This time, the situation changed.

After the recitation, four people were taken out of the crowd by the new king's guards.

The nobles couldn't help but stir.

"Your Majesty, this..."

"Ah, I guessed right, what the four of them said is true." Roland spread his hands. "Willingness to try is the qualification of the chariot. In the face of change, the courage to try is the most valuable." Then he looked at the selected nobles, "Do a good job, don't miss the opportunity you've got."

"Yes, yes... Your Majesty!" The four were flattered.

Nonsense, George couldn't help roaring in his heart, courage? Qualifications? Don't be ridiculous! These guys are just barons on the verge of decline, with barren territories, meager output, poor management, and a shortage of manpower. This is their true portrayal! Naturally, there is nothing to be reluctant about the land that cannot make ends meet. The only reason for retaining it is just to use it as a fig leaf for their identity. Basically, they won't even receive invitations to banquets if they take another step back. Can they also receive the new king's key attention? Or... are these people already in collusion with Roland Wimbledon, cooperating to perform this absurd farce?

Wait... he suddenly thought of a rumor, a sensational story from the royal capital.

Very few people have experienced this matter personally, but it is indeed related to the Fourth Prince. It is rumored that after occupying the royal capital, this person conducted a trial at the Two Towers Holy Temple to judge the crimes of those great nobles. Judging from the results afterwards, the nobles who controlled the real power in the royal capital were almost wiped out, and Tiffyco was also sentenced to hanging. Therefore, it was more of an elimination of dissidents than a trial.

However, the process was full of strange colors.

It is said that Roland used a "question-and-answer game" to determine the crimes of everyone.

Ten questions, as long as one is answered incorrectly, you will be sent to prison—and the basis for arbitration is the legendary heart.

At that time, George dismissed this statement, thinking it was just a rumor fabricated by the nobles who had luckily escaped the judgment to cover up their own guilty conscience and timidity. The so-called heart was just Roland's judgment based on his own preferences. Even if the other party did not stay in the royal capital in the end, it would not give those old ministers of Tiffyco a chance to make a comeback.

But now, he found himself a little uncertain.

Could it be... that this rumor is true?

"Next is the third sentence, listen carefully," Edith's voice sounded again, "I don't want to give up my territory and power at all, but in the face of overwhelming power, I don't want to risk my life for them even more." She made a gesture of invitation to everyone, "Now it's your turn."

The atmosphere in the hall gradually changed.

Previously, some people held an indifferent attitude and recited the statement casually, but when the first batch of nobles were recognized by the new king and left the crowd first, everyone felt a different emotion in their hearts.

This time, even the answers were no longer uniform.

However, the guards still selected more nobles in this round.

What made George Nari's heart sink was that Earl Delta was also included.

"What's going on?" Guy quietly moved to his side and asked in a low voice, "Could it be that they have all been persuaded by the new king?"

George secretly counted. A total of twenty-one people were brought out. Even a few of them were still standing in his mansion two days ago, discussing how to resist Roland. Together with the servants and attendants of these nobles, the crowd shrank by half in an instant.

"No, it's impossible... if Roland had contact with so many people, it's impossible for me to be unaware," he gritted his teeth and said, "They should have been selected temporarily."

"Then... why don't they say it?" Baron Leviathan also leaned over, "That guy Huf, he was clearly on our side before!"

"Say what?" George glared at the other party fiercely, "Your Majesty, you are mistaken. I value my territory more than anything else, and I would not hesitate to give up my life? If it were you, would you say that?"

"Uh, I..."

What an idiot, he thought angrily, the problem is not with the people who have been selected, but with the remaining nobles—Roland Wimbledon can just pick people with his eyes closed, and then classify the last remaining group as suppressors, but how can he ensure that there are no people from the Redwater City lord's side among them?

Choosing the wrong target will only push this part of the forces to the opposing side in vain. This trick has almost no meaning except to scare the snake. Or is he just trying to show off his mind-reading skills in front of everyone?

George looked around the hall and once again confirmed that the new king only brought six guards. Even if the latter reduced the number to one or two people and wanted to kill the chicken to warn the monkey, as long as he made a scene in public, these six people might not be able to suppress it.

At least, he and the Earl of Three Rivers would not sit idly by.

"Submitting to power is not an embarrassing answer," Roland smiled at the second batch of nobles, "Throughout history, the strength of power has always been the basis for determining the order of human classes. The importance of assessing the situation is not less than courage. Your ancestors were able to occupy a place in Graycastle and pass on their bloodline, rather than being wiped out in the long river of history. This is in itself a proof of strength. I am very glad that you can inherit this point. In addition, I also promise here that you will not be treated differently from the first batch of nobles. As long as you keep today's answer in your mind, if you encounter similar questions in the future, think carefully about the power I possess."

After speaking, he looked at the Pearl of the North, "Next sentence."

Edith nodded, "Fourth sentence, I don't want to give up either side, and I don't know how to choose."

This statement was very short, but only five or six of the remaining nobles opened their mouths. Most of them chose to remain silent. They had already realized that they were being divided.

And among the people who spoke to repeat it, the guards only picked out three.

"Ahem, Your Majesty, we believe that you can see through people's hearts, let's stop here."

"Yes, after all, this is a welcome banquet, you see..." Earl Delta and Earl of Three Rivers successively tried to dissuade him.

"Those who hesitate are fewer than I imagined," Roland seemed not to hear, "Wavering and hesitating are not a good quality, especially in the ever-changing wave of change. But you belong to the category that can be transformed. Stay here for now. Maybe in a quarter of an hour, you will change your views."

He paused and faced the remaining nobles, "Next is the last sentence, but I think you should have guessed its content, or rather, the thoughts in your hearts. In that case, I will say this sentence myself—"

"No matter what, I am unwilling to hand over my territory and power. For this, I am willing to take risks—as long as I can overthrow the king, the family and wealth will surely last forever!"

At that moment, the bonfire seemed to move without wind.

No one spoke in the hall, and the air seemed to freeze.

"It doesn't matter if you don't answer. As I said before, this is not a suggestion, but an order." Roland said slowly, "Those who do not repeat it are not qualified to continue. Your road ends here."

"What do you mean by this?" George also darkened his face, "Without evidence, without trial, just based on a word, do you want to convict us?"

There were still twenty-seven nobles left, a number far exceeding his expectations. According to the different titles, each person brought two to four attendants, adding up to at least sixty people. There were also many reserve knights among them. What good would it do the new king to push them to this point?

Is he not afraid of getting burned!

"Your Majesty, if it's a joke, it's enough," Guy still put on a kind face and persuaded peacefully, "The last sentence is too serious, we can't bear it. How can you be sure that everyone thinks that way? At least I would never betray the Wimbledon family."

"Yes... it's too unjust, I never thought that way!"

"Your Majesty, please investigate!"

Everyone clamored.

"Do you know? Insight into people's hearts is such an ability—the more you say, the more you can discern the truth." Roland unmovedly took a crystal glass from Edith's hand, "If you have anything to say, keep it to say to shovels and ore."

"Ore, ore?"

"That's right, you will be押往North Slope mine for treason"

"You will be sentenced to twenty years of hard labor—after all, you are currently only plotting in your hearts and have not put it into action." The new king's tone was mixed with a dangerous aura, "However... if you have any acts of resistance, the matter of treason will become a real action, and the mine will naturally no longer accommodate you. Your only destination is death."

Speaking of this, he drank the wine in the glass in one gulp and threw the glass out casually.

The glass drew an arc and landed at George's feet, shattering into pieces with a bang.

"Take them down!"