Divine System: Land of the Abominations-Chapter 311: The Burdens of Hand and Crown (1)

Time seemed to pass rather quickly under the urgings of alcohol...

Despite how strong the liquor was, Nero couldn’t feel anything even after drinking much. He glanced over at Arthur who also seemed completely fine.

They chatted for around an hour before Jacob arrived.

He looked between Arthur and Nero once, then crossed to the table and poured himself a glass of the amber spirit without waiting to be invited before dropping into the chair beside Nero.

"How uncouth..." Arthur remarked with a witty grin stretched out across his face.

Jacob rolled his eyes and huffed,

"Don’t bore me, Arthur." Then he turned to his side,

"You actually got him to come," he said to Arthur.

"The commoner has a name, you know." Arthur said.

"I know his name." Jacob took a long drink, set the glass down, and looked at Nero directly for the first time.

Nero smiled, "It’s good to see you are well, Jacob."

Jacob remained silent, his piercing eyes searching Nero’s expression.

Then he clicked his tongue,

"That damned look in your eyes... You are developing such poor taste after spending just a little time with this damned bastard."

Arthur snorted, "It is much better than being a boorish fool."

Jacob ignored the young Lord and focused on Nero.

"This idiot has been telling me we should form an alliance. The three of us."

"He’s told me the same," Nero said.

"And?"

"I’m thinking about it."

"What is there to think about," he said.

Nero shrugged and glanced between the two,

"I can understand why the both of you would want to form an alliance. But..."

His brows creased together,

"Why me?"

Indeed, that was an important question.

Why him?

What did he have to offer that the both did not already possess?

Money? Power? Influence?

He didn’t have a single lick of any of that.

Jacob and Arthur exchanged glances.

Then Jacob muttered,

"I guess that is a reasonable suspicion. One I am also quite eager to get an answer to."

He turned to Arthur, his brow raised.

Seeing this, a nervous sweat appeared on Arthur’s face,

"That..."

He paused for a moment then cleared his throat before turning to face Nero,

"I believe in your potential, Nero."

Jacob snorted,

"Cut the crap, damn it! You were out cold the other day. There is no way you would know what his potential really looks like."

Arthur sighed then shrugged, the pretentious look in his eyes vanishing like it was not there in the first place.

"Alright, fine..."

His eyes became rather cold. Nero didn’t think he had seen the young Lord with such a look before,

"I need numbers and competence." His eyes narrowed,

"You said you rescued us the other day, which I am not inclined to doubt. That means you are competent enough. That was why I chose you."

Nero chuckled bitterly, "In other words, this is an alliance of convenience. The moment my usefulness has been lived out, I will be thrown away."

Arthur nodded without a moment of pause, "That is right. However, who knows. One might find gems even while digging through the mud piles. Isn’t that so?"

Nero couldn’t help but chuckle.

Of course, it had to be that way. There was no way the world could be so bright and hopeful.

He should be glad he was receiving such an opportunity. Many in this world died before they could see the amber lamplights that filled mansions such as this one.

In high society, one was required to prove their worth. Those who couldn’t would be cast aside. In the case of Templars and the Church, being cast aside usually meant being sent to a border town to live out one’s days in solitude and squalor, or even worse, being sent into the meat grinder that was the front lines...

They wanted to make use of him.

But that was fine.

Because he also had the same ideas...

Nero nodded, "If that is the case, then there is nothing else to think about."

Arthur refilled all three glasses without comment.

The atmosphere in the room settled.

Outside, the sounds of the estate’s main hall were beginning to build up. The low roar of conversation, the occasional swell of collective laughter, the sound of the orchestra raising a thrumming melody to serve as the evening’s ambiance.

The celebration was already in full swing.

Nero looked at the amber spirit in his glass, his mind heavy with thought and yet empty at the same time.

He took a swig.

"My uncle served in the Ironherd for twelve years," Jacob said, after a while. "He told me something before I came here. He said the Trials sort candidates into two kinds... those who survive because they are exceptional, and those who survive because they understand that they are not exceptional enough." He turned his glass in his hand. "I thought I understood what he meant."

He looked at Nero.

"I don’t know who you are," he said. "But I believe we can make something of this alliance. At least until we all fucking die."

Nero looked at him for a long moment. Then he looked at Arthur.

"To our alliance, then." Nero said as he raised his glass.

Arthur raised his glass as well with a chuckle. Jacob raised his as well.

They all drank simultaneously and just like that, an alliance between the three was formed.

"Good," Arthur said, and stood, smoothing the front of his coat. "The hall is going to open in a few minutes and there are things you should know before we walk into it."

His posture had changed subtly, "My father is hosting tonight, which means half the nobility of Liedenstorm is in that room and the other half sent representatives because they couldn’t afford not to. Every family with a candidate in the Trials is present. The Church has also sent over a few representatives over. They will be watching everything and reporting to the Order representatives after."

"What does that mean for us?" Nero asked.

"It means that tonight is going to be quite the night. Nothing will be said, but there certainly will be a lot of statements flying around." Arthur cackled.

Jacob clicked his tongue and grimaced, "Whatever evil thoughts running through your head, I want no part of!"

Arthur walked over to him and slapped him across the shoulders,

"What happened to all that big man gusto, eh?! I thought you’d find these sorts of things exciting."

Nero cleared his throat, "W-what kind of things?"

Arthur snickered, "Why, gossip of course? Scandals? Alliances? Betrayals? We shall see quite a few interesting things today."

Jacob was already on his feet,

"That’s enough chatter. Let’s go."