The violin melody floated on top, underpinned by the sounds of the silver flute and clarinet, and finally grounded by the soothing cello music with a Carson Rick flavor; this was the typical style of Carson Rick dance music.
The entire first floor of the Rothschild Manor mansion had been opened up as the banquet venue, with the main hall, which occupied a quarter of the first floor's area, serving as the primary banquet space, having been prepared specifically for such events.
It was still early; Princess Margaret had not yet given her farewell speech, and gentlemen and ladies in exquisite gowns under the crystal chandeliers were enjoying the moment.
Xia De, whose carson rick was not very good, followed Mr. Bernhardt and found his friends by the long table.
They were Vampires with small bats hanging above their heads, about seven or eight of them when counted, all dressed in white shirts and black formal wear, but each had different accessories such as pocket watches or badges.
They each held red wine, and as Mr. Bernhardt approached, they loudly discussed this autumn's grape harvest.
Similar to their Vampire kin in Middelburg, most local Vampires also ran liquor businesses; in fact, most people in the local wine guild had Vampire backgrounds, and Xia De believed this was related to the deity they worshipped.
"Oh, look who's here?"
A middle-aged man with a rugged beard, looking more like a bear-like Xenomorph creature than a Vampire, loudly greeted Mr. Bernhardt:
"Armand, when did you return from Middelburg? Is business going smoothly?"
"I returned two weeks ago. As for business? Oh, the Peers s in that mountain City don't really welcome me."
Mr. Bernhardt also smiled and embraced him, then patted Xia De's shoulder and introduced him to everyone:
"Everyone, this is my friend, from Delarion.
Although he's not one of us, he's on our side."
Although the introduction was subtle, everyone understood his words.
"Good evening, gentlemen."
Xia De said in carson rick, actively shaking hands with these gentlemen, and from this, he determined that most of them were low-Ring術士s, with only one being a PentaCircle.
In comparison, the seven-Ring術士 Mr. Bernhardt was the highest level, which finally made sense why he was sent to perform the autumn mission in Middelburg.
Mr. Bernhardt had a high reputation locally, so Xia De, as his friend, was also warmly welcomed.
People asked him about interesting stories from Delarion, praised his appearance, and marveled at the exquisite craftsmanship of his formal wear.
Mr. Bernhardt was also pleased to see his friend welcomed; he picked up two glasses of red wine from a waiter's tray, handed one to Xia De, and then spoke:
"Are there any interesting things in the City recently? I've been recovering from injuries since I came back. Yes, I encountered some things in Mi Fort, so I'm not very clear about the recent interesting events in the City."
As he spoke, he tapped the glass with his ring, then winked at Xia De.
Xia De knew that Mr. Bernhardt's ruby ring was actually an alchemical item he made himself, which could make the wine taste like blood.
"Interesting things?"
The old gentleman, referred to as "Earl Ronan" by Mr. Bernhardt, raised his glass and clinked it with the latter.
This old gentleman held a gold-plated cane, wore three gem rings on the five fingers of his right hand, and the buttons on his black coat looked like pure silver, each with a subtle bat pattern.
But this appearance, far from being obtrusive, instead conveyed a sense of understated luxury:
"Yesterday, Earl Sachia died not far from here at the White King Club; the murderer was his lover."
Earl Ronan said, and Mr. Bernhardt slowly nodded:
"That's truly surprising."
Xia De echoed:
"Very surprising. I didn't expect the public security in Huntington City to be so poor."
"It's not that the local public security is bad; there's actually a hidden story behind this."
Earl Ronan lowered his voice slightly and raised an eyebrow at Xia De:
"Sir, you've just arrived here, so your information might not be very well-informed. It's said that the Church also caught someone yesterday, someone from Pantanal."
He blinked, and Mr. Bernhardt showed a knowing expression:
"It's them, then. How bold."
As he spoke, he also explained the meaning of people from Pantanal to the "ignorant" Xia De beside him.
"What do they want to do?"
Baron York, whose hair was tied in a small braid at the back of his head, asked while holding his wine glass, trying to clink his glass against Mr. Bernhardt's ring, but the latter smiled and dodged it.
This time, it was Viscount Ramadi, who looked like a bear-man, who answered him.
The Viscount's voice was quite refined, completely unfitting his appearance:
"I have heard some news, but I can't guarantee its truthfulness."
Everyone looked around twice, and then the Viscount lowered his voice:
"It's said to be related to the Pantanal Heart.
There are many rumors in the Great Swamp now, and Earl Sachia's herb business, his reach was too long, blocking paths that shouldn't have been blocked."
"What is the Pantanal Heart?"
Xia De wondered inwardly, but before he could ask, Baron York, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, spoke again:
"Speaking of which, I have another piece of news, and this is exclusive news, even the Church doesn't know it.
The Truth Society, yes, that academic organization further south, has sent people here, reportedly looking for something."
