Monster Girl Development Master

Page 55

"Arriving in two days? That's surprisingly decisive. Is it because of the Bloodline Cult, or because of the war?"

After reading the letter, Zhuang Sen paused briefly at the signature "Cerine Anser" before tossing down the flimsy letter and carrying Ange out.

……

Two days later, at Leon Manor.

Although the banquet hall was not yet fully renovated, it did not diminish the lively atmosphere of Leon Manor today. After all, Zhuang Sen had sent out invitations two days in advance and specifically mentioned that a noble princess would be coming. As a result, people from all over Leon territory, whether qualified or not, flocked to Leon Manor. However, only those who were invited were allowed to enter the manor and wait for the princess's arrival. Those who were not qualified could only watch from outside Leon Manor, separated by a human wall of guards.

Johnsen sat on the Earl's throne, with Hanna holding Nia on his right. Miss Mira, disguised as a little bat, hid under his clothes. Behind them stood the tall Dantalian, who, like a holy goddess statue, accentuated Johnsen's petite stature. Lady Lia sat on another chair to his left, with Lydia standing behind her. Only poor little Angela had no seat and had to share a table with the other sons of Leon.

Although consanguineous marriages are not uncommon among noble bloodlines, they are not topics that can be discussed casually. Therefore, in such formal occasions, Ange should not be too intimate with Zhuang Sen—for this reason, Zhuang Sen had to feed the little guy thoroughly.

Below that are the various nobles belonging to the territory of Leon, including one viscount, eight barons, and knights, not to mention the titles. Their actual territorial area, military strength, and level of armament are all unknown and cannot be determined until they are confirmed.

In addition, there are some non-granted nobles, most of whom are so-called honorary nobles. These can be ignored, but there are a few figures who cannot be ignored, such as:

Shado Leon, a distant uncle of Johnson, is the current Grand Master of the Shadow Raven Knights. He possesses the Shadow Raven bloodline and has awakened three times. After the Minister of Military Affairs "unfortunately passed away," he now commands the three thousand standing troops of Leon Territory, which originally belonged to Earl Cross. In addition, there are the one hundred Shadow Raven Knights and their squires who were already under his command, making it a large and elite army.

James Leon, also one of Zhuang Sen's uncles, is the Minister of Internal Affairs of Leon Territory. When Cross is not in the territory, he is responsible for handling most affairs and can be considered the chief steward of Leon Territory. Although he is only a first-level bloodline user, the secrets and data he possesses are very important, and he also has quite a few "friends".

Besides these two most troublesome typical cases, there are other sensitive roles such as the official in charge of issuing warnings, the official in charge of archives, and the Grand Secretary, all of which need to be dealt with.

In addition, two noteworthy figures have also arrived in the religious sphere:

Torbjörn War, a newly appointed bishop of the Church of War. Because he was a commoner before, he simply took War as his surname after awakening his bloodline. He is also said to be a rare master blacksmith who can forge high-level magic iron equipment. He is also a level three bloodline user. He is obviously here to clean up the mess of the Church of War, and may very well be here to steal business. We should pay close attention to him.

Pauline Fell, the new bishop of the Healing Church, is a noblewoman from the prestigious Fell family of the Falling Star Kingdom. The Fell family is one of the four marquises. It's strange that she would go to a roadside church like the Healing Church, and she is also a level three bloodline user. It's too strange and we need to be careful.

As for the rest, there's nothing worth paying attention to at the moment.

Zhuang Sen continued to caress Hana's soft thigh with his right hand, focusing his gaze on Xia Duo Leon, and chuckled, "Uncle Xia Duo, I heard that the princess was escorted by the Zhanxing Guards who guard the palace. I wonder how they compare to our Shadow Raven Knights?"

As soon as Zhuang Sen spoke, the once lively hall suddenly fell silent, as if everyone had been staring at him the whole time, and all the previous conversations, eating, drinking, and dancing were just a facade.

