If Duke Tarrenno was going to be killed, then any problems he caused would naturally disappear.

Matthew wanted to say more, but he suddenly froze.

A couple of days ago, Matthew had been just as skeptical about Fang Zhen’s ability to eliminate Count Henry, and in the blink of an eye, Count Henry had been smashed to death by a ’meteor’.

If Fang Zhen could make a ’meteor’ appear once, there was no reason he couldn’t do it a second time.

At this thought, Matthew shut his mouth.

’I’d better just see how things play out. I don’t want to doubt him again only to be proven wrong.’

At that moment, a Guard hurried into the part of the castle where Fang Zhen and the others were gathered. He bowed low and announced, "My Lady, three Mages from Count Henry’s Army are here. They wish to have an audience with you and Knight Fang Zhen."

"They said that with Count Henry’s sudden and unexpected death, they wish to discuss with you how to handle the current situation."

Hearing this, Dalia was at a loss and looked to Fang Zhen.

Fang Zhen gave her a firm nod.

"Very well. Let them in. I will see them in the reception room," Dalia said.

The Guard acknowledged the order and withdrew to relay it.

"Let’s go to the reception room," Fang Zhen said.

「A few minutes later, in the reception room.」

This was the room where the Viscount and his Knights once discussed important matters of the domain. Now, Fang Zhen and the others were seated here, with Dalia at the head of the table.

Dalia, however, was still a little anxious, her eyes frequently darting to Fang Zhen, who sat beside her.

Beneath the long table, Fang Zhen reached out and took Dalia’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze to reassure her of his presence.

Only then did Dalia’s expression gradually grow calm and composed.

Just then, the three Mages from Count Henry’s Army walked in.

The one in the lead, whose figure was concealed within a black robe, was a Mage with graying hair who looked to be in his mid-fifties. Following behind him were two others: one was about forty, and the other looked to be in his twenties, still very young.

Fang Zhen watched the three Mages enter.

Matthew had just given him a brief explanation of the Mage Corps’ status and role in the power games of the nobility.

The Mage Corps was a society, much like a guild. It operated on a strict master-apprentice system, with a single master taking on several, or at most, a dozen students.

Because they wielded power directly, the Mage Corps was regarded with great wariness by the King. On the other hand, many second and third sons of noble families were sent to the Mage Corps for Magic training, resulting in a state of mutual infiltration.

The Mage Corps itself didn’t seem to have a fixed allegiance. Once they became full-fledged Mages, individuals were free to choose their own path. It was entirely possible for a single master’s students to end up serving two different, or even opposing, noble houses.

In terms of status, a Mage’s personal power afforded them great respect. Even if they weren’t of noble birth, their standing was often higher than that of a landed Knight, the lowest rung of the aristocracy. They were, in a sense, a class of untitled nobility.

Count Henry had brought his personal army. This meant that within the aristocratic chain of command, only his directly sworn Knights were below him. With Count Henry dead, the highest-ranking people in his army were, in theory, these three Mages.

Fang Zhen was just running through this information in his mind when he looked at the three Mages. He suddenly noticed the young man in his twenties was giving him a strange smile, a faint red light glinting in his eyes.

For an instant, Fang Zhen’s mind went completely blank.

The very next moment, however, he snapped back to his senses as the Anti-Thorn Ring on his finger flared with a green light. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

A sharp glint appeared in Fang Zhen’s eyes, his expression turning icy.

’A sneak attack!’

The Mage hadn’t even said a word before trying to use Mind Control Magic on him!