Enemies or Allies in an Instant

The news of Baron Cayo's return soon spread among the Nobles of the Two Counties, though the source of the information must have been unknown.

The time has come to test political wisdom.

How to choose sides without being impolite, arrogant, or offending anyone became a difficult problem for the local nobles.

Just as everyone was struggling with this, a clever guy who wished to remain anonymous suggested. "We can shift the focus of the conflict."

This proposal instantly gained the support of the nobles who had suffered heavy losses in their previous conflicts with the Northern Nobles, and quickly evolved into a mobilization meeting for revenge against the Northern Nobles.

Although few local nobles participated in the discussion, they all fully supported the final decision.

Whoever can lead everyone to defeat the Northern Nobles and drive out those nasty devils will be supported as the leader.

Without a doubt, this was almost an impossible task.

Although the gap in strength between the two sides has narrowed considerably, the military strength of the battle-hardened Northern Nobles is still superior to that of the local nobles.

Of course, this only calculates the power that everyone has on the surface, without involving the families behind them.

For many people, the more ambitious, difficult, and impossible the goal, the better.

Nobody wants to have another ancestor to rely on. The two powerful forces checking and balancing each other and maintaining a balance is what everyone needs.

A monopoly will only squeeze out the interests of everyone else.

Everyone knows that "driving out the Northern Nobles" is just a slogan; anyone who takes it seriously will lose.

It has nothing to do with the difference in strength between the two sides; it mainly involves a power struggle among the major kingdoms, and it's not about anything else.

The Governor's Mansion in Beda City.

After catching up, Count Pierce's expression turned serious.

"Cayyo, you're probably pretty much aware of the complicated situation in Wright and Huaidun counties."

Where do you plan to start next?

The situation in the two prefectures was not just complicated, it was a complete mess.

In this small area of two counties, a group of shrewd people poured in, and more than twenty of them caught Caio's attention.

There were more than ten people who could make him feel wary.

These people, whether they are in the foreground, behind the scenes, or have temporarily failed in the competition, all have extraordinary abilities.

"Uncle, why should I get involved?"

The matter of returning from the Royal Capital could not be kept secret at all.

No matter what choice I make, it could be a trap someone has prepared, just waiting for me to fall into it.

Instead of rushing to achieve results, it's better to observe and learn first.

Looking at the past actions of the noble lords of the two counties, I have truly broadened my horizons.

Those guys from the north are one thing. After all, they've fought their way up from the battlefield, so it's normal for them to have some tricks up their sleeves.

But the few who emerged from the local nobility truly startled me.

The Knight Sossa, who plotted an economic blockade against the Northern Nobles.

This person's way of thinking is extraordinary; his vision extends beyond the battlefield.

Most importantly, he was extremely good at protecting himself; after accomplishing such a great feat, he didn't even have the thought of showing his face.

It's nothing short of a miracle that such a figure could emerge from a minor noble family... Knight Perera amassed a fortune by hoarding supplies.

It may seem like a businessman's style, but his grasp of timing is just right.

It involves not only the economic aspects but also the political ones. If it weren't for his status, this person should be able to do quite well in the Royal Capital.

Adrian, the tanking knight.

It's not so much that he can fool the Northern Nobles, but that he's shameless enough and knows exactly when to stop.

A nobleman who can set aside his pride and know when to advance and retreat will not fare too badly no matter where he is.

Baron Ezekiel, the loser.

He organized a coalition of local nobles to fight against the Northern Nobles, but suffered a crushing defeat. Everyone thought he had lost, but I don't think so.

From obscurity, he rose to become a renowned figure among the local nobility. Fame was his greatest achievement.

Moreover, the fact that they were able to organize more than twenty nobles with different interests under such circumstances was a remarkable achievement in itself.

The most astonishing one was the Mountain Baron, who was simply the chosen one.

Not only does he possess astonishing archery talent, but he also encounters Earth Bear who pledges allegiance to him the moment he leaves home. He casually observes the battlefield, yet military merits seem to fall into his lap.

