Chapter 508: Andrew Has Struck It Rich!

Hush!

"What did I just hear? What did Lady Mary say?"

"Did she say Gervas became an Earl? Is that real?"

"I don't know! Wasn't he a Baron? How did he jump straight to Earl all at once? Even if he really did something and earned merit, the promotion should only be to Viscount."

"Right! If his title really was raised, it should be Viscount now. But… then again, Lady Mary's attitude just now was really strange—could this actually be true?"

Lady Mary's words were not spoken quietly.

In fact, she had deliberately said them for everyone to hear.

After all, this not only explained the reason for her own unusual behavior just moments ago.

It also served to showcase the glory of the Gael family.

A mere Viscount like Pat was already a prominent figure around these parts.

So for the Gael family to have an Earl as their lord—and one who was her own husband's very son—wouldn't that send them soaring to the heavens?

"Earl? Gervas became an Earl? Mother, is what you say true?" Larniel, for his part, did not hesitate as much as the other nobles.

Judging from his mother's completely uncharacteristic behavior just now, he was already basically convinced.

He was only still finding it a little hard to believe.

"Of course. When has your mother ever lied to you? Look at the golden badge on Gervas's chest, and his Earl's sword."

"Also, that great army outside the main gate is your second brother Gervas's army!"

It had to be said, Lady Mary's change in attitude was thorough.

Now she was already speaking with a tone that subtly took pride in Gervas.

Calling him "your second brother" at every turn.

If things hadn't gotten so terribly strained between them before, she would probably call out to Gervas even more affectionately than she did to Larniel.

Hush!

"Look, there really does seem to be a golden badge on Gervas's chest! His formal attire just now was so extravagant that the glow hid the badge, so we didn't notice!"

"That's right, I remember now—that really is an Earl's sword, something only an Earl may wear, bestowed by the King at the investiture. I saw one at the waist of Earl Canoner the last time the Harvest Festival was held in Saint Bitt City!"

"So then, Gervas really has become an Earl?"

"I'm afraid it's true. Unless he's a fool, no one would impersonate an Earl—otherwise, even a noble's status wouldn't save his life!"

"Oh heavens, doesn't that mean the Gael family has really… risen?!"

"Yes, Andrew has struck it rich! His little Gervas has made something of himself! Look at Baron Pat too—he's been standing aside smiling the whole time, where's that arrogance from before!"

"Right! He's even bent his waist a little!"

Exclamations and whispered murmurs began to spread continuously through the crowd.

After all, for minor nobles, being able to come into close contact with an Earl was itself an honor.

What's more, this Earl was someone they knew.

And Larniel instantly stopped sobbing.

The look in his eyes as he gazed at Gervas also became clear.

An Earl!

Even if he was young and ignorant, he still knew what that meant.

Like that Myles just now—simply because he had a Viscount for a father, he dared to talk nonsense at his own banquet, and wasn't even punished for it.

Gulp!

Larniel's throat bobbed as he swallowed, seeming to want to say something.

"Ge… Gervas… Second Brother, I… I was wrong!"

Well, well! Gervas, well, well!

Your speed is a match for my father Zhang Erhe's speed in begging for mercy when he saw a sword drawn!

"Not bad! Not bad! Knowing your wrongs and being able to correct them, there's still hope for you. From now on, be obedient, cultivate hard. I'm waiting for you to become a Gold Knight, understand?"

"Also, if you can't become a Gold Knight… hehe…"

Gervas didn't state the outcome, but that cold laugh had already frightened Larniel until his face went pale and his body began to tremble.

"Ge… Gervas Second Brother, I will… I will cultivate hard!"

Gervas smiled, then no longer paid Larniel any attention, and headed straight for the high platform at the front of the banquet hall.

Since all the nobles were gathered here, naturally he should take the chance to say a few words.

Even though he had always kept a low profile, at this moment he still had to build momentum for his cheap father.

Having a second son who was an Earl—once this matter spread, it would be absolutely beneficial to the old Gael family.

"Ladies and gentlemen!"

After reaching the high platform, Gervas smiled and raised his hand.

The nobles, who had been chattering away, immediately fell silent, all looking up at Gervas without blinking!

"Ladies and gentlemen, regarding my identity, I imagine many of you already know me—the second son of my father Andrew, Gervas Gael!"

"Previously, I participated in the Second Son's Challenge in Saint Bitt City, and because of luck, I obtained the title of Baron."

"Later, I went to my territory, and through unremitting effort, my title was raised from Baron to Viscount!"

"And just a few days ago, I once again rendered a small meritorious service in the north, and His Majesty the King has conferred upon me the title of Earl!"

"Therefore, I am indeed now an Earl and lord!"

"Of course, I say all this not to show off, but to express my gratitude for the kindness the Gael family has received from all of you in the past!"

"I, Gervas, am also a person who remembers old ties. In the future, if any of you come to the Stormhold Territory in the Southern Region, you are welcome to visit my castle!"

"I, Gervas, will certainly entertain you all warmly!" Gervas's brief words had completely confirmed his identity.

Of course, upon hearing this, the nobles were even more shocked and astonished.

"A few days ago in the north? Wasn't that the invasion of the Behemoth beastmen? I heard the situation was extremely dire, and Gervas actually participated!"

"That's right! Fighting beastmen carries an extremely high probability of death. Also, he said it was a small feat of merit? What kind of small feat could earn His Majesty the King's bestowal of an Earl's title?"

"I think it would require at least several hundred or thousand beastmen heads, wouldn't it?"

"Several hundred or thousand? No, you underestimate the merit required for an Earl's lordship far too much! If it were purely based on heads, one would need at least seven or eight thousand beastmen heads to even have a chance."

"Seven or eight thousand beastmen heads? That… that's far too difficult, isn't it?"

"Otherwise? That is an Earl, a great noble! Under normal circumstances, a Viscount family would need dozens or even a hundred years of accumulated development to possibly gather sufficient merit and foundation!"

"So, these seven or eight thousand beastmen heads actually aren't that many!"

The looks the minor nobles gave Xiang Ge turned to reverence one by one.

For others to obtain the bestowal of a Viscount's lordship would require several generations to accomplish, and even then it wasn't guaranteed.

But Gervas, an Earl's lordship, actually said it was obtained through a small feat of merit. If anyone else had said this, they would surely have been cursed out.

But the problem was, Gervas seemed to have accomplished all this in just one year.

Therefore, what he said truly carried a certain authority.

"Alright, my lords! My arrival has already disrupted the banquet. Now, let us continue the banquet!"

Then, music sounded once again within the great hall.