Chapter 139: Scheme

"How many people know your brother came to the Gem Territory?"

In another room, Anna asked Akar.

"Apart from Lily, probably no one knows." Akar thought for a moment before answering, "We didn’t encounter anyone on the way, and after entering the Gem Territory, we went straight to the secret location Raven mentioned to investigate. Afterwards, when we entered Gem City, we also took some precautions. Other than the kitchen maid who brought the food earlier, no one knows Yam is in Gem City."

Anna nodded slightly.

What she had told Raven wasn't entirely false.

As the lord of the Gem Territory, due to her past experiences, Anna had extremely strong control over the City Lord’s Manor. Even the dungeon, which appeared to be nearly abandoned, was under her surveillance. Therefore, if Ion intended to use the dungeon, it was impossible to hide it from her. Precisely because of this, Anna didn’t think the dungeon needed any guards, but she had also overlooked the fact that there was someone in the manor she couldn’t control.

Joshua Kasein.

"Sorry." Akar lightly embraced Anna and apologized in a low voice.

"No need to apologize." Anna understood why Akar was apologizing. She let out a soft chuckle and slowly said, "It’s fine this way. I won’t need to drug Joshua every day anymore. Besides, he didn’t die in the Gem Territory, but in the Red River Territory. That’s Monica’s domain. From what I know of the Kasein Family, they might have a lot of suspicions and ideas, but they definitely won’t suspect us."

Akar knew that after the previous incident in the White Mountain Territory, Lily had already reported it to Monica.

So if something were to happen in the Gem Territory this time as well—especially involving the team responsible for transporting special trade goods—then the Kasein Family’s attention would completely shift to the Fertile Plains.

After all, Joshua had always been the one in charge of these smuggling operations. His public identity was also that of the trade officer of the Gem Territory.

The three lords of the Fertile Plains had long been displeased with the White Mountain Territory and the Gem Territory. Even several merchant guilds had closed their borders to the White Mountain Territory while secretly engaging in smuggling themselves, causing severe disruption to the operations of other guilds and resulting in great dissatisfaction.

"The most important point is that Yam really can fake the scene without leaving any trace."

"He can." Akar nodded. "The Shelf Mercenary Group had some things originally meant for the White Mountain Territory, but due to the territory's quick response, they were annihilated before they could use them. So using those items on Joshua would be quite fitting."

Naturally, the Shelf Mercenary Group did not have such items.

Akar had already guessed how Yam intended to fake the scene. So, at this moment, he spoke up to cooperate—after all, Anna wouldn’t actually go question the members of the Shelf Mercenary Group.

"Good." Anna nodded and said no more. "Be careful on your trip to Kalel Village."

"I will."

Very soon, Akar set off.

Meanwhile, Yam had already departed when he left the dungeon. He brought no one with him: the Shelf Mercenary Group had returned to the White Mountain Territory; the Household Knights around Anna couldn’t move freely; Ion couldn’t leave either. Thus, Yam, who had arrived in secret, naturally had to leave in secret as well.

The excuse Anna chose was perfect for the actions of Yam, Akar, and the others. She had even prepared everything when she entered the dungeon with Joshua to meet Raven. Joshua was scheduled to depart with the urgently packed cargo the day after tomorrow. Since Anna’s actions weren’t concealed—in fact, she deliberately spread the news—by tomorrow, the entire Gem City would know that Joshua was leaving again with a shipment.

As long as there were enough witnesses, no one would suspect Anna.

Likewise, after Joshua’s death, the shipment he transported—which would be intercepted—would flow into the black market at a very low price. When the Kasein Family discovered this and began investigating, all clues would naturally point toward the Fertile Plains. Coincidentally, those who attacked the White Mountain Territory had also fled to the Fertile Plains, leaving behind clues to frame the Kasein Family.

With all these overlapping trails, Anna wouldn’t even need to fan the flames; the Kasein Family would soon come to a conclusion on their own.

"After Joshua dies, what do you plan to do?"

Ion came over after Anna left the room and asked, "Everything else is manageable, but regarding that critical issue for the Kasein Family, how do you intend to handle it?"

"I’ve already sent Shunes to find a child." Anna said in a low voice. "Blond or gray hair is fine. The parents can’t be too ugly, nor can they have any diseases or defects. As for the issue of bloodline… a union between two Bloodline Users doesn’t necessarily produce another Bloodline User. So, if that child doesn’t have the aptitude or potential, then that’s just his bad luck, isn’t it?"

