Imperial Crown
Chapter 24 This can't be an act
"Lord Raven, we're here." Eric stopped the carriage in front of Snow Maple Castle.
The moment he lifted the curtain, he was stunned!
Is this still Baron Raven?
His clothes were the same as before, but his originally smooth clothes were full of wrinkles, his hair was messy like a bird's nest, his face was pale and swollen, and his eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept for a few days, and he looked indescribably haggard and decadent.
"Lord... what's wrong with you?"
Raven yawned and asked, "How do I look?"
"Uh..." Eric carefully considered his words: "I suggest you take a rest. You will be easily treated as a vampire by the church staff."
"That's right." Raven jumped down from the carriage: "It's worth rubbing my face for an hour."
Unlike Eagle Castle, Snow Maple Castle is located on a mountain peak. It has no moat, but is built from low to high along a ridge. It is more like a fortress than a castle.
The defenders of Snow Maple Castle were also very surprised by Raven's sudden visit, but after confirming his identity, they still put down the hanging basket and took him to the city wall.
Under the guidance of the soldiers, Raven came to the door of the castle hall, pacing anxiously like a headless fly, scratching his messy hair from time to time, not looking like a noble at all.
"Kent, what do you think?" On the third floor, Viscount John leaned against the window and examined Raven's performance: "What is this little guy planning to do by coming here at night?"
Kent is the name of the butler. He said respectfully: "Seeing Baron Raven so anxious, there must be something urgent."
John asked again: "Is it possible that he is deliberately playing misery?"
"It is unlikely." Kent shook his head gently: "Look at him, his steps are very scattered, and there is no pattern in moving forward, backward and circling. Those eyes and eye bags don't look like they are made up. If he is acting, then his acting skills are really too good."
"Then let him in." John ordered: "Take him to my study."
John came to the study, and a few minutes later, Raven, who looked haggard, walked in under the guidance of Kent.
As soon as he saw John, Raven seemed to have seen a savior, and his eyes shone: "Oh! Respected Viscount John, I finally see you!"
He sat down on the chair and let out a long sigh: "Thank God, thank you for seeing me!"
Seeing his behavior, Viscount John's original vigilance suddenly became much less.
The Snow Maple Territory and the Eagle Territory are adjacent, so what happened in Eagle Castle certainly cannot be hidden from his ears and eyes.
As the old saying goes, all that glitters is not gold.
Raven looks dignified, but he is just a gangster after all. Although he has won by chance, he is also scared. This time he probably came to borrow troops to strengthen the defense of Eagle Castle.
"Don't panic, this is Snow Maple Castle, no one can hurt you." John said with a pleasant face: "Kent, go and pour Baron Raven a glass of wine."
Perhaps his comfort has worked, Raven's demeanor has calmed down a little, he took the wine handed by Kent and took a sip.
"Baron Raven, I deeply regret what happened to Eagle Castle. As a noble, I am willing to help you strengthen your defense, but I also know that you are not well-off." John revealed his purpose: "So, if you can hand over the town of Shining Gold to me completely..."
Raven reacted immediately and interrupted Viscount John: "The town of Shining Gold is the key!"
John thought he had figured it out and said with a smile: "Yes, as long as Baron Raven hands it over..."
"No, not me!" Raven said loudly in a daze: "It's you, please be sure to return the town of Shining Gold to me immediately, otherwise a disaster will come!"
"What?" Viscount John felt that he had heard Duo had a question: "I hand over the town of Shining Gold?"
Raven nodded heavily, he came forward, and the right hand pressed on his chest twisted his armpit fiercely, and tears suddenly burst out: "Viscount John, this time our Eagle Castle was attacked, it was not accidental, but someone planned it from behind!"
"The mastermind behind the scenes is Hyde of the Slater family! He wanted my baron title, I didn't agree, and ended up causing such a disaster!"
John's eyebrows jumped: "Hyde Slater?"
As the actual controller of Shining Gold Town, he had known that Hyde had been living there recently and had sent people to visit him, but he never thought that he would come up with such an idea!
No wonder those bandits left the closer quarry and didn't rob, but rushed directly to the Eagle Castle.
There are five ranks of nobility: duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron. No matter how noble the viscount and baron are, they are only in a corner. Only when they become earls can they be qualified to guard a place.
For example, in the Nord Province, most of the fiefdoms are in the hands of the Slater family. If they are targeted, not to mention a baron like Raven with a shallow foundation, even a viscount like John would have to avoid it.
John asked carefully: "Although the Lester family is powerful, it cannot ignore the laws of the empire. Since you have already resisted the attack of the bandits, there is no need..."
