Chapter 186: The Banquet Begins!

"Lord Adams, currently, sugar and honey are priced the same."

"Moreover, I can personally go to the Hou Jue's kitchen to teach you how to use sugar—only pay me once you're satisfied!"

"Priced the same as honey?" Adams frowned slightly, for even now he did not believe sugar could match honey.

Though equally sweet, its sweetness was far too monotonous compared to honey.

Yet, remembering this was his only hope to overcome his crisis, Adams decided to give it a try.

"Then come along—if it truly succeeds, I'll pay you one gold coin per kilogram, and I'll owe you a favor!"

Damn, wasn't the bounty supposed to be only double?

Didn't honey cost twenty silver coins per jin?

Now Adams is offering one gold coin per jin—that's outrageous!

But who ever turns down money?

Thus, Gervas followed Adams straight toward the castle.

"Young Master Adams, you've finally returned? The Steward has been frantically searching for you!"

As soon as they entered the castle, guards and servants hurried forward to report.

Adams naturally knew why. "I understand."

Saying this, he led the group deeper inside.

This was Gervas's first glimpse of the Hou Jue's castle luxury.

If a minor noble's castle merely served defensive functions and sacrificed comfort,

then the Hou Jue's castle had achieved harmony between both.

Moreover, it incorporated beauty as well.

Serpentine stone walls encircled the entire mountain range, granting the Hou Jue's castle ample space.

With this space,

flower gardens, landscaped parks, and private manors could all be accommodated within this war fortress, filling the entire Hou Jue's castle with vitality.

After walking about ten minutes, they arrived at the square before the inner castle.

At the inner gate stood several figures; as Adams approached, a mocking laugh rang out.

"Adams, you finally show up? I thought you ran away after ruining Father's birthday celebration?"

The speaker was a youth slightly younger than Adams, dressed in even greater luxury.

"Ewen, who said I ruined Father's birthday celebration? It hasn't even started yet!" Adams glared coldly at the youth.

This was his younger brother, Ewen—the most likely culprit behind the stolen honey.

In the past, to preserve family harmony, Adams had never truly broken with Ewen.

But it only emboldened his stepmother and Ewen to escalate their cruelty.

Thus, Adams, who had nearly jumped off the sea cliff moments ago, had finally understood.

If his stepmother and these brothers cared nothing for kinship or family unity, why should he care anymore?

"Though the banquet hasn't begun, it's already ruined! Adams, all the chefs in the kitchen are in chaos—they say you failed to prepare the honey in advance, and now they can't make any pastries or sweets for today's banquet!"

"Without sweets, how can this be called a banquet? Do you want the entire Eastern Region nobility to laugh at the Austin family?"

Ewen watched his useless older brother with keen interest.

He knew full well that Adams was merely bluffing.

After all, that batch of honey had sunk forever to the ocean floor.

Even if Adams somehow captured the pirates, the outcome wouldn't change.

As for the merchant guilds in Odin City, his mother had already secretly arranged to pre-order all their stock.

She'd also quietly warned the guild managers.

So Adams couldn't obtain even a single jar of honey from Odin City.

Yet Adams showed no panic or worry—only replied coldly: "You needn't worry about that, Ewen. I'll handle it in the kitchen right now."

Then he turned to the steward: "Steward Kevin, I'm going to the kitchen to oversee everything—I guarantee Father's birthday celebration won't be ruined. Please don't worry."

This reassurance was vital.

Otherwise, if Steward Kevin reported the honey shortage to the Hou Jue in advance, Adams would lose all chance to recover.

"Understood, Young Master Adams!" The steward studied Adams deeply, hesitated a moment, then finally nodded.

This meant he would not proactively report the matter to the Hou Jue.

Adams nodded in thanks, then strode confidently toward the kitchen.

Gervas and his group followed behind, watching with quiet smiles.

Gervas now understood clearly: within the Austin Hou Jue's household, yet another bloody succession battle was unfolding.

Watching Adams walk away, Ewen frowned and hurried toward the rear garden where his mother waited.

Passing through the corridor, out of the others' sight, Adams's proud posture instantly collapsed.

Head drooping, he looked anxiously at Gervas: "Lord Harry, will sugar really work?"

Gervas rolled his eyes—so this was just a three-second burst of bravado.

"Of course it will. My sugar will make this Hou Jue's banquet the talk of the entire hall!"

Adams didn't dream of "talk of the entire hall"—he only prayed the banquet wouldn't be ruined.

"Lord Harry, I'm counting on you now!"

To secure this deal and obtain those craftsmen, Gervas naturally gave it his full attention.

He not only taught the kitchen staff how to incorporate sugar into pastries and sweets,

but also personally prepared a batch of animal cream.

…

Time turned to evening.

As elegantly dressed guests entered the banquet hall one by one, the Hou Jue's birthday celebration officially began.

The current Austin Hou Jue entered the hall amid the gaze of all.

Accompanying him was his second wife, from the Hernade family, and her younger son, Ewen.

"Begin!"

After taking his seat, the Hou Jue gave the order, and servants who had been waiting outside flooded into the hall, serving dishes to each table.

Minor nobles had long placed most dishes on the table because their servants were insufficient for such an occasion.

But the Hou Jue's family assigned at least five servants per long table.

To ensure guests tasted dishes at their peak freshness, all hot foods were served only after the banquet began.

Steaming mushroom soup, sizzling roasted venison, fragrant charcoal-baked white bread—suddenly the banquet hall was filled with the scent of food.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please, help yourselves—enjoy without restraint!"

The Hou Jue gave another command, and the nobles in the hall no longer hesitated—they began feasting.

Ewen and his mother exchanged a glance, confirming no pastries or sweets appeared on the table.

"Huh, Mother, today's food seems… off?" Ewen spoke in confusion.

"Ewen, don't speak nonsense! The food on the table smells divine—every dish is meticulously prepared by our castle chefs. How could it be off?" the Lady snapped softly.

"No, Mother—there are no sweets or pastries on the table! Without desserts, is this even a banquet?"

*Shhh!

At these words, the guests who had been feasting froze, all turning to stare at the Hou Jue.

For they too had noticed: the lavish Hou Jue's banquet table held no sweets or pastries at all!

And those seated at this table—

were either the Hou Jue's own offspring, or his most trusted vassals and honored guests from powerful families.