Amid the dense fog, within the First Domain.
The Round Table Meeting.
The atmosphere in the room had grown unbearably oppressive.
Of the original twelve seats, only six were still occupied.
Besides the deceased Marquis Adams, Viscount Wilson, and Viscount Mary, and the injured Baron Henry, Baron George and Baron William were also absent.
A rebellion had broken out within the domain. Some people were attempting to plunder the treasury before fleeing to join other [Evolutionary Sequence Domains].
At Duke Henry's request, Baron George and Baron William had taken their trusted followers to quell the rebellion.
When all twelve seats at the Round Table were occupied, the nobles felt crowded and wanted fewer seats.
Yet when half the seats truly stood empty, the nobles felt uneasy instead.
At the Round Table, only Duke Henry and Marquis Madison remained as composed as ever.
They had controlled the First Domain for decades, weathered countless storms, and upheld the last vestiges of old-fashioned gentlemanly honor. They had long since seen through all of this.
Marquis Madison glanced at the solemn-faced young nobles and said, "In times of peace, you crave struggles for power. In times of turmoil, you pray for stability. People never cherish what they have. They always want more."
Duke Henry said, "Marquis Madison, in their eyes, we're already old relics fit for a museum. No, we're not even worth as much as relics. At least relics have value. To them, we're nothing but hidebound obstacles. Nothing we say gets through to them."
"Indeed, esteemed Duke Henry. They have no respect for our experience or knowledge. They don't believe the lessons we've learned could apply to them, and always brush aside our orders with the excuse that times are constantly changing."
Madison smiled faintly. "But that's all right. Reality doesn't lie.