Darkstone Code

Chapter 1260 - 1258: Unprecedented

The Imperial Family spent hundreds of years establishing its authority in the hearts of the people. If one wants to make monarchy a thing of the past, the first step is to erode the public’s reverence for the Imperial Family.

This is crucial, as Gafura can be very conservative and rigid at times.

Recklessly altering things that have always existed and been observed by the people can trigger intense resistance.

The authority of the Imperial Family lies in how, for centuries, it has always appeared as a positive and grand figure in the education of the people.

Just as the current history books of Gafura record, the Imperial Family ended a chaotic era marked by constant war, akin to an apocalypse, bringing complete peace to the Main Island.

People no longer lose their lives to wars that could break out at any moment, nor do they suffer the harsh treatment of aristocrats and live in such pain.

Everyone should thank the Imperial Family. The life everyone has today is because the Imperial Family bravely stood out at that most critical moment.

Most of the time, "history" is like this. It doesn’t tell people how cleverly and cunningly the Imperial Family usurped the rights of the United Parliament.

Nor does it tell people that, in fact, the Imperial Family has also initiated many dishonorable wars, which, in history books, have been rebranded as "quelling rebellions."

People believe in everything the Imperial Family does, trust in its contributions to the country, and believe that only under its leadership can the country regain its path to glory.

At this time, targeting the Imperial Family may not be the best time, but it’s a necessary time.

Perhaps in relatively stable times, through the gradual infiltration of public opinion, everything would naturally fall into place.

People would realize the drawbacks of monarchy, and then the Imperial Family would take the initiative to abolish the monarchy, and there would be less resentment.

Now it’s different; if there is no change, it will be too late!

So some actions must not only be swift but also harsh.

It’s crucial for the Eldest Prince to appear before the public to accept the "justice from the people."

First and foremost, this live trial will completely tear apart the image of the Imperial Family in people’s minds. Look, not only does the Imperial Family bring nothing good to our lives, but it also entangles us in troubles we hardly understand.

The people will become enraged, and this rage will be incredibly fierce and swift because it stems from "betrayal!"

We believed in the Imperial Family, but not only did they betray us, they harmed us. Everyone worldwide knows the true face of the Imperial Family, and we were the last to find out!

This rage will destroy the position of the Imperial Family in people’s minds. Once the established image is knocked down, it’s tough to rebuild it in a short time.

This is when it’s suitable to propose changes to the national system.

Duke Phoenix and other high nobles are discussing some details about the trial of the Eldest Prince in a side chamber, which is destined to be no easy task.

The Imperial Family is sure to obstruct, the Royalist Sect is sure to obstruct, and even some of the populace will obstruct.

Hence, how to make it fulfill its necessary function greatly challenges these high nobles’ capabilities.

In the Secretariat, there are many similar side chambers, which don’t necessarily belong to anyone; anyone can use them.

When two or more people need a private conversation, they enter these side chambers and close the door, and then others won’t enter recklessly.

No one will disturb them, and no one will overhear them; that would be an unwise act provoking public outrage.

Just as Duke Phoenix was discussing some questions prepared for the inquiry, the door of the side chamber was knocked on, interrupting their work.

Duke Phoenix paused his work, looked at the door of the room, and after a few seconds, said, "Come in."

Entering was a staff member of the Secretariat. The staff here are, in fact, relatives of some nobles, with connections neither too close nor too distant.

They could be considered nobles, yet not nobles, and serving the nobility is the best choice for such people.

With high salaries and leisurely work, many are willing to work here.

After all, noble families are also very harsh; not everyone can enjoy all the favorable treatments.

Duke Phoenix looked at the staff member who came in and casually asked, "Have everyone arrived?"

He thought it was the nobles who had arrived, as it was almost time for the meeting, the sooner it was over, the sooner they could return. One shouldn’t treat nobles as regular people.

Imposing requirements on when they must ’clock in,’ and when they ’clock out.’

However, the staff member’s words left Duke Phoenix momentarily bereft of thought.

"Lynch and an old noble got into a fight at the door; the old noble’s nose was broken, and blood was all over the place..."

A moment later, Duke Phoenix regained his senses, a peculiar expression on his face, and asked, "Did you call an ambulance?"

