760: Chapter 760 Inviting the High Priest to Come Out of Seclusion!

The Duke's Mansion.

Hatton's right hand was wrapped in bandages as he knelt before the desk.

Felix stood to the side, his face deathly pale.

Behind the desk, a man in his fifties sat in a high-backed chair.

He was Felix's father, the Duke of Eagle Country—Hiddell Kent.

Hiddell remained silent for a long time after hearing Hatton's report.

After a long while.

Hiddell spoke slowly and calmly, "Are you saying that the Long Countryman crushed your hand with just one of his?"

Hatton's body trembled violently, and he lowered his forehead even further.

"Ye… Yes, Your Grace."

"Your subordinate is incompetent; please punish me, Your Grace."

Hiddell did not look at him.

"You have been by my side for fifteen years, been on the battlefield, killed men, and blocked bullets."

"You are the sharpest blade in our Kent family."

"But now…"

He paused, a trace of emotion finally appearing in his voice, "This blade has been snapped by someone with their bare hands."

Cold sweat seeped from Hatton's forehead; he dared not utter a single word.

Hiddell withdrew his gaze and looked toward Felix.

"What did you say his name was?"

Felix shivered and stammered, "Ye… Ye Chen."

"Ye Chen."

Hiddell repeated the name, a complex gleam flashing in his grey-blue eyes.

He had heard of this man's deeds.

The things he had done were spreading like wildfire throughout high society; it would be difficult for him not to know.

He just hadn't expected this name to appear in his Duke's Mansion in such a manner.

"Father."

Felix watched Hiddell's expression and spoke cautiously.

"That man… is truly not to be trifled with."

"Our people in South Korea sent back news that he single-handedly crippled all the retainers the Jin Conglomerate had raised for decades."

"Even the head of the Jin Conglomerate was forced by him to kneel in public."

"Such a person, we…"

"We must trifle with him, even if we cannot." Hiddell interrupted him, his voice as cold as a blade.

Felix was stunned.

Hatton was also stunned.

Both of them raised their heads simultaneously, looking at Hiddell with stunned expressions.

"Father, what did you say?"

Felix thought he had misheard.

"I said, we must trifle with him, even if we cannot."

Hiddell stood up from his chair, walked to the window, and turned his back to the two of them.

"Do you think I am doing this because you were beaten?"

"Do you think I am doing this for the sake of the Kent family's reputation?"

He turned around and looked at Felix, his grey-blue eyes full of disappointment.

"Felix, you have disappointed me too much."

Felix's face flushed red instantly, and he lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Hiddell continued, "Do you know where that girl, Euphemia, took Ye Chen today?"

Felix looked up, looking bewildered.

"Where… where did they go?"

"The Imperial Palace."

Hiddell spat out the two words, a cold sneer curling his lips, "She brought that Long Countryman into the Imperial Palace to see the Empress."

Felix's pupils constricted sharply.

"Wha… What?!"

"How could she dare to bring an outsider into the Imperial Palace? How could Her Majesty the Empress agree to it?"

Hiddell sneered.

"Not only did the Empress agree, but I heard she even spoke with Ye Chen for a long time."

"I don't know what they specifically talked about."

"But I do know one thing…"

He paused, a flash of sinister intent crossing his grey-blue eyes.

"Euphemia and Ye Chen are getting too close."

"Our plan must be reconsidered."

Felix's expression changed completely.

Of course, he knew what "plan" his father was referring to.

The Kent family had operated in Eagle Country for hundreds of years, with deeply entrenched influence.

But no matter how great the power, they were still just a Duke.

Above them, there was still the Empress.

Below them, there were other nobles eyeing them like tigers.

Hiddell had been planning for over a decade, waiting for an opportunity—an opportunity for the Kent family to rise to the next level.

And this opportunity was Euphemia.

As long as Felix could marry Euphemia, the Kent family could gain unprecedented political capital through the marriage alliance.

At that time, a Duke would no longer be just a Duke.

Felix's mind was in a jumble, and it took him a long while to find his voice, "Father, then what… what other methods do we have?"

Hiddell did not answer, but instead turned around and walked back to the desk.

Then.

He pulled open a drawer and took out a black envelope.

There was no signature or address on the envelope; only a strange symbol was printed on the seal.

The symbol looked like an eye, with a vertical pupil that shimmered with a dark red luster under the candlelight.

Felix looked at the symbol, and a chill ran down his back.

"Father, this is…"

"An invitation from the High Priest."

Hiddell placed the envelope on the desk and tapped his fingers lightly on the cover.

