Chapter 151: The Persuader

Yam quickly made his way to the main hall.

But when he saw the guest Cynthia was entertaining, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

“Atork?” Yam walked over to Cynthia’s side, quickly hiding his surprise and smiling instead. “You actually had time to come to White Mountain Territory? I think the last time we met was two years ago.”

White Mountain Territory and Bayor Territory had always engaged in trade, but ever since White Mountain Territory’s labor force became saturated, and it ceased its slave trade with Bayor Territory, the frequency of trade between the two territories had rapidly declined. Now, it occurred only about once every six months. The trade items were mainly food, since the arable land in White Mountain Territory was quite limited and they had to rely on external supply.

However, due to Akar’s connection, White Mountain Territory was actually more closely tied to Gem Territory in terms of food trade—though Gem Territory’s land was also unsuitable for farming, they primarily purchased food from Red River Territory and Eaglehead Territory.

Back then, in order to control the Shattered Diamond Mountains, the Bourbon Family deliberately refrained from land development in that region and classified all the mountainous terrain under that area. Although the Bourbon Family had since been destroyed, the situation in Red Eagle Territory remained highly complex, with various forces supporting their own puppets. Naturally, everyone was content to maintain this status quo.

After all, only by creating a stable dependency could a territory's lord truly be controlled.

“I was going to say you could come visit me in Bayor Territory too, but after hearing about what you've been going through lately, I realized your situation hasn’t been easy either,” Atork chuckled. “My friend, are you alright?”

“What could possibly be wrong with me?” Yam smiled and shook his head. “But why are you going around with knights now? You never used to be so timid.”

Atork’s expression turned serious at those words. “Looks like you haven’t heard yet.”

“Heard what?”

“Joshua is dead.”

Yam and Cynthia’s expressions changed slightly.

“What happened?”

“No one knows for sure, but now not a single lord dares to let their heir act independently outside,” Atork shook his head, looking quite grim. “Actually, ever since Burton died, many lords in Red Eagle Territory have canceled family trials. At the very least, they no longer dare to let important heirs undergo trials in unfamiliar environments. If a family has several talented heirs, maybe it’s still manageable, but in a case like the Kasein Family—where after Burton’s death, the next generation was nearly crippled—it’s just too risky to continue taking chances.”

“I’ve never really understood what these trials are all about.”

“It’s an ancient tradition of the Tyrella bloodline nobles,” Atork sighed. “Back in the day, the King of Tyrella instituted these trials, and that’s what led to the rise of the three royal families. You can say it’s a very dangerous method, but you can’t deny that this system of selecting the best from among the best has kept the Tyrella Kingdom strong.”

Yam had no opinion on the topic.

He knew that the Senels Family had three outstanding heirs in this generation, including Atork himself, which was why the Senels Family so strongly supported the trial tradition—in fact, Atork was one of its most vocal advocates. If the heir were chosen through the trial system, he was already the first in line, even more capable than his older brother Hales.

Especially when it came to diplomatic skill and intelligence gathering.

“So what exactly happened with Joshua?” Yam brought the slightly straying conversation back on track.

“I suspect someone is targeting the Kasein Family.”

Atork said in a low voice, “Didn’t Akar tell you? There was an incident in Gem Territory.”

“He only mentioned that some magical beasts escaped from Withered Wood Forest and caused serious damage and danger to Gem Territory. But didn’t they resolve it smoothly afterward?” Yam asked curiously. “Did Joshua die in a magical beast attack?”

“No.” Atork shook his head. “Gem Territory did manage to handle the beasts. But after they gathered all the materials from those magical beasts, they had Joshua secretly transport the batch away. However, someone had already been watching the cargo. So, once Joshua left Gem Territory, his convoy was attacked. All the cargo was looted, and even Joshua was killed.”

“What?” Cynthia exclaimed. “Someone actually dared to attack a Kasein Family convoy in Gem Territory?”

“Not in Gem Territory,” Atork shook his head again. “Like I said, the attack happened after he left.”

“Red River Territory?”

“Isn’t that Lady Monica’s domain? She’s currently the acting lord of Red Eagle Territory, and the heir to the marquisate as designated by Marquis Visen.”

“Which is why this signal is even more dangerous,” Atork said in a grave tone. “If this isn’t an internal issue within the Kasein Family, then it means someone is provoking them. …I suspect those magical beasts that attacked Gem Territory were intentionally lured out by the enemy. Because they knew that if Gem Territory could handle them, they’d be eager to sell the materials. Naturally, they’d assign Joshua to transport the goods—since that’s how Gem Territory has always operated.”

“But why go through all that trouble?” Yam looked puzzled. “If the goal was really to kill Joshua, there was no need for such a convoluted plan.”

“Maybe the target wasn’t to kill him initially,” Cynthia spoke up from the side. “This is a political conspiracy.”

“Yes.” Atork nodded. “Nominally, Gem Territory is governed by Anna Billy, the orphan of the Billy Family, but in truth, everyone knows that Anna was raised by the Kasein Family from a young age. She has no real affection for the Billy Family. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have moved against the elders of the Billy Family as soon as she took over Gem Territory. It’s obvious the Kasein Family is using Anna to cut off the Billy Family’s control over Gem Territory.”

“So, saying Gem Territory now belongs to the Kasein Family isn’t really wrong.”

“Someone tried to incite chaos in Gem Territory through a magical beast attack, intending to destabilize it. But since Gem Territory weathered the crisis successfully, they changed plans and instead targeted Joshua.”

