Xu Yi needed very little imagination to see the sparks flying between Marquis Southgate and Russell.
"Well, if it isn't my dear Marquis Southgate. Who would have thought I'd run into you here today? What a surprise." Russell was the first to speak. "I thought you spent every day hiding in your rat hole, afraid to come out. I never imagined you had the courage to get some fresh air."
Marquis Southgate gave a derisive chuckle.
"My dear Count Russell, if I remember correctly, you were the one who hid every day, afraid to come out. If either of us deserves to be called a rat, wouldn't you be the better fit?"
Listening to their constant mocking laughter, Xu Yi smiled wryly to himself.
The Malo Empire and the Candel Empire were both vast empires, with countless citizens and no shortage of important figures. Why did Marquis Southgate and Russell have to know each other-and apparently have a long-standing grudge?
"Um... Lord Russell, Lord Marquis, do you two... know each other?" As their host, Xu Yi could hardly stand idly by. He could only steel himself, step forward, and put himself between them.
"Hmph, we do more than know each other," Russell snorted. "If it weren't for this damned rat, I would never have been transferred to the Imperial Navy."
"So you've been relegated to the navy? Well, congratulations."
Marquis Southgate was calm and composed in front of everyone else, but whenever he faced Russell, his voice dripped with mockery and his expression turned sour. Xu Yi was intensely curious about what had happened between them to leave them so furious even now.
"Even in the navy, at least I'm still serving in the military. What about you? I heard that Dayolen Sosgate, once known as the War God of