Xia De was startled:
"Truth Society?"
He almost blurted it out but managed to stop himself in time.
Mr. Bernhardt nervously tapped the floor twice with his leather shoe and drained the red wine in his hand:
"Truth Society?"
He tried to keep his voice low, his sharp eyes narrowed, and wrinkles appeared on his somewhat pale forehead:
"I also encountered these madmen in Mi Fort.
What are they doing here?
Are they related to the people from Pantanal?"
"No relation. Academic organizations like the Truth Society look down on the country bumpkins from the Great Swamp, considering them uncultured."
Viscount York said with a smile, and everyone around them chuckled, Xia De also joined in with a coordinated laugh.
Even among Ring術士s, there was a chain of discrimination.
"The Truth Society only sent three people, accompanied by a clergyman from a vigorous illegal religious group that worships an incorrect deity.
They found me in the black market, bought some special medicines, inquired about this banquet, and bought four invitations at a high price.
Those people are really rich."
This "drug dealer" casually revealed information about his customers:
"I haven't seen them yet, but they will definitely come."
Xia De immediately scanned his surroundings, then heard someone ask again:
"How did they get involved with evil, ahem, I mean, illegal cultists again?"
This time, Mr. Bernhardt provided the answer:
"The Truth Society suffered greatly in the Middelburg incident; most of the professors they sent out were almost completely wiped out for illegal solicitation.
Moreover, they have always been open to collaborating with illegal elements, after all, most illegal elements are not as crazy as they are."
Because they belonged to the same race, these Vampires trusted each other, gathering to exchange local news using metaphors that ordinary people could not understand.
During this time, Xia De quietly listened, taking down the content.
However, the Vampires' diet was somewhat different from that of normal people, so they all took some fruits and vegetables on their plates and did not touch the meat.
Xia De, having no acquaintances, did not wander around, even when he saw a crowd gathered in a corner of the hall playing rhode cards, he did not rashly go over to join the fun.
However, a middle-aged priest wearing the Peace Church holy emblem on his chest came over midway to shake hands with Mr. Bernhardt; he seemed to be an acquaintance of Mr. Bernhardt's.
At this point, the other Vampires tacitly changed the topic to donating to the Huntington City orphanage and welfare home at the local church, in the name of the Huntington City Wine Industry Association, before the first snow.
It seemed they had completely integrated into the lives of ordinary people.
Xia De did not actively talk to strangers, but someone did come to strike up a conversation with Xia De.
It was a group of local noble young ladies gathered together, smiling and pushing one of them, a girl in a red dress, to hand Xia De a handkerchief.
Only after Xia De took it did he realize it had an address and name on it.
Looking at the girl again, she had already shyly rejoined her friends.
Seeing Xia De's surprised expression, the "drug dealer" Baron York chuckled and teased again:
"Our Huntington girls have always been so warm and bold.
That seemed to be the daughter of the McDonald family just now; she's a very good marriage prospect, their vineyard is even larger than Bernhardt's."
"But the quality of their wine cannot compare to mine! The red wine produced by the Bernhardt family is sweeter than a virgin's blood!"
Mr. Bernhardt immediately retorted, and everyone around them laughed and teased, but they also did not deny that the quality of his family's wine was very good.
Xia De, however, looked at the handkerchief, then touched his face; he had no habit of casually provoking strange girls.
When the clock tower in the City center struck seven times, Princess Margaret Anjou, wearing a blue princess gown and a silver crown, finally appeared on the platform above the stairs, accompanied by the accompanying Weilandale nobles.
As the magnesium flash strips of the newspaper cameras continuously burst, the music stopped, and the talking in the banquet hall also ceased abruptly.
Xia De held his wine glass and, along with these rather upper-class and dignified Vampires, looked at the princess with light golden long hair, standing high up, illuminated by the surrounding gas lamps, as if her entire body was glowing.
She did not take out a speech manuscript but began to speak directly.
"Citizens of Carson Rick, I, on behalf of the Anjou Royal Family and the 1853 Tobesk visiting delegation, deliver this speech at this moment.
Peace has reigned in the Old Continent for nearly a century, and the friendly relations between Delarion and Carson Rick, since my ancestor, the great Corleon I, have continued—"
"Sir."
Xia De was looking up at The Lady when a young lady's voice came from behind him.
Turning to look, he found it was a girl dressed as a maid.
This was a Ring術士 with witch powers; Xia De had seen her before, when he met Miss Silvia at the Owl Club, she was serving beside Miss Silvia:
"The Lady wants to see you."
The maid whispered, Xia De nodded, then said to Mr. Bernhardt:
"The Lady has some matters for me; I'll be back in a moment."
"Be careful."
Mr. Bernhardt patted Xia De's shoulder with some concern, then watched Xia De follow the maid, gradually moving away through the crowd.
