While the entire Kingdom of Hori was in turmoil, in Havenright, the nobles once again gathered in the secret room in the outer city, discussing the recent situation with nervous faces.
"Have you heard about the Black Nightmare Society recently?" As soon as everyone gathered, someone suddenly asked.
"Have you also investigated this place?" Immediately, the nobles responded one after another, and a gray-haired old man nodded in agreement, "My spies on Coster's side have been investigating for a long time, and the feedback information shows that this incident may be related to A society called 'Black Nightmare Society' has many connections."
"Does anyone know what that is? A local magical organization? Or some emerging gang?"
However, the nobles just looked at each other and shook their heads helplessly.
Some strange emotions flashed in Duke Colin's eyes, as if he had thought of something. But he did not speak. Instead, he imitated the blank expressions of other nobles, staring with big eyes and small eyes, pretending not to know anything.
"No matter what, we have to find a way to figure this out." After a moment of silence, the old noble could only speak again, "Now that the church has begun to mobilize troops again, something big will definitely happen in a short period of time, and we must prepare it in advance. Prepare!"
Others nodded, and suddenly someone asked: "Duke Colin... are the mage and His Majesty still in the country?"
Duke Colin immediately shook his head and said, "I don't know."
"Didn't you have a way to contact them before?"
"That was before." Duke Colin said seriously. "About a few weeks ago, I never received any news about them. They may have left the kingdom."
"So... you think this incident has nothing to do with them?"
"Not necessarily, it may be them, or there may be other reasons. I am also investigating the Black Nightmare Society, but the information I have obtained so far is as pitiful as yours."
Faced with such remarks, other nobles could not say anything else. They could only nod and gave up questioning. There were more than a dozen nobles present, all of whom had ulterior motives. After discussing "sincerely" for a period of time, they broke up the meeting and left.
Duke Colin also walked out of the secret passage. However, just as he was halfway there, he was suddenly stopped by someone.
"Your Majesty the Duke... I have something to say to you privately."
Duke Colin turned around, it was the old nobleman. There was no one else around, but the old noble still had a very cautious look on his face, looking back and forth from time to time, like a sentinel on the top of the city.
The Duke reacted immediately and smiled: "Are you hungry, sir? Well... come this way, I'll treat you to the restaurant next door for something to eat."
The old nobleman nodded.
So, two minutes later, the two of them walked into the Wood family's property, sat in a secret private room in the restaurant, and carefully closed the door of the room.
"Sir, it is absolutely safe here. Please tell me if you have anything to say."
The old noble also put away the vigilance in his eyes and spoke slowly: "Your Majesty the Duke, His Majesty the King and the mage who cannot be named... should be still in the country at this moment, right?"
Hearing this, Duke Colin raised his eyebrows: "Why do you ask that?"
However, the old nobleman knocked on the table and whispered: "I understand the current situation. The Church is constantly exerting pressure, and we have been unable to contact His Majesty. Our former friends may have secretly turned to the Church. But... Your Excellency, the Duke can Believe me, I am absolutely on His Majesty’s side.”
"Of course I believe you, Your Majesty. I believe everyone in our gathering when it comes to matters of life and death!" Duke Colin continued to play dumb, "But I really don't know anything about His Majesty's whereabouts."
"Is this so..." The old noble showed a disappointed expression, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty the Duke. I have only recently received some secret information, which is very detrimental to Your Majesty, so I am very anxious to convey it to Your Majesty."
"what news?"
"The church has found a perfect substitute from somewhere. He looks exactly like His Majesty. He has been quietly sent to the palace, and is ready to replace Your Majesty after he is familiar with everything." The old nobleman lowered his head, showing a sad expression, "However... Her Royal Highness the Queen was very dissatisfied with this and ended her life last night."
Hearing this, even Duke Colin couldn't help but take a breath.
"Your Highness the Queen...really?"
"It's not completely certain yet, but it's at least 80% certain." The old nobleman said slowly, "Now the church is suppressing all the information so that no one can know about it. And at the same time, they seem to have prepared a stand-in for Her Royal Highness the Queen."
As Duke Colin listened, his expression became more and more serious.
"This kind of thing will never be tolerated." He said immediately, "We can spread the news of Her Royal Highness the Queen's death. In this way, the church will not have time to prepare, and their substitute will not be able to succeed!"
The old nobleman was a little surprised: "You...really plan to do this?"
"Apart from this, is there any other way?"
"You can inform His Majesty of the news!" the old nobleman earnestly advised. "Before the substitute is completely ready, we can still find a way to help the real Majesty back to the throne. If it is too late... it will be too late."
Duke Colin's expression changed and he said, "My lord, you still don't believe me? I really can't contact His Majesty."
Suddenly, the old noble looked disappointed.
"Then we're afraid we can only sit back and wait for death. Once the news of Her Royal Highness the Queen's death spreads, the church will be the first to suspect us. When the time comes, the substitutes will move out, and they will use this to prove that Her Highness is not dead. Then, the Pope will lead the soldiers Rushed to our house."
"this… "
The old noble looked at Duke Colin with some hope and asked: "Your Majesty, Duke, you must still have a way out, right? If we break up with the church, what chance do we have of escaping abroad?"
"...I'm afraid it's difficult."
"In this case, you must never tell anyone else this secret." The old nobleman sighed and said, "We can't do anything. This time you and I meet today, just treat it as if we just had lunch together. Nothing else. It didn’t happen.”
"… yes."
In this way, about half an hour later, the old nobleman and Duke Colin left the restaurant one after another and returned to their respective houses. After Duke Colin returned home, he barely hesitated for half a second. He walked into the study, spread out the letter paper, and started writing.
Within two minutes, he quickly completed a short letter. After sealing it completely, he took the letter and went to his secret casino and handed the letter to his cronies who managed the casino.
"This letter... should be handed over to that person within one day."
After doing all this, he turned around and left, walking on the deserted streets of Havenright. He couldn't help but look up at the sky and let out a long sigh.