After brewing some black tea, Lawyer York took off his suit jacket, leaving on only the thick brown plaid shirt underneath.
He no longer looked like a lawyer, much less a senior executive of Lloyd's. Instead, he seemed as approachable as the uncle next door.
After serving the tea, York sat down across from Iver.
He interlaced his fingers before his chest and said softly, "But in truth, I don't think Lloyd Prince is the so-called 'shame of the royal family'—he may not even consider himself part of the royal family. I'm more inclined to see him as a hero. A hero who shook authority and challenged royal power.
"The Path of Authority is like a shackle. Those who walk this path cannot disobey the commands of those at higher levels. It is stern and cruel, like an anthill or a beehive. The knights can't do this, but that doesn't mean they don't want to.
"No one wants to be a slave to Path Power. The Silver Crowned Dragon tells you to be loyal, disciplined, law-abiding, and orderly—but do we really have to be?"
Lawyer York continued in a low voice, "Have you ever wondered how Lloyd Prince, who came from an ordinary background, managed to keep Lloyd's from being swallowed up by the royal family?"
Iver raised an eyebrow and remained silent.
He had vaguely guessed what Lawyer York was trying to do. So he said nothing, merely letting a trace of confusion and curiosity show on his face.
"It's simple. Lloyd's exists because it is the shared will of the knights in the Round Table Hall. It represents the word 'merchant,' and countless people protect Lloyd's."
Lawyer York spoke slowly, whispering an unknown secret: "To this day, more than sixty percent of the knight families in the Round