The man named Shado Leon put down his wine glass and addressed Zhuang Sen with neither servility nor arrogance: "The Zhanxing Guards are the royal guards since the founding of the nation, while the Shadow Raven Knights have always been responsible for invasions and field battles. It is really hard to compare them."

This statement cleverly separates the Azure Star Guardians and the Shadow Raven Knights into two separate groups, avoiding offending the upcoming King of the Capital or the newly appointed Earl. It can be described as excellent rhetoric.

Unfortunately, Zhuang Sen wasn't there to argue with him: "I see. I don't really know much about war and military branches. Hey, Lydia, do you think he's right?"

Lydia declared loudly, "Strong is strong, and weak is weak, my lord. It is said that pikemen are the counter to cavalry. Does that mean that cavalrymen should drop their weapons and surrender when they encounter pikemen?"

Shado lowered his head and looked rather unwell. Lydia was, on the surface, merely Lady Lydia's guardian knight, or to put it bluntly, her personal maid. She was also born into a minor noble family. Even though she had demonstrated her strength once before, many people did not think that her bloodline was particularly outstanding because of her low profile. They only felt that her abilities were rather special and that she was more skilled in combat.

Therefore, Shado felt humiliated.

This was exactly the result Zhuang Sen wanted. He then said, "Uncle Xia Duo, it seems you're really getting old. How about this, from now on, let Lydia take care of the military affairs. You can just relax and enjoy your retirement."

Forty-five-year-old Shado Leon looked up: "Johnson..."

"My lord! The princess has arrived!!"

The author says:

Author's note: Happy Children's Day, meow~~

Chapter 128: Receiving the Title

The servants who rushed into the hall interrupted Shado's answer, drawing everyone's attention and causing a commotion, even panic. This was unusual; normally, the princess should have sent a message to the local nobles before her arrival to greet her, allowing her time to tidy herself up – that was the proper procedure.

Even if the princess herself hadn't sent a message, the various spies and sentries that had already been deployed should have immediately relayed the information upon spotting her, alerting Zhuang Sen and his men to the situation so they could prepare a response. But the fact that the princess suddenly appeared suggests only one possibility—she deliberately avoided the monitored main road, intending to ambush them.

This is clearly not an act of goodwill.

For a moment, the way everyone looked at Zhuang Sen and his group changed slightly. However, thanks to Zhuang Sen's previous great achievements and the power he displayed, this change was very subtle. Unless one was observing carefully, one would not have noticed it, let alone use it as an excuse to launch an attack.

They're all old foxes after all.

Zhuang Sen sighed, then calmly waved his hand: "Give him a glass of water and go down."

The panting servant left with a drink of water, while Zhuang Sen remained seated on his throne, his hand still resting on Hana's thigh. He appeared utterly smitten and unreliable, which only reinforced the nobles' perception that Zhuang Sen was too young and impetuous, thinking that he could act with impunity after killing Count Cross.

Otherwise, why wouldn't they rush out to greet the princess and mitigate the consequences of the surprise attack? It can't be that they didn't know; they must have disdained to do it. This is going to be quite a show.

The nobles' gloating didn't last long, less than a minute to be precise, before it vanished in a flurry of hurried but orderly steps, transforming into various different forms.

Flattery, fawning, wariness, envy, rejection... everyone's demeanor was different, which was somewhat unexpected for Zhuang Sen. He had thought that everyone would fawn over the Prince of Wangdu when he arrived.

Amidst a complex array of gazes, Celine Anser, dressed in her finest attire, entered the hall. It was the first time that Johnson had seen the princess who had "fought" for him before the king.

She had long, fiery red hair tied into a neat single ponytail, a mark of the Morgan family bloodline. Beneath the red hair was a delicate, oval face, where the nobility of a princess coexisted with the liveliness of a young girl, just like the hint of cunning hidden in her majestic crimson eyes.

Zhuang Sen's lips curled up as his gaze fell upon the long, flowing red and blue dress. The fashion of the capital was clearly more advanced than that of the Earl's Domain. The neckline of the dress was open, revealing a delicate neck, while the cinched waist accentuated the girl's incredibly slender figure. Her prominent chest revealed the still-immature curves of her breasts, and the voluminous skirt concealed her beautiful legs, revealing only a pair of combat boots that moved forward alternately, rubbing against Zhuang Sen's carpet.

