I Could Do Even More Scumbag Things

The gates opened, and Judra and two knights carried Anger away in a panic under the gaze of the assembled nobles.

For the entire Worton Family, this had been a complete and utter defeat.

Anger had misjudged the situation, raised an army in fury, and, despite still having the chance to end things at a relatively small cost after his defeat, had been utterly crushed by his own stubbornness and arrogance!

The prestige and reputation he had accumulated over many years had been destroyed in an instant.

And everything he had lost had been taken by Raven.

The more irritable, impulsive, and unreasonable Anger appeared, the calmer, more reserved, and more courteous Raven seemed.

"Ladies and gentlemen." The moment Raven spoke, he drew everyone's attention. "As the host, I'm sorry that you had to witness such an undignified scene. As compensation, after the ceremony, I'll give every family a bottle of Angel's Tear."

Viscount John's voice rang out. "Oh? Does that mean today's banquet is ending here? Baron Raven, you wouldn't be that stingy, would you? We haven't had much chance to taste this fine wine yet."

His words immediately prompted a burst of good-natured laughter. Anger's sudden attack had indeed left everyone with little time to enjoy the wine.

Raven smiled. "Of course not. Food will be served next, so please help yourselves."

The servants carried in long tables, and the maids brought out delicacies. The most fashionable buffet of the day officially began.

Out of courtesy, the nobles came over one after another to chat with Raven. The topics were nothing more than establishing connections and reminiscing—your grandfather once fought alongside my great-grandfather on such-and-such battlefield, or my great-grandfather once competed with your great-grandfather for some girl's affection.

Whether it was true or not didn't matter. What mattered was having a few words and becoming familiar with one another. Perhaps one day, that connection would prove useful.

Most nobles, however, only exchanged a few words with Raven before leaving. Instead, a crowd gathered around Denise, mainly the female relatives of the nobles present.

Nobles were ashamed to speak openly of profit, so they naturally wouldn't personally negotiate purchase prices. Exchanges between noblewomen, however, were another matter entirely.

The banquet lasted until evening. Both host and guests enjoyed themselves. Many nobles from nearby places left by carriage, while those who lived farther away chose to stay the night and depart the next day.

After a busy day, Raven returned to his room and leaned by the window, pouring himself drinks.

He had just poured himself a glass when Raven heard a knock. He said quietly, "Come in."

The door opened, and a cool breeze swept through the room. Raven turned around and froze.

It was Denise.

She had changed out of her black clothes from the day and put on a white gauze dress. As the breeze lifted the hem, it revealed her delicate arms and two alluring ankles.

She walked over and sat beside Raven. A fragrant breeze drifted toward him. Her face was flushed from the alcohol, and her eyes were moist and alluring.

Raven drew a deep breath, then leaned away against the wall. "Aunt Denise, I advise you to leave quickly. My self-control isn't that strong."

"Otherwise, what are you planning to do?" Denise giggled. "Strip me naked and throw me onto the bed?"

"You think I wouldn't dare?" Raven suddenly turned and leaned close to Denise's face, his eyes filled with undisguised aggression.

His gaze swept over Denise's brows, eyes, nose, and lips, descended into the deep valley below, then rose back up as he quietly moved closer.

Just as they were about to touch, Denise suddenly stood. "Tsk. What a pity. I'm not interested."

She went to the window, took a fresh cup, and poured herself some wine. After taking a sip, she immediately frowned. "Why is this Flowing Amber instead of Angel's Tear?"

"I like it. What's it to you?" Raven snatched the cup from Denise's hand and downed the remaining wine before saying impatiently, "Either strip yourself naked and throw yourself onto the bed, or get out."

Denise's brows furrowed slightly as she said unhappily, "Raven, you really are a scumbag."

"I can do even more scumbag things." Raven sneered and poured himself another drink. "For example, pin you against the window right now and let everyone in Eagle Town admire the glorious figure of their lord."

"...It seems I really thought too highly of you." Denise shook her head angrily. "I wonder how Laxus ever managed to convince herself to go along with you."

She turned and walked to the door. "Thirteen nobles expressed interest in purchasing Angel's Tear today. Within half a month, you need to prepare another three hundred bottles of Angel's Tear. I'll prepare the raw materials, so get to work."

With a bang, the door slammed shut.

Raven didn't turn around. He only stared at the moon in the sky, becoming increasingly lost in thought.

Those damn nobles!

For Raven, today had been a day of complete victory. He had thwarted Anger's attack, gained Judra's promise, and sold Angel's Tear in huge quantities.

But he was still unhappy.

Especially whenever he thought of his conversations with those nobles.

"Baron Raven, I heard you grew up in an orphanage. What was life there like?"

