CHAPTER 686: CHAPTER 12: YOU REALLY ARE A GENIUS

"Violet is the most legendary and renowned minstrel in the Empire, with an incomparable and marvelous voice and astonishing talent. Nearly every song he has written has been wildly popular."

Ivan said, "Countless nobles have spent a fortune just to have him sing a song at their banquets."

"Very well, let him sing at tonight’s banquet," Solomon said.

However, before the translator could relay his words to Violet, Violet had already stepped forward from the crowd, holding his head high.

"I don’t know why you have brought me here, but I will not sing for invaders."

Violet’s words made Ivan’s face change drastically, and with Violet taking the lead, the other minstrels also began to stir.

Soon, someone echoed, "That’s right, we are imperial people, and we have just lost our Emperor. We are not in the mood to sing those cheerful tunes."

Seeing Solomon’s expression gradually darken, another minstrel stepped out and said.

"Then I will sing!"

The other minstrels glared at him angrily, but he was unfazed, "What, just because you’re not in the mood to sing, no one else is allowed to be?"

"You are also an imperial person," Violet reminded him.

"Yes, a living imperial person. Please, I’m a minstrel, not a knight or a noble. Plus, aren’t all those nobles still alive? They haven’t sought death or gone mad, so what’s got us minstrels so riled up?" he said while nodding towards the direction of Ivan, the Chief of Intelligence.

Violet was rendered speechless.

At this point, Solomon’s face had also improved somewhat, and he asked, "What’s your name?"

"I’m Kieren, nicknamed ’golden voice,’ and I am the most famous minstrel in the Royal Capital recently. I have written many poems about Sir Irelia, the Champion of the duel, and they have all been wildly circulated.

"Oh, and allow me to express my deepest condolences to the valiant Lord Moen, who died at her hands. Lord Moen was very brave and came so close to victory."

Solomon looked at Ivan, who bowed and said, "Indeed, ’golden voice’ is also very popular in the Royal Capital."

"I am confident that my singing is second to none," Kieren added.

Silver Hand’s eyes swept around and then he jumped out from the crowd, bowing and saying,

"And me, I am Silver Hand, Kieren’s most in-sync partner. With us by your side, we will certainly add brilliance to your banquet and satisfy all the guests."

Solomon said with satisfaction, "The two of you are not bad. I have decided to bestow upon you three thousand gold lions and the status of nobility as a reward."

"This... isn’t quite appropriate," the Chief of Intelligence could not help but say, "They are just minstrels. The Empire has never had such a precedent..."

"Well, now it does," Solomon interrupted, "In this city, I make the rules. If I say they are nobles, then they are nobles."

Solomon paused and then said to Kieren and Silver Hand, "Later, I will select two pieces of land for you. As long as you perform well tonight, after the banquet you can go and be lords."

"I am overwhelmed by your generosity," Kieren said, "but I do not wish for any land."

"Why? Are you worried that the nobles will talk behind your backs? Rest assured, soon enough many of them won’t be able to speak at all," Solomon said indifferently.

"No, I’m not afraid of the gossip. I just think that you might hold banquets in the future, and you will still need minstrels then. So we would like to continue to stay by your side and serve you."

"Why do you think I will hold more banquets?" Solomon asked in return.

"Because the fame of you and your warriors’ prowess has spread across the entire Continent, more and more people will surely come to join you," Kieren said.

"You really have a way with words, Minstrel," Solomon grinned, "But you’re right, I can indeed use you all. So, stay."

"However, I will still grant you fiefdoms. You name the place you want, whether it’s currently owned or not. Soon enough we will conquer the entire Continent anyway."

"We will follow your orders," they responded.

Afterwards, Solomon casually picked two other minstrels and waved the rest away.

As Violet stepped forward to denounce him as an invader, making it clear she would not perform for him, Solomon originally intended to kill all the minstrels.

But with Kieren and Silver Hand now under his wing, he couldn’t be bothered with the rest. Moreover, with a banquet that evening, it wasn’t the time for further killing, so he let them go.

As she passed by Kieren, Violet looked at him with some hostility and muttered, "Bootlicker."

"Don’t mention it," Kieren replied.

"Mention what?"

"I saved your life, and the lives of the others."

"I don’t need anyone to save me. My life has been legendary enough, and I wouldn’t mind it having an even more legendary conclusion."

"Is that so? Would your daughter think the same?" Kieren’s words left Violet speechless.

And Kieren was no longer looking at her.

Once they left the study where Solomon was, Silver Hand sidled up to Kieren, "Hey, what exactly were you thinking just now? Did flattering him make you lose your senses? He said we could leave after the banquet. Why not use that chance to escape the city?"

"Where would you go?" Kieren glanced at Silver Hand.

The latter scratched his head, "I don’t know, just somewhere far from those creatures with wings. Right, we could flee to the western lands and join the Double Rest Sect, since we were Saturday adherents."

"And then what?"

"What do you mean, ’then what?’", Silver Hand was perplexed, "We continue being minstrels, of course."

Kieren shook his head, "The Double Rest Sect doesn’t lack two minstrels, or else Merlin would have taken us with him when he left."

"Alright... Then we head to the Northern Territory. Those Birdmen probably can’t withstand the severe cold there, right?"

"No, I’m not leaving. If you want to go, go by yourself."

"What are you planning to do then, really going to sing for those Birdmen forever?"

"Why not? If we can earn their trust, we will be able to get a steady stream of intelligence from them."

Silver Hand nodded, "You’ve got a point, but what do we need intelligence for... Wait a second, that guy named Redio, I remember he has a way to contact Merlin, doesn’t he?"

"Exactly, we can pass the intelligence we gather back to Green Field through him. Those Wing Tribe members will never expect it, and if the Empire eventually wins, we’ll be hailed as heroes."

"And what if the Empire... loses?" Silver Hand asked.

Kieren clapped him on the shoulder, "Then you better be ready to become a founding father."

Stroking his chin, Silver Hand mused, "Come to think of it, that doesn’t sound too bad... Damn, you’re a genius, Kieren. I’ve made my decision; I’m sticking with you from now on."