Chapter 576 — The Secret Letter
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 4
It seemed that everyone who had once visited the Southern Region would voice the same sentiment upon returning; Gao Yang was long accustomed to it. After a few brief pleasantries, he followed custom and brought the envoys to the Autumn Palace, reserved for the reception of guests, and thereafter came the customary welcoming banquet.
The banquet was not a grand one. Those envoys still suffering seasickness plainly had little appetite for the fine wine and delicacies, and the rest, wearied by the journey, wished only to rest soon; thus, after a token observance of etiquette, the formalistic welcome banquet came to an end. The delegation members whose chief function was to serve as "factional backdrops" were led away by attendants to rest, while Cohen Loren, who bore the true mission, requested a private meeting with Gao Yang the moment the banquet ended.
In a lounge adjoining the Autumn Palace banquet hall, Cohen sat on a dark red leather sofa, Gao Yang facing him.
Amber, serving as his "ostensible guard," stood dutifully behind Gao Yang's chair, her face stern and her mind wandering far away.
After a few polite exchanges, Cohen came to the matter at hand: "Your Grace, more than half of the supplies specified by the elves have been gathered and will be delivered to the Southern Region shortly, including the consumption of the engineering corps itself and the first batch of magitech materials. Might I ask how your preparations here are progressing?"
Gao Yang smiled. "While you were busy debating whom to send, my people were already preparing to build a road straight through the Black Forest."
"...As things stand, we are willing to acknowledge the short-sightedness and prejudice of the capital's nobles in the past. Your vigilance toward the wasteland was correct," Cohen said, hearing the irony in Gao Yang's words yet accepting it calmly. "We know the kingdom has met with certain problems — great problems, problems that may even have disappointed you — but believe me, most of the nobility hope the situation will turn toward the better."
Gao Yang regarded Cohen Loren quietly for a moment, then asked suddenly, "Whom do those words represent? Silverhold? Or the Eastern Province?"
Cohen Loren met Gao Yang's gaze. "...I represent only every person who wishes Ans peace and prosperity."
"That is an empty phrase."
After a brief silence, Cohen Loren said suddenly, "Your Grace, I have something private to say. Please dismiss those around us."
Gao Yang's expression was calm, but Amber, standing behind him, could not help speaking up: "Hey, that request is a bit much — this is..."
"It's all right," Gao Yang raised a hand, cutting Amber off. "Let the idlers withdraw — I am curious what this deputy commander of the knight order wishes to say."
Amber pursed her lips, waved a hand at the nearby attendants and guards, and then left the lounge along with everyone else.
Then, two seconds later, she slipped back in under cover of invisibility, took her place beside Gao Yang, and even pulled faces at him, winking and grimacing.
Gao Yang ignored the half-elf's antics, while Cohen Loren, seated opposite, could not see the invisible Amber at all. Only after the deputy commander had confirmed that no one else remained nearby did he reach into his breast and draw out a letter sealed with a magical sigil.
"Forgive my small deception — I have no private words. I have come to deliver a letter to you."
"A letter?" This time Gao Yang was genuinely a little surprised. He took the letter curiously, wondering who had written him a secret missive — and one evidently kept secret from the entire delegation; until this moment, likely only Cohen Loren himself had known of its existence. "The royal house's mark..."
On the seal of the letter was stamped the sword-and-shield emblem of the Ans royal house.
Gao Yang cast an inquiring look at Cohen Loren, who bowed slightly. "The one seated on the throne of Silverhold sends you greetings."