He chose a remote territory, which not only allowed him to avoid the most intense noble battles in the early stages, but also enabled him to make a fortune from the war.

The speed at which his territory expanded was even more unexpected. It was as if he hadn't done anything at all, yet good fortune kept coming his way.

Although his political performance was immature, his unparalleled luck was enough to cover up all his shortcomings.

If possible, when you encounter such an opponent, it's best not to confront them head-on before their luck runs out.

So many outstanding individuals have gathered together. If I rashly provoke conflict, I'm not confident I can handle the situation as I see fit.

Baron Cayo calmly analyzed.

It's not that he wants to be a couch potato; it's just that there are just too many shrewd people in Leicester and Huaidun counties these days.

As a latecomer, one loses the advantage of being a first mover. A noble birth is an advantage, but this advantage comes at a price.

If he causes too much trouble, a group of ambitious people will most likely join forces to kick him out first.

Although we can now analyze things logically, it is ultimately just theoretical talk based on the results after the fact.

Having a strong family background and exceptional knowledge does not guarantee an advantage in actual practice.

"Your analysis is good. It seems your time in the Royal Capital wasn't wasted; you did learn some wisdom from those old foxes."

As a great noble family, we and

With limited resources, they have no choice but to keep striving, fighting, and taking risks.

Even if they have succeeded countless times, their foundation is unstable. If they fail even once, everything they have will be wiped out.

You are well-versed in history, and throughout history, countless intelligent people have fallen by the wayside, while some less intelligent people have made it to the end.

The biggest reason is that they are too smart.

Things obtained through scheming are too easily obtained, and people gradually become lost in them, believing that they can scheme about everything.

The same applies to the two counties now. Those who love to scheme and plot, though seemingly powerful, are destined to be eliminated... For example, Baron Ezekiel. He has strong organizational skills and a great ability to control people's hearts.

If the time and place had been different, he might have been able to stir up some trouble, but unfortunately he was unlucky and ran into a group of Northern Nobles who believed in power.

Although he has gained a lot of empty fame, the question is whether you can tolerate his rise, or whether the Mountain Baron will give him a chance.

Competitors have blocked the way forward. Fame is just fame; fame that cannot be converted into strength is essentially worthless.

And then there's Baron Keterai. If you look at his resume, you'll find that this guy is even more powerful than the others mentioned above. His name is even on the Orc Empire's wanted list.

But what was the final result?

When you encounter an enemy who relies on luck, every scheming he makes paves the way for others.

Of course, what we see may not be true; it could be what these guys want us to see.

Each of them seemed to have demonstrated their abilities, but they all leaned towards one side. Even when seeking personal gain, they would grab a small piece and leave quickly.

If everything is biased towards one side, isn't there a balanced one? One coincidence may be a coincidence, but when a bunch of coincidences come together, there must be a conspiracy behind it.

Temporary success or failure means nothing. Many things that seem simple to us may actually involve countless calculations behind the scenes.

At the very least, I don't believe that Hudson's rise to prominence was entirely due to luck.

If it's just a matter of luck, Kate will at most suffer a loss once or twice, but she will never keep offering herself up to be taken advantage of.

You might be plotting against someone without even realizing it. After all, you don't need to target the person directly; you can achieve the same goal by targeting their close confidants.

It's difficult to fool a smart person, but it's very easy to fool a bunch of fools. And coincidentally, these minor nobles always have a group of fools following them around.

Unlike the noble sons in the north, whose armies are truly elite, our Divine Bow Knight's elite force is mainly based on boasting.

To my surprise, after being praised for so long, his ragtag group actually turned into an elite force.

Once the second thousand-man infantry regiment is trained, the military strength of the Mountain Territory will surpass that of Dadir City, making it the most powerful noble force in the two counties.

Other nobles could only look on with envy and jealousy. Even if they wanted to wage war, no territory could afford to support two infantry regiments.

