NOVPUB
Chapter 971: Chapter 971: The Orphan of the North Sea
Julius Reed’s heart was somewhat unsettled.
Before his memory loss, he had been an emotionless machine.
Having lived for tens of thousands of years, he saw through the fickleness of human nature and tasted all that the Mortal World offered.
He had long forgotten what emotions even were.
Back then, his preference for Isabella Warm was because everyone in the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance flattered him without a shred of sincerity.
Only Isabella Warm would occasionally show her temper and act willfully.
It was her capriciousness that made Julius Reed feel that Demarco Mount still had a touch of human warmth.
He was incredibly tolerant of this personal servant who had defied him on numerous occasions.
Even when...
Even when the Divine Dragon Tripod was lost, he did not blame Isabella Warm.
"Lillian Tompson, when the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance rebelled, did you know about it?"
Julius Reed calmed his heart and asked aloud.
This was the matter he cared about most!
"I didn’t know."
Lillian Tompson shook her head, again adopting a respectful demeanor: "I have been long stationed at Demarco Mount and was completely unaware of what was happening. Only when the chaos erupted did we realize something was amiss. However, there is one thing I must report to you."
"Speak."
Julius Reed stood up and began pacing back and forth in the room.
He couldn’t tell if Lillian Tompson’s words were true or false, but he had to listen.
He had to ask.
"Isabella Warm fled Demarco Mount without authorization before your incident occurred. Moreover, half a year ago, she was in close contact with those who betrayed you."
Lillian Tompson’s expression was exceedingly serious, and her tone somewhat low: "I descended from the mountain because I wanted to investigate this matter. If it truly involves her, I would lay down my life if necessary to execute her!"
Silence.
The room was completely quiet.
Julius Reed knew about these things.
They matched the findings of Cold Nelson’s investigation.
Lillian Tompson, she hadn’t lied.
But this didn’t prove that Isabella Warm had betrayed him.
Julius Reed didn’t believe what others said; he only took it as a reference.
The lord of the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance had his own judgment.
"Yet you, you still descended from the mountain."
Julius Reed sat back down on the couch with a faint smile, "Do you know the reasons the other two left the mountain?"
He waved his hand, his mood significantly calmer: "You better not tell me they had the same idea as you, both determined to find Isabella Warm and seek revenge on my behalf."
All four personal servants were away from Demarco Mount.
Now with only Lillian Tompson showing up, the other three...
Julius Reed felt very confused.
He had originally thought it was a simple uprising!
An uprising against his rule.
If only he regained his power and executed the traitors, he could regain control of the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance.
But now, it seemed internal issues were the most critical!
"Grace River..."
As Lillian Tompson spoke, she looked up at Julius Reed: "My lord, Grace River has a puppet in the capital. I think you might know."
"Speak!"
Julius Reed tensed up once more.
Grace River ranked second.
Among the four personal servants, she was the most beautiful.
To call her a nation-toppling beauty was no exaggeration.
More critically, Grace River managed all of Julius Reed’s daily needs, including the tea he drank and the food he ate, all personally handled by Grace River.
She was in charge of internal affairs.
Logically speaking, apart from Isabella Warm, Grace River was the most likely to poison Julius Reed.
Moreover, as personal servants, they were well aware of Julius Reed’s capabilities.
Ordinary poisons could never harm the lord.
"Ivan Reed."
Lillian Tompson raised her head, her expression resolute: "Since we left the mountain, we acted separately. The main focus of the investigation was naturally on Isabella Warm. However, in the capital, I accidentally came across Grace River. Ivan Reed is her puppet!"
"Ivan Reed!"
Julius Reed couldn’t stay seated; he stood up and paced back and forth in the room.
In Gonzalez City, he already knew that someone was pulling Ivan Reed’s strings from behind the scenes.
But he hadn’t expected that the mastermind behind it all was Grace River!
"Are you certain?"
He pointed at Lillian Tompson: "If you dare lie..."
"I dare not!"
Lillian Tompson raised her head, her gaze firm, "My life was given by His Holiness. Even if Lillian Tompson betrays herself, she wouldn’t dare betray you. I established the Armin Levis Group with the intention of using an extensive network to investigate Isabella Warm’s whereabouts. However, I didn’t expect to encounter Grace River in the capital."
