Chapter 1823: Chapter 1035 Meeting Begins_2 Chapter 1823: Chapter 1035 Meeting Begins_2 “Ladies and gentlemen, you are all the first echelon of the Coldflame Kingdom’s Neutral Organization, and for a long time, you have made considerable contributions to the Coldflame Kingdom. Now, let me speak frankly.”

Leo Ray first took a sip of the hot tea that Celeste Reiss had just brought to him, and then stated bluntly, “As you all are aware, the Coldflame Kingdom is currently on the eve of a storm. One wrong move, and it will be like the fall of a towering structure, destroyed in an instant.”

“When that time comes, it will not only be the end of this Kingdom that has persisted for over six hundred years, but also soldiers and civilians will be stained with blood over a thousand miles, with corpses strewn everywhere.”

“And since you have chosen Coldflame as the base of your operations, it goes without saying that you wouldn’t want to see this land turn to ashes and dust under the ravages of blood and fire.”

Leo Ray’s voice grew more solemn as he continued, “Therefore, Her Majesty the Queen and I hope that you all can join us in resisting the invading enemies, to contribute to the royal family and bring a glimmer of hope to the people.”

“Please rest assured that if the Coldflame Kingdom survives this crisis, everyone present will be honored as heroes of the Coldflame Kingdom. Whether it is fame and fortune or wealth and nobility, we are fully prepared to meet your demands.”

After Leo Ray finished speaking, the room fell into complete silence.

Whether it was Bernie, Blaze, and Duke on his left, or Dana and Kara on his right, all were bowing their heads in quiet, politely maintaining a silence that was as respectful as it was awkward.

Indeed, just as Leo Ray had thought, all five were well aware of the current situation.

The five, whose divisions spanned various countries of the Human Clan and who were extremely well-informed, understood the reality very clearly.

Faced with the siege from the united forces of the five countries on all four fronts, the already weakened Coldflame Kingdom stood no chance of victory.

To put it more precisely, not even at the peak of Coldflame Kingdom’s power could it have survived in the face of the combined might of the five countries’ armies.

Thus, the situation was self-evident.

To choose to join a side doomed to destruction at such a time would be akin to seeking one’s own death, would it not?

After all, no matter how many riches were promised, one must first survive to enjoy them, right?

With these thoughts collectively passing through their minds, the crisp clattering of armor was heard, and the exceptionally forthright Knight Commander Duke was the first to stand, offering a bow to Leo Ray and Ariel Watson.

Then, he spoke candidly, “I apologize, Your Royal Highness Prince, Your Majesty the Queen, my ‘Jett Knights’ have maintained neutrality for a millennium. This is the lesson and admonition passed down by generations of our knights’ leaders. Therefore, I must regretfully decline as I am powerless to assist.”

“But please be assured, Your Royal Highness Prince and Your Majesty the Queen, that the ‘Jett Knights’ will not commit atrocities or support those who provoke wars.”

After Duke spoke, the other four quickly nodded in agreement, signifying their stance of neutrality.

Seeing this, Ariel Watson and the rest of the subordinates couldn’t help but exchange glances.

From the firm attitude of the five, it wasn’t difficult to see that convincing them to join was indeed an exceptionally difficult task.

With the current crisis situation being almost certain death, who would choose to walk the path to their own demise?

Meanwhile, Leo Ray, at the focal point of everyone’s attention, remained unflustered with a faint smile still on his face.

Leo Ray was clear in his heart that if he were in their shoes, he certainly wouldn’t easily gamble everything of his forces on a dynasty on the brink of collapse.

In other words, all of this was within his expectations.

But as they say, money talks.

The only reason they had not submitted was simply the lack of a sufficiently tempting offer.

Just as Leo Ray was about to display his financial prowess.

Sarah Shawn’s starry eyes twinkled as she looked at the Knight’s Order horse-shaped emblem on Duke’s chest, and was the first to speak up, “Commander Duke, may I inquire whether the ‘Jett Knights’ have any historical connection to the Loren Kingdom that perished a thousand years ago?”

Hearing Sarah’s words, Duke’s robust frame stiffened, then he asked with furrowed brows, “Your Excellency Sarah, may I know the implication of your question?”

