Chapter 509: He Is Lei Meng!

Although Gervas’s appearance disrupted the banquet’s flow, his status made the event even more lively afterward.

Nearly all the barons raised their cups to toast him out of personal ties.

Gervas, of course, was magnanimous, accepting every toast with a warm response.

Only after all the barons had finished their toasts did Gervas finally sit down to share a few cups with his father.

Sitting with him were Mil, Ian, and others.

Of course, Viscount Pat was there too.

Viscount Pat had quite the thick skin—while other nobles left after toasting, he kept clinging to their side like a leech.

Still, since he’d just tried to stand up for Gervas’s father, Gervas let it slide.

Though his motive was clearly to show off, at least he was willing to help.

As for Lady Mary, though she longed to join the table, since all present were men, she could not sit.

Instead, she eagerly directed her servants to bring out the re-cooked delicacies.

At the table, in response to Andrew’s questions, Gervas revealed a bit more about how he’d been granted the earldom in the north.

Of course, Mil, Ian, and others added even more detailed accounts.

This dashed Gervas’s hope of speaking sparingly to spare Andrew’s worries—he listened, alternately thrilled and tense.

“Earl Gervas, you are truly a hero of our kingdom! I, Pat, admire heroes like you most—let me toast you!”

Upon hearing this, Viscount Pat’s eyes filled with awe and reverence, and he immediately raised his cup to toast Gervas.

His family had risen to viscountcy through achievements in the northern frontier.

Long ago, his grandfather had achieved a significant victory in a northern battle by chance.

That earned him the king’s viscount title.

Since then, the Pat family had become the most deeply rooted family in the region.

But the more his ancestors experienced northern warfare, the more profoundly they felt the beasts’ strength.

So even he, from childhood, had been shaped by this education, aware of the northern frontier’s terror.

For Gervas to kill beasts and rescue the army in the north—what immense ability and courage that required.

Such a man deserved his utmost respect, his full awe.

Gervas did not refuse; he immediately raised his cup, clinked it with Pat’s, and drank deeply.

“Damn it, it’s you, Lei Meng!”

Just as Gervas and Pat were drinking merrily, a cry suddenly rang out from the banquet hall.

Looking over, they saw a noble youth pointing at a knight stationed at the gate, shouting accusations.

Pat had just set down his cup; seeing this, he froze in shock.

For the youth was his son, Miles.

If this had happened before, Miles’s outbursts wouldn’t have mattered much.

But now, the Gare family had produced a count—a count of such ability.

If Miles caused any more trouble, it would immediately drag the family down.

“Miles! Shut up!”

Regardless of the reason, Viscount Pat dared not delay—he rose instantly to stop him.

But Miles, upon hearing his father’s voice, did not stop; instead, he seemed to have found a savior.

“Father, come quickly! This man is Lei Meng—he was executed by you for killing Piante, wasn’t he? How is he still alive?”

“Lei Meng?” Pat blinked—he remembered Lei Meng well.

His former captain of the guard.

Later, after one of his sons insulted Lei Meng’s wife, Lei Meng had killed that son himself.

Though his son had been in the wrong, his captain had slain the lord’s heir.

If he didn’t punish him, it would undermine his authority.

So he secretly ordered Lei Meng’s execution.

But hadn’t Boro said he’d executed Lei Meng and buried him that day?

How was he alive now?

Viscount Pat had no time to think further—he rushed to the banquet hall in three strides.

Sure enough, when he saw the knight Miles was pointing at, he immediately recognized the man who had served his family for over a decade.

“It really is you, Lei Meng? Why are you still alive?” Pat demanded.

After all, this was a direct challenge to the Pat family’s authority.

He wanted to know who was playing tricks on him.

Lei Meng looked at Viscount Pat with a complex gaze but said nothing.

“Viscount Pat, I saved Lei Meng—he is now my captain of the guard!”

At that moment, Gervas’s calm voice came from behind.

Viscount Pat stiffened; his anger vanished instantly, replaced by a cold sweat crawling up his spine.

That’s right!

He’d been so consumed by rage over how Lei Meng could still be alive.

He’d forgotten that within Gare Castle, the knights belonged either to Andrew—or to Gervas.

“Who are you? Why did you save Lei Meng? He killed one of my brothers—he is a criminal of my viscountcy…”

SLAP!

Before Viscount Pat could recover from the chill down his spine,

Miles, upon hearing Gervas’s words, immediately shouted back.

In his eyes, no one in Gare Castle was beyond his ability to offend.

Of course, this was also just Miles’s terrible luck.

When Gervas arrived, this fool had been in the castle’s side courtyard with a noblewoman he’d just seduced, making love. He’d only just returned.

Naturally, he’d missed learning Gervas’s true identity.

As punishment, before he’d even finished speaking, he received a furious slap from Viscount Pat.

Pat struck with all his strength, sending the unprepared Miles stumbling backward.

Had he not trained regularly and possessed decent physical conditioning, he might have been knocked unconscious.

“Father, why are you hitting me?”

Miles clutched his cheek, staring at Viscount Pat in shock.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

But in response came three more slaps from Viscount Pat.

After the three slaps landed, Pat stole a glance at Gervas—and found Gervas expressionless.

He gritted his teeth and raised his hand again toward Miles.

“Enough, Viscount Pat—he’s just a child. A lesson is enough!” Gervas’s calm voice finally came.

Viscount Pat exhaled in relief. “Earl Gervas, I am truly sorry—I failed to discipline my son, and he offended you!”

“Viscount Pat, given that the Pat and Gare families are neighbors, I’ll let this slide.”

Gervas paused, then shifted tone: “But let us speak of another matter—Lei Meng.”

Viscount Pat was sharp—he understood Gervas’s meaning instantly.

He cast a complex glance at Lei Meng, then bowed respectfully to Gervas: “Earl Gervas, I did indeed order Lei Meng’s execution.”

“But that was a decision made in blind rage. Since Lei Meng has been saved by Earl Gervas, it is his fortune!”

“Therefore, upon returning home, I will immediately issue a proclamation declaring Lei Meng innocent, and all grievances between him and my Pat family are hereby erased!”

“Good! Viscount Pat!” Gervas nodded, a faint smile on his lips.

But Viscount Pat wasn’t finished—he seemed to have remembered something else, and added: “Also, Lei Meng once owned land and a house within my viscountcy.”

“Now that he is Earl Gervas’s captain of the guard, he cannot take these with him. I will convert them into gold—twenty coins, as compensation for Lei Meng!”

“Tomorrow, I will send my servants to deliver them to Gare Baron’s Castle.”