsible for the city's overall security; the Finance Minister Ace; the Chief Judge Osric; the Prosecutor Lady; the Chamber of Commerce Chief Elvis; the branch manager of the Miranda Bank, Isidor, and many others...

Of course, there were also some nobles from outside Holy Stone City who were invited by Allen, but most of them were women. After all, it was a coming-of-age ceremony for the women of the family, and such banquets from afar were usually attended only by noblewomen with their young relatives.

During this banquet, several important figures who held power in the upper echelons of Holy Stone City were also testing each other. Although they were not as gossipy and gloating as the women, they were also very concerned about the situation of Martin Luther, the heir to the city lord.

At this moment, Gina, the hostess of the banquet, with her beautiful sapphire eyes, was choosing the final headdress, while Alan Wood, who was over seventy years old, looked at his precious granddaughter with a loving expression.

"Grandpa, why are all those people so concerned about the city lord's situation? It's one thing for women to gossip, but I heard from the servants that several important elders are also discussing this matter."

"Of course they're concerned..." Allen said with a wry smile. "The New World is fraught with danger. In recent years, many adventurous nobles have died there. Whether Lance Luther can return is completely unknown. If his successor, Martin Luther, doesn't make it through, and Lance is uncertain whether he can return, then the question of who will be the lord of Holy Stone City is the biggest prize right now."

"This city is small, but there are quite a few nobles who are eligible to inherit the lordship. The finance minister, the prosecutor, and even that knight commander are all viscounts, and theoretically they are all eligible to inherit."

"Then Grandpa, don't you have the best chance?" Gina asked excitedly. "After all, this city's current prosperity is all thanks to you, Grandpa. Your reputation far surpasses that of those outsiders."

Allen stroked his granddaughter's naturally milky-white hair affectionately and sighed, "The pursuit of power is never about reputation, but about strength. To inherit this place, I must gain the support of those above me, so I've always tried to establish connections with them, but..."

"Why don't you contact me?" Gina asked curiously.

Grandpa has connections with the head of the main bank in Milan, and is also favored by several marquises. Shouldn't we take advantage of these connections at this time?

"Because someone is watching." Allen looked out the window and said quietly, "You're still young and don't understand the dark side of power struggles. The city lord was assassinated, and anyone could be the murderer. In addition, there seems to be a cult organization lurking in the city. If my letter carries my official seal and fails to be delivered safely, it could very well become evidence of collusion with the cult in the hands of the prosecutor."

"Huh?" Gina was taken aback. "Tampering with the seal's letter? That's insane!"

"In the pursuit of power, few remain unperturbed," Allen said, his eyes already clouded. "And if we do nothing, I have a feeling something terrible will happen!"

"So Grandpa wants to choose the messenger from among those younger relatives who are from out of town?"

"This is the only way..." Allen took a deep breath. Actually, it wasn't safe. Lady was a crazy and intelligent man. He should have been able to anticipate his thoughts. He might not hesitate to target those foreign noble children, but now... it seemed that he had no other options.

Just then, there was a rapid knocking on the door.

"Master, Lady Eliza has arrived!"

"Oh?" Allen's spirits lifted upon hearing this, while Gina frowned beside him. "Grandpa, Lady Eliza has arrived. Does that mean the City Lord is alright?"

"Not necessarily..." Allen shook his head, but his previously furrowed brows relaxed slightly. Lady Eliza's attendance at the banquet didn't mean Martin Luther was out of danger, but at least her presence showed her willingness to persevere. If that was certain, perhaps they could persuade the Knight Commander to lend a hand, perhaps...

"I'll go check first. Don't linger too long; the main character tonight needs to make an appearance as soon as possible."

"I understand, Grandpa."

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"Madam, how are you?"

Knight Wilson, who was following behind Lady Elizabeth, approached and asked with concern.

"It's alright..." Eliza forced a smile, but the cold sweat on her forehead clearly betrayed her mental state, causing the knight behind her and her niece to show worried expressions.

Eliza took a deep breath, forcing herself to endure the strange sensations in her body. From the moment she approached the club, she felt as if something was crawling out of many parts of her body. Recalling the night her husband had been tearing at those crawling things, tearing her body apart and causing blood and flesh to fly everywhere, she suddenly shuddered.

I just hope it's just an illusion.

Upon entering the club, countless eyes turned to her. In an instant, she became even more eye-catching than the main character of the banquet. She used to enjoy this kind of attention-grabbing, but this time she really didn't want others to pay so much attention to her, because it made her, who was inexplicably itchy inside, even more afraid to move.

