Chapter 762: Chapter 762 - 424: Dividing the Spoils

The stench of blood in Grey Rock Castle had not yet fully dispersed.Outside the castle, the cleanup was still ongoing.The monsters' remains were dragged off the square; flamethrowers and high-pressure water guns were used in turn, trying to wash away the dark red meat paste clinging in the cracks between the stones.The air was thick with the smell of blood and sulfur; when the cold wind blew, it felt like it was welling up from some deep well that had yet to be sealed.Yet Louis still decided to hold the merit and rewards council here.Grey Rock Castle had once been where the Remont Clan discussed military affairs and divided spoils; now it was being used again, only with a different group of people, and a different banner.When the door of the Platinum Assembly Hall was pushed open, the warm air almost crashed into them.The fire in the hearth burned bright, candlesticks were lined up in a row, and light flowed between the white stone pillars.The amber-gold wine the Remont Clan had cellared for fifty years was opened bottle by bottle; the liquid poured into cups, glimmering with a gentle and tempting hue.The family crest that had originally hung on the wall had already been taken down; in its place now flew the flag of Red Tide.A huge parchment map was spread across the center of the long table.The map almost covered the entire Gray Rock Province; tiny flags of different colors were densely planted on it, as if it were being carved up anew.The Northern Lords took their seats one after another.Their cloaks were not yet fully dry; one could still smell that lingering reek of blood.This old noble who had endured in the Northern Territory for over sixty years was now staring fixedly at the vast stretch of land encircled in red on the map, his Adam's apple rolling up and down uncontrollably.That was the Red River Valley, one of the most fertile tracts in Gray Rock Province; its annual yield was worth three years of total output from his Northern Territory lands.Before the council, Louis had already hinted to him in private.The amber-gold wine in his cup swayed gently, nearly spilling.When the allocation began, the hall fell silent.Louis stood at one side of the long table, holding a pointer in his hand, like a perfectly sized dining knife.He looked at the map, and at those eager, restless eyes."Count Albert."