This is not something that can be accomplished by luck alone.

If the Coslo Family behind him hadn't been so weak and unable to provide him with much support, Baron Ciss would probably have been brought down long ago.

Count Pierce said with a sneer.

Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly.

From Count Pierce's position, many things no longer require evidence; the answer can be obtained simply by working backward from the results.

No matter how you try to cover it up, the final result cannot be concealed.

"If that's the case, why didn't Uncle intervene?"

"If you just trip him up a little, the Mountain Territory will never be able to develop. Even just a whisper of it will be enough for the creditors to give him a hard time."

"No, you're wrong!" Caio asked, puzzled.

It's not that I don't want to trip him up, but that I can't. Although I don't like that lucky kid, the Dalton Family needs a strong Mountain Baron right now.

No matter how powerful Hudson was, he was still just the son of a baron.

All I can rely on is myself. After all this struggle, the help from my family is now negligible.

With his own strength alone, the Salam Mountain Range would be enough for him to cause trouble for many years, and he poses no threat to us at all.

But that Baron Ciss had a Grand Duke as his father. Even a small leak of resources would be enough for him to gain a foothold in Laite County.

The Felix Family's power far surpasses that of my clan. Leaving this thorn in my side in my backyard keeps me awake at night.

The situation is more complicated than it appears. The seemingly fiercely contested position of prefect has already been decided within the Royal Capital long ago.

The Sheriff of Laite County is Baron Ciss, and no matter how hard Hudson tries, the final outcome is already decided.

The reason it wasn't made public was because Grand Duke Cavadia wanted to toughen up his sons and deliberately allowed them to fight.

If no one checks and balances this, and Laite County falls into the hands of the Felix Family, and if the situation changes in the future and the Dalton Family suffers a setback, who can guarantee that they won't turn the tables and seize our inheritance?

Count Pierce said with a sneer.

A criminal record is very important, and the Felix Family has too much of a dark history. With such neighbors around, it's hard not to be vigilant.

As for "fairness," that's only theoretical. Class stratification has long been entrenched in every corner of the Aslant Continent.

The Alpha Kingdom is relatively better off; with the threat of the Orc Empire, the nobles don't dare to go too far. On the surface, they've maintained the facade of "fairness."

But once the stakes are high enough, this fig leaf isn't enough. In the end, it all comes down to—your father.

"Mainland China is about to descend into chaos!"

Caio couldn't help but sigh.

This is a lesson from history: whenever a great number of talented people emerge, the mainland is in chaos.

When these elites discover that the world has left them no room for advancement, they will inevitably stir up trouble.

The simplest tactic is to start a war.

One radish, one hole. Only by pulling out the original radish can the new radish be inserted.

Whether the mainland is in chaos or not is not something you can decide. The Felix Family has already decided on the Laite County, but that doesn't mean your position as governor of Whitton County is secure.

With so many eyes watching, the kingdom must always have some secrecy. So, unfortunately, you'll have to earn your position as Whitton County through your own merit.

The fact that those guys in the North don't dare to compete with the Felix Family doesn't mean they don't dare to compete with us. Don't be fooled by how well-behaved these nobles are now; it's just that no one wants to be the first to stick their neck out.

Once you start, you're likely to face their combined attack. The Falling Leaf Town you've traveled to isn't as peaceful as it seems on the surface.

The anger in his eyes showed that Count Pierce was extremely dissatisfied with the outcome of this bullying.

Unfortunately, the arm can't twist the thigh. The Dalton Family is only the dominant force in the Southeast Province; in the entire Alpha Kingdom, they are just an ordinary large power... The Governor may hold a high position and wield great power, but that doesn't mean he can decide on the appointment of key officials within the province.

Even if a monarch wants to promote a close confidant, he needs the King's permission. This most basic principle of checks and balances is something every monarch with average ability knows how to apply.

Caesar III was a master of political maneuvering, with exceptional skills in infiltrating factions and maintaining balances.

Even the Five Great Northern Families are still subject to checks and balances from the kingdom's garrison in their strongholds. This intricate web of checks and balances is the essence of political balance in the Alpha Kingdom.

Unaware that the fruits of victory had already been seized, Hudson was still busy making connections. Regardless of whether Baron Cayo would take the stage, the stage had to be set up.

First, stir up public opinion. Even if Baron Cayo doesn't buy it, at least it can ensure that the new lord's initial actions won't backfire on us.

The reason Hudson didn't lead everyone to fight the Northern Nobles earlier was because the local nobles were too weak and had no chance of winning.

Although they were a bit cowardly, all the nobles, except for the victims, supported them. No one wanted to risk their hard-earned wealth on a gamble with no chance of winning.

Unlike Baron Cayo, as a direct descendant of the Dalton Family, he represented the Dalton Family.

Those who impulsively charged into battle in the early stages happened to be mostly Dalton Family underlings. It's perfectly understandable for underlings who have been wronged to seek help from their boss.

Whether he gets ahead or not, Baron Cayo will be busy. A busy person has no time for idle chatter.

"Tom, send someone to deliver these Golden Horses to Baron Ciss."

Hudson said expressionlessly.

There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. With another competitor entering the fray, this farce needs a different approach.

We're all smart people; many things don't need to be said too explicitly. A slight hint is enough.

The confrontation must continue, but we must be careful to maintain a proper balance. We must avoid escalating the situation to the point of no return.

Even though he lost to Hudson, Baron Ciss was still the lord of Dadir City. He could only remain silent for a while before making a comeback.

If they lose to the one representing the Dalton Family, they might have to pack their bags and leave, bidding farewell to Laite County forever.

The situation is similar for Hudson; losing the battle for sheriff's position with Baron Ciss isn't fatal. Even if he loses the sheriff's post, he can always get one of those titles: political officer, judicial officer, or military officer, right?

In the Alpha Kingdom, there's no such thing as you being the prefect, and all the officials in the prefecture being appointed by you. On the contrary, these officials are most likely to be your adversaries.

This was all a result of the King imitating the ruler, using such methods to check and balance the Governor in various regions. The Governor's Mansion naturally followed suit, engaging in similar practices.

Losing the position of prefect does not mean losing all say. The main problem is that the tax revenue has been largely taken by others.

For Hudson, a gain of ten or twenty thousand gold coins wasn't a big problem. After all, no matter how much Baron Ciss plundered, he wouldn't be able to bring the excessive amount to his own head.

If pushed too far, they can resist taxes. According to incomplete statistics, dozens of tax resistance movements of varying sizes occur in the kingdom every year.

This usually occurs when the officials in charge of tax collection are not powerful enough to control the local nobles. In rare cases, it happens when officials are too greedy, exceeding the local nobles' tolerance limits.

The latter is less likely to occur.

Exploiting the nobility is not a good choice. If you are treated unfairly and their relatives and friends come to demand an explanation, it won't end well.

Unless someone is extremely unpopular, nobles are rarely bullied in this regard. A little bit is fine, but going too far will lead to serious trouble.

Not only would the nobles involved call on their friends to make a scene, but other nobles in the vicinity who received the news would also join in.

After all, if you don't stand up for others when they are being bullied today, who will stand up for you when you are being bullied tomorrow?

If this matter escalates, the kingdom will not let the offending official off lightly. In the event of serious consequences, they could even be stripped of their title.

But if he loses to the Dalton Family, things will be different. Not only will he lose the position of prefect, but he won't be eligible for any official position in the prefecture either, and he might even be ostracized.

In the Southeast Province, no noble family, regardless of its affiliation, could withstand the Dalton Family's wrath. Once targeted, nothing they did would be able to do.

The rapid development of the Mountain Territory, in particular, is mainly due to financial leverage. A lot of things were swayed by Hudson.

If a conflict arises with the Dalton Family, no one can guarantee whether those creditors will remain calm.