Many people politely greeted the once-glorious city lord's wife, while secretly wondering whether she was putting on a brave face or whether Martin Luther was truly out of danger.

Eliza forced herself to endure the increasingly uncomfortable sensations in her body and greeted many wealthy ladies and socialites. However, no matter how strong her inner strength was, her discomfort still attracted the attention of some observant people.

"Mrs. Eliza?" A voice as smooth as velvet rang out, and Eliza forced herself to look over. It was the star of the banquet, the jewel of the Wood family: Gina Wood.

"The ball is about to begin. You seem to be feeling unwell. Would you like to rest in the lounge?"

Eliza looked at the other girl, who was like a rose that had not yet fully bloomed. She was as beautiful as Eliza herself, yet she also had the naivety that was unique to her age. Her caring inquiry was so tender that it was impossible not to refuse.

Even the worldly-wise Eliza could still see a cunning glint in the other person's eyes.

Not even a single gardener has been released from the city lord's manor, and rumors have already spread. If I really go to the lounge, I believe some rumors will quickly expand tomorrow, and that prosecutor will probably come to visit me in person.

These tender flowers, though not yet in bloom, already have thorns.

Eliza forced a smile: "It's nothing, I just feel a little cold."

"Is that so?" Gina smiled sweetly. "The ball is about to begin. With Lady Eliza's reputation, I'm sure many people will invite you to dance. You'll be very popular soon. I'm really looking forward to your Swan Dance, Madam."

"The Minister of the Interior's granddaughter, her words are as sweet as honey," Eliza said with a smile. "I wonder which gentleman might invite you to dance?"

Gina immediately lowered her head shyly, while Eliza's smile twitched as more and more things emerged from her body.

As they were talking, the music for the ball began, and the young men dressed as gentlemen started trying to invite dance partners. Naturally, the first to be invited were the older ladies. At this moment, Eliza looked up and saw a thin young man walking quickly toward her. Upon seeing this young man, many of the young men who wanted to invite Eliza stopped in their tracks.

Eliza immediately recognized the man as Will, the knight nephew of Prosecutor Lady.

This seemingly frail young man was quite famous in the noble circles of Milandil. Despite his frail appearance, he was a brave and fierce fighter who had challenged his rivals to duels many times and had never lost!

Although the Rhine Empire is a southern country, it shares the same fierce and combative spirit as the northern countries. At a ball, if two men invite a woman to dance, and the woman has not made a clear choice, the competition for her dance partner can be resolved through a duel.

This is also a way for many young people to show their strength, and it is highly encouraged by the nobles in the Rhine Empire where martial arts are prevalent.

As the frail young man approached step by step, Eliza finally felt nervous. She hadn't expected this. After all, she was already a married noblewoman, and the young man's invitation was merely a matter of etiquette. It was a ball tradition, and few people would actually duel for her. But Will's reputation made many young men hesitant to take the risk. After all, it would be unwise to duel that madman Will for a married noblewoman.

But she couldn't believe that the prosecutor's nephew had no ulterior motives in inviting her to dance; her physical condition was most likely... impossible to hide!

"Ms. Eliza, would you have the honor of dancing with me?"

Just as she was in despair, Eliza suddenly heard two voices inviting her.

Looking up in surprise, he immediately saw a handsome brown-haired boy blocking his way.

The boy, dressed as a knight's squire, was thin and frail, but handsome and refined, far superior to Will's thin and gloomy appearance. His bright, toothy smile, in particular, made Eliza, who was used to seeing handsome men, feel a flutter in her heart. She hadn't seen such a pure and sunny smile in a long time. He looked at her... as if she were looking at a shining treasure, his eyes full of light.

Heh...interesting...

The many young people watching immediately perked up. Someone actually dared to compete with Will, this madman, for a dance partner. They had quite the nerve. This was going to be interesting.

"Hey, you skinny little chick up there," Will said gruffly, "Get out of my way right now. If you delay my invitation to the beautiful Lady of the City, I'll make you swallow your teeth!"

Upon hearing this, the brown-haired boy slowly turned around, his eyes filled with hostility. Where did this curly-haired baboon come from? How dare it block his path to wealth?

Mr. Bright said that winning over this city lord's wife would bring a reward of more than a thousand gold dollars. Today, even if that knight commander dared to compete with him for the right to dance, he would beat him to a pulp!