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A rough estimate is that there are several hundred people, and the city lord is probably here.
If you listen carefully, you will hear that they are just chatting about trivial matters, or about going to the capital to have some fun after the meeting.
Zhang Mu was too lazy to care about the romantic affairs of the city lords and moved his gaze to the throne at the innermost part of the palace.
According to the intelligence collected in recent days, the king's health has deteriorated to the point where he is unable to move.
Who will give the speech later?
Or is the king feigning illness?
Well... the Grand Duke of Blois also said that the king was about to die, so he had no reason to lie to me.
Speaking of Blois, Zhang Mu looked up and around, and whispered to Soran beside him: "Aren't the two Grand Dukes coming?"
“Lord City Lord.” Soran lowered his voice even lower, to the point where it would have been almost inaudible if it weren’t for his extraordinary hearing. “I know you don’t have much respect for the powerful.
But this is the royal palace, even if it is for your own sake, please be a little more restrained."
"Uh, the two archdukes?"
Soran’s tense shoulders relaxed a little, and his voice returned to normal: “You have been staying in Ghor, it is normal that you are not familiar with it.
The two grand dukes are not honorary titles, but real dukes with territories awarded by the king.
In name, they are the king's supporters and are kings in their own territories, so they are different from the subjects."
"So, our city lord is an employee, and the two dukes are shareholders?"
Sauron had often heard Zhang Mu mention these new terms and had asked about their actual meanings, so he could understand them.
He nodded his chin. “Yes, the two Grand Dukes have the responsibility to protect the kingdom’s borders, but they do not need to report the governance of their territories to the king.”
Just as he was about to ask the Grand Duke about his request for territory and borders, a loud shout suddenly came from the direction of the high platform.
"His Majesty has arrived."
Chapter 262 Andre: This is your last chance
Zhang Mu was not surprised that the person who presided over the performance review meeting was one of the three successors.
But the king’s personal appearance was truly unexpected.
He was still fantasizing about admiring the senior student's heroic appearance when she was giving a speech. Who would like to watch a grown man talking on the stage?
Unfortunately, established facts cannot be changed by personal will.
In the end, Zhang Mu could only form a square formation with the city lords and watch the king walk out of the side door on the right side of the platform, go up the wooden stairs, and sit on the throne.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty."
The city lords bowed slightly in a knight's salute, greeting each other.
Zhang Mu, who was standing at the back, did not act pretentiously. He performed a standard knight's salute as if he was meeting his father-in-law in advance.
When you are done, raise your head.
He was not short and could clearly see the king on the throne over the rows of heads in front of him.
There are some differences from the rumors.
The king had shiny silver hair, smooth skin and a rosy complexion. His steps were steady and he showed no signs of being seriously ill or weak.
Is he taking drugs, or are the rumors wrong?
Zhang Mu couldn't help but wonder, the other city lords must have the same psychological activity.
Of course the king didn't know all this. He didn't have the ability to see through people's minds, but he could roughly guess a little.
With a warm yet somewhat dignified smile, he slowly said, "Thank you all for traveling such a long way to Wangdu. This year's meeting will begin soon.
Before that, I will convey to you the kingdom’s overall plan for next year…”
After listening to a few sentences, I found that his speech style was similar to that of the chairman of the company I used to work for. Both of them spoke like an old lady's foot binding, long and smelly.
Zhang Mu was instantly in a trance.
What snacks should I bring back to the hotel for Leah?
Tsk, even if I go to the royal capital, I probably won’t be able to buy anything delicious. I’ll have to go back to Blue Star.
Palina...buy two pieces of clothing. Women should all like new clothes.
Speaking of which, if...
"Then, all city lords must follow the rules. After the meeting begins, you are not allowed to go out without permission, and you are prohibited from contacting any outsiders."
"As ordered."
ended.
Coming back to his senses, Zhang Mu bowed together with the other city lords, and after the king left through the side door, they all turned back to the hotel.
