Imperial Crown

When she saw Raven getting out of the carriage with a haggard look on his face, Denise showed a rare smile and teased: "Lord Baron, is your process of 'recovering' Goldshire going smoothly?"

"Thank you for your concern, aunt. It went very smoothly." Raven stretched out: "In less than a week, Goldsmith Town will return to the territory of the Eagle Territory."

Of course Denise wouldn't believe it. A disdainful smile appeared on her lips, and she folded her hands in front of her chest to squeeze the northern hemisphere fuller: "Ha! If that's the case, I would rather wash your feet!"

Raven's eyes suddenly lit up: "Then you have to put on a maid uniform."

"I won't go! I won't go! I won't go to school-"

A howl like a slaughtering pig sounded, and Vesdon, who was tied up like a pig, was being pushed out by Goyle and Link.

But when his eyes met Raven, his whole body calmed down and his face became extremely pale.

He was really afraid of Raven, fearing that he would take out his crossbow and load it for him again.

Raven glanced at Vesdon. With the help of divine magic, the wound on his shoulder had been completely healed, but there was no need to think about replanting a severed limb, not to mention in the Eagle Territory, even in Meng En City. I'm afraid no one here can do it.

"What is this for?" Raven asked.

"Send him back to Mon'en City." Denise said coldly: "He has been relaxing here for too long and needs to go back to continue his studies."

This may not be a lie, but it is definitely not the whole truth.

Raven could also understand that no matter how much a mother loved her son, she would still feel some grudge in her heart after learning that he had been betrayed.

Vesdon begged in a low voice: "Mom, do I really have to go back? Just let me stay. I promise to be obedient..."

These words made Denise's eyes flash with real reluctance and love. She patted Vesdon on the shoulder: "Good boy, go back, take classes well, and become a real man. Mom will also help you find a replacement. A whole-arm approach.”

Looking at this scene, Raven sighed inwardly.

Denise's concern and love for Vesdon are real, but her determination to send him away is also real; Vesdon's betrayal of Denise is true, but her reluctance at the moment is also real.

Maybe this is the complexity of human nature.

As soon as he returned to the hall, Raven met old Gordon head-on.

Seeing his appearance, Old Gordon was also startled, with a trace of anger on his face: "Lord Raven, Viscount John actually dares to humiliate you like this?!"

Raven felt warm in her heart and said with a smile: "No, I just acted with him for a while."

"I'm going back to the house to sleep for a while. You go to Eric's first and divide the money in the box into three parts according to three thousand, two thousand, and one thousand gold coins, and then wake me up when Viscount John's carriage appears on the horizon. ”

"Okay, Master Raven..." Old Gordon nodded in agreement, and then realized the number Raven said: "Sir, what you just said were gold coins!?"

"Yes." Raven nodded as expected: "Is there any problem?"

Old Gordon swallowed: "Couldn't this money be taken out from the treasury of Xuefeng Castle?"

Raven was amused by Old Gordon: "Don't worry, they are all from a legitimate background. I don't have the ability to rob a viscount!"

"But don't rely on these six thousand gold coins to make your budget. It's hard to say how much you will have left over later."

Old Gordon was a little confused about Raven's words, but considering that since Raven came to the Eagle Territory, he had not missed anything he had done, so he stopped asking more questions and helped Eric sort out the gold coins. .

Although he was mentally prepared, when he saw the box of yellow gold coins, he couldn't help but hold his breath.

Six thousand gold coins!

In the heyday of the Eagle Leader, the annual income was around a thousand gold coins!

With this money, not only can Eagle Castle be renovated to look brand new, but also more people can be bought from other lords, more fields can be cultivated, and more income can be obtained!

Yes, the slave trade is prohibited on the mainland, but only those with human rights can give up their human rights and become slaves. Serfs are not considered human beings, and naturally there will be no one to protect their rights.

The Cairns Empire has been at peace for a hundred years, and the number of citizens in many territories has expanded to the limit. For many lords, it is no longer wealth, but a burden.

"I hope this money can be kept, at least part of it." Old Gordon secretly prayed: "Even if it is only one thousand, no, five hundred gold coins!"

Raven didn't know yet about Old Gordon's prayer, but he had another thing on his mind.

During last night's conversation, he planted three baits.

The Slater family, Bloody Heights, Angel Tears, no matter which point John notices, it will eventually lead to the "rogue attack" incident to the Slater family itself.

Next, it depends on whether Viscount John will take the bait.

Leaving everything to fate, thinking too much was useless, Raven didn't even take off his clothes and lay on the bed - he was really too tired.

Just when he was confused, there was a rapid and heavy knock on the door.

