The Lord of Dolez City, Gorat Hyde, was sixteen years old this year. His family, The Hyde family, had a long history that was not inferior to the royal family of the Dylan Kingdom, and once even intermarriage happened between them. 

However, although the Hyde family at present controlled a lot of territories, their generations of people were becoming more and more sparse. By the time of Gorat's generation, the entire Hyde family had only 16-year-old Gorat himself. 

But this did not affect the ruler status of this young Lord. He had a loyal or at least loyal on the surface minister who took care of the internal affairs. There was also a loyal knight commander who handled the military affairs. The most important thing was the presence of his family's patron, the official-level dwarf warrior who stayed with the Hyde family for more than three hundred years, all of which allow the City of Dolez to maintain its long-term stability...Of course, the premise was that there were no unexpected accidents. 

However, what else could be more unexpected than a pandemic with a wide range and a rapid spread? 

Today, Gorat was called out from the bed, which was warmed by many housemaids, before dawn. The reason was that the ministers had important matters to discuss. This made Gorat, who had not paid any attention to City's affairs for nearly a month, very surprised and also quite annoyed. In his opinion, nothing could be more important than his three newly-acquired beautiful little maids. 

Under the service of a few beautiful maids, Gorat wore a gorgeous robe and filled the sachets with precious spices specially provided by the nobles. Finally, he impatiently ate something from the mountain of delicacies piled up in front of him. On the way, he pushed a few little maids into the pond and took joy in watching them cry for help. It was only after one of the internal officers reminded him that the Minister had been waiting for a long time, Gorat, who was enjoying himself, walked toward the government affairs hall accompanied by a large group of servants. 

The government affairs hall was located on the second floor of the Dolez Center Castle. The entire room had a heavy aristocratic style. All kinds of gilt decorations and luxurious ornaments made this hall more like a dance party than a place where government affairs were discussed.

As a matter of fact, no one came here most of the time. All the government affairs were handled by the Minister of Internal affairs Hutt in his own residence. The 16-year-old Lord, Gorat, was more concerned about which maid to play with today than the so-called government affairs. 

On this day, there was a rare scene of solemness in the luxurious hall, and even the uninterested Gorat, sitting on the throne of the Lord, felt the heaviness in the atmosphere as if a storm was coming. 

"Your Highness Lord Gorat, recently there has been a large-scale epidemic in the City of Dolez and its surrounding 364 villages and towns. A large number of sick mobs are heading toward the City of Dolez. But for the safety of the people inside the City, I hope the city lord will quickly close the city gates to stop the mob from entering and spreading the disease in the City." 

A wretched and rickety old man walked out of the line with small steps and said the situation of the plague in a tone that seemed to be less of a suggestion and more of a direct order. From the behavior of this Minister of internal affairs, Hutt, it seemed like he hardly put the young Lord Gorat in his eyes. 

But Gorat didn't seem to mind Hutt's words and deeds. This Minister had been a teacher of Gorat's various aristocratic knowledge since he was a child, so to this young Lord who didn't have an opinion, it was entirely natural to follow the other party's "suggestions."

Under Hutt's unquestionable "suggestion," Gorat just glanced around the ministers who bowed their heads in a symbolic manner and then did not hesitate to agree to Hurt's suggestion. He wasn't interested in such things anyway. In his mind, he wanted to go back as soon as possible and pamper the little maid who was newly recruited yesterday. 

But when Gorat's mouth was half open, a loud voice came from the entrance of the hall. 

"Never, My Lord." 

With a clear and sonorous voice, a powerful middle-aged Knight strode into the assembly hall. His golden armor was shining, and whenever he stepped on the exquisite carpet with his armor-wrapped military boots, a sound of metal rubbing could be heard. After the middle-aged Knight walked in front of Gorat, he stopped and lifted his red cloak. Then with a crisp sound, the mighty knight half kneeled on the carpet and performed a perfect knight's chivalry. 

Immediately afterward, he raised his beardless clean face with a serious expression, and stared at Hutt next to him with scorching eyes, then reprimanded him mercilessly in front of all the ministers. 

"Hutt, you actually want your lordship to shut the people out and watch thousands of people die. Don't you care about the reputation of the Hyde family and the Lord?" 