Noble yet lively, beautiful yet dangerous—that was the initial impression of Celine Anser, but to Johnson, she always seemed more like a child pretending to be an adult.

If you ask why, perhaps it's because he saw the miniature red dragon on the princess's head, its face radiating curiosity.

【Cerine Anser】

[Bloodline: Red Dragon]

[Development Status: Unawakened]

[Development Rewards - Beginner: Random Flame Bloodline *1, Red Dragon Bloodline illustration unlocked]

……

The princess, dressed in her finest attire, strode forward, her long gown leaving a striking red trail on the carpet. The Azure Star Guards, clad in deep blue robes, flanked her, gripping their sword hilts and advancing just as swiftly, as if they were not stumbling into a lively banquet, but preparing for a fierce battle.

Bishop Rosa even stood up and gripped her rapier disguised as a cane, but then stopped at Dantalian's signal, still looking as if she were facing a formidable enemy.

Apart from that, no one tried to stop Lord Wang, including the nobles who didn't like them. Although he had expected it, Zhuang Sen still couldn't help but laugh at the sight, since almost all of these people had pledged their loyalty to him not long ago.

Thus, with everyone indifferent and watching, Princess Celine Anser came directly to the throne of Johnson, her imposing manner as if she were there to interrogate him. Johnson, however, remained calm, sitting on his throne without even getting up, simply watching the approaching princess.

The nobles unconsciously held their breath, sensing that something big was about to happen. Given the composition and the situation, they would believe it if you told them that the princess was about to fight Zhuang Sen.

Then they saw Celine Anser raise her right hand, palm up, and the nearest Star Guardian immediately stepped forward and reached for the longsword hanging at her waist.

Coming? Coming?

The nobles stared wide-eyed, waiting for the result, and even felt that time was moving so slowly.

The next second, the Star Guardian placed a longsword and a scroll in Celine Anser's hands. Celine quickly tore off the sealing wax and unfurled it, proclaiming: "In the name of the Titan King, Lord of Fallen Stars, Friend of Dragons, Conqueror of the Grasslands, Guardian of the entire Fallen Star Kingdom, and the irreplaceable King of the First Men, Mountain People, and Swamp People, I, Celine Anser, hereby declare that the Land of Leon, the roosting place of the crows, and the Eye of Fallen Stars are bestowed upon Johnson Leon, just as they were bestowed upon his father, his grandfather, and the source of his bloodline. You shall, like your father and grandfather, guard the land, serve the King, and protect your people. May the light of Fallen Stars shine forever!"

After quickly reading the contents, Celine closed the scroll again and handed it to Zhuang Sen. Zhuang Sen finally stood up, took the scroll with one hand, and knelt on one knee: "May the light of the fallen star shine forever!"

Celine swiftly picked up her longsword and tapped both of Zhuang Sen's shoulders and the top of his head, completing the incredibly rapid investiture.

what?

No?

Is that all?

The nobles felt a sense of utter emptiness, like they'd already gone all out, only to be shown this. They'd come with such hostility—a surprise attack, a hasty retreat in full armor—and then at the door they were told they'd actually come to announce the investiture of noble titles?

Why are you in such a hurry about this... Pshaw, no, you're just acknowledging Zhuang Sen's title and legal standing like that?

This is a madman who murdered his father and brother; he should be extorted severely... I mean, we should investigate and make sure there are no problems before bestowing the title, right? Your actions make our previous actions seem very clownish, and the consequences will be very serious, Your Highness!

At this moment, seemingly hearing the surging complaints and dissatisfaction in the hearts of the nobles, Celine reached out her hand again, and the Azure Star Guardian presented her with a new scroll once more.

Oh, this must be the punishment! First a bite of honey, then a slap. It's a bit unconventional, but it should be more effective in deterring a madman like Zhuang Sen... What does it mean to be appointed as the Kingdom's Minister of Intelligence, in charge of national intelligence?