Raven opened his eyes and saw the midday sun shining on the curtains, and asked a little impatiently: "What's the matter?"

Eric's voice rang out: "Lord Raven, it's Viscount John! His car has passed through Eagle Town!"

"What!?" Raven turned over and sat up from the bed, surprised and happy: "Why did he come so early?"

Eric said: "I heard that his butler's legs were broken in Goldshire."

"Oh, I didn't expect Viscount John to be so restless." Raven said with a smile.

His request to Hyde was to refuse all invitations from the Luke family. Unexpectedly, Hyde did more than he expected.

But think about it, Hyde is such a proud guy, first he was so controlled by himself, and then Viscount John only sent a butler to see him, it's hard not to get angry.

Opening the door, Raven quickly ordered: "Go to the kitchen immediately, find me some leftovers from last night, put them on a plate and bring them into the conference room, and then you and Old Gordon will try your best to show your indifference to me. Come like that.”

As he spoke, he took off his gloves and began to slap his cheeks hard.

Ten minutes later, when John saw Raven in the conference room, he was stunned.

Raven looked even more depressed than when he saw him, his eyes could hardly open, and there was an unnatural blush on his cheeks. There was dry and hard black bread on the table, and the bowl of soup was dark. , there are even flies surrounding it, how miserable you want to be!

He now believed 100% of Raven's words.

When I entered the castle before, I saw a few familiar faces, but those private soldiers were all wearing chain armor and had undisguised murderous intent in their eyes. They were definitely not something a group of farmers could pretend to be!

"Lord Baron, Mr. John is here." Old Gordon whispered.

"Oh! Really!?" Raven suddenly shook his head. He pointed to the seat opposite him and said, "Viscount John, please sit down! Forgive me, I'm not very sober right now."

As he spoke, his hand touched the soup bowl, and he suddenly became furious: "Where is the maid!? Maid! Why is this kind of thing left on my conference table!?"

Old Gordon reminded expressionlessly: "The maids are all dead."

"Oh, yes, dead." Raven nodded nervously and looked at John: "Viscount John, what's the matter with you coming to my place?"

Seeing Raven's ghostly appearance, John was really on pins and needles, and a feeling of sadness spread in his heart.

If I still refuse to hand over Goldshire, will Raven's present be my future?

He swallowed: "Baron Raven, about Goldshire..."

"Golden Town is really a good place. It has many people, is beautiful, and has a lot of tax revenue." Raven murmured, "It is indeed a good place."

The more irrelevant Raven's words were, the more panicked John became. He said: "I came here this time to return the five thousand gold coins to Goldsmith Town. As long as you take it out, I will immediately hand over the original lease document." Returned to you!”

He raised his hand, took the parchment bag from his retainer Vongola, and pushed it in front of Raven.

The latter did not accept it as he expected, but twitched the corner of his mouth slightly and pushed the parchment bag back.

"Baron Raven, what are you...?"

"It's too late, Viscount John." Raven scratched his nose, leaned on the chair, and looked at the ceiling with his eyes blankly: "Goldshire is no longer important to me..."

As he spoke, tears suddenly burst out of his eyes: "Oh, my little Jiadi, my pearl, she will never come back, never come back..."

This time not only John, but also old Gordon and Eric were fooled.

Who is little Jiadi? I’ve never seen a maid with this name in the castle! ?

But Viscount John understood.

Raven has always been nicknamed "Little Bee", so it is natural to have an illegitimate daughter outside. Now it seems that Hyde was using this illegitimate daughter to blackmail Raven.

Because Raven didn't do her job well, Hyde simply killed her!

That must be it.

"Baron Raven, there is no resurrection after death." John advised: "You are still young, you will always find a suitable partner and give birth to a new heir."

Of course this is also a lie. How could the Slater family allow a puppet to have descendants?

There was a hint of anger in Raven's eyes: "Yes, you are right, I am still young and I still have a chance!"

He sat up and asked again: "What's the matter with you coming to me?"

John was so angry that he almost broke his guard.

Co-author What I just said was all in vain, right? ?

But it was related to the safety of Xuefeng Leader, so he had to calm down and said: "I am here to return Jinjin Town. As long as you can give me five thousand gold coins, this lease document can be handed over to you immediately."

"Oh! Yes, Goldshire!" Raven patted his forehead and said with a bitter smile: "It's too late. I told you that Hyde only gave me four thousand gold coins, but I couldn't persuade you. Of course I can’t leave that much money…”

"The only thing I have in hand now is my own one thousand gold coins."

John's brows frowned: "Too little! You know, I spent 10,000 gold coins in one go when I signed the agreement!"