“With Joshua’s death, the Kasein Family can no longer strongly control Gem Territory. So, a week ago, they urgently dispatched a team to retrieve Anna and Joshua’s child from Gem Territory. It nearly caused a war between the two territories, as Lady Anna refused to hand over her child. In the end, it was the Knight Commander Dean of the Kasein Family who forcibly intervened to suppress the situation and take the child.”

“My brother…” Yam’s expression suddenly turned anxious.

“Don’t worry, no one was harmed,” Atork said. “But clearly, a rift has formed between Gem Territory and the Kasein Family. The Kasein Family won’t trust Anna anymore, because the only bridge and buffer between them is now gone. Their forceful removal of Anna’s child shows exactly what they intend.”

Cynthia and Yam looked at each other. They both began to understand the reason for Atork’s visit.

“You’re dissatisfied with the Kasein Family’s rule?”

“Are you satisfied?” Atork suddenly let out a cold laugh. “Two months ago, I accidentally overheard something. After a day of hesitation, I couldn’t silence my conscience. I felt I had to tell you.”

“What was it?” A sense of foreboding suddenly welled up in Yam’s heart.

“Baron Wister Bole died because of a conspiracy by Marquis Visen,” Atork said in a low voice. “Count Shuvaric and Marquis Visen made a secret deal. Count Shuvaric guaranteed the legitimacy of Marquis Visen’s rule over Red Eagle Territory and promised not to intervene while he attacked Red Soil Territory. In exchange, when attacking White Mountain Territory from the County of Fertile Plains, he had to ensure no lords from Red Eagle Territory would send reinforcements to White Mountain Territory.”

“What did you say!?” Cynthia’s eyes instantly reddened. “Is what you’re saying true?”

“I have no concrete evidence. The one who revealed this secret was an old soldier of the Kasein Family. But after he spoke, he disappeared. I suspect he’s already dead. …However, he revealed another thing. Didn’t your White Mountain Territory once have a village called Mountain Ridge Village? Didn’t the villagers go missing?”

“You know what happened to them?”

“They were all captured by the Kasein Family,” Atork said. “The bandits who raided Eastern Mountain Territory were actually Kasein Family men in disguise. Afterward, they hid in the Eaglehead Mountains. When the villagers of Mountain Ridge Village fled into the mountains for refuge, they accidentally stumbled upon the Kasein Family’s people and were captured. Later, they were all forced into mining labor.”

Cynthia’s breathing immediately grew rapid. “Do you have proof?!”

“They’re slaves. I don’t know how many are left alive, but I’ve already sent people to try to purchase them,” Atork said. “If any are still alive, I should be able to buy a few. That should serve as enough evidence, right?”

“More than enough.” Cynthia nodded.

Yam had remained silent the whole time.

Atork glanced at Yam, then continued, “More and more people are growing dissatisfied with the Kasein Family. If things go on like this, you’ll become the next Billy Family. …Think about it. Even the Billy Family, a noble house that has served the Kasein Family for decades, was discarded over a single territory. Now that Baron Wister is dead, what does White Mountain Territory still have?”

“Besides, Yam, your heir is a daughter, isn’t she?”

Yam looked up at Atork.

“Maybe not in this generation or the next. But if the Kasein Family marries into your daughter, won’t White Mountain Territory fall into their hands? Or are you saying you’d be able to refuse them?”

“I can always father a son,” Yam frowned.

“Didn’t Baron Hess Billy, lord of Gem Territory, have a son? Or does Lady Cynthia not have an older brother?” Atork said in a deep voice.

This time, Yam and Cynthia’s expressions both changed.

Because they recalled the poisoned death of Giggs.

“But Marquis Visen is a Fourth-Tier Bloodline User.”

“He was poisoned with severe ice poison—that’s why he retired from the Southern Region’s Royal Army,” Atork said gravely. “He doesn’t have much time left. Especially after what happened to Joshua, he suspects Count Shuvaric was behind it. They’ve already clashed once in private. At most, he has ten years left.”

“How do you know that?”

“My grandfather is a Fifth-Tier Bloodline User, just one step away from the sixth tier,” Atork said. “He hasn’t dared to make that step because our family doesn’t have good relations with the royal family. Without their support, who knows what Marquis Visen would do if he advanced now.”

“So… you want to replace him?”

“Yes,” Atork nodded. “Once Marquis Visen dies and my father advances to the sixth tier, the Kasein Family won’t be able to stop us. If your White Mountain Territory and Gem Territory support my grandfather, then the Kasein Family, who only controls Eaglehead Territory, Red River Territory, and Red Soil Territory, won’t be able to continue serving as Marquis of Red Eagle Territory.”

“Has Forest Territory already supported you?”

“Yes,” Atork nodded. “I can speak on my grandfather’s behalf and promise you this—if my grandfather becomes Marquis of Red Eagle Territory, White Mountain Territory will receive substantial aid. For the next fifty years, White Mountain Territory will be exempt from paying territorial development funds. Moreover, we will help you cultivate a group of Bloodline Users. And as long as you give birth to a son, you may select a suitable girl from our Senels Family for marriage.”

“I agree!”

Before Yam could speak, Cynthia had already responded.

Yam wanted to say something, but when he saw Cynthia’s crimson eyes, he found himself unable to speak: “So, next you want me to persuade Akar, so Akar can persuade Lady Anna, right?”

“Yes,” Atork smiled and nodded. “Once Marquis Visen dies and my grandfather successfully advances, you just need to sign the joint petition. …Of course, if my grandfather fails, then you can just pretend I never came.”

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