[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence":3,"chapter-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-503":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Warlord: Starting with Daily Intelligence",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2338966,4572,"Chapter 503: The Banquet at Gail Baron","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-503",503,"\u003Cp>Gervas said so, but he didn’t mind—he knew what those Mi Gen fellows were thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he looked up toward the castle and saw it lit up with lanterns, bustling with festivity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, inside Gail Baron’s Castle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, Gail Baron’s Castle was brightly lit, and the banquet hall was filled with loud chatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because today was a good day for the Gail Baron’s domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baron Andrew had three sons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eldest, Ernst; the second, Gervas; the third, Laniel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eldest, needless to say, was the family heir, and the second son, Gervas, had luckily become a lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though still on the frontier, he was still a lord, so Andrew didn’t need to worry too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the third son, Laniel, who, as Mary’s biological son, had been spoiled excessively by Mary, making him lazy since childhood, only interested in eating, drinking, and amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Andrew hadn’t been strict when at home, Laniel might truly have become a complete waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, previously, even when forced, Laniel had trained—but his progress was slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under normal circumstances, he might not become a Bronze Knight until his twenties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But all of that changed after Gervas sent the family large quantities of demonic beast meat and magical potions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the nourishment of magical potions and demonic beast meat, Laniel had sensed the presence of battle aura just over ten days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant Laniel had entered the Great Knight rank, and becoming a Bronze Knight was now within reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though their expectations for the third son had never been high, in a minor noble family, this was still a major event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Andrew invited neighboring nobles to host this celebration banquet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also a subtle bit of boasting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this was standard practice among nobles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobles had little entertainment in daily life—banquets were their greatest pleasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, using banquets to display family achievements had become routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha! Congratulations, Andrew! Your Gail family is truly rising—not only has your second son Gervas become a baron lord!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now even your third son has broken through to Great Knight at such a young age!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right, Andrew! Your Gail family is on the rise! Don’t forget us when you do!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the banquet hall, several barons raised their cups to praise Andrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though most of this praise was just empty flattery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, if this counted as rising, then “rising” was far too cheap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But people flatter each other to keep the peace—today they praised Andrew loudly, so tomorrow Andrew would praise them just as loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That way, everyone could enjoy the banquet smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha! Gentlemen, you’re exaggerating too much!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though our Gail family has seen a bit of improvement lately, ‘rising’ is still too strong a word!” Andrew was humble—he understood this was all formal talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft! Father, Andrew Baron actually has self-awareness! After all, that Gervas—though he became a lord—is said to be a death zone where three barons have died in ten years!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And as for Laniel—he may sense some battle aura, but I’ve seen him—he’s a waste. Even with battle aura, it’s useless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a faint snicker rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though faint, it was clearly heard by everyone at the long table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the guests’ expressions turned awkward; Andrew frowned and turned toward the father and son on his right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mayers, what are you saying? Apologize to Baron Andrew right now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The father and son beside Andrew were Viscount Pat and his second son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As neighbors, Andrew had naturally invited Viscount Pat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, Viscount Pat had rarely attended such events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was a viscount—a man of status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless it was a birthday celebration or another major banquet, he wouldn’t deign to come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he’d heard that the Gail family’s second son had also become a lord—a family with two barons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though that second son, Gervas, was stationed on the frontier, it still earned him a higher regard from Viscount Pat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he’d reluctantly come, as a gesture of goodwill toward the Gail family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, whether or not the Gail family rose further, he stood to gain nothing—only wasting half a day!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t expected his second son to be so foolish as to say such unpleasant things in front of everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said it—and loudly, at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was clearly a slap in the face of the Gail family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Viscount Pat wasn’t overly concerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was certain Andrew wouldn’t react violently over such a trivial matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, I’m just stating facts… Fine! Baron Andrew, I spoke out of turn!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under his father’s pressure, his son reluctantly apologized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his tone and expression showed no remorse, Andrew, as expected, immediately took the opening to save face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His previously sour expression softened as he pretended: “Hehe, Viscount Pat, children’s words—I wouldn’t take them seriously.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other minor nobles, though their glances varied, all laughed loudly in unison and raised their cups again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viscount Pat’s lips curled into a barely noticeable smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the symbol of status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Pat family had built its current strength and foundation over generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This moment was the tangible reward of generations of hard work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These barons—even if insulted—had to endure it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, urgent report!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Viscount Pat thought this, a knight rushed into the banquet hall and approached Andrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nobles exchanged glances—on such an occasion, a knight arriving in full armor was a grave breach of etiquette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Andrew frowned, he knew his subordinate wouldn’t act so rudely without reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knight Captain Rot, what is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, the guard unit reports: a count’s party has arrived outside the town—over a thousand people, including at least two hundred cavalry and five hundred fully armed guards. They say they wish to spend the night in Spring Day Town…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A count’s party? Two hundred cavalry, five hundred guards? Wanting to spend the night in Spring Day Town?” Andrew’s expression changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nobles who had overheard also exchanged uneasy glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spring Day Town was some distance from the Royal Highway, so major noble parties rarely passed through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, this party hadn’t just passed—it wanted to stay overnight, which was definitely a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only were such great nobles themselves arrogant, but their subordinates were no better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they caused trouble in the town, would you intervene or not?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you did, you’d have to see what kind of person the noble was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A reasonable one might pretend to punish them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he was unreasonable, he might ignore you entirely—then what would become of your lord’s dignity?\u003C\u002Fp>",1093,"2026-06-20T22:44:02.688Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f992c04ea0dd846eeea3e8061818ee66494d50f75e1e337f00815c63594ca1d5","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-504","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-502",521,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-cover.jpg"]