"Resist? You think too highly of me!" Raven smiled bitterly and drank the red wine in the glass. His hands couldn't help trembling: "There was no resistance at all... All the servants in the castle died... My private soldiers were killed. More than half of the time, except for Eric, the entire castle is now controlled by rogues who take orders from Hyde! "
"What!?" John was shocked, but a hint of realization immediately came to his mind.
Yes, although Raven's private soldiers look good, after all, it just seems that with inferior equipment, it is impossible to compete with a group of murderous bandits!
He was originally shocked by the high combat effectiveness of Raven's private soldiers and the low combat effectiveness of the Bloody Highland bandits. Now that he heard Raven's explanation, everything became much more reasonable.
"Hyde did not hesitate to collude with the horse thieves to ask me to hand over my title in order to gain a fiefdom for myself." Raven said with a bitter look on his face: "That's why I came to ask you to save me..."
"This is too much!" Viscount John slammed the table and said loudly: "This is simply a violation of the dignity and rules of the nobility!"
"Baron Raven, please feel free to go back first. I will go to Meng'en City to meet Earl Tyrone in person and ask him to strictly discipline his children!"
Having said that, John has no intention of doing this. Even though he is a fourth-level ice knight and a viscount, he looks like a figure, but he is nothing in front of a powerful earl. Now that I say it It was also to make Raven feel at ease and get rid of the sticky candy.
"It's useless, Viscount John." Raven said desperately: "Hyde has gone crazy! He forced me to come here today and asked me to inform you to return Goldshire to the Eagle Territory."
"He said... he needs a complete Eagle Territory, and if you don't agree... the tragedy of Eagle Castle will still happen in Xuefeng Territory!"
John's brow furrowed.
He had heard of Hyde, the youngest son of Earl Tyrone, a playboy.
If he were the first heir to the Slater family, or if he had outstanding abilities, John would still look up to him, but it was a pity that he didn't do either of these things.
How dare he threaten me?
"Hyde really said that? Just based on empty threats, you want to take Goldshire away from me?"
"No, it's not a threat!" Raven said: "Master Hyde gave me four thousand gold coins. As long as you promise to return Gold Gold Town, these four thousand gold coins will all be yours! The money box is in my carriage now. Inside!”
John's fingers tapped lightly on the table.
When he rented Gold Flash Town, he spent 10,000 gold coins. Now ten years later, he has recovered more than 4,600 gold coins. If he accepted 4,000 gold coins and handed them over to Gold Flash Town, it would not be a big deal. You will lose too much.
But that’s not how the accounts were calculated.
Gold Gold Town is not only a tax center, but also a transportation hub. It is surrounded by two baronies and a viscounty. The exchange and sale of materials need to be carried out through Gold Gold Town.
It is precisely because of this characteristic that almost all the craftsmen needed by the nobles can be found in Goldsmith Town, such as blacksmiths, carpenters, masons, potters, architects, animal trainers, and even the mercenary union has a branch here.
With it, Xuefeng collar has become more vital than ever before. Even though the tax revenue in ten years was only more than 4,600 gold coins, the positive benefits it brought to Xuefeng collar even exceeded the tax itself.
Moreover, just a Hyde, why are you talking so wildly? If he asks me to do it, I will do it. Isn’t it very shameful?
"Then I'm afraid I will disappoint Baron Raven this time." John said: "Golden Town was leased to me by Baron Donald, and I have no intention of giving up before the contract expires."
"But, Viscount John!" Raven seemed completely unable to accept the answer. He shouted hoarsely: "If you refuse to agree, what...what will I do!?"
"If I can't do this, Hyde won't let me go...and he won't let you go either! The bandits on the bloody highlands will find you soon!"
"Then let him come!" John lowered his eyelids and said with a hint of dissatisfaction: "Baron Raven, you are also an imperial noble, you must have the dignity and dignity of a noble! Just a mere Hyde makes you so rude, you, as expected Not a mature nobleman yet!”
"I have no choice..." Raven showed a helpless smile: "Lord Viscount, how about five thousand gold coins? I still have a thousand gold coins that you can use..."
John shook his head indifferently: "Sorry, I can't help you."
"If five thousand gold coins are not enough, I can also give you three hundred bottles of angel tears. I..."
"Okay, Baron Raven." John interrupted Raven: "If you feel tired, you can rest for a night in Xuefeng Castle. I think no one will dare to disturb you."
Faced with such a clear rejection, Raven seemed to have his soul taken away, and slowly shook his head: "...No, no need..."