The nobles were dizzy and even suspected that they had all been mentally unstable during this period, and that it was actually Zhuang Sen who had died, and the little guy sitting up now was called Kross.

Unfortunately, their illusions were shattered once again.

Zhuang Sen took the scroll again, stood up, and looked at Shado Leon: "Uncle Shado, what were you going to say just now?"

Shado Leon replied with unwavering determination and a loud, resolute voice, "I would say you are right, Your Excellency! Knight Lydia is perfectly suited to lead an army! I would like to invite her to become the honorary Grand Master of the Shadow Raven Knights!"

Zhuang Sen smiled, sat back in his seat, and looked at Lydia: "What do you think, Lydia?"

Chapter 129: Neighbor, you smell so good!

"As you command, Your Excellency."

Lydia bowed in response, and then addressed him as Count, which made everyone grit their teeth again. They looked at Lydia as if she were a sycophantic clown.

Zhuang Sen naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity, and continued Lydia's train of thought: "Alright, then you'll be the Minister of Military Affairs from now on... Hmm, since we're on the topic of the court, let's also decide on the other positions. Dantalian, you'll be the Minister of Law; Ange, you'll be the Minister of Commerce; Mira, you'll have to be a Grand Secretary for now; and Hana, you'll be the Minister of Agriculture for now."

As Zhuang Sen casually mentioned it, he directly named out the most important court positions, and even added an additional Minister of Agriculture who did not exist before. Miss Hana was surprised and frightened, but she was not as frightened and angry as the original ministers who were kicked out at once.

While in theory, court positions can be given to whomever the ruler wants, it's like "the king can kill whomever he wants." Theoretically, it's not wrong, but in reality, it depends on the specific target. Generally speaking, those who can rise to the position of minister have a certain amount of power. Even if they want to remove someone, it's either by finding something to hold against them or by exchanging benefits for a peaceful replacement, rather than just changing people on a whim.

Even for a newly appointed official, this practice of placing subordinates in positions of power is extremely undignified and disregards the rules.

But seeing Celine Anser still holding her longsword and standing before Zhuang Sen, and seeing Zhuang Sen's nonchalant smile, the ministers remained silent. Forget it, there's no need to go against Zhuang Sen for such a small position. It's just a few dollars anyway; offending Zhuang Sen, who clearly has the king's support, for such a small amount of money is not worth it.

Moreover, humph, once Zhuang Sen's mistresses mess things up, he will naturally have to come back to beg these experienced old ministers for help. Anyone can do the job of a minister.

The ministers silently comforted themselves. Zhuang Sen did not continue the pursuit. The rest could be left to his lovely wives. They were not just decorative objects, and they would not line their own pockets like these old men—because their pockets belonged to Zhuang Sen.

After forcefully dismantling the troublesome old man, Zhuang Sen turned back to Princess Celine: "Please excuse my rudeness, Your Highness, please have a seat."

Ange had already made arrangements. As soon as Zhuang Sen spoke, someone offered Princess Celine a seat. The Zhanxing guards also dispersed, with most of them retreating to the shadows in the hall. Only two female guards remained by Princess Celine's side, seemingly as her personal bodyguards. One of them was the one who had handed Princess Celine the sword and scroll earlier.

Celine took her seat and smiled at Johnson across Hana, saying, "No, Your Excellency, I'm glad you don't mind that I disturbed you. It was just that my father's orders were urgent, so I had no choice but to be so rude. Therefore, Your Excellency, please don't be distracted by Celine and continue with your work."

Zhuang Sen raised an eyebrow, understanding Celine's unspoken meaning: she wanted to speak with him alone... What exactly did this princess want? She had proactively written to him and cooperated in putting on such a good show, greatly boosting Zhuang Sen's prestige; surely she couldn't be someone who was naturally inclined to help others?

Never mind, let's continue with the plan.

Zhuang Sen's smile never stopped. He then turned downwards, and the nobles, who were already trembling with fear, felt Zhuang Sen's gaze and almost all of them shivered. They clearly sensed Zhuang Sen's malice, and their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, finally died.