“Commander Duke, you just mentioned that the ‘Jett Knights’ were established a thousand years ago, which coincides with the time when Loren Kingdom vanished.”

Sarah Shawn smiled and explained, “Moreover, the emblem of Your Excellency’s Knightly Order is extremely similar to that of the Loren Royal Family, which prompted my inquiry.”

Listening to Sarah’s words, Leo Ray nodded thoughtfully.

The emblem of the Loren Royal Family is a fine horse with its hind legs on the ground and its forelegs in the air, looking extraordinarily majestic.

And the emblem of the “Jett Knights” is a horse’s head with just one foreleg raised. Upon close observation and comparison, it indeed bears quite a resemblance to the former.

“I had no idea that Your Excellency Sarah was so knowledgeable and even aware of matters concerning the Loren Kingdom.”

A faint surprise emerged on Duke’s resolute face as he nodded and said, “Indeed, my ‘Jett Knights’ did take inspiration from the Loren Royal Family’s emblem at the inception.”

“It’s not merely a matter of seeking inspiration, is it?”

Staring intently at the emblem on Duke’s chest, Sarah smiled and said, “Captain Duke, do you recognize the name Jelante Ailik?”

At Sarah’s words, the White Knight was the first to react.

Once one of the Loren Kingdom’s Apocalyptic Knights, he was well acquainted with this name.

Jelante Ailik was the deputy commander of the Loren Royal Family’s Imperial Guard Legion and had been his instructor in horsemanship.

During that searing night filled with blood and fire, this loyal old knight fought alongside the Loren Royal Family until the very end, exhausting his strength in death.

As the White Knight recollected these thoughts, he gazed at that tenacity between Duke’s eyebrows, and a sudden clarity dawned upon him; this was strikingly identical to Jelante.

“Upon careful reflection, ‘Jett’ in the ancient Loren script is indeed an abbreviation for Jelante. Could this be a Knightly Order formed by the descendants of Jelante?”

Just as the White Knight reached this thought in his mind.

Duke, with a face of disbelief, asked Sarah, puzzled, “How could Your Excellency know the name of my ancestor? Who exactly are you, and what is your connection to the Loren Kingdom?”

Upon hearing this, Sarah’s exquisite face still maintained a faint smile.

As an inheritor of the Loren Royal Family, she had inherited not only the strength and experience of her ancestors but also some of their other memories, including those of Jelante.

Sarah did not respond to Duke immediately but instead took out from her bosom a golden ring engraved with a fine horse emblem, displaying it in front of Duke.

This ring was recognized by Leo Ray; it wasn’t equipment, but a mere ring, and also a symbol of the now-destroyed Loren royal authority.

“You, could you possibly be…”

Duke’s eyes widened, transfixed on the ring stamped on the title page of his family’s ancient books, his shock clear for all to see.

As a descendant of Jelante, he naturally knew what that ring symbolized, and the founding purpose of the ‘Jett Knights’ was, like the White Knight, to seek and swear loyalty to the heirs of the Loren Royal Family.

“I am now the honorable Countess of the Coldflame Kingdom, and a steadfast subordinate to His Royal Highness the Prince. For His Royal Highness, I am willing to give everything, including my life.”

Sarah withdrew the ring, facing Duke solemnly, “Now do you know what you should do?”

Hearing Sarah’s words, Duke did not hesitate and first made a gesture of respect to her with his hand upon his chest.

Then he knelt before Leo Ray and Ariel Watson, steadfastly declaring, “Your Highness Prince, Your Majesty the Queen, the ‘Jett Knights’ are willing to fight shoulder to shoulder with the Coldflame Kingdom, until the end of our lives!”

At Duke’s declaration, Leo Ray immediately understood the turn of events and merely smiled with a nod.

The leaders of the other four neutral forces were completely astounded; they could hardly believe what they were witnessing.

You must know, even within neutral organizations, Duke’s ‘Jett Knights’ were known for their independence and eccentricity, never giving face to any nobility nor bending the knee to any power.

In other words, the ‘Jett Knights’ should have been the most firmly neutral organization. Yet, unexpectedly, they became the first to bow their heads!