Chapter 516: 514 Banquet (Part 2)_1
 

Bright candlelight, majestic guards, beautiful maids, and countless delicious dishes weave together a portrait of a high noble’s night banquet.

However, the expressions on the everyone’s faces in the portrait seem unusual, as if they’ve heard some incredibly shocking news.

Moreover, their gaze was all focused on Colin, as if they wanted to ask something but dared not speak up.

Colin picked up a silver wine pot, poured himself a glass of red wine, elegantly lifting it, gently swirling it a few times, then drank it all in one gulp.

“Good wine!”

Finally, Count Morrison came back to his senses, forcibly suppressing his inner rage and confusion, and asked in a deep voice:

“Count Angler, Floral City is the territory of the Morrison Family, on what grounds do you order the Blood Knight Army to take over?”

“On what grounds?” Colin sneered coldly, clapped his hands, and said, “Bring it up!”

Immediately, four guards carried a long object into the banquet hall.

Everyone quickly cast curious eyes, but a black veil covered the object and they could not see what it was.

Thud!

The guards set the object upright in the middle of the hall and then unveiled the black veil.

Whoosh——

It turned out to be a crystal coffin!

Through the transparent coffin lid, one could clearly see an exceedingly ugly corpse inside.

Unusual body shape, severe hunchback, large hands and feet, skewed mouth, prominent cheekbones…

If ugliness is a sin, the owner of this corpse could be considered thoroughly guilty.

However, everyone was immediately puzzled because they didn’t recognize this person at all.

Only Franco’s eyes slightly narrowed, as if he had confirmed something, his lips tightly pursed, saying nothing.

“Count Angler, who is this person?” Count Morrison forced himself to ask with patience.

Colin raised her eyebrows and said: “Count Morrison, isn’t your family famous for producing these deformed children? How come you don’t recognize this one?”

“Count Angler!” Count Morrison was panting heavily, his face flushed, but he still forced himself to calm down.

There was no way around it, the ferocity of the Blood Knight Army had been verified countless times. Since this terrifying army had already entered the city, Count Morrison naturally knew that his own troops could not compete. To surrender without causing too much casualties would be the best outcome.

In such circumstances, no matter how Count Angler’s words were insolent, and even insulting the Morrison Family, Count Morrison could only forcibly endure it.

“Count Angler, I have indeed never seen this person before.” Count Morrison gritted his teeth and said.

Colin laughed indifferently and said: “I believe you, Count Morrison. With such an ugly face, as long as you’ve seen it once, you definitely won’t forget it.

However, just because you haven’t seen him does not mean that other members of the Morrison Family have not.”

Saying so, Colin’s gaze swept over the faces of all the Morrison family members, asking:

“Do none of you recognize this person?”

There was silence.

Lady Nina couldn’t help but speak up: “Count Angler, who is this person? What crime did they commit? And why are you so sure he is connected to the Morrison family?”

“Lady Nina, you just married into the Morrison Family, and this matter has nothing to do with you, so you should just remain quiet.”

Nina frowned, about to speak again, when Colin’s gaze turned to Lady Grace and he asked:

“Lady Grace, you have been married into the Morrison family for more than fifty years, do you recognize this person?”

Lady Grace was Count Morrison’s grandmother. She was a member of the St. Hilde family by birth, which made her Vera’s great-aunt.

The old lady’s eyes flashed with an indescribable expression when she heard Colin’s question. It was some mix of guilt and disbelief.

“I recognize him.”

Count Morrison was taken aback, and couldn’t help but ask, “Grandmother, who is he?”

Lady Grace’s eyes shimmered with tears as she said firmly, “He’s my son, and also your uncle!”

Once these words were spoken, the hall suddenly fell silent.

Count Morrison was even more shocked, exclaimed, “Grandmother! What are you saying?”

Lady Grace did not pay attention to Count Morrison and continued her narrative:

“His name is Horus Morrison. He was born with congenital defects, and priests said he wouldn’t live long. Sure enough, when he was three years old, your grandfather told me that Horus had died.

I wasn’t too sad at the time, but felt relieved for him. The world was too cruel for him, and death was a relief.

But surprisingly… He actually… actually grew up…”

“Yes, not only did he grow up, but he also became a powerful mage,” Colin added.

At this point, everyone noticed that the corpse was dressed in a red mage robe.

Nina moved behind Lady Grace, gently patting the older woman’s back to soothe her grief, and asked:

“Count Angler, even if this person is a member of the Morrison Family, what wrongs has he committed to justify such a high-profile expedition to exact punishment?”

“What wrongs?” Colin chuckled, “Lady Grace, it seems you also don’t know what this mage Horus has done, right?”

Lady Grace shook her head, saying: “What did he do?”

Instead of answering the question, Colin asked aloud again: “So no one else here recognizes this mage Horus?”

Another silent moment passed.

Unable to resist, Count Morrison shouted out loud:

“Count Angler, no matter what this person has done, the Morrison Family has never been involved. You can’t exact punishment on Phoenix Butterfly Fort just because he’s a Morrison!”

“Never involved?” Colin scoffed, “What, all of you pretend not to know him?”

Choking, Count Morrison pulled out his long sword and fiercely plunged it into the table in front of him, growling:

“Count Angler, I swear on my life and knight’s honor, I’ve never met mage Horus, nor have I participated in any actions of his conspiracy!”

But Colin didn’t even glance at Count Morrison, coldly saying: “Play innocent? Do you think I have no idea what’s beneath the clock tower at the western corner of Phoenix Butterfly Fort?”

“The western clock tower?”

The people of the Morrison Family wore clueless expressions.

Only Franco’s pupils contracted dramatically.

This time, Colin caught that detail.

So, he slowly rose, paced to Franco, gazing into this man who had spent most of his life paralyzed, and said solemnly:

“Sir Franco, should I order my soldiers to tear down the clock tower and expose what’s beneath it to the world?”

With a sigh, Franco let go of the last bit of hope in his heart, saying:

“Count Angler, I indeed know Horus and some of his secrets. But all these things, Count Morrison and others in Phoenix Butterfly Fort, indeed have no knowledge about. If you need to blame someone, let all sins fall upon me.”

“Are you taking it all upon yourself?” Colin chuckled, “Is it that easy?”

Franco’s eyes filled with unwavering resolve, “Count Angler, you must have heard of ‘Wildfire’, haven’t you?”

“Of course.”

With a slightly neurotic smile, Franco said, “My younger brother, Horus, was quite adept at making such dangerous things, and the basement of Phoenix Butterfly Fort is buried with hundreds of his masterpieces.”

Colin’s eyes narrowed instantly: “Are you threatening me?”

“No.” Franco shook his head slowly, “I’m only suggesting you not to involve irrelevant people.”

“Irrelevant people?”

“Yes. As I’ve said, I alone will bear all the sins!”