OBS Chapter 686 Young in age, but ambitious.
Chapter 686 Young in age, but ambitious.
Griffiths approached Count Hohenzollern, and this was the first time Griffiths had met Count Hohenzollern in person.
All previous knowledge about this old man came from "The Voice of Heldland." He had seen news of Count Hohenzollern attending various events in the newspaper more than once, and it was also known to the public that the old man's son was the current king of the Kingdom of Heldland.
With this special status, Count Hohenzollern naturally occupied a position in the court of King Midland that was difficult for others to reach. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was the most powerful centrist in the entire court.
The old man standing in front of Griffiths at that moment gave Griffiths the first impression of a kind old grandfather.
There was none of the serious aura occasionally seen in newspapers, nor the oppressive feeling typical of those in high positions. He simply sat there quietly, exuding a gentle quality that had been slowly refined by time, making people subconsciously want to let their guard down.
Griffiths stepped forward, bowed slightly, and gave Count Hohenzollern a standard courtly salute.
His movements were so fluid that there wasn't a single flaw; he displayed the proper respect without being so servile as to be repulsive.
Count Hohenzollern simply nodded slightly, his sparse eyebrows twitching gently in response.
"Count Hohenzollern, I have long admired your name."
Griffith spoke first, a faint smile on his lips, his gaze fixed on the other person's shoulder, avoiding direct eye contact to prevent offense.
His heart was beating gently in his chest, each beat carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension.
He understood that every word and action he took in front of the core members of the Midland court could influence the course of events.
Count Hohenzollern glanced at him, his voice soft and gentle, carrying a quality characteristic of the elderly, yet clear and unmistakable.
"You're Griffith? Lately, many people in the court have been mentioning your name."
The old man's gaze swept over the group of nobles not far away, his tone carrying an ambiguous meaning, as if he were mentioning it casually, or as if he had heard about it before.
Griffith's smile remained unchanged, but he was slightly startled inside.
He never expected that his name would reach the ears of Count Hohenzollern. Was it a good thing or a bad thing?
Unable to make a judgment at the moment, he could only continue in the other person's words.
"These are just some minor achievements, not worthy of praise from adults."
"If so many people remember my humble achievements, then they are not insignificant."
Count Hohenzollern spoke calmly, his tone revealing neither praise nor criticism.
His gaze returned to Griffith, his eyes calm and serene, yet seemingly able to see through people's hearts.
Before Griffith could fully process what was happening, and just as he was about to part his lips to steer the conversation further, Count Hohenzollern's voice rang out first.
The voice wasn't loud, but it had a penetrating power that cut through the noise, drilling straight into Griffith's ears and making his heart skip a beat.
"You don't seem to be very interested in the banquet."
Griffith's smile froze for a moment, so quickly it was almost imperceptible.
He didn't expect the other person to speak first, and that their words would strike at the heart of his deepest thoughts.
He subconsciously tightened the muscles in his back, creating a slight feeling of constraint.
He suppressed his surprise, his smile remaining unchanged, but with a touch of just the right amount of helplessness.
He quickly considered whether the other person was just saying it casually or had really seen through his thoughts.
Count Hohenzollern's gaze fell upon him, as if he could see through all his pretenses and schemes.
"Everyone else is talking amongst themselves and forming cliques, while you're just standing in the corner sizing them up. You can't survive in the court intrigues and preserve your political life like that."
Griffith's eyes widened, and his pupils suddenly contracted by half a point.
My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, and even my breath caught in my throat for a moment.
He merely glanced at the figures scheming around, so how could this old man have seen through his inner thoughts?
Perhaps it was because his actions were too deliberate, or perhaps it was because the wariness and scrutiny in his eyes were too obvious, or perhaps it was the sense of alienation he exuded that made the other person notice something amiss at a glance.
Everyone in the palace is a cunning old fox, always sharp-eyed and aware of everything. My little schemes and pretenses are nowhere to be found in front of true experts.
Griffiths was secretly annoyed, but at the same time, he felt a bit wary and apprehensive.
The seemingly kind old man before me was definitely not as harmless as he appeared; his eyes were sharper than any poisoned dagger in the palace.
He couldn't help but wonder if the other party had noticed him long ago, and if they had seen through his ambition hidden beneath his gentle exterior.
Griffith suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and his smile became more sincere, even carrying a touch of just the right amount of embarrassment.
He bowed again, bending even lower than before, displaying utmost humility.
“Your Excellency’s insight is sharp, and you’ve hit the nail on the head. I am indeed not comfortable in this kind of situation, and I don’t know how to gain a foothold in such a vortex. Please tell me, Your Excellency, how I can establish myself in the court.”
Griffiths understood that showing weakness was the best option in this situation. Faced with an absolute gap in strength and experience, being stubborn would only backfire and hasten his demise.
He needed the old man's guidance; even just a few words could be a lifeline for him.
His goal was never to live a muddled life in the palace, nor to eke out a living under someone else's roof. He wanted to climb up, to stand in a higher position, to have the power to control his own destiny, and to make those who once looked down on him look up to him.
Right now, this Count of Hohenzollern is the first opportunity he can seize, and the first piece of driftwood he can find in this quagmire.
However, Count Hohenzollern simply shook his head, his gray hair swaying gently with the movement, carrying a hint of the vicissitudes of time.
He still wore that gentle smile on his face, and spoke in a calm tone as if he were talking about something trivial, without the slightest hint of affectation.
“I don’t have any specific methods. I’m just an ordinary old man with a sinecure in Wyndham.”
These words sounded humble and harmless, but Griffith didn't believe a word of them.
In the court of Wyndam, there were never any truly "idle" positions, nor were there any "ordinary old people" who could live to this age peacefully.