"Then take the document back." Raven said: "Mr. Hyde has left. Even if I get this document now, what's the use?"

This time, it was John's turn to persuade Raven: "It works, of course it works! Baron Raven, if you think so, the reason why you lost little Jiadi was because you were punished by Hyde for not doing things well."

"But if you can take back Goldshire, it will be a crime and meritorious service, and the Slater family will definitely reward you!"

Raven's eyes glowed: "Reward me?"

"Yes, I'll reward you!" John struck while the iron was hot: "Fine wine, delicious food, and beauties! Slater belongs to the earl family and will definitely not be stingy!"

"In this case..." Raven scratched his head: "In addition to my own one thousand gold coins, Mr. Hyde also left me a payment of three thousand gold coins in order to purchase raw materials and build factories after he takes back Gold Flash Town. , Recruiting people.”

Hearing these words, John felt both scared and happy.

It seems that the Slater family has indeed made up its mind to solve the problem by force, otherwise it would never have left so much money.

Fortunately, he came early. If he really had to wait until the bandits in the Bloody Highlands were killed, he would have lost all his money!

"Then four thousand gold coins!" John said: "For four thousand gold coins, you can take back Gold Gold Town!"

Raven grabbed his hair and looked at Old Gordon next to him: "Then take out all the gold coins in the warehouse."

As he spoke, he winked slightly.

Old Gordon was a mature man. Although he didn't know Raven's plan, he made some guesses from the conversation between the two, and instantly found his role: "This is still too much, you The gold coins of the Slater family can be used at will, but the Slater family's..."

Raven looked at John with a helpless expression: "Then I'm afraid I can only refuse..."

"Three thousand gold coins!" John shouted: "With three thousand gold coins, you can take back Goldsmith Town."

As he spoke, he looked at Old Gordon with bright eyes: "Mr. Gordon, three thousand gold coins is definitely a good deal. If force is really used, the losses caused by rogue bandits will also have serious consequences for the future construction and production of the territory. The negative impact cannot be offset by one or two thousand gold coins!"

"Well..." Old Gordon pushed up his monocle.

His mind seemed calm, but he was actually happy.

Let Viscount John beg in a lowly manner, and for the price of 3,000 gold coins, you can get back Gold Gold Town!

This is a good thing that Gordon never dreamed of!

How on earth did Lord Baron do it! ?

"I think we can give it a try, what do you think, Lord Raven?"

Raven's fingers drew circles on the table: "Then all my thousand gold coins will be gone..."

Gordon's heart skipped a beat. If he continued to lower the price like this, what if Baron John left in anger?

"Two thousand five hundred gold coins!" John gritted his teeth and said, "Even for the sake of the previous funeral, I was on your side!"

"Then I can keep five hundred gold coins..." Raven nodded numbly: "Okay, since you said so, Viscount John, Eric, go get the gold coins."

"Ah... ok!" Eric stood up from the chair in a flash, and he was still confused.

Why did he just spend 2,500 gold coins to take back Goldsmith Town? !

But his advantage was that he didn't think about it if he couldn't figure it out, and went to the treasury wearing heavy armor.

Not long after, he came back carrying a box.

"Can you check it?" Gordon pointed to the box.

Viscount John waved his hand, and Vongola held the box in his arms, bumped it slightly, and then nodded to the former.

John let out a long breath and threw the brown paper bag in front of Raven like a hot potato: "There are still things on the territory, so I won't bother you anymore."

After that, turn around and leave!

Gordon took the paper bag and immediately took out his letter opener to open it. When he saw the lease document with the family and personal seals of both parties, his eyes suddenly turned red!

Ten years! Goldshire has been rented out for a full ten years!

Old Gordon thought he would never see it return to Eagle Ridge again in his lifetime. Unexpectedly, Baron Raven took it back just two months after he took the throne. He still used 2,500 gold coins. It seems to him that the price is absolutely impossible!

Considering his future relationship with Viscount John, Old Gordon asked in a low voice: "Sir, have we gone too far..."

Raven raised his eyebrows and responded in a low voice: "What's too much? He has to thank us!"

As if in response to Raven's words, Viscount John, who walked to the door of the conference room, turned back and saluted: "Thank you for your generosity and generosity!"

When Viscount John's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, Raven showed a relaxed smile!

The drama of these two days was not in vain.

Goldshire was finally taken back by him!

And he still had a huge sum of 3,500 gold coins left in his hand!

"Gordon, Eric, cheer up!" Raven slammed the table and said loudly: "Next, the meeting will officially begin."

"The issue is -

Spend money! "

…