Facing the Knight's question, Hutt couldn't help but take a step back. Then immediately, as if ashamed of his action, he looked at the Knight with eyes filled with hatred, but he did not answer the Knight's questions at all, instead: 

"Knight Commander Keith Casser, it is a time for serious discussions, and you came this late disregarding Lord's face. And now you are even interrupting Lord's words, is this what you call chivalry?" 

Knight Keith completely ignored Hurt's allegation and did not even try to explain why he was late. Instead, he turned his head and looked at the Lord as if he hadn't heard Hutt's questioning at all. Then he spoke out his suggestions in a sonorous and forceful manner. 

"Lord, there is not only a sudden outbreak of plague but also a cult that is indiscriminately persecuting..." 

"Shut up, Knight Keith, you dare to slander the Ti Xiaer Church as a cult without any evidence. Are you not afraid that you are baselessly blaspheming a great goddess?" 

Hearing the word "Cult," Hutt roared like an old cat whose tail was trampled on. 

"That's enough, Hutt, I don't know how much benefit the Ti Xiaer Church has given you, but now the City of Dolez is at stake. This is not the time to fight for power and gain." 

"You… You…" 

Hutt couldn't hide his fear as he saw Knight Keith standing up. The anger in Knight Keith's eyes seemed very real, and there were even waves of unrecognizable battle Qi that appeared around his body. It was as if the old man in front of him said one more word; then, he would kill him on the spot. 

Hutt gulped and finally held back his words. 

Seeing Hutt finally shut up, Knight Keith glanced at the grudging Hutt with disdain, then bowed heavily and said loudly:

"My Lord, I suggest that you send the city guards to eliminate the cult as soon as possible to reassure the people, then open the city of Dolez, and accept uninfected refugees." 

From the beginning to the end, Gorat was confused about why the two of his main subordinates were quarreling among them. As a matter of fact, he didn't even listen to the quarrel between the two seriously. Now he just wanted to finish this boring meeting quickly so that he could go back and stay warm with those beautiful maids. 

Hutt was keenly aware of his Lord's impatience. He knew that if he didn't say anything, this useless young Lord would agree to the knight commander's suggestions without even thinking about it, so he gritted his teeth against Knight Keith's power and spoke with a voice that sounded like a duck that was held by its throat. 

"No way, my Lord, how can you let those untouchables set foot in the sacred City of the Hyde family, not to mention that they are dirty and carrying the plague. What if they infect your lordship? It will be horrible. Is your lordship's health is not more important than the humble life of a group of farmers?" 

"Hutt, you are talking nonsense. As long as we carefully inspect everyone, the plague will not spread in the City at all. But if we let those people die, won't the Lord become the same as those cruel rulers? Aren't you afraid of being accused by thousands of people? And are you not afraid of being chased by the righteous heroes?" 

It might be because of Knight Keith's murderous stare, or it could be because the last two threats he said have worked; Hutt seemed lost for words, and it took a long time before he said falteringly with a red face: 

"There are not many garrisons in the city of Dolez... and the army also doesn't have enough money to do so many things..." 

"But we can not let the Hyde family's reputation be ruined, so let's help the refugees first." 

Knight Keith glared at the spiteful Hutt. He knew who could have spent the army's money, but now was not the time to investigate these problems. He forcefully suppressed the impulse to kill this treacherous Minister on the spot and took a deep breath, and while looking as calm as possible, begun to wait for the young Lord, who was already unable to sit still,  to make a decision. 

Gorat was already very impatient with this kind of discussion. He was used to throwing everything to the two subordinates under him. He didn't even know much about plagues or cults. So seeing that his two subordinate's argument finally came to an end, he, of course, agreed without even thinking. 

As for the specific actions... It was, of course, handed over to the highly respected and hard-working knight commander Keith Casser. 

Knight Keith glanced disappointedly at Gorat, who couldn't wait to leave the room, then helplessly scanned the circle of officials who hadn't said a word from start to finish, and finally sighed heavily and strode toward the front door. 

And as for Minister Hutt, he kept looking at Knight Keith's back with a spiteful face!