116: Chapter 116 Imperial Edict! A meteoric rise to power! The entire Gino County is shaken!

Holy Calendar 1853, early winter.

Merely days after the church assassination incident that shocked Gino City, orders from the empire's power center arrived.

On the announcement tower in the City Hall square.

Several clerks dressed in imperial uniforms, under the witness of the Temple Knights, posted a massive announcement bearing the resolution seal of the Imperial Senate and the King's royal approval in the most conspicuous position.

The core content of the announcement was clear and shocking:

First, the final judgment on the former Count of Golden Flame Territory and Lord of Gino City, Count Farrell, is officially announced.

Twelve major crimes, including blasphemy, treason, collusion with the Crimson Cult, and murdering imperial nobles, have been established.

All his titles, territories, and honors are stripped, and all inheritance rights of his direct family lineage are also stripped.

The Count Farrell family of Golden Flame Territory is hereby removed from the register.

Second, after deliberation and voting by the Imperial Senate and approval by His Majesty the King, Rowan Flynn is hereby appointed as the new legal heir to Golden Flame Territory, promoted to Count of Golden Flame, effective immediately, taking over the position of Lord of Gino County and all authority of Golden Flame Territory.

The original White Cliff Territory will also be under his direct administration.

Third, it is confirmed that Red Maple Territory is returned to the Mesa Family, inherited by Mira Mesa, and promoted to Viscountess of Red Maple.

It is confirmed that Mist Territory is inherited by Elena Gladstone, and promoted to Viscountess of Mist.

Black Mountain Territory is to be managed by Count of Golden Flame, Rowan Flynn.

Fourth, all original heirs of the Mercer Family of Purple Thorn Territory have died, and it is inherited by the newly dispatched lord, Vanessa Bryce, promoted to Viscountess of Purple Thorn.

The announcement concludes with a stern statement regarding the inviolability of imperial law and the faith of the Dawn, urging all officials, nobles, and citizens of Gino County to perform their duties, be loyal to the new lord, and restore order and production as soon as possible.

This news spread like a wildfire, sweeping through every corner of Gino City at an astonishing speed.

The whole city was in an uproar, plunged into a massive shock!

Inside City Hall.

The lord's office, which originally belonged to Count Farrell, was empty and cold, but in other offices, it was a scene of chaos.

Clerks, tax officials, security officers, and various minor officials gathered together, pale-faced, whispering to each other.

"My god... is it really that Baron Flynn?!"

"Promoted to Count of Golden Flame! An instant ascent! Straight from a Baron to a Count, and he even got the Lordship!"

"The Church's methods this time... are too tough! The Senate actually passed it?"

"I heard he only got twenty-one votes in The Senate, and in the end, it was Duke Latour who turned the tables!"

"The Latour Family?! That Baron Rowan... no, Lord Mayor, what kind of background does he have?"

"It's over, it's over. I was following Viscount Willis before. Will the new Lord Mayor purge us?"

"Hurry up and think of a way to make amends! I heard this new Count is very young, but his methods are ruthless. Even Count Farrell and the Bloodthirsty Knight fell into his hands!"

Panic, awe, calculation, confusion... various emotions permeated the bureaucratic system.

They were used to operating under the rules of Count Farrell, and now the sudden change in power meant that personnel, interests, and even rules of conduct might face a reshuffle.

No one dared to underestimate this young new noble who rose to power in such a dramatic way.

In a corner, the tax official Toby Hager, who had been to White Cliff Territory to collect taxes, was pale, listening to his colleagues' discussions, looking somewhat distracted...

The reaction of the County Council was more direct and violent.

Those local nobles who originally supported Viscount Willis openly or secretly, or had business dealings with Viscount Hawke, were stunned in their respective mansions.

"How is this possible?! Behind Viscount Willis is Lord Mason!"

"Viscount Hawke had the support of the Southern and Eastern Merchant Alliances, and he still lost?"

"That Rowan Flynn... who exactly is he?! Why is the Church supporting him so strongly? And why did the Latour Family make an exception?"

"Investigate! Investigate all the background of this Rowan Flynn immediately! White Cliff Territory? What kind of backwater is that?"

"From now on, this Gino City is going to change..."

Many nobles felt a wave of dizziness.

To let a country bumpkin Baron laugh until the end exceeded all their expectations.

But regardless, they must learn as soon as possible how to get along with this new Count who seems to have a complex background.

Viscount Willis's mansion.

