Ch.182Chapter 182 – Determining the Order of Visits to Great Houses

Let me first organize the situation so far.

Baek Dan-hyeop, the head of the Han-dong Baek family, served me a fine wine called Ryeomisae. When I claimed I could show them truly delicious alcohol, I had them bring an ordinary-looking rice wine, which I then transformed into a delicious drink using my ability.

After serving this to the heads of the great families, they collectively requested that I visit their respective households.

“Now then, let’s take some time to arrange Count Pathos Severio’s visitation schedule to the great families.”

“Ah, that’s a good idea. Come, come, Count, please join us over here and enjoy your meal comfortably.”

“Understood.”

The banquet had begun with simple drinks, and now it seemed they were ready to start the proper feast with a full meal.

After all, banquets were originally meant for people to gather, eat and drink to their heart’s content, enjoy themselves, and share recent news.

As I took my seat, servants began bringing out additional dishes.

“Hahaha. Traditionally, we pride ourselves on serving our guests the finest things, but today I’ve had quite a different experience. I never imagined that a guest would serve us something even better!”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Fortunately, the heads of the great families took my impulsive action in good spirits.

Normally, as a guest, one should graciously accept hospitality and show appreciation, but I had essentially challenged them by offering something better in return.

I’m lucky things worked out well; otherwise, I might have met an untimely death in this distant land.

“Count, you may already know this, but in this country, there are few groups with power comparable to our great families.”

“Yes, I’m aware. It’s an open secret that it’s not the imperial family but the sixteen great families who form the core of power leading this nation.”

“Hahaha. Has that news spread even to your lands? Well, I’m not surprised, as I expected as much. Even the people living in this land are all aware of it.”

Hmm? For some reason, he’s boldly acknowledging what I said as fact.

Normally, one would deny this at least a little…

“People from the Western Continent may not know this, but in our country, to become emperor, one must gain the approval of the heads of the sixteen great families. No matter how talented or politically savvy one might be, without the trust of the family heads, one cannot become emperor.”

“That’s quite different from the Gelebrio Empire where I serve.”

“Indeed. In essence, the emperor is a representative of the land chosen by us. While they gather under the name of the imperial family, in reality, they are all people belonging to the great families we lead.”

Hmm. This reminds me somewhat of how emperors were selected in the Holy Roman Empire.

Being emperor doesn’t mean enjoying power for eternity; rather, different people can be installed as needed.

“Wouldn’t that make things overly complicated?”

“It’s fine. As I mentioned earlier, the people of the imperial family all belong to the sixteen great families. They cooperate among themselves to support suitable candidates for emperor, and if we find someone appropriate, we select that person as emperor.”

In other words, whoever pleases the heads of the great families becomes emperor.

I was speechless at this political system of the Liu Empire that defied common sense.

And I felt relieved that I didn’t have to live in this land.

At least in the Gelebrio Empire where I live, there exists an absolute ruler in Decatro IV.

“Let’s set aside these heavy topics for now. What’s important is arranging Count Severio’s schedule for visiting the great families, isn’t it?”

“Hmm, that’s true. Let’s proceed with coordinating the schedule. Come, let’s discuss while enjoying our meal.”

At one family head’s suggestion to eat, we all nodded and began our meal.

The food served at the banquet was delicious.

“Since the Count came through Han-dong Baek family territory, he’ll need to use the Hong Palace in our territory to return, correct? So it seems appropriate that the Han-dong Baek family should be visited last.”

“That’s not a bad idea. Then let’s decide that our family will be visited last. Which family should be first?”

“I’d like him to visit our family first. After a long sea journey, your body must be somewhat weakened, wouldn’t you agree? Our family’s territory produces many beneficial medicinal herbs and elixirs. Wouldn’t it be good to visit us first, consume these beneficial items, and build up your strength for visiting the other families?”

“Oh, that’s an interesting suggestion.”

I silently listened to the family heads’ conversation while eating.

