Chapter 154 The Royal Family

"The Ice Spirit Count, the Whirlwind Eagle Count, the Rhinoceros Count... truly three familiar faces."

Looking at the intelligence report in his hands, Li Ju could not help but chuckle softly.

"Tren尔, with three Counts moving against us simultaneously, it will be very difficult for our Iron Gold family to withstand them given our current strength," Rex said to Li Ju.

After Sakh stripped Rex of his title as Count, he kept Rex under house arrest within the family estate, forbidding him from moving about freely. It was only after Li Ju killed Sakh and became the new Count of Iron Gold that Rex was finally released from house arrest.

"Lord Count, three outside-surname knights have already announced their secession from the Iron Gold family's control, and the remaining outside-surname nobles are adopting a wait-and-see attitude toward this conflict. I fear that the moment our Iron Gold family suffers any defeat on the battlefield, they will collectively declare their independence from our rule," Viscount Leihu said from the side.

At this moment, Li Ju was holding a family council to discuss the impending war, so all the direct bloodline nobles of the family were present.

As for Rex, the deposed former Count of Iron Gold, he was only able to attend this family council due to Li Ju's special approval.

"Hmph, these outside-surname nobles have always been weathercocks. Back when Grand Duke Rock besieged the family, these fellows kept silent and were even prepared to secede at any moment. Now they are doing the exact same thing!" Viscount Poisonous Vine said with disdain.

Because of blood ties, these direct bloodline nobles had always been loyal to the family, whereas the outside-surname nobles adjusted their loyalty according to the circumstances. Consequently, the direct bloodline nobles always looked down upon the outside-surname nobles.

"No matter what these outside-surname nobles do, our main priority right now is to discuss a way to withstand the siege of the three Counts. As long as we can block their siege and even achieve victory in the war, these outside-surname nobles will become even more loyal to the family," a Baron nearby said.

"Alas, if the Armored Golden Dragon Lair were still ours, those three Counts would never dare to come and provoke our Iron Gold family," Viscount Leihu suddenly sighed and shook his head.

Hearing this, the other nobles present also fell into a heavy silence.

For the Iron Gold family, which had previously controlled the Armored Golden Dragon Lair, it was always a matter of them bullying other Counts; which Count would ever dare to come and provoke them?

"If it weren't for Grand Duke Rock, how could our Iron Gold family have fallen to this state today!"

"Sooner or later, our Iron Gold family will have our revenge!" A knight slammed his hand heavily onto the table.

"...It's difficult," Rex said with a bitter expression.

As the person who had personally handed over the Armored Golden Dragon Lair to Grand Duke Rock, he was the one who felt the most humiliated by Grand Duke Rock's seizure of the family's lair.

He had not failed to consider taking revenge against Grand Duke Rock in the future. However, for a ducal-level noble who stood at the very pinnacle of the kingdom, whose influence was deeply rooted throughout the entire realm, and whom even the royal family could not eradicate, how could the severely weakened Iron Gold family possibly hope to contend with Grand Duke Rock?

Even in dreams, it was impossible.

"We will discuss Grand Duke Rock's matter later."

"As for the Ice Spirit Count, the Whirlwind Eagle Count, and the Rhinoceros Count—those nobles preparing to attack our Iron Gold earldom—leave them to me to handle. You need not worry."

At this point, Li Ju, who had been sitting quietly to the side listening to the discussion without speaking, finally opened his mouth.

"What you should be doing right now is helping me gather information regarding a transcendent-grade weapon named the Topaz Sword."

Li Ju leaned back in his chair and said.

"Yes."

The various family nobles exchanged glances. Although they did not understand the meaning behind Li Ju's order, they ultimately chose to obey.

Rex looked with a complex expression at the family's direct nobles, who were being so obedient, and at Li Ju, who was currently issuing orders.

As a father, he felt completely estranged from his eldest son, Tren尔, at this moment.

When he was serving as the Count of Iron Gold, he had deeply experienced just how crafty and cunning these direct nobles of the family were. Yet now, all these old foxes were unconditionally following his son's commands...

Moreover, this same son had killed his other son not long ago, and casually killed his current wife as well...

Tren尔 was a child he had raised himself, and he knew his son's personality very well. These actions were simply not something his son Tren尔 could have done, yet this "Tren尔" had somehow done them anyway...

In his heart, he actually harbored some suspicions, but he had no desire to change anything or explore the truth; instead, he chose to maintain the status quo. Aside from being a father, he was also a member of the Iron Gold family. When the current Tren尔 possessed the ability to revitalize the family, he had no choice but to let certain things go.

As a traditional noble, the heritage of the family still came first in his heart.

With Li Ju's series of commands issued, the family council was declared over. The various direct nobles, including Rex, successively left the family conference hall.

Inside the hall, only Li Ju was left sitting alone.

"When did you discover me?"

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the hall.

"The moment you arrived."

Li Ju fished an iron box out of his pocket and retrieved a greyish-black wooden stick from it.

Crack.

A ball of flame ignited out of thin air at the tip of Li Ju's finger.

After using the flame to light the front end of the greyish-black wooden stick, Li Ju placed the back end into his mouth and took a deep drag.

Hoo.

A plume of smoke was exhaled by him.

This greyish-black wooden stick could be considered a unique kind of "cigarette" native to this world. Li Ju had stumbled upon it by chance and later found the taste quite pleasant.

"It seems I was discourteous, then."

A figure materialized before Li Ju. He appeared to be around twenty years old, with handsome features and a smiling mouth. He wore a white morning coat on his upper body, black trousers on his lower body, and a pair of boots on his feet.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ranze Spanda, a minor messenger under the Royal Court."

"Of course, I am also a court noble, the kind despised by territorial nobles like you."

Ranze said with a smile.

"With your strength, acquiring a lair and a territory to become a territorial noble is not difficult."

Li Ju glanced at Ranze and continued smoking his wooden stick.

"No, no, no. Compared to becoming a territorial noble, I am much more passionate about pledging allegiance to the Royal Court, to the royal family, to..."

Ranze wrapped his arms around himself, an expression of ecstatic intoxication appearing on his face.

"My Queen."

Ranze said softly, his expression reverent and pious.

"I have no comment on whether you suffer from a mental illness."

Li Ju exhaled a ring of smoke.

"I only want to know why the royal family sent you."

"Or rather, is the purpose of the royal family sending you..."

Li Ju leaned forward, the corner of his mouth holding the wooden stick curving upward.

"The same as what I am thinking."