At this moment, it was shrouded in a suffocating atmosphere.

Inside the study, fragments of precious white porcelain vases were scattered everywhere, and high-quality wine stained the expensive Tyrna velvet carpet like blood.

Viscount Willis's face was livid, his chest heaving violently, his eyes bloodshot. Anger, unwillingness, humiliation, and a trace of unbelievable fear were intertwined.

This made his originally scholarly face twisted and somewhat hideous.

"Trash! A bunch of trash!!" He hissed, his voice trembling with extreme anger: "Dawn Knight Lord Mason... Theodore Witton... They clearly guaranteed it!"

"Twenty-five votes!"

"Why was it the Latour Family in the end?!"

"What kind of thing is that Rowan Flynn?!"

"How dare he?!"

He had done so many things in secret to cooperate with the Duke for this position, and even risked taking dangerous medicine to force a breakthrough in his cultivation, leaving behind hidden dangers.

He thought it was a sure thing, that he could join the ranks of the top nobles in the North and lead his family to glory.

But overnight, his dream was shattered. He not only lost the Countship that was within his grasp but also became a loser and a joke in front of everyone!

It is conceivable that those who originally flattered him or feared the forces behind him would look at him with mocking and sympathetic eyes.

What made him even more afraid was the future.

How would the newly appointed Count of Golden Flame treat him, a remnant of the previous regime and a competitor?

Although he was confident that with the relationship with Duke Witton, the other party might not dare to do anything to him openly, but secret suppression, exclusion, and deprivation of resources were probably inevitable.

The prospects for his family in Gino County were instantly cast with a thick shadow.

"Father..." His eldest son, a young man who was also pale, spoke timidly, "What... what should we do next?"

Viscount Willis turned his head abruptly, his red eyes glaring at his son, scaring the latter into taking a step back.

He took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down, but his voice remained cold and bone-chilling:

"What to do? Close the doors and decline visitors! Restrain the clan members. During this time, everyone keep your tails tucked!"

"Also... prepare gifts immediately, prepare... to congratulate the new Count on his accession."

The last few words were squeezed out from between his teeth, full of unwillingness and humiliation.

But the situation was stronger than the person; before figuring out the new Count's temper and true background, he had to endure.

Ice Lake City, the Harrington Family mansion.

Viscount Harrington was much more relaxed.

Without the nomination support of the royal family, he had no hope of being promoted to Count anyway.

Seeing that Viscount Willis, who was nominated by the royal family, failed, he even felt a little secretly happy.

But... this newly promoted Count of Golden Flame was also from the royal direct vassal, only later, for some reason, it was the Church that supported him, and the Latour Family stood for him, and finally won the position of Lord of Golden Flame Territory.

Looking at it this way, the position of this new Count probably wouldn't fully lean towards the royal family.

Meanwhile.

Viscount Hawke, who had just returned to Ice Lake City not long ago, had a fluctuating expression, which finally turned into a long sigh, and he shook his head with a wry smile: "Good methods, really good methods..."

"Actually having the support of Duke Latour, and keeping it so low-key, making everyone misjudge the situation. This Count Rowan is not simple."

He accepted reality faster than Viscount Willis. Merchants value profit and are more aware of the times.

Since the investment failed, he had to stop the loss immediately and look for new opportunities.

He narrowed his eyes and began to think about how to get in touch with this newly promoted Count of Golden Flame.

The trade routes and markets of Gino County were still attractive; changing a partner might not mean he couldn't do business.

Compared to the shock and restlessness of the upper class, the reaction of the ordinary people in Gino City was much simpler and more direct.

On the streets and alleys, in taverns and teahouses, and by market stalls, people gathered together, discussing excitedly and slightly uneasily.

"Have you heard? The new Lord Mayor is set! It's a young lord named Rowan Flynn!"

"Is that the young lord who shot that blood-colored demon with three arrows at the church gate a few days ago? My cousin's brother-in-law was there at the time and saw it with his own eyes!"

"Promoted from a Baron to a Count all at once, and became the Lord Mayor. Can this lord handle the situation? Those masters in the city are not easy to deal with."

"What are you afraid of! With the Church's support, and he himself is so capable of fighting, I think it'll work!"

"Sigh, I hope so... As long as we can live peacefully and pay less tax, he is a good lord."

For most ordinary people, who becomes the Count of Golden Flame or who becomes the Lord Mayor is not important.

What they care about is whether taxes will be reduced and whether public security will be better after the new lord takes office...