I had already guessed that the Han-dong Baek family would be the last great family I’d visit, since I needed to stop by the Hong Palace to return home.

But I hadn’t expected Gold Taeyoung to interject here.

Moreover, his argument was quite reasonable.

He suggested that since I had been on a long sea journey and might be weakened, I should visit his family first to consume beneficial items and build up my strength.

Honestly, I was quite tempted by this.

Wouldn’t consuming many beneficial items make my body healthier?

I know that in martial arts novels, when ordinary people consume elixirs, their bodies become healthier and they live longer without minor illnesses…

I wonder if the elixirs here have similar effects?

“Does everyone agree?”

“I agree. After all, Gold Head’s great family, the Paseong Gold family, is closest to the capital.”

“Strength is important for extensive travel. Regrettably, I think Gold Head’s suggestion is correct this time.”

At Baek Dan-hyeop’s question, the other family heads unanimously agreed. This decided the first great family I would visit.

The Paseong Gold family of family head Gold Taeyoung.

That would be the first great family I would visit.

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

After deciding on the Paseong Gold family as my first visit, arranging the order for the remaining families proceeded smoothly.

Now the banquet was concluding, and it was time for everyone to return to their lodgings.

“I’m overwhelmed by the family heads’ hospitality. Thank you for welcoming this foreigner from afar so warmly. It wouldn’t be good to overstay my welcome, so I shall take my leave now.”

“Indeed, keeping a guest too long isn’t particularly good. We have details about the schedule to discuss, so we cannot see you off personally. My daughter will escort you instead. Baek Yu-wol, escort our guest properly.”

“Yes, Family Head.”

Baek Dan-hyeop ordered Baek Yu-wol to escort Pathos well, and she agreed.

After Pathos, Baek Yu-wol, and Seon Yu-hwa left the banquet hall, the servants and palace ladies also temporarily vacated the area.

“The staff working in the banquet hall these days have good instincts. They know to clear out on their own.”

“Didn’t many of the old workers get dismissed for their lack of awareness?”

“Well, that’s not what’s important. What matters is ensuring there are no territories of minor families along Count Pathos Severio’s travel route.”

Everyone nodded at Baek Dan-hyeop’s words.

Why were they trying to curry favor with Pathos, even serving him fine wine?

It was because they didn’t want Pathos’s abilities to be used by people from minor families.

“To maintain our status as great families, it’s essential to control any families that might threaten our position.”

“We’re investigating all of that. Even if someone with the potential to become a master emerges and threatens our position… accidents during internal energy cultivation can’t be helped.”

The words from one family head were truly beyond imagination.

Accidents during internal energy cultivation.

This referred to “zhuhuaruma” – a state of cultivation madness.

Zhuhuaruma occurs when external shock during internal energy cultivation causes the energy flow to tangle, damaging all the meridians in the body and leaving one crippled.

In other words, when they detected signs of potential masters emerging, they forcibly induced zhuhuaruma to destroy these masters.

“Masters who grow up in minor families have clear growth limitations anyway, and they prioritize their own families, making them reluctant to cooperate with us – this is a verified fact.”

“To cure zhuhuaruma, you’d need a doctor with nearly divine abilities, but I haven’t heard rumors of such a doctor appearing in the last 300 years.”

“That’s why we’re checking Count Severio’s travel route in advance. There will certainly be those seeking the Count to cure their zhuhuaruma.”

“We must thoroughly prevent such occurrences. Considering how the Three Ministers’ bodies became younger after experiencing the Count’s abilities… we must consider the possibility that if he cures a master afflicted with zhuhuaruma, they could become much stronger than before.”

“There’s much to do either way. Let’s have a proper meeting about how to proceed from here. Let’s adjourn for today and return to our residences.”

When Baek Dan-hyeop announced the end of the meeting, everyone rose and left the banquet hall.

In the empty banquet hall, only silence lingered.