Previously, Anna had intended to have her own child devour the Kasein Family from within. But when she realized that the Kasein Family would never let her raise the child alone, she knew her plan had little chance of success. The Kasein Family wouldn’t make such a foolish mistake—by isolating the child from her throughout his childhood, how much affection would he still have for her when he eventually returned to the White Mountain Territory?

After all, Anna herself was the product of such a child-rearing system.

So Anna simply decided to fake the child’s death and send him to the White Mountain Territory. This way, she would at least have a chance to participate in raising him and be there throughout his childhood.

But the situation was no longer the same now.

The Kasein Family had arranged for Joshua to marry Baroness Anna and supported her in becoming the Lord of the Gem Territory. Their true intention was naturally to annex the Gem Territory. Therefore, once something happened to Joshua, the Kasein Family, for the sake of the child’s safety, would immediately take Joshua’s child back to Eaglehead Territory. This was something Baroness Anna could not refuse.

Because once she refused, the Kasein Family would inevitably send other Bloodline Knights into the Gem Territory — something Baroness Anna found even more unacceptable.

"Father, my child..."

"Don’t worry." Ion already understood Baroness Anna’s plan. "Once Liam is a bit older, I will have Akar bring him back... But the child you found, he will also be sent back to the Gem Territory when he grows up. What do you plan to do then?"

"He will not live to adulthood." Baroness Anna said in a calm tone. "Since Monica refuses to give me the chance to take down the Kasein Family, then she won’t take the Gem Territory either, because that is my gift for Liam."

Seeing Baroness Anna’s expression, Ion knew she had already laid out a complete plan.

He could not judge this behavior, because the Soderbell Family would be the beneficiary of this scheme. Likewise, he could not, or rather could never, stop Baroness Anna’s plot, because that would mean he would have to sacrifice one of his grandsons, and also force Baroness Anna to sacrifice a child — even though, with Joshua’s death, Akar could be openly with Baroness Anna in the Gem Territory and have another child, this first child would inevitably become a sacrifice.

Because the ideology instilled by the Kasein Family doomed this child to never stand on the same side as Baroness Anna and the Soderbell Family.

Ion said nothing more.

Two days later, Joshua left Gem City with the caravan, embarking on the journey to Red River City.

But he did not know that in those two days, Shunes had already spread several rumors while helping Baroness Anna find a suitable child.

The two most crucial rumors were: Baroness Anna had hunted two Shadow Panthers in Ruby Village, and also discovered several Magical Beast Lairs that had strayed from Withered Wood Forest. She successfully exterminated all those Magical Beasts, including one that had nearly reached Fourth-Tier strength, thus making the value of this batch of materials Joshua was transporting far higher than usual.

And: the White Mountain Territory had been attacked by a group of powerful Bloodline Users. It was said that even the Red Eagle Sword of the White Mountain Territory had been injured, though he managed to defeat the attackers. However, it was unclear where these Bloodline Users had fled to now.

As the rumors spread, many caravans began to worry, which already affected some commercial activities.

Baroness Anna promptly came forward to clarify, stating that these were only rumors and urging the caravans not to be alarmed.

Amidst the uneasy atmosphere, no one noticed that a person holding a child had quietly left the City Lord's Manor of Gem City. On the same day, another person holding a child quietly entered the City Lord’s Manor.

...

Yam, who had been stationed for several days on a road in the Red River Territory, slowly unwrapped the white linen cloth wrapped around the Demonic Sword when he saw Joshua entering the ambush circle with his guards. He then softly awakened the power of the Demonic Sword.

Nirvana.

With the powerful stance of a Third-Tier Bloodline User, he charged down from the mountain directly at the caravan.

In the midst of the crowd, he cut down Joshua with a single strike.

Then came a massacre with no suspense.

Afterwards, Yam took only a few valuable items. As for most of the other goods, he merely smashed the boxes, letting the cargo spill out, then swiftly left the scene without taking all of it.

But he knew, in a few days, the remaining goods would be looted by passersby.

Even if no one dared to take the cargo, it didn’t matter.

Because the most valuable “Shadow Panther and other Magical Beast Materials from Withered Wood Forest” had already disappeared.

...

Akar, covered in dust, finally arrived at Kalel Village in the Red River Territory after nearly ten days of travel—if Joshua had not died, this would have been his second stop after entering the Red River Territory.

He did not act recklessly.

Upon entering Kalel Village, he first found an inn to stay at, then began gathering intelligence and information at the taverns in the village.

Finally.

On the third day after arriving in Kalel Village, Akar obtained the information he wanted.

However, this piece of intelligence caused him to furrow his brow.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.