Chapter 128

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Protagonist:

Lin En

Lena

On the third day after Lin En's return, the Upper City Council convened a special session.

Saint Galus Castle Hall.

Ordinarily this place was a stage for nobles to vie for power and profit, yet today the vast hall was so quiet one could hear breathing.

The hall was packed to capacity.

Not a single Patriarch of the Twelve Star Families was absent; the rear observation benches were jammed tight, and the lesser nobles held their breath and stilled their voices.

Eyes darted away, none daring to look at that solitary empty chair directly below the seat of honor.

That was the Governor's seat.

Everyone was waiting for the one who had crawled back from the corpse mountains and blood seas of the Forbidden Wall, who had slain the Big Boss of the Green Skin Twin War Gang.

Who had subdued the Ice Plains wildmen, and was worshipped by the myriad peoples as the Emperor's Chosen.

Keli Feng.

The heavy alloy door was pushed open, and Lin En stepped in right on time.

He wore the Governor's Uniform, a White Beast Fur Cape draped over his shoulders.

Lin En did not look at anyone; he walked straight to that vacant seat, raised a hand to flip the cape, and settled into it with composure.

The movement was unhurried, yet the moment he sat the pressure in the entire hall sank another three degrees.

The meeting formally began.

The first half was just as boring as ever.

Not until the agenda was past the halfway mark did Lin En finally lift his gaze.

"Everyone, this Governor intends to launch an expedition against Dolido, to thoroughly resolve the Green Skin trouble."

As his voice fell, the hall fell utterly silent.

Dolido, the beastmen's old nest, and also a sharp sword hanging over Brevis's head.

Everyone knew the Green Skins were a heart-and-belly affliction, yet no one dared speak of an expedition—

that meant burning money and spilling blood, meant the nobles would have to pull real gold and silver from their own purses.

Lin En's gaze swept the room, his tone flat:

"But an expedition requires resources; ships must be repaired, soldiers fed, cannons forged — every single item depends on your support."

"So I asked everyone here today to discuss just how much each of you can contribute."

The whole room went quiet for a few seconds.

The nobles exchanged glances in rapid succession.

In those eyes were fear of Lin En's battle record, hesitation at parting with their lifeblood, and a lucky hope buried deep down.

They all understood clearly: Lin En now held military command, and his prestige was at its zenith.

The identity of Emperor's Chosen was something no one dared oppose; not paying up was impossible.

Yet the greed and arrogance in their hearts still made mischief.

However strong the Governor, could he really exterminate these nobles who had taken root in the Main Hive for a thousand years?

Lin En took in every expression.

No urging, no pressing.

The silence lasted a full half minute.

In the stifling atmosphere, a voice finally rang out from the rear ranks, deliberately adopting a light, ingratiating tone that shattered the dead stillness.

"Since Governor Sir himself has spoken, we will naturally lend our full support — however…"

The speaker was the Patriarch of the Loren Family, ranked near the bottom among the Twelve Star Families, a man in his forties, well-preserved and fat.

"Long have I heard that Governor Sir fought bloodily on the Forbidden Wall, surviving nine deaths and one life; you must be terribly thirsty."

The fatty rubbed his hands, his tone growing ever more ingratiating.

"How about this: if you can down ten cups of Dolido Grape Wine in a row."

"Just ten cups, and our Loren Family will pledge one hundred million tons of grain!"

Dolido Grape Wine, produced on that agricultural planet occupied by the Green Skins, was the most renowned and most potent wine in the Brevis noble circle.

The moment those words left his mouth, the hall fell silent once more.

But this silence lasted only the briefest instant before scattered voices of agreement rose up.

"Right right right! Governor Sir has a hero's capacity — what are ten cups of wine!"

"My family seconds it! One cup, ten million tons of grain!"

"Me too! Me too! Governor Sir, drink away!"

The jeering grew louder and louder; the originally oppressive fear was dispersed by this brief "jeering."

These nobles were not unafraid of Lin En; they had long since prepared themselves to bleed heavily today.

Lin En's military authority, prestige, and battle achievements were all laid out there — not bleeding was absolutely impossible.

But now, before the bleeding, they could toy once with this unmatched Governor.