"You’ve seen her?"
Julius Reed looked up, staring at the ceiling.
"No, but there can be no mistake." Lillian Tompson continued, "We both know of each other’s existence and have been investigating the whereabouts of Isabella Warm. Several days ago, when Grace River left the capital via the sea route, I suspect she may have discovered Isabella Warm’s trail."
Since the day Grace River disappeared, she had been arranging for people to investigate.
But to no avail.
Ivan Reed was heavily guarded, and her people had no way to penetrate the defenses.
"Good! Very good!"
Julius Reed was somewhat agitated, "If you are indeed innocent, I will spare you from death. You, Lillian Tompson, will remain my personal maid, enjoying all the glory and riches!"
As he said this, he seemed to recall something.
"That person from Gonzalez City... could it be Eliezer Pine?"
Eliezer Pine was ranked first and had been Julius Reed’s personal maid the longest.
Among the four, she held the greatest power.
Anyone visiting Demarco Mount had to go through Eliezer Pine.
The most crucial point!
The Wolf Cavalry could be mobilized only by Eliezer Pine.
Even though she did not have the authority.
But at Demarco Mount, Eliezer Pine represented His Holiness!
She was the shadow of His Holiness.
"Gonzalez City? I have no knowledge of it."
Lillian Tompson frowned, maintaining her kneeling position, "I knew Grace River was in the capital, but before I left, Eldest Sister had always been at Demarco Mount. It was her idea that I descend the mountain."
Among the four maids, Eliezer Pine was undeniably the eldest sister.
Affable in nature, modest in character.
Though she was of similar age to the others, she was extremely composed in her actions.
She had a very good relationship with the other three.
"Eliezer Pine let you leave the mountain? Doesn’t she know that leaving the mountain without permission is a path to certain death?"
Julius Reed asked sternly.
"If I didn’t leave the mountain, and if something truly unfortunate had happened to you, we would all be dead just the same," Lillian Tompson replied, looking straight at Julius Reed.
A monarch’s reign brings new faces to his court.
If the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance were to reshuffle, could they hope to survive?
"One last question!"
Julius Reed walked to the doorway and said indifferently, "When did you learn that I wasn’t dead? After finding out, why did you continue to hide and skulk around?"
If she hadn’t betrayed him, why act so sneakily?
Even today at this meeting, why the avoidance?
"The laws of the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance dictate that leaving Demarco Mount without permission leads to certain death."
Lillian Tompson’s head touched the ground, "I only learned of your survival when the Sealing Dragon Platform lit up. Grace River must have learned about it around the same time as I did. Another thing, there were rumors that you had lost your memory."
She spoke gravely, "I wasn’t sure if you could recognize me. On the northwest road, I had sent people to test, precisely because of this reason."
"You knew I had lost my memory?"
Julius Reed turned sharply around.
"Of course."
Lillian Tompson raised her head, "Not just me, Grace River knew as well."
"On what basis! What makes you think that I lost my memory?"
Julius Reed crouched down, his gaze piercing.
"Quella Radcliffe’s close friend Anna Harris is an orphan from The North Sea. When Ian Jorden was killed in battle, and you obliterated The North Sea during your vengeance, she escaped by being dispatched to Thunderpeak Hall. Afterward, she vanished from the Mortal World."
Lillian Tompson put her hands on her chest, answering respectfully, "However, my intelligence placed her by your side. Upon Ian Jorden’s death, you vowed not to leave a single bloodline of The North Sea’s royal court alive. Yet with The North Sea’s princess before you, you remained indifferent and even took her side. Is there a better explanation?"
"Who!"
Julius Reed clenched his fists tightly.
Fragments of memory surged into his brain once more!
"Hiss!"
Julius Reed leaned against the wall, holding his head.
The scenes from The North Sea back then were gradually becoming clearer.
PS: It’s so hot! I’ve been planting corn until night, and after writing three Chapters, I couldn’t stay awake anymore.
I had to sleep for half an hour, set an alarm, and get up to continue writing the fourth Chapter.
I’m so exhausted, and I have to continue planting corn tomorrow...
I hope everyone can save food; it’s really tough.
