Crimson Maple's Urgent Letter

In the Crimson Maple Territory of the Northlands, Viscount Edmund is receiving a guest.

Edmund sat in a chair in the study, sizing up the man in front of him.

His appearance was unremarkable, and when he looked away, the man's features immediately became blurry. This ability to make people forget him after seeing him made Viscount Edmund's heart skip a beat.

As a branch of the Silver Maple Ducal House, the Red Maple Family was familiar with the Silver Maple Secret Guard. Viscount Edmund judged that this uninvited guest who suddenly came to their door in the middle of the night must be a member of the Silver Maple Secret Guard.

Viscount Edmund was terrified by the methods of the Silver Maple Secret Guard. He dared not call for help, after all, the person in front of him was only five steps away. Before his guards could rush in, he might be dead. Even if he helped him avenge, what good would it do if the man was already dead?

Viscount Edmund feigned composure. "Are you from Silver Maple City? What brings you here?"

The man spoke in a very deep voice, "Greetings, Viscount Crimson Viscount Crimson Maple. I am a member of the Silver Maple Guard, and I have come to find you on the orders of the Grand Duke."

His Majesty the Grand Duke asked me to ask you: Has the Crimson Maple family betrayed the Duchy? Faced with such a rebellious Iron Birch Family, why did you turn a blind eye and even help them?

Viscount Edmund sensed hostility from the person approaching, but fearing that saying the wrong thing would invite death, he could only stammer, "It's not my fault... The Crimson Maple family loyal to the Duchy, but Count Colt and his supporters are too powerful. I... our Crimson Maple family... is simply unable to resist."

"If His Majesty the Grand Duke leads his army north to the Northlands, the Chifeng family will certainly respond to the Duchy's army."

"So it seems that you, Viscount Crimson Maple, are still a loyal subject, and only had to kneel to the rebels because the enemy was too powerful, which is why you killed the messenger sent by Silver Maple City last year?"

"This is not my fault. The Iron Birch Family planted a lot of spies here, and it was your messenger who exposed himself."

Viscount Edmund quickly shifted the blame, but the man in front of him was becoming increasingly imposing, which made him break out in a cold sweat, constantly worried that the other party would make a move.

"Viscount Crimson Maple, His Majesty the Grand Duke already foresaw what happened to you."

I was sent here today not only to confirm the loyalty of the Chifeng family, but also to give you a chance to redeem yourself. I hope you can make the right choice this time.

I will come again, please be careful.

After saying this, the man tossed out a letter. As soon as Viscount Edmund caught the letter, he felt extremely sleepy. When the man turned to leave, Viscount Edmund suddenly fainted.

After an unknown amount of time, Viscount Edmund was woken up by someone. "Sir, why are you asleep in the study?"

Viscount Edmund opened his eyes and walked all the way; it was the butler who woke him up.

Edmund rubbed his head, feeling a little dizzy and unusually weak. "Did I fall asleep?"

"Yes, sir, you were asleep just now. I came to find you because I noticed you hadn't left your study. When I came in, I saw you sleeping in the chair."

It's too uncomfortable to sleep here, sir. Why don't you sleep in the lounge?

"So it was all a dream!" Viscount Edmund felt a great sense of relief.

"But this dream was too real! It felt like someone really came looking for me, but I can't remember their face, so it must have been a dream!"

Just as Viscount Edmund got up to go back to his room to rest, a mailbox fell off him.

The butler hurriedly bent down to pick it up, but was stopped by Viscount Edmund.

The butler was puzzled and was about to ask the Viscount what was wrong when he noticed that Viscount Edmund was staring at the mailbox with a look of utter disbelief.

"Master, what's wrong?"

"It's alright, it's alright. You go and rest. I just remembered I have some work to take care of. I'll go back by myself later."

After Viscount Edmund dismissed the butler, he sat in his chair and pondered for a long time before finally opening the mailbox and taking out the letters inside.

Iron Mountain Fortress.

"Father, this is an urgent message from the Crimson Maple Territory. Viscount Edmund sent it with his guards. He seemed to be in a great hurry and said he wanted to deliver it to you personally."

Alex placed a mailbox on the table.

Count Colt was sipping tea while working when he looked up with some curiosity.

"A letter from Edmund? Did the messenger say anything?"

"No, just say that Viscount Edmund insisted that you open it yourself because the contents are very important."

Count Colt nodded. "Just open it and read it to me."

"Good father."

Alex opened the mailbox, took out the letter, and started reading. Just as he was about to start reading, he froze.

Count Colt asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Alex handed the letter to Count Colt with a serious expression. "You should take a look yourself, Father!"

Count Colt took the letter and began to read it. At first, he didn't pay much attention, but the more he read, the more serious he became, even crumpling the sturdy paper in his hands.

Alex looked worried. "Father, is what Viscount Edmund said true?"

Is the Silver Maple Secret Guard really as terrifying as the legends say?

Count Colt shook his head. "I don't know either. I've only heard your grandfather mention it."

However, I don't think the Silver Maple Secret Guard are that scary. After all, if they really are like the legends, able to blend into the darkness, with a hundred different faces and appearing and disappearing like ghosts.

You and I would have been killed long ago. After all, killing us was the best way to end the Civil War. If they were really that terrible, Count Lloyd wouldn't have been able to escape from Silver Maple City.

Compared to this pretentious Silver Maple Secret Guard, I'm more worried about what Edmund told me.

"Are you referring to the matter of Silver Maple City sending people to contact the Iron Bone Tribe, asking them to attack the Three Counties of the Northern Frontier when we march south?"

Father, I don't think this is true. After all, my intelligence caravan has been monitoring the grasslands all year, and the Iron Bone Tribe is still entangled with several other major tribes.

Although they have gained the upper hand, it will take another year or two to completely determine the winner.

Is it possible that Viscount Edmund is spreading false information, or perhaps he's concealing orders from Silver Maple City?

Colt shook his head. "I know him. Edmund may seem arrogant in front of outsiders, but he's actually quite timid."

He wouldn't dare hide anything from me about such a major event; I reckon this was the order Silver Maple City gave him—to raise an army in response to the Iron Bone Tribe.