A beautiful glass holds a glass of bright red wine, and a fragrant aroma wafts from it.
On the dining table, a huge pile of food was laid out in front of Green alone: foie gras, spiced stewed meat, truffles, and a whole host of other precious ingredients, filling the entire table. There were also some meats that Green had never seen before.
Green couldn't help but shift his gaze to the three young women accompanying him. Even in a noble restaurant, such extravagance was unheard of; at most, it would be white bread with some stewed meat. Such a lavish meal would likely come at a price for these three young women.
It's unclear whether it was their own decision or an arrangement by their elders.
The restaurant had a quiet atmosphere. Noble etiquette required that people be quiet while dining, but at this time, most of the people dining in the noble restaurant were young men and women who had just come down from the training ground, and they did not strictly abide by this rule.
Inside the restaurant, while Green was engrossed in his meal, everyone else was preoccupied with something else entirely. Assiell, Ella, and Mia, who were dining with Green, each harbored their own secret thoughts. Those at other tables were also subtly focusing their attention on Green's table; gossip is universal, and even nobles are not immune.
"With three people competing, who do you think will win in the end?"
"I don't know, but Mia probably doesn't have much of a chance. She comes from a poor background and isn't good-looking. She's not a good match for Green at all."
"I think Asheville is the most likely candidate. Judging from Asheville's actions, he's almost right up against Green. He probably can't resist!"
"Don't jump to conclusions so early. Green has such great potential, maybe the Baron will marry Lilith to him."
"Yes, Lilith is also a possibility. Green said at the training ground that she will soon receive Old Green's inheritance and can learn the breathing technique ahead of time. Green's potential is definitely very high. The Baron might marry Lilith to Green."
The people present formed small groups and whispered among themselves. Their voices weren't loud, but for the three girls who had been paying close attention to the outside world, the conversation around them couldn't escape their ears. If the three girls were able to keep their composure at first, their expressions turned grim when Lilith appeared in the conversation.
Lilith is Baron Crowe's eldest daughter, and her status is completely different from others. If the Baron really decides to marry Lilith to Green, they will have virtually no chance of competing with each other.
Just as the dining hall was filled with an eerie atmosphere, a commotion suddenly erupted at the castle gates. The baron and the captain of the guard, who had gone to explore the Annapurna Mountains, had returned with their entourage. Attention was immediately diverted, and most of the nobles who were dining put down their knives and forks and headed for the door.
The news from the Baron and the Captain of the Guard will determine whether war breaks out on this land. If not, all will be well, and we can continue living peacefully. If war is about to break out, a series of changes will likely occur within the castle.
"Let's go see what the Baron brought back!" Without waiting for the three girls' agreement, Green wiped his mouth with a napkin and quickly left the restaurant. The three girls exchanged glances, but ultimately followed Green out of the restaurant.
Upon returning to the castle, Baron Clod and Captain Oss of the Guards immediately summoned the nobles to the top floor of the central building to discuss matters.
The guards who had gone with them remained where they were, awaiting Baron Crowe's orders. All the guards were put on a gag order, and were forbidden from revealing what had happened during the investigation until the Baron gave the order.
Seeing that he couldn't get any information from the guards, Green bid farewell to the three women and returned to the VIP reception room.
The three women also realized that something was clearly wrong. After saying goodbye to Green, they prepared to ask their mother what had happened.
As Green expected, upon returning to the VIP reception room, he didn't see Old Green. While others might not know, Green was very clear that Old Green wasn't as frail as he appeared, and Baron Crowe, the castle's owner, should also be aware of this. If war were to break out, Old Green would be a significant asset. Old Green should have already retrieved the goods from the warehouse; his disappearance likely meant he had been summoned by the Baron.
However, now that Green is no longer with his father, Green can only wait patiently.
The sound of the door being pushed open came from inside. Green, who had been pacing around the room, immediately turned to look at the door.
Old Green entered with a serious expression, but upon seeing Green, a smile appeared on his face, masking his serious demeanor.
"Old Green, what exactly happened?" Green asked his father directly, getting straight to the point.
Old Green did not answer Green's question. He simply walked slowly to his bedside, pondered for a while, and then looked at Green seriously.
"The situation is not good. The Baron and his men found a lot of footprints and some military supplies at the place where you discovered the fire. It is very likely that it is an scout team from the Kingdom of Saladin," Old Green said worriedly.
Green also fell silent, and for a moment the entire room became quiet.
"But don't worry, there shouldn't be any war this year or next, at least not the year after. The Kingdom of Saladin probably hasn't fully explored the passage yet. The lord-level beasts in the Annapurna Mountains pose a huge threat to their march. By the time Saladin's reconnaissance team was discovered, judging from the military and living supplies left behind, at least two-thirds of the men had already been lost." Old Green comforted Green.
"Reconnaissance teams are usually elites in the military. If even they suffer such heavy losses, it will be even more difficult for ordinary troops to cross the Annapurna Mountains. We still have some peace to enjoy. Moreover, the final exit may not necessarily be in the baron's territory."
Green breathed a sigh of relief. As long as war didn't break out immediately, he would have more time to develop.
"You should rest well these few days. I will teach you the breathing technique in a few days."
"Hmm," Green knew that the most important thing now was breathing techniques. After promising Old Green, Green almost never went out in the next few days, staying in his room to rest except for mealtimes.