Under Stanford's arrangement, Alvis and his bodyguard Marek boarded a mail ship bound for Northwest Bay, where a convoy would escort him to Lakeheart Town.
The two, who had always lived inland, were amazed by the large ship that could sail without oarsmen. Alvis, being a scholar, was intrigued and asked the sailors on the mail ship in detail about the principles of sailing. There was no need to keep this a secret, and the crew liked the distinguished yet kind old man very much, so they answered him without reservation.
After several days of sailing, the mail ship arrived at Port Franklin. Alvis, who stepped onto the dock, was amazed by the prosperity of the place. The more learned a person is, the more they rely on existing knowledge to observe and understand the world. In Alvis's previous geographical knowledge, Northwest Bay was a primitive, backward, and closed place. However, what he saw with his own eyes was completely different from the records in the books.
When they arrived at Lakeheart Town, a grand wedding was taking place.
On this day, Paul and Catherine, the Glaeman and Rodney families, the lords of the Northwest and the royal family of Crystal Radiance, have forged an even stronger and more secure bond.
The mission Stanford sent was not only to protect Alvis, but also to represent Stanford and the North Three Territories in presenting gifts and best wishes to the lord on his wedding day.
Lords Manor in Lakeheart Town has been freshly painted inside and out, exuding a blend of luxury and solemnity, showcasing the glory and status of the only marquess in the Kingdom of Aldor. A newlywed couple will travel from here by carriage to the church in Lakeheart Town for their formal wedding ceremony.
Lakeheart Town Beneath the soaring dome of the Grand Cathedral, stained-glass windows let in dappled light, illuminating the ornately decorated altar. Catherine, dressed in a long silk gown embroidered with gold thread, wearing a jeweled crown and holding a bouquet of lilies symbolizing purity, and Paul, in a magnificent suit embroidered with their family crest and with an exquisitely decorated knight's sword at his waist, walked hand in hand to the altar and, under the auspices of Bishop Leonard, became husband and wife.
The guests, dressed in finery and adorned with jewelry, whispered among themselves. The air was filled with the fragrance of spices and flowers, and solemn prayers echoed through the church. After the ceremony, the guests moved to the Lords Manor Castle Hall to enjoy a sumptuous banquet. The tables were laden with delicious dishes and exquisite desserts. Musicians played melodious tunes, and dancers performed graceful dances. The entire celebration would last for several days, a display of extreme luxury and joy.
The highest-ranking guest at the wedding was Rodney XVIII of the Kingdom of Aldor. His last visit to Northwest Bay was at the behest of the previous king, Rodney. Now, as king, he was revisiting the place. The speed of development in Northwest Bay was beyond anyone's imagination. In just a few years, it had become a place that Rodney XVIII would never recognize.
The men sent by Stanford requested a private audience with the lord, and their request was granted. They met Paul Greiman, who was still in his formal attire.
They relayed the blessings from the military and political leaders of the North Three Territories to Paul's wedding, and then explained Alvis's situation.
"This is truly an unexpected thing, Gabella..." "People from Scholars Tower?" Paul recalled years ago when a Scholar named Mond Landon, also from Scholars Tower, came to Northwest Bay demanding a teenager suspected of rioting. In exchange, Mond promised to recommend his classmates to work at Alda. Later, several Scholars did come, and they played a significant role in Alda's severe shortage of talent at the time.
Unexpectedly, the number two person in Scholars Tower also came to my place.
Paul summoned his servant and instructed him, "Protect Master Alvis's safety. I will meet with him as soon as possible."
The following afternoon, Alvis was invited into Lords Manor and met Paul Greiman in the meeting room.
"I can tell, Lord Glaeman, that you had a wonderful night!"
Although Alvis is over fifty years old, he is in good spirits, has an elegant demeanor, and speaks tactfully without losing his wit.
At this moment, Paul was radiant and had a rosy complexion. He and Catherine had just completed a major stage in their lives, and both of them had grown a lot.
The young marquis smiled slightly and gestured toward the sofa. "Please sit, Master Alvis."
After they were both seated, Paul said, "I have heard of your deeds. As an Aldor, or rather, as a human, I deeply admire your willingness to stand on the side of all humanity. Alas, how wonderful it would be if the human nations could unite to destroy the orcs! Unfortunately, in reality, there are always various things that make me wary of each other and even fight amongst myself, giving these bandits an opportunity to plunder the poor civilians. By the way, is there anything else you would like to add regarding the matter between the new Emperor Gabella and the orcs?"
Alvis nodded. "Over the past few years, I have been studying the many strange things that have happened in Northwest Bay and even Aldor. I have a feeling that you—Marquis Paul Greiman —are the driving force behind all of this, or perhaps it is more appropriate to use the analogy of the core of a vortex."
Paul raised an eyebrow, a mixture of surprise and pride in his expression. "You flatter me, Scholar Alvis. The real driving force is the masses of people living on this land. I was just going with the flow."
Alvis smiled slightly. "Because of all that, after arriving in Aldor, I didn't go to see your king, but instead sought out you— Marquis Glaeman. I believe only you have the ability to resolve the crisis we are facing. Now, let's get back to the main topic. The matter concerning Emperor Antonio Griffin of Gabella is not as simple as you know it."
"Oh? I'd like to hear more about it!"
" The orc invasion that Aldor suffered was directly caused by the peace treaty between Emperor Gabella and the orc Great Chieftain. This peace treaty came at the cost of Aldor. The emperor used his informants who had infiltrated the kingdom. Because of their covert cooperation, the orcs' attack was so successful that they even brought the entire northeastern territory of the kingdom under their rule."
Not a single mistake, not a single song, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single 6-9 book, not a single bar, take a look!
"In fact, Gabella is not incapable of defeating the orcs. The reason why the emperor was so eager to make peace, even to the point of activating his long-dormant agents, was because his power was not yet secure. There were many people in Gabella who were resisting him, and he had to spare the time to deal with them first."
Paul asked, "Could it be... that his power did not come from a legitimate source?"
Alvis confirmed, "Yes!"