Watch him make a fool of himself in public, even if only for a moment, and it would satisfy that pitiful sense of superiority in their hearts.

Fear was temporarily suppressed; lucky hope and foolishness sprouted madly like wild grass.

Carter's face instantly turned iron-green, veins bulging at his temples.

But just as he was about to rise, Lin En lightly raised his hand.

Carter paused, looking at Lin En in astonishment.

Then he smiled; this was what someone destined for greatness should look like.

Lin En's face showed no anger, only a faint smile.

He raised his hand, picked up the first cup of Dolido Grape Wine on the table, and without any hesitation downed it in one gulp.

The crimson liquid slid down his throat, its fierce intensity sweeping over his throat like raging fire.

Yet his expression remained calm, as if he were drinking clear water, not strong wine.

Setting down the empty cup, he picked up the second cup and downed it again.

Cup after cup, his movements were continuous, without pause.

On the main seat, Supreme King Karadong raised his eyelids, his indifferent gaze sweeping over Lin En, who was drinking.

Then he gently closed his eyes and sighed soundlessly.

Since before Lin En returned, he had already made concessions for this Emperor's Chosen.

Most of the nobles who had plotted the attack on Lin En, he had already investigated thoroughly, handing over both people and property to Carter as a package deal.

That was merely superficial "sincerity," a welcome gift for Lin En.

As for the rest, they were left specially for Lin En.

So that after he returned, he would have targets to vent on.

This was also the most fitting way for the returning War God of the Borderlands.

But now, Lin En was neither angry nor making a scene; instead, he was here drinking with these wastes.

Karadong's brow furrowed even deeper.

This abnormal calm instead meant that what was about to happen would be even more intense.

The ninth cup of wine entered his throat.

A faint flush finally appeared on Lin En's face.

But his gaze remained clear, without a trace of drunkenness.

He picked up the tenth cup.

The entire hall held its breath.

All the nobles who had been making a racket widened their eyes, excitement flashing in their eyes.

Nine cups! This high-and-mighty Governor Sir had really drunk nine cups of the strongest Dolido Grape Wine in a row!

As long as he drank this last cup, they could go back and boast loudly.

The invincible Governor Sir was made to drink ten cups by us!

Face gained to the fullest; even if they later spent money and grain, they would do so willingly, even considering it a kind of "glory."

But Lin En did not drink.

He raised his head, his purple eyes sweeping over the entire hall.

Wherever his gaze passed, those excited, greedy, teasing eyes instantly cooled down.

The temperature in the hall dropped to freezing point at that moment.

Lin En revealed a signature smile, but without any warmth.

The next second, his wrist suddenly flipped.

Bright red liquid poured down, splashing with a splash beside his feet.

Lin En threw away the empty cup, turned around, strode forward, and walked straight toward the hall door.

He said nothing more.

The heavy alloy door slammed shut behind him with a loud bang.

Like a death knell, striking every noble's heart.

The hall fell silent again.

Loren, the Patriarch who had first made the proposal, had his fawning smile frozen on his face.

He opened his mouth wanting to say something, wanting to explain he was just joking, but found his throat dry as sandpaper.

He suddenly turned his head, like clutching at the last straw, staring fixedly at Karadong on the main seat, his eyes full of desperate pleading.

Supreme King! Save me! I was just muddle-headed for a moment!

Karadong merely glanced at him lightly.

That glance held no emotion.

Then he turned his Supreme King Throne, turned around, and faced away from the entire hall.

Completely isolating all the nobles' panic and pleading outside.

Loren's legs went soft, he could no longer support his body, and he heavily collapsed onto the chair, face ashen.

"It's over……"

The other nobles finally came to their senses, faces pale as paper, trembling all over.

They finally remembered what they had actually done just now.

They had mocked a War God who had just slain two Green Skin Big Bosses on the Forbidden Wall and turned the battle situation by himself.

At the same time, a Chosen One personally certified by the Emperor, bearing the mission of the Divine Chosen.

They had provoked someone they absolutely could not afford to offend in the most foolish way.

Fear, like the howling Ice Wind on the Ice Plains, filled the entire Council Hall, chilling them from head to toe.