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The banquet hall of Phoenix Butterfly Fort fell silent for a moment.

Everyone present was digesting the shocking news that Lady Grace had just announced.

After a while, a flurry of questions sprang from the mouths of those who had recovered:

“Are you saying the entire Fallen Eagle City has been reduced to ashes?”

“What about the residents of the city? Could they have…”

“Could this be the price you were referring to about the Forbidden Spell?”

“Has the Uman Clan gone mad? To support the St. Sean family, they set their own stronghold aflame?”

Lady Grace pushed her hands down, calming everyone, saying:

“Gentlemen, this news came from a merchant who has good relations with the Morrison Family. I have already dispatched people to Fallen Eagle City for on-the-ground inspections. It might take some time to find out exactly what happened there.”

People stopped questioning, but inevitably started speculating, whispering to each other, engaging in heated discussions.

At this time, Colin temporarily put away the surprise he had feigned and asked Vera, “Can the price of a Forbidden Spell really be transferred to the commoners of a city?”

“I…I’m not sure either.” Vera frowned, knitting her eyebrows tightly. “At least for the Forbidden Spells that I know of, the price can only be paid by the caster.”

Scholar Doan said in a deep voice, “But the one that killed Duke St. Hilde was a new Forbidden Spell. So, it’s very likely that Mr. Ji could have researched a method to transfer the side effects of a Forbidden Spell.”

“That is possible.” Vera’s face became extremely serious.

Everyone fell silent.

They had all realized that if this were true, then the status of mages and the relationship between Yevir and the Glorious Empire might be upended.

“This is an inhumane evil spell! His Majesty the Emperor will never allow such an evil spell to exist within the Glorious Empire!” Count Morrison’s voice rang out sharply.

Obviously, such a Forbidden Spell posed a great threat to every empire knight.

It could kill a Holy Knight and, of course, any knight.

And its price seemed to be only the sacrifice of some commoners.

In the past, the nobles of the empire were not too concerned about the Forbidden Spells of the mages. Although the Forbidden Spells were extremely powerful, they were, after all, means of exchanging one’s life for another’s. If the mages were not driven to a dead end, they would not risk their lives.

But if Mr. Ji really could swap a Holy Knight’s life for his own without sacrificing his life but using the lives of the commoners, even if millions of commoners’ lives were traded for one city, it would, in the eyes of the Empire’s nobles, be a terrifying thing.

Such a Forbidden Spell was like a Sword of Damocles hanging over every knight of the empire.

Colin and Scholar Doan looked at each other, sighing in their hearts at the same time.

Because, according to their previous analysis, the release of this Forbidden Spell in Fallen Eagle City was likely done with the consent of Emperor Reinhardt.

The Emperor of the Empire wanted to use this to restrain his uncle – Prince Lexie, the Holy Knight.

As for whether the Emperor’s move will backfire and cause greater trouble, that can only be left to the development of the situation.

Lady Grace patted Count Morrison’s arm, indicating that he need not be too alarmed:

“Once the situation in Fallen Eagle City has been investigated, I will also send a message to Dragon City, informing His Majesty the Emperor. I believe that His Majesty the Emperor will not allow such an evil mage to continue his atrocities within the Empire.”

Then, she looked at Colin and asked, “Viscount Angler, are you planning on escorting the Duke’s remains back to Winterfell City this time?”

Colin nodded and said, “Yes. Besides, I also plan to visit the garrison of the Golden Lion Legion and persuade them to retreat to Winterfell City to avoid the rebel army’s sharp edge.”

Lady Grace immediately frowned: “Viscount Angler, is it your idea to have the Golden Lion Legion retreat to Winterfell City?”

Before Colin could reply, Scholar Doan pre-emptively said, “Lady Grace, this is the Duke’s last order.”

“Oh? Is it?” Lady Grace asked playfully, looking at the one who used to be the Duke’s confidant.

“Yes.” Scholar Doan maintained his composure and continued to explain, “The Duke gave the order to retreat the Golden Lion Legion the moment he received the news that the Menam family had sent troops to the North Territory. But before he had a chance to issue the order, the Duke… had an unfortunate accident.”

Lady Grace seemed to doubt this, but could not refute it.

After all, the final moments of Duke St. Hilde’s life were spent in Ice Rock City, and apart from Scholar Doan and the Angler couple, no one could claim to know what the Duke was thinking at the end.

Seeing that Count Morrison seemed to want to say something, Colin took the initiative and said, “Count, I’ve heard good things about the fighting prowess of the Morrison family’s Phoenix Butterfly Army. Now that the North Territory is in a critical situation, isn’t it time to mobilize troops to quell the rebellion?”

Upon hearing Colin praising his family’s army for its “extraordinary combat capabilities”, Count Morrison blushed a bit.

The Phoenix Butterfly Army was not one of the leading forces in the North Territory. Moreover, Charles’ disastrous defeat last year had wiped out the cream of the Phoenix Butterfly Army.

Nonetheless, Count Morrison couldn’t outright refuse in front of Colin and Vera, so he put on a worried face and sighed:

“Viscount, the Morrison family is certainly willing to send troops to assist the St. Hilde family in stamping out the rebels, but this great famine has caught us off guard. Without enough food, I dare not rashly mobilize the army.”

In fact, Count Morrison was not looking for an excuse. The current famine in the North Territory was severe and sudden, and coupled with the St. Sean family raising grain prices by hoarding grain through the Tulip Chamber of Commerce, most of the lords in the North Territory are currently facing a food shortage.

Apart from the prepared rebels, only Colin, who had gone on a collecting spree in the Half-Elf Kingdom, was not worried about food.

Earlier in the year, Count Morrison had personally gone to Ice Rock City to buy grain from Colin.

Now, he was using the lack of grain as an excuse again, hoping to get more grain from Colin.

Lady Grace nodded in agreement: “Viscount Angler, the Morrison family does indeed have a severe food shortage. However, our resolve to support the St. Hilde family has never wavered.

How about this, I can promise you, if the Angler family can solve the Phoenix Butterfly Army’s food problem, this army will most definitely appear on the front lines against the rebels!”

Upon hearing this promise, Vera’s eyes lit up instantly, and she excitedly held Lady Grace’s hand, repeatedly expressing her gratitude.

However, Colin did not immediately agree.

Who knew how big the food gap of the Morrison family was? He didn’t want to risk the Angler territory falling into a food shortage by aiding them.

Besides, after Scholar Doan’s analysis, Colin had already determined the most appropriate strategic choice in the current situation—defend!

Dragging the conflict into a stalemate, dividing the vassal forces of the St. Sean family, and even trying to first elevate Vera to the position of the Northern Duke. This was the better choice.

Not actively confronting the rebels head-on.

“The Morrison family is indeed loyal to the North Territory!” Colin cheerfully flattered with a backhanded compliment, then casually suggested, “How about this, Count, you can first estimate the food needs of the Phoenix Butterfly Army, and then send someone to Ice Rock City to discuss it with my butler, Emon.”

“I’m most grateful for that!” Count Morrison excitedly clasped Colin’s hands, “The help of the Angler family, we, the Morrison family, will never forget!”

Lady Grace seemed to have seen through Colin’s perfunctory intent and did not say anything more. Instead, she took Vera’s hand and started chatting.

The old lady also did not seem to be keen on actively sending troops to fight the rebels.

Colin didn’t care, he took his wine cup and started dealing with various gentlemen and ladies who constantly came to chat.

But his mind was still on the faint scent of blood, trying to figure out its source.