Chapter 331: The Crimson Plague
Nitre Town, high noon.
In the banquet hall of the mayor's mansion, a violin played a melodious and winding tune. Candlelight flickered on silver candelabras, casting a brilliant glow over the luxurious feast.
The mayor wore a fawning smile as he personally poured wine for the two distinguished guests.
Seated at the head of the long table was Viscount Lorick, the master of this territory and the mayor's direct superior. The guest sitting opposite the viscount was the true protagonist of today's banquet.
This middle-aged man, dressed in a dark gray military dress uniform, was the special envoy of the Southern Aristocrat Alliance and a confidant of Duke Berry—Perry, the duke's quartermaster.
"It is truly an honor for Nitre Town that Envoy Perry has come from so far," Viscount Lorick said with a respectful yet dignified tone. "In our haste, we have only prepared some simple home-cooked fare. I hope you will not find it lacking, Mr. Envoy."
Envoy Perry nodded, his gaze slowly sweeping across the banquet.
The dishes on the table were clearly far from the "simple home-cooked fare" the viscount claimed.
Smoked squabs were neatly arranged on crystal plates, their charred aroma enticing. Large cuts of roasted steak lay on silver platters, their sliced surfaces showing a perfect pink hue. Various seasonal vegetables were carved into the shapes of flowers, dotting the spread, while a whole suckling pig, roasted to a golden crisp, sat at the center of the table.