"Baron Raven, could you tell me what the lives of the commoners in Monen City are like?"

"Baron Raven, I heard your nickname is 'Little Bee.' Could you tell us how you got it?"

Smack.

The silver cup was crushed against the windowsill. A trace of resentment appeared on Raven's face. "Go screw your mothers!"

The nobles all looked courteous, but their attitudes were condescending. They looked at him as if he were a monkey, hoping to reinforce their superior status through his stories.

Every word and gesture revealed the same message: It's your good fortune, you little nobody, to stand alongside us.

Raven hated that feeling, but at present, there was nothing he could do about it.

He looked at his palm and let out a long breath. "I'm still too weak."

Rank, troops, honor, status, wealth...

He had none of these.

In terms of rank, he was merely a Fan. Through the Eye of Truth, he could clearly see that every noble present today who possessed a title was at least a First-tier Transcendent.

In terms of troops, he had only thirty-six private soldiers and a single First-tier Transcendent, Eric.

In terms of honor and status, he was merely a baron with only eight hundred subjects—worse off than some Knight's Manors.

As for wealth—where would he get wealth? The ninety Gold Coins in his warehouse?

That was a huge fortune to him, but to most nobles, it was merely the price of a set of everyday formalwear.

And wealth was precisely the root of the problem.

Without Gold Coins, he couldn't become a Transcendent, support and arm an army, or develop the industries he had envisioned.

Fortunately, he now had something to work with.

His gaze shifted outside the window. The night was deep, and Eagle Town was completely dark, but three settlements across the river still glittered with lights. Shining Gold Town in particular was brightly illuminated.

Taking down Anger today had indeed been satisfying, and Judra's promise had sounded sincere, but Raven didn't believe the Worton Family would truly hand over Eagle Beak Mountain and Thousand Needle Jungle.

Qualified nobles were all thick-skinned and black-hearted, and Anger was an old fox among them.

After today's incident, unless Anger died immediately and Judra succeeded him as baron, the so-called promise was nothing more than empty words.

What Raven truly wanted was Shining Gold Town.

It brought in four to seven hundred Gold Coins in taxes every year and was the largest market town within a hundred miles.

If he could reclaim it, Eagle Territory would gain a stable source of tax revenue and more subjects who could be mobilized as soldiers, expanding his strength.

More importantly, the new products Raven planned to promote could also be produced and launched in Shining Gold Town, reducing his dependence on Denise.

Another knock sounded at the door.

"Come in." Raven turned around with a smile. "If you really intend to strip yourself naked, I hope you're wearing the lace I like..."

His voice caught in his throat, because the person entering was Eric.

The nearly six-foot-four giant's face was filled with panic and confusion. His peanut-sized eyes were as wide as hawthorn fruits.

"Ahem, you didn't hear anything." Raven rubbed his nose and awkwardly changed the subject. "Is something urgent?"

"Uh, no, I mean, yes, Lord Raven!" Eric took a while to calm down, then stepped forward and handed him a letter. "There's a letter for you."

Raven accepted the envelope. When he saw the H&S on the wax seal, his brow twitched. After tearing it open, he found only a short sentence inside: Come alone to the Eagle's Wing Inn in Shining Gold Town immediately. If you fail to arrive in time, bear the consequences yourself.

"Who delivered it?" Raven asked.

"A cloaked, suspicious-looking fellow. At least a second-tier Transcendent." Eric answered respectfully. "He specifically instructed me to give this letter to you."

Raven pressed him. "Did the cloak have green patterns on it, like snake scales?"

"Yes, my lord." Eric nodded. "Do you have any idea who it is?"

Raven didn't answer. His gaze grew increasingly deep. "Eric, come with me."

The two left the castle and traveled all the way to the entrance of the Eagle's Wing in Shining Gold Town. Raven said, "Wait for me here."

Eric didn't understand, but his innate loyalty made him obey the order.

Raven touched his arm to confirm that the hand crossbow was loaded, then pushed open the inn's doors.

The smell of burning pine rushed at him, mixed with faint aromas of wine and meat. The balding innkeeper looked up, then immediately lowered his head again.

"You brought a tail." A deep voice abruptly sounded behind Raven.

Raven remained completely calm. "I'm a baron. Of course I need attendants when I travel. Besides, I did enter alone. Is there a problem?"

"Follow me. Don't try anything." A man in a brown cloak walked in front of Raven. A ring of green, scale-like patterns was embroidered along the cloak's edge.

The Eye of Truth quietly opened at that moment. Beneath the man's cloak, a dense cyan glow lit up. Two green points also flickered at his waist and on his finger.

A second-tier Storm Swordsman, carrