Chapter 57: Instigation |
"Your Excellency the Governor is most perceptive. As the second son of Count Royce, the right of inheritance indeed rests with my elder brother."
Hearing the Green Dragon suddenly steer the conversation toward his lineage, Nolan's heart clenched tight, but he maintained the humble smile habitual to merchants on his face: "Running errands for the Duchy's Chamber of Commerce is my duty. The wealth is sufficient for a comfortable life. If this cooperation with you can bring great benefits to the Duchy, perhaps I may even earn the Grand Duke's favor and be granted a Count's fiefdom. That would also bring honor to my family."
Nolan's words were appropriate, carrying a hint of resignation to his current situation and hope for future achievements—precisely the common survival strategy of a noble second son.
However, in the vertical pupils of the jade giant dragon coiled upon the throne, a glint of the unique, cold temptation characteristic of Green Dragons flashed.
Let's do this!
Instantly, Xia'er's low voice echoed through the hall, carrying a kind of heart-piercing enticement: "Human, the angle from which you contemplate problems is as shortsighted and convoluted as a goblin's. Is the call of bloodline truly so faint? The noble blood flowing in your veins—does it willingly submit forever to being beneath another, forever gazing up at that... 'esteemed' elder brother of yours?"
"I truly feel indignant on your behalf. You've traveled thousands of miles from the human kingdoms in the south to come here, to forge an alliance with a capricious dragon like myself, to trade with those barbaric tribes on the glaciers, all to earn enough gold coins for your family. And your elder brother? He need do nothing. He merely needs to flirt with females within the fiefdom to possess everything you could scarcely touch in your entire life. Even the gold coins you toil so hard to earn are merely the starting funds for his next ball..."
Having said this, Xia'er's voice suddenly dropped lower, like a viper hissing in one's ear, each word carrying an icy magic, attempting to pry open the deepest desires in Nolan's heart, those wrapped layer upon layer by reason and morality: "So, why place hope in some Duke's vague, ethereal 'granting'? The path to power sometimes requires only one decisive swing of the sword. Let that obstructive elder brother sleep forever. Let your father retire with dignity..."
"Your Excellency the Governor!"
He lifted his head, his eyes filled with unspeakable horror, and a trace of... panic at having his secret thoughts laid bare.
Nolan almost instinctively squeezed out a well-trained commercial smile. The smile was forced onto his face but couldn't conceal the violent turmoil deep in his eyes.
"You... You jest!"
Nolan's voice carried a tremor as he forced himself to steady his tone, using the most respectful wording to express the most resolute denial: "Kinslaying... such an act of treason and blasphemy against human ethics, I dare not even contemplate it! Familial blood ties and affection are sacred and inviolable. Doing my utmost for the Chamber, serving the Grand Duke, is already my greatest honor and duty. Please... I beg you, do not speak such terrifying words again."
As he spoke, he almost instinctively tried to pull the conversation back from the edge of this dangerous and taboo abyss to the safe territory of trade.
Nolan bowed slightly, his speech quickening with a merchant's eagerness: "Ah, right! Regarding the cooperation mentioned earlier, I deeply appreciate Your Excellency's generosity and foresight! Besides the agreed-upon equipment and the 'Underground Traveler,' does Your Excellency perhaps have any other needs? Any commodity, as long as it is within the Shao Yi Chamber of Commerce's capability, we will certainly strive our utmost to procure it for you!"
"As long as the profit is substantial enough, even if you wished to capture a princess of the Kingdom... it might not be impossible."
What would I do with a princess?
Xia'er snorted a wisp of fine smoke from her nostrils, carrying the sweet, sulfurous scent of brimstone.
That heart-stopping instigation just now was merely a casual remark in passing conversation.
Green Dragons are best at playing with people's hearts. It's just that before this, the individuals she encountered weren't worth Xia'er's effort to sow discord.
The current Nolan holds the authority over trade. Using such methods to instigate and provoke can also disrupt his rhythm, allowing Xia'er to obtain greater benefits for herself.
Moreover, Xia'er also lacks a human spokesperson.
If Nolan truly succeeds in kinslaying, then Xia'er can hold that secret over him for a lifetime.
If Nolan fails in kinslaying and is forced to flee, then Xia'er can also take in this scoundrel who has blasphemed against human ethics, letting him act as her agent in trade.
Then, following the new topic Nolan had thrown out, Xia'er said: "Naturally. I want large quantities of Black Oil, the more the better. Also, all kinds of rare, robust, or plant seeds with special effects, whether they contain magic or not, can be sent. Furthermore..."
Xia'er paused slightly, her dragon pupils flashing with a craving for the essence of power: "If you have powerful or unique magic items, scrolls, crystals containing high concentrations of magical energy, or tomes recording profound spell knowledge... as long as you can obtain them, they can all be part of the trade."
The great stone of anxiety hanging in Nolan's heart finally lowered slightly. He immediately bowed, his tone regaining the smoothness of a merchant: "Understood! Black Oil, plant seeds, magical items... I will certainly keep them in mind and strive with all my might to search for them for Your Excellency the Governor! When the next fleet arrives, I will definitely bring goods that satisfy you!"
His tone was respectful, his posture humble, striving to completely turn the page on that suffocating conversation from before.
However, when Nolan lowered his head again, the corner of his eye swept over the massive form on the throne, like a living mountain range of jade. Those few icy, direct, devil-whisper-like suggestions from Xia'er, carrying the unique cold aura of a Green Dragon, were deeply, indelibly branded into the depths of his mind, like the most stubborn nightmare.
That seed suppressed for many years, concerning power and inheritance rights, under the malicious and precise watering of the Green Dragon, quietly broke through the thin soil named 'ethics' and 'loyalty,' revealing a sinister sprout.
Yes.
Why?!
Why does Blaise need to do nothing, daily flirting with mistresses at home, bringing shame to the family, creating one bastard after another, yet he gets to inherit our father's title?
While I toil and struggle outside, exhausting myself, only pursuing that vague, ethereal promise of a grant?
Nolan even felt that he most likely had no chance of being granted a title.
Because the Duchy's land is limited, resources have long been allocated.
Where could a new Count possibly emerge? Unless a certain family perishes, or the Duchy's territory expands.
But how could that be possible?
Without the command of the King of the Northern Frontier, that is, His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Drentland, even the Grand Duke of Shao Yi cannot arbitrarily start a war.
"If there are no further instructions, then I shall take my leave and immediately begin arranging the transportation of materials."
Nolan maintained his final courtesy, his voice steady, but the fingers hidden within his wide sleeves trembled imperceptibly.
Xia'er's giant head gave a slight nod, signifying assent.
Deep within her jade-green dragon pupils, a glint of satisfaction at the success of chaos and conspiracy flashed briefly.
This feeling was indeed quite pleasant.
It was like a cat smelling catnip—extremely comfortable.
Xia'er had indulged her nature once.
Soon, Nolan and Edwin, led by Benedict, respectfully backed out of the great hall.
When they turned and stepped out of the massive stone gate, feeling the salty, fishy sea breeze outside again, Nolan realized the clothes on his back were soaked through with cold sweat.
Nolan strode quickly toward the moored small boat, his steps somewhat unsteady. Yet in his mind, that icy proposal echoed repeatedly, and... an uncontrollable thought began to grow wildly.
"Father's levied troops are probably only a little over a thousand men, with four knights under his command. And the wealth I've accumulated over these years could probably hire about eight hundred men..."
Nolan calculated in his heart, hesitant and indecisive.
But soon, Nolan took a deep breath, and his eyes turned fierce.
Eight hundred is eight hundred!
And things might not necessarily reach that extreme point. Poisoning in advance, arranging assassins, attacks by magical creatures...
He had a hundred ways to send his elder brother to hell!