After getting the marriage certificate, Li Jia and Serinda walked out of the auditorium. Xiao Chen and others who came out before them stood at the door, pointing their fingers to the sky and shooting various light balls and light bands. These magics, which only had light and shadow effects but no lethality, successfully created a festive atmosphere.
Surrounded by everyone, they walked towards the small garden behind the auditorium. They would hold a simple wedding reception there during lunch time. Since they had not been able to focus too much on eating and drinking since their time travel, the supply of ingredients was not very abundant, and most importantly, there were not enough condiments to cook. Therefore, it was too difficult to set up a round table for the wedding banquet, but a buffet was still possible.
Several long tables were placed around and in the middle of the garden, covered with linen tablecloths. Chef Lao He directed several apprentices to place piles of food on the tables. The majority of the dishes on the plates were meats and fish from the surrounding rivers, while the rest were mixed vegetables and various snacks.
Count Carlos used a fork to pick up a piece of rice cake and put it on his plate, watching the newlyweds walking among the crowd with their wine glasses. He nodded with satisfaction, took a bite of the rice cake and said to Guo Qian, "Chairman Guo, today is really a memorable day. Our alliance has taken a solid step forward."
"The alliance does not exist now, Your Excellency. I have said that today's wedding is about two young people loving each other freely, not about forming an alliance," said Guo Qian.
The Earl chewed a rice cake and shrugged, "Of course, I don't have the habit of using my daughter as a bargaining chip. However, you can see my sincerity from this. After all, no matter what your attitude is, I have already sent my daughter to your door. Even if you turn against me, my daughter is still Li Jia's wife. This is the rule of the nobility. I can only blame myself for my poor vision."
Guo Qian smiled and said, "You worry too much. We have never thought of becoming an enemy of the Earldom. On the contrary, our economic and trade cooperation has been going smoothly, right? And two days ago, you gave a speech at the enlarged meeting of the committee. I believe that the story of a pack of wolves killing a tiger that you told has touched some people. Please be patient. We still need some time to make a final decision."
"This is the difference between one person making a decision and many people making a decision. Your method may be less likely to make mistakes, but it is also more likely to lose opportunities." Count Carlos raised his eyebrows, and his upturned eyes revealed a sense of superiority that was trying to be concealed. "In my territory, I am the only one who makes decisions, but this does not prevent me from listening to other people's opinions."
Count Carlos saw that Guo Qian was smiling but not saying anything, so he did not say anything more on this issue. At this time, Li Jia and Serinda came over with wine glasses. Count Carlos took a wine glass filled with sweet fruit wine, "Congratulations, my children. Here is a small gift for you two."
He took out two silver badges inlaid with crystals from his jacket pocket and handed them to them. The badges had two crystal axes on them. "This pair of badges represents a guard of fifty berserkers. Both leaders have reached the mid-level level. Now I will give them to you two as your private army."
Serinda looked at the badge with a complicated expression. She asked, "There is actually a Berserker Unit? How many things are you hiding from me?"
Count Carlos had a kind look on his face. He said, "You have to know that a father is willing to do a lot to protect his daughter. Preparing a small guard for her is just a trivial matter."
Li Jia wanted to hand the badge back to the earl, and he said: "Mr. Earl, this is the army of the Arias family. You can give it to Serinda alone. I am not suitable to accept such a gift."
"First, you should call me father. Second, I feel that I have an obligation to protect Serinda's husband. I don't want you, a fragile magician, to die in an inexplicable attack one day." The earl said. Li Jia saw that the earl had a firm expression and Serinda kept giving him a look, so he had to put the badge away.
Carlos smiled and looked at Guo Qian. Guo Qian didn't expect the other party to be so generous. Although he also prepared a gift, it was a bit uncomfortable to compare. When he was hesitating whether to take out the gift list of daily necessities in his pocket, Xiao Chen came over and said, "Chairman Guo, I brought the gift you asked me to prepare. It is our school's gift to congratulate the new students."
Xiao Chen took out a long sword from the Traveler's Heart. The hilt and scabbard of the long sword were not very eye-catching, but this sword was a few centimeters longer than an ordinary long sword. When it was pulled out of the scabbard by Xiao Chen, it showed a colorful light in the sun.
Count Carlos thought the sword looked familiar. After examining it for a while, he asked in surprise, "Is this Venegas's holy-order long sword 'Broken Light'?"
Xiao Chen put the Broken Light back into the scabbard and said, "That's right. It was seriously damaged during the battle when we killed Benegas, but I have asked a dwarf forging expert to repair the sword. Although its power may be slightly less than before and it can no longer be considered a holy weapon, it is still a very valuable souvenir. I think it is a suitable gift for the first married couple of the Tower of China and the Earldom of Black Mountain."
Serinda was a swordsman after all. When she took the sword, the joy on her face was beyond words and even her hands began to tremble.
"I have to admit that I am amazed by the generosity and magnanimity of you Chinese people." Count Carlos also sighed.
Xiao Chen bowed his head slightly and said, "You are too kind. Li Jia is my best friend. Whether it is the friendship between him and me or the friendship between us and you, it cannot be measured by any gift."
Count Carlos showed a satisfied smile on his face. He waved to Li Jia and Serinda and said, "Okay, my children, go for a walk again. Don't let the guests feel left out. Go quickly."
Xiao Chen picked up two glasses of wine from the side and handed one to Count Carlos. Then he said, "I have a question about the alliance."
"Please go ahead."
"If we encounter other enemies outside the kingdom, will you still stand on the same side with us?" Xiao Chen asked.
"Of course!" Count Carlos answered decisively.
"What if this enemy is extremely powerful, even as powerful as a god?" Xiao Chen asked further.
"How could there be an enemy as powerful as a god?" the count asked in return.
"I'm just assuming."
"To be honest, I don't think humans can fight against gods. Although Master Banderas and I have a deep connection with the Seven Towers, and I admire the Seven Towers' will to challenge the gods, if such a battle really happened, I would seriously consider whether the battle is worth it." The Count said frankly.
"Well, I think I understand your view on the alliance." Xiao Chen said thoughtfully.