NOVPUB"..."
Ursula's face turned deathly pale in an instant, her trembling lips unable to utter another word.
She wished she could escape from this treacherous place immediately.
Her brother truly seemed to have changed.
Ursula thought in despair.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks, dripping onto her gown and spreading in mottled stains.
"Ursula..."
Elsa looked at Ursula with concern, desperate to take her away as soon as possible.
As Ursula sank into the mire, Landry's voice broke the dead silence once again.
"What wrong has my student committed to deserve such treatment?"
Lanci questioned Marquis Ryan.
"Viscount Landry Washington, if you continue to make trouble here, I will either file a complaint with the Empire's military tribunal, accusing you of attempting to influence the families of high-ranking military officials, or simply challenge you to a traditional Cyrus duel for insulting nobility."
Marquis Ryan made no move, but his gaze was like that of a battlefield general focused on an enemy, prepared to execute at any moment.
Although the surrounding nobles could tell that Ryan likely wouldn't demean himself by initiating a duel with Professor Landry, if Landry didn't back down and beg for forgiveness now, he might genuinely risk his life.
This felt like a game of strategy; Ryan held infinite chips, while Landry had only limited ones. Thus, Ryan could continuously apply pressure to push Landry into a predicament.
"Have you heard of the South Continent Invincibles? I'd say this is the first time someone's considering suing me."
Lanci, hearing Ryan's words, instead seemed to ignite with energy.
As for the Cyrus-style duel, though it might decide life and death, in essence, it was meant to stop short of killing. According to the Empire's noble traditions, if no victor emerged within three minutes, the duel would end in reconciliation.
Professor Landry's completely unyielding attitude clearly surprised the other dignitaries.
They were aware that Professor Landry's rank might not be low, but compared to the Empire's War God, there was still a vast gulf between them on the scale of life and death.
Many secretly wished to witness this mysterious professor from Saint Kray Temple take action at least once. But if today's confrontation escalated into an ultimate showdown, it might feel too sudden for some.
"..."
Nela, the secretary who had followed Lanci, glanced sideways.
Landry was generally known as someone who avoided unnecessary trouble; she had sensed that the first time they met.
But he indeed cared deeply for his students, willing even to stand his ground against a War God without retreating.
Normally, even to protect a student, clashing head-on with a noble like Marquis Ryan would seem reckless and could easily provoke serious trouble.
In the end, Nela realized that despite his seemingly conflict-averse nature, this professor possessed many enigmatic qualities, yet his passionate and sincere heart was genuine. It's also why Nela had favored him during recent times.
The atmosphere within the banquet hall instantly became tense and electrified.
The nobles couldn't resist whispering among themselves, expressing confusion at Landry's actions.
Ursula's reckless and unruly behavior had long been an embarrassment to the Roland family, something even outsiders had never intervened in. For Landry Washington, a mere fallen noble, to publicly challenge the paramount authority of the Empire's War God, Marquis Ryan Roland, seemed a decidedly unwise move.
"Can it be that Landry harbors feelings for Miss Ursula?"
"After all, Landry fears nothing. Maybe he's actually attracted to a notorious heiress like her."
"He already has so many fiancées; what's one more? Putting aside Ursula's lousy temperament, her looks and talent still make her a prize."
Malicious gossip sprang up, with most present showing disdain for Ursula.
More and more gazes were drawn to them.
The electrifying confrontation between Marquis Ryan and Viscount Landry commanded everyone's attention, with many audibly swallowing nervously.
If these two truly tore into each other now, the commotion could potentially alarm even Duke Dex and Emperor Saint Baldo.
"Ryan, stop this!"
In the midst of the escalating stalemate, a young man with indigo hair squeezed through the crowd, stumbling as he rushed forward, addressing Ninth Army God Purple Crystal Ryan.
"Professor Landry, don't mind this fellow. He just cares about his sister deeply, which is why he always says things that go against his heart. Leave him to me."
The indigo-haired youth waved apologetically at Landry. 𝚗o𝚟pub.𝚌𝚘𝚖
"..."
Lanci turned his gaze toward the unexpected visitor.
The man was tall and draped in a flowing cloak resembling wings. The cloak fluttered softly, shimmering with interwoven light blue and white hues, akin to fragments peeled from the clouds above.
The ends of his cloak resembled angel wings, and each gentle gust of wind made it seem as though he might take flight at any moment. His light steps seemed almost unbound by gravity, as free and weightless as feathers drifting in the breeze.
His youthful face was brimming with vitality, and his neat indigo short hair glimmered faintly, its strands dancing in the air.
Nela, standing beside Lanci, was already stunned.
It was as if she hadn't anticipated seeing this person here—
The First Army God, Diamond Throne Hesintos.
If not for those familiar with him, many Empire citizens might pass by his side without realizing that he was the strongest national hero and leader of the Twelve War Gods of the contemporary Cerryti Empire.
"Hesintos... why are you here?"
Ryan furrowed his brow slightly, looking at Hesintos, who had stepped in to stop him.
"Violet invited me. You know it's the Moon Goddess Festival; how could I not come to Saint Kray Temple to offer Violet my blessings? We've been friends for nearly twenty years."