The staff member shook his head, "No, they won’t allow it, and moreover..." He hesitated for a moment, then cautiously said, "They are still fighting, and even more people are getting involved!"

When Duke Phoenix led a group of high nobles to the steps of the Secretariat’s entrance, the courtyard was already in chaos.

Apart from a circle of nobles watching the commotion excitedly, not caring about how big of a stir it was causing, quite a few nobles who should not have been involved got roped in.

After all, over the years it wasn’t just the young Count who felt wronged; everyone in their group had had enough of humiliation.

Obviously, everyone is a noble, yet they didn’t act like nobles in the Secretariat; anyone could bully them, and they still had to act cooperatively.

As if they were happy being bullied because there’s no choice but to be happy. If they weren’t, those old nobles would mess with their estates and find ways to create trouble for them.

People only see the glory of the nobility in public and desperately want to climb up but fail to see the suffering they endure in private.

This time, the scope of the brawl has expanded!

If beaten or insulted, they surely had to fight back, and as they went back and forth, more and more people were drawn into this confrontation.

Even though Lynch’s group seemed smaller in number and might suffer, they were all young or in their prime, perfectly suited to deal with those old fogies.

The Duke of Phoenix’s blood pressure soared at once. He always believed that under his leadership and management, the Secretariat was possibly the most united and stable it had ever been.

Until this moment, reality slapped him hard in the face.

Just last night, he assured the Prime Minister that everything was under control in the Secretariat, and the conflict between Lynch, the young Count, and the old nobility was being managed.

This morning came such an incident, burning his cheeks with embarrassment!

"Stop... it," he shouted.

But who cares about what others are shouting when they are already crazily fighting?

Lynch was fiercely kicking Kipling, who was curled up on the ground, with his shoes worth more than six thousand bucks. The young Count was helping too. Both of them put all their strength into it, indifferent to the surroundings.

This could be the darkest day in the history of the Secretariat; some nobles who were not regarded as such finally shed their hypocritical facade and became disturbingly alarming!

It wasn’t until the Duke of Phoenix ordered the staff to separate the fighting people that the explosive scene gradually calmed down.

Lynch stood aside, tidying up his clothes. His floral collar was half torn off, the buttons burst, and he couldn’t use it anymore, so he simply took it off.

The slightly open collar didn’t match the noble attire on him at all, but unexpectedly, it gave him a very special look.

The young Count admired Lynch the most. Thinking of this, he also tore off his floral collar.

Others started to emulate them, and soon, this group, considered to not last long in the noble circle, all tore off their floral collars.

Only then did people realize this group was not about any specific individual, but a collective, a phenomenon!

Facing the calm crowd, the Duke of Phoenix was at a loss for words.

Saying "You’re out of line"?

Everyone is a noble, and although his rank is high, not high enough to govern everyone here.

Saying "Why did you resort to violence"?

Don’t even mention saying it; just thinking about it made him feel foolish.

For a moment, everyone was in a standoff on this cold winter morning, facing each other in the chilling wind.

Ultimately, with a sigh, the Duke of Phoenix described what he saw as "utterly disappointing" before turning to leave.

With a slight smile on his lips, Lynch sneered and unexpectedly led his group away.

As they passed by the nobles who were beaten, the young Count even pointed at them with his finger.

He was probably the most excited person today. His body was still trembling slightly, partly out of exhaustion and partly out of excitement!

"Did you see that punch I gave him?" he whispered to Lynch as he caught up, gesturing a punching motion.

Lynch cooperatively nodded, making the young Count even happier.

"I’ve been dying to beat him up. This pain is excruciating; every cell in my body is singing!"

He said, asking again, "When can we beat them up again?"

Lynch stopped by the car, looked at the young Count, "Very soon!"

News of the brawl among the nobles in the Secretariat soon spread. People were initially incredulous, having always seen nobles maintain surface-level decorum.

No matter how filthy, despicable, or disgraceful they were in private, they were faultless publicly.

Even if a freeman cursed at them, they could smile and nod; what was said behind closed doors was irrelevant.

So when the nobles truly engaged in a brawl, many excitedly asked for evidence and who won.

It seemed to become a national topic, with even those at work joining the discussion.