He stood up, but he lost his balance and knocked over the chair. Kent wanted to help him, but he shook his head and refused, and staggered out.
"Huh, what a useless little bee. Even if Hyde is from the Slater family, he cannot represent the Slater family." John said confidently: "He can't even see through this. He is not worthy of being a noble."
Kent whispered: "Are you really sure that there is no shadow of the Slater family behind this matter?"
John was stunned for a moment: "What do you mean?"
"I just thought of what Baron Raven said just now." Kent said, "He said he still has a thousand gold coins."
John asked, "Is there any problem with this?"
Kent said, "Raven shouldn't have so much money. Denise's own son didn't get the inheritance, so it's impossible for him to give too much. Whether it's buying a dress or repairing the castle, it takes a lot of gold coins. Where does his money come from?"
John thought, "Do you mean he lied?"
Kent shook his head, "No, I'm more inclined to believe that Baron Raven is telling the truth. It's impossible for someone to act so well."
"What do you mean?" Through the window, John looked at Raven's hunched back that was gradually moving away. It didn't look like he was pretending, "Did Donald leave him a legacy?"
Kent said, "Angel's Tears..."
"Angel's Tears!?" John's face suddenly realized, "Oh, yes, it's the new wine he invented a month ago. You mean, he made a profit of more than a thousand gold coins in a month with Angel's Tears?"
Kent said: "There must be Denise's initial investment, but I don't think the profit will be less than 300 gold coins, otherwise, it is impossible to explain the Slater family's motives."
John rubbed his chin: "You mean, if it was just Hyde, he wouldn't dare to provoke me, and he would only have the confidence to do so with the Slater family behind him?"
Kent tacitly agreed to this and returned to the previous point: "I have also tasted the wine of Angel's Tears. It is indeed a very palatable and luxurious red wine, and there are no similar competitors on the market. I think as long as the production capacity is rolled out, huge profits will be made."
"And the Eagle Territory is so close to the Bloody Highlands, and the Slater family is also connected with the horse thieves above..."
John took a breath: "The Slater family wants to obtain the Eagle Territory, not only for a small title, but also to control the production of Angel's Tears, and then smuggle it to the Fiton city-states and the Insa Empire through the Bloody Highlands to make huge profits!?"
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that he had guessed the correct answer.
No wonder Hyde wanted to take back the town of Shining Gold first, instead of rushing to take back the Eagle's Beak Mountain and the Thousand Needles Jungle, which were easier to obtain.
The craftsmen in Shining Gold can be immediately called upon to greatly expand the production capacity of Angel's Tears and minimize the chance of leaks!
With the current production capacity of Eagle Town alone, a profit of 300 gold coins can be obtained in a month, which is 3,600 gold coins a year! If the scale is expanded tenfold, that is a profit of 36,000 gold coins a year!
This is far more than the income of a viscount's territory, enough to attract an earl's family!
So Hyde is just a cover, and the real instigator may be Earl Tyrone himself!
When Viscount John thought of confronting the entire Slater family, he felt cold sweat on his back: "Why didn't you remind me just now!?"
Kent was speechless.
His own viscount has always been very face-saving. If he really refuted him in front of outsiders, how could he end up well?
But it is definitely not the right thing to say: "This is just a guess after all. We must contact Mr. Hyde before we can make a conclusion."
"That makes sense." Viscount John nodded: "Write a letter for me now, and then take the letter and visit Hyde Slater immediately! We must find out what he means!"
Kent took the order and retreated.
At this moment, Viscount John himself became the headless fly, wandering around the room, anxious in his heart, and even his favorite Angel's Tears became difficult to swallow.
It was not until dawn that he lay down on the bench in the study, ready to rest for a while, but as soon as he closed his eyes, he heard a burst of hurried footsteps.
With a bang, the retainer Vongola pushed open the door: "Viscount, it's not good, Kent, Kent..."
"What are you panicking about!?" John stood up: "Tell me slowly, what happened to Kent?"
The answer to him was silence, and a stretcher was carried in.
Kent was lying on the stretcher, his legs bleeding and twisted like a rag doll.
"John... Sir!" Kent tried to sit up.
"Speak slowly." John pressed his shoulder and put his ear close.
"Hyde didn't see me... He had someone break my legs...!"
"What about the Hyde people?" John asked.
Kent coughed and whispered: "... Already, back to Mon'en City."
A bone-chilling chill climbed up Viscount John's back. It was clear that Hyde was not going to talk anymore. Leaving the town of Shining Gold was to distance himself from the large-scale invasion of the bloody highland bandits!
He yelled: "Prepare the car, I'm going to Eagle Castle!!"
...
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