The meeting will start tomorrow morning, but the rules to be followed are in effect now.
They stepped out of the palace gate, escorted by more than a hundred lightly armored guards on both sides, and walked towards the main entrance of the palace.
Glancing at the guards, all of whom had blank expressions on their faces, Zhang Mu muttered to Soran beside him, "Did the previous debriefing meeting also involve the soldiers of the Griffin Legion who were responsible for guarding the city lord?"
"Lord City Lord, it's about protection, not supervision."
"All right, all right, protect, protect."
After correcting his inappropriate words, Soran turned his head to look at the familiar guard and said, "No, the city defense army was in charge last year."
"So..." Zhang Mu thought for a moment, then glanced at the city lords around him.
Although they all walked along a cobblestone path, they were roughly divided into three groups.
The distance between them is not too far, but it is clearly distinguished.
"The group with the largest number of people is probably Andre's people." After staring at them for a while, Zhang Mu looked at the other two groups. "The group with a medium number of people must be the second prince, and the group with the least number of people belongs to the third prince."
Soran nodded in agreement: "This makes it clear what we are going to fight for."
"And the two most important people."
"Two Grand Dukes?"
"Ah."
With his hands in his pockets, he pondered and said, "My Lord City Lord, it would definitely be a good thing if we could get the support of the Grand Duke.
But I think it's best not to go, or even try to find out."
"Hehe, are you afraid of angering the king?"
"You see, the king is in good health. I'm afraid the previous rumors were all..."
"You're overthinking it. This king is fake."
"fake?"
Muttering to himself in confusion, Soran glanced at the city lords walking in front of him.
They all had their backs facing this way, so I couldn't see their expressions. Plus they intentionally blocked out their voices, so I couldn't hear what they were talking about.
Even so, Soran could still sense the uneasiness and panic in everyone's hearts through their hurried footsteps.
After staring for a while, he retracted his gaze and said, "Lord City Lord.
They were all professionals of the lowest level of magician, had participated in many performance review meetings, and had met the king more than once.
If there was something wrong with the king who just appeared, it would be impossible not to notice it."
"It's normal that they can't find out. After all... don't worry about that. You just need to know that it's fake."
The group had reached the main entrance and were surprised to see Andre standing by the door.
Adhering to the principle of abiding by the rules, the city lords kept silent and looked straight ahead, striding past him.
As the eldest prince, Andre was aware of the taboos of the performance review meeting and showed no intention of talking to them. He just watched the people passing by indifferently.
Until Zhang Mu came.
"Lord Aigi."
Zhang Mu looked at him in confusion. Want to frame me? Such a low-level method?
Before he could speak, the Griffin Legion guards stepped between the two of them and said, "Your Highness, the King has issued an order."
The city lords who walked into the towering doorway turned their heads to look, their eyes full of astonishment.
Andre smiled and took out a gold coin from his pocket. On the front was engraved the portrait of the first king of the Kingdom of Lake.
He pinched the edge of the gold coin with two fingers, showed the front to the guard, and said, "I am not an outsider."
The guard put away his gun and stepped back a few steps to make way, leaving no obstacle between Zhang Mu and him.
"Lord Aigi, it is not against the rules to talk to me."
"What's the matter, Your Highness?"
"I think you shouldn't go to the prince's house."
"I've already been there."
"People always make mistakes, which cannot be avoided, but we can give them one last chance to make amends."
"for example?"
"I hope Lord Edge will not enter that house again."
"none of your business?"
The sudden rude remarks not only shocked Andre, but also frightened the group of city lords.
It’s true that the royal family doesn’t dare to take action inside the city, but... the royal family always has a way to get you out of the city by yourself.
Besides, even if I refuse to be recruited, I won’t be so rebellious, right?
are you crazy?
Andre's smile slowly faded: "It's really a pity."
After saying that, he turned and walked into the palace.