"As far as I know, Ye Chen and Euphemia entered the palace and even met the Empress."

"The Empress does not seem to reject Ye Chen."

"This is a huge threat to us."

"But just because the Empress doesn't reject him doesn't mean the entire Royal Family doesn't."

He looked up at Felix, a cold light flashing in his grey-blue eyes.

"The Royal bloodline cannot be tainted."

"This is the bottom line for the Royal Family, and it is also the High Priest's bottom line."

Felix's pupils constricted sharply, "Father, are you saying… to ask the High Priest to step in?"

Hiddell nodded.

"The High Priest is the spiritual mentor of the Royal Family; his words carry significant weight within the Royal Family."

"As long as he speaks up and says that Ye Chen is unworthy of approaching the Princess, even if the Empress is unwilling, she will have to carefully reconsider."

"Moreover…"

He paused, a cold sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth, "The High Priest is someone who values the purity of the Royal bloodline above all else."

"A Long Countryman, a boy of unknown origin, wants to lay hands on an Eagle Country Princess?"

"Do you think he will agree?"

Felix's eyes lit up instantly.

"That's right! How did I not think of that!"

"If the High Priest steps in, no matter how good a fighter Ye Chen is, he wouldn't dare to go against the entire Royal Family!"

Hiddell shook his head as he watched his son's excitement.

"Don't be happy too soon."

"The High Priest is not so easy to invite."

"I need to prepare some things as a condition for the exchange."

"But as long as we can drive away Ye Chen and allow our plan to continue moving forward, any price is worth paying."

Felix nodded vigorously.

Hiddell turned around and walked back to the window, gazing at the pitch-black night outside, muttering to himself.

"Ye Chen…"

"Do you think that just because you can fight, you can run rampant in Eagle Country?"

"This is Eagle Country, not Long Country."

"Here, fists are not the most powerful thing."

"Power is."

He turned around and looked at Hatton, "Can your hand still move?"

Hatton gritted his teeth and stood up from the ground.

"Rest assured, Your Grace, your subordinate's left hand is still functional."

"As long as I can do things for you, your subordinate is willing to sacrifice even his life."

Hiddell nodded, picked up the black envelope from the desk, and handed it to Hatton.

"Immediately, deliver this letter to the High Priest's residence."

"Tell him that the Kent family has an urgent matter to request an audience."

Hatton took the envelope with both hands and bowed respectfully.

"Your subordinate will definitely deliver it."

Hiddell waved his hand, signaling him to withdraw.

Hatton turned and walked out of the study, gently closing the door behind him.

...

In the restaurant, Ye Chen finally put down his knife and fork.

The plate in front of him had been wiped clean; not even the broccoli garnish remained.

Euphemia spoke with a smile.

"Are you full?"

Ye Chen picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth and nodded, "It was alright."

"That's good."

Euphemia stretched, her slender waist outlining a graceful arc under her trench coat, "I was afraid you wouldn't be used to the food in Eagle Country."

Ye Chen glanced at her, "Having something to eat is good enough; I'm not a picky eater."

Qian Duofu let out a burp, patted his round belly, and looked satisfied.

"I'm stuffed; I've never had such a full meal in my life."

Euphemia glanced at him and laughed, "Then you should properly thank Ye Chen; if not for him, you wouldn't have been able to enter this restaurant."

Qian Duofu nodded hurriedly, looking at Ye Chen with a fawning expression.

"Yes, yes, yes, thank you, Mr. Ye!"

"Mr. Ye, your great kindness and virtue, I, Qian Duofu, will never forget!"

Ye Chen couldn't be bothered to pay attention to him; he picked up his water glass, took a sip, and looked at Euphemia.

Euphemia met his gaze, a flash of slyness crossing her azure blue eyes, "Ye Chen, when are you guys leaving?"

Ye Chen thought for a moment.

"Tomorrow, I suppose. Going back early."

"Tomorrow?"

Euphemia's brows furrowed instantly, "So soon? You finally made a trip to Eagle Country; won't you stay and play for a few more days?"

Ye Chen shook his head, "I'm not here for a vacation; why would I play?"

Euphemia bit her lip.

"Then… can I go back to Long Country with you?"

Ye Chen was taken aback, "What are you going to Long Country for?"

"For a vacation!"

Euphemia said righteously.

"Long Country has vast land and abundant resources, the scenery is so beautiful, and there is so much delicious food. Last time I only went for a few days before being called back, and you weren't even there."

"This time, you must take me everywhere to eat."

"Moreover…"

"Long Country is the safest place in the world."

"As a weak woman, what's wrong with me going to such a safe place for a vacation?"