Zhuang Sen did it on purpose after all...

“Viscount Ranier, according to multiple accusations, you disregarded my previous injunction, arbitrarily provoked a battle with Baron Pohm, Baron Lotte, and others, and illegally seized multiple tracts of land. Do you admit to this?”

Viscount Ranier, sweating profusely, stepped forward, attempting to explain: "Your Excellency... it's because those lands were originally..."

Zhuang Sen rudely interrupted him: "So you're admitting it, right? Fine, my Minister of Justice, how should this situation be handled according to the law?"

The former Minister of Law subconsciously raised his head, but Dantalian behind Zhuang Sen had already spoken coldly: "Viscount Lanier has attacked fellow nobles without authorization, illegally seized land, killed and injured more than three hundred people, and violated the lord's decree. According to the law, he should be stripped of his title and beheaded."

Viscount Ranier's pupils dilated, and he angrily demanded, "Zhuang Sen, you—"

boom!

The holy spear pierced Viscount Lanier's chest, which shimmered with a soft yellow light, silencing his rebuke. Dantalian's holy light faded, and she spoke with an even more solemn expression: "To call a lord by his name and to attempt to assassinate him, kill him on the spot."

The vengeful priestess's cold gaze swept over the indignant nobles, her voice filled with sarcasm: "Do any of you have any objections? Or is there something wrong with the law I stated?"

The nobles all lowered their heads, not daring to say a word. After all, that was indeed the law, but the problem was, who would actually apply the law to nobles? Besides, Viscount Ranier was a vassal of the Leon family for generations, serving them loyally from the very first generation!

It's truly disheartening that things ended up like this!

Not only did the nobles think so, but even Princess Celine glanced at Zhuang Sen and began to have some doubts.

At that moment, Johnson called out again, "Viscount Potter, are you there?"

A middle-aged man with brown hair stepped out from the crowd and knelt on one knee before Zhuang Sen with some trepidation: "Your Excellency, Earl."

Everyone held their breath, waiting to see what crazy thing Zhuang Sen would do next.

However, Johnson smiled and said, “Viscount Potter, you have done very well during this time. You have not only been dutiful but also acted for justice, stopping several unjust wars. You deserve a reward. Well then, I will grant you the land west of Mount Lanier, up to the second ferry crossing on the Springwater River.”

"what?"

Viscount Potter was quite surprised. He had prepared himself to accept the punishment of having part of his territory taken away. After all, he had fought a few battles with his neighbors recently. Although he was not invading others, but rather interfering with their expansion to prevent them from becoming stronger... well, this could be considered upholding justice, right?

"Viscount Potter, are you dissatisfied?"

Zhuang Sen's teasing words made Viscount Potter shudder. He immediately declared with righteous indignation, "I dare not! I am merely astonished by Your Excellency's generosity. I never expected that my humble act would receive such a precious reward. I was momentarily stunned!"

Zhuang Sen was amused by Viscount Potter: "You don't like it? Then I'll give you another reward?"

Viscount Potter immediately replied, "I cannot refuse such a gift from the Lord! Thank you for your kindness, Earl!"

Zhuang Sen raised his hand and pointed at Viscount Potter, laughing, "I didn't expect Viscount Potter to be so humorous. Well then, let's leave it at that... Lanier, do you have any objections?"

Lanier remained silent, seemingly having no objections.

Zhuang Sen nodded and continued, "Very good, then, Nia."

Nia stepped down from Hana's arms, came to Zhuang Sen's side, and bowed slightly: "My lord."

“In the name of Count Leon,” Johnson raised his longsword and placed it on Nia’s shoulder, “I bestow upon you Mount Lanier, Mount Stone, Mount Lighttop, and the earth, water and people surrounding them. From this day forward, you shall be the Viscount of the Three Mountains.”

After swinging her sword three times, Nia did not get up. Instead, she respectfully took Zhuang Sen's hand and kissed his fingertips: "At your service, my dear sir."