The court intrigues in Midland are probably the most intense among all the countries on the continent. Those who survive the repeated political purges and factional changes must have secrets unknown to others and trump cards that others do not possess.
Moreover, the other party is the father of King Heldran. How could someone with such a status be just an ordinary old man holding a sinecure?
He didn't refute or press further, but simply looked at the other person quietly, his eyes filled with a hint of expectation, a hint of inquiry, and a hint of barely perceptible persistence.
He knew the old man hadn't finished speaking, and he needed to wait patiently and show the other person through his attitude that he genuinely wanted guidance, not just asked casually.
Sure enough, Count Hohenzollern changed the subject, glancing at a group of nobles huddled together and talking in hushed tones not far away. He lowered his voice even further, as if afraid of being overheard.
"But I have some suggestions that you'd better listen to."
Griffith's mind tensed instantly, and his body subconsciously leaned forward slightly, afraid of missing a single word.
"Since you've already been assigned to a faction, then do your best in that faction and become the most indispensable person in that faction."
Count Hohenzollern's voice was calm and unhurried.
"At the same time, we must strive for enough benefits for ourselves and develop enough downlines and connections. Of course, this is a very long process. If we encounter difficulties, as long as it does not involve our lives, we must persevere."
The old man paused, his gaze falling on Griffith's face, his eyes filled with a knowing understanding, as if he could see through the deeper desires in Griffith's heart.
He paused for a moment, then added, his tone carrying a somewhat ambiguous meaning.
"However, your goal should not be just to establish a foothold in the court, but I really have no other ideas."
Griffith's heart clenched as if he had been kicked hard.
His breathing became rapid instantly, and he could no longer maintain his composure, revealing a look of surprise that he had been seen through.
He knew that his ambition could not be hidden in the end, and no matter how well he disguised it, he was as transparent as a transparent person in front of this old man.
Count Hohenzollern's words were like a key, directly unlocking the deepest door in his heart, the door that held his lifelong desire.
He suppressed the shock in his heart, listened carefully to every word, and memorized Hohenzollern's words, as if they were engraved into the depths of his soul and into his very bones.
These words, though simple, are profound and hit the nail on the head, pointing directly to the core of court intrigue.
If you choose a side, you must stand firm and act decisively, becoming the core of that faction and someone they can't do without. Only then can you have a voice and the capital to secure your livelihood.
While choosing sides, one cannot place all one's hopes on any one person or faction. One must pave the way for oneself and accumulate strength so that one can successfully protect oneself and even advance further when factions change and the situation changes.
As for holding on, that is the prerequisite for everything else to survive.
The storms in the palace never cease. Today's allies may be tomorrow's enemies, and today's high position may be tomorrow's grave. Only by enduring those hardships, surviving those dark times, and swallowing those humiliations can one wait for the opportunity to rise above others and the day when one shines brightly.
Griffith's previous confusion, unease, and helplessness were suddenly shattered by a beam of light, and he instantly gained clarity.
It turns out there was a way, but he was going in the wrong direction; it wasn't that there was no method, but he was too eager for quick success.
The old man's last words struck a chord with him. His goal was never just to establish a foothold; he wanted the entire country, supreme power, and the submission of all people.
Griffiths took a deep breath, suppressing the surging excitement in his heart, and bowed to Count Hohenzollern again, bending even lower, his tone full of undisguised gratitude.
"I will keep your teachings in mind, Your Excellency. I would be most grateful if you could help me politically."
He knew that advice alone was not enough; he needed practical assistance.
This old man has been operating in the palace for many years, and he must have his own connections and influence, and a foundation that others cannot reach. If I can get his support, even just a little bit, my path in Wyndam will be much easier, and I will avoid many detours.
He had even already decided that if the other party made any demands, as long as they didn't cross his bottom line or violate his ambitions, he would agree, even if it came at a price.
Count Hohenzollern waved his hand, his smile fading and replaced by a genuine weariness—a weariness born of having seen through the ways of the world and being weary of conflict.
"I'm too old, I'm neither suited for nor interested in political struggles anymore. You'd better find some people your own age."
His tone was calm, without any harshness in his refusal, but it carried an undeniable resolve.
It's as if they're truly tired of all the deceit and treachery, tired of all the bloodshed and violence, and just want to live out the rest of their lives in peace and quiet, just want to keep their leisurely job and watch the sunrise and sunset.
Griffiths couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over the flame in his heart, reducing its heat by more than half.
But he didn't show it, and still had a respectful smile on his face.
He knew that forcing it would be useless.
An old man who has spent so many years navigating the complexities of the court will never easily change his mind, especially since the other party has already given such valuable advice, which is more than enough.
He bowed again, his voice still respectful and filled with gratitude.
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Excellency. I will remember this kindness."
After speaking, Griffiths straightened up, nodded slightly to Count Hohenzollern, then turned and slowly walked towards the other side of the banquet hall.
Count Hohenzollern's words were like a guiding light, illuminating his path forward. He knew which way to go from here.
Take sides, establish a foothold, accumulate strength, and persevere.
Every step must be taken steadily, decisively, and without regret.
His eyes gleamed with a burning light, the light of ambition ignited, the unwavering determination that came with a clear goal.
Count Hohenzollern stood still, his gaze following Griffith's retreating figure until he passed through the crowd before turning his attention away.
A complex light flashed in his somewhat cloudy eyes, a mixture of admiration, wariness, and a barely perceptible hint of regret.
"Young in age, but with considerable ambition..."
Not far away, King Midland also looked through the crowd at Griffith, who was leaving with Count Hohenzollern, his eyes deep and his mind racing.