Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 1015 - 59: Vortex (Part 3)

“Sounds like a surname from the Mountain Front Territory,” the masked man pondered: “An exiled family?”

The dark-faced man showed a troubled expression: “That… I do not know.”

After the War of Sovereignty, a large number of nobles from The Federated Provinces fled to the Empire and Vineta to avoid purges.

The exiled nobles in the Empire, some dispersed among the common folk, while others were relieved, selected, and appointed by the Emperor, becoming the so-called [court nobles] with titles but no real fiefdom, completely dependent on imperial power.

Using the power of the exiled nobility, the Emperor gradually consolidated his power, suppressing the traditional dukes of the Empire. In this process, the “Southerners” also became an important political force within the Empire.

“Granashi… seems to be a family name from the Mountain Front Territory,” the masked man mulled over the unfamiliar surname, then asked: “Which crest did that Baron, the gentleman, use?”

“The Golden Shield Lion,” the dark-faced man quickly drew a folded white paper from his chest, presenting it with both hands, eager to claim credit: “I especially made a trip to the south district and copied it exactly from Baron Granashi’s carriage.”

The masked man unfolded the paper and commented, “Hmm… quite simple. A zither-shaped shield with no crown. A double-winged lion? Could indeed be one of the exiles. What’s this on the side? A whip? Serrated edges?”

“Seems like wheat,” the dark-faced man cautiously replied.

The masked man let out a mocking laugh and put down the paper with the crest: “Putting wheat into the crest, what are they trying to symbolize? It’s all getting more and more chaotic.”

The dark-faced man wiped the sweat from his forehead: “Indeed, who knows what those lords are thinking.”

The evolution of crests is undoubtedly the best annotation of the growing trend of luxury within the Empire.

In earlier years when the nobility were so poor they rattled when they walked, crests and coat of arms had no clear distinctions, serving merely as a symbol to differentiate friend from foe. Hence, their designs were very simple and clear-cut. Three circles or a cross could serve as a crest.

But now, with the increasing wealth of the Empire’s nobility, crests have become a subject of competition. The crests of the major families have become increasingly complex and luxurious, and everyone seems eager to cram all symbols that could elevate their status into their crests.

Not only the nobility but also merchants, guilds, and cities began to create distinctive crests, and the call for the “standardization of crest design” grew louder.

Therefore, neither the masked man nor the dark-faced man knew whether “wheat” was a newly popular element.

After a moment of contemplation, the masked man asked, “Did Baron Granashi arrive with his wife?”

“Yes,” the dark-faced man reported: “And several Dusack guards, I confirmed it myself, undoubtedly Dusack.”

“Their purpose in coming to the fortress?”

“Don’t know,” the dark-faced man tentatively asked, “Should we visit them, my lord?”

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The masked man waved his hand dismissively: “A minor Baron, why visit them? Just continue to monitor them, that’s what matters. Your primary task is to keep an eye on the White Eagle – the White Eagle is key. As for the Baron and his wife… remind them to leave the fortress when necessary. Don’t worry too much about their fate.”

“That’s also my concern,” the dark-faced man cleared his throat and spoke cautiously: “According to my findings, the Baron and his wife went to the White Eagle’s residence tonight.”

The masked man froze for a moment, his expression hidden under the mask, indiscernible: “To do what?”

“Don’t… don’t know…” The dark-faced man suddenly felt a chill down his spine, and he bent over deeply: “I will find out immediately.”

The masked man nodded slightly, and the dark-faced man turned and left in a hurry.

After the dark-faced man was gone, the masked man took off the mask and got up to push open the hidden door behind him.

Behind the seat of the masked man was a spacious compartment. Everything that the masked man and the dark-faced man discussed was clearly audible from inside that compartment.

In the compartment, a blond man with green eyes lay back on a chaise lounge.

The dark-faced man thought the masked man was the fabled “messenger,” but in a flash, the masked man stood in front of the real messenger with utter reverence.

“Baron Granashi went to see the White Eagle?” The blond man with green eyes toyed with a steppe-style knife, a smile playing on his lips: “Interesting.”