Chapter 509: He Is Lei Meng!

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

Nearly all the barons raised their cups under the guise of friendship.

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, Lord Pat was there too.

Lord Pat had quite the thick skin—while other nobles left after toasting, he kept clinging to their side, smiling persistently.

Still, since this fellow had just tried to stand up for his father, Gervas tacitly accepted it.

Though his motive was clearly to gain glory for himself, at least he was willing to lend a hand.

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

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 had been granted the title of count in the North.

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

This dashed Gervas's hope to say less and spare Andrew worry—he listened, alternately startled and tense.

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

Upon hearing this, Lord Pat's eyes filled with awe and admiration, and he immediately raised his cup to toast Gervas.

His family rose to the rank of viscount precisely through achievements in the Northern Region.

Long ago, his grandfather achieved a significant victory during a battle in the Northern Region.

That earned him the king's viscount title outright.

Since then, the Pat family became the most deeply rooted clan in the region.

But the more his ancestors experienced the Northern Region's wars, the deeper their dread of the beasts became.

Thus, even he, from childhood, was shaped by this education and knew the terror of the Northern Region.

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

Such a man deserved his solemn respect, his outright reverence.

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 by the gate, shouting and accusing him.

Lord Pat had just set down his cup and 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—one with such ability.

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

"Miles! Shut up!"

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

But upon hearing his father's voice, Miles 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 froze—he remembered Lei Meng well.

He had been his former knight captain.

Later, one of his sons insulted Lei Meng's wife, and Lei Meng killed the son himself.

Though his son had been in the wrong, his knight captain had slain a lord's heir.

If he did not punish him, it would undermine his authority.

So he secretly ordered Lei Meng's execution.

But hadn't Boro said he had executed Lei Meng and buried him that day?

How was he alive now?

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

Indeed, 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 challenged the Pat family's authority.

He wanted to know who was mocking him.

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

"Lord Pat, I saved Lei Meng—he is now my knight captain."

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

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

That's right!

He had been so consumed by fury over how Lei Meng could still be alive.

He had 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 in my viscountcy…"

Crack!

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

Hearing Gervas's words, Myles immediately fired off a question.

In his eyes, there was no one in this Gale Castle he couldn't afford to offend.

Of course, this was also because Myles happened to be terribly unlucky.

Just now, when Gervas arrived, this fellow had gone off to the castle's side courtyard with a noble young lady he had just picked up to whisper sweet nothings, and had only just returned.

Naturally, this meant he had missed the chance to learn Gervas's identity.

And as the price, before his words had even fully fallen, he was met with a vicious slap from Viscount Part.

Viscount Part put his full force into this slap, sending the completely unprepared Myles staggering.

If not for his long years of cultivation and decent constitution, he probably would have been knocked out cold on the spot.

"Father, why are you hitting me?"

Myles covered one cheek, staring at Viscount Part in astonishment.

*Slap slap slap! *

However, what answered him was three more slaps from Viscount Part.

After those three slaps landed hard, Viscount Part cast a sidelong glance at Gervas and found his expression still utterly impassive.

He gritted his teeth and raised his palm toward Myles once more.

"Enough, Viscount Part — he's just a child after all, a lesson will do!" At that moment, Gervas's faint voice finally came through.

Viscount Part looked immensely relieved. "Count Gervas, I am truly sorry — it was my failure to properly discipline my offspring, letting him offend you!"

"Viscount Part, considering the Part family and the Gale family are neighbors, I won't pursue this matter further!"

After a brief pause, Gervas shifted his tone. "However, let us discuss another matter — and that is Lei Meng!"

Part was no fool; he naturally understood what Gervas meant.

His gaze swept over Lei Meng with a complicated look, then he immediately said respectfully to Gervas, "Count Gervas, I did indeed once order Lei Meng's execution!"

"However, that was a decision made in the heat of anger. Since Lei Meng was saved by Count Gervas, that is his good fortune!"

"Therefore, once I return I will immediately issue a proclamation declaring Lei Meng innocent, and all grievances between Lei Meng and the Part family will be wiped clean!"

"Excellent! Viscount Part!" Gervas nodded with a faint smile playing at his lips.

But Viscount Part wasn't done — as if he had thought of something else, he continued, "Additionally, Lei Meng previously still had some fields and a house within Viscount Part's territory!"

"But since he has now become Count Gervas's Knight Commander, he obviously cannot take these things with him. I can convert them into gold coins — let's say twenty — and give them to Lei Meng as compensation!"

"By tomorrow, I will have a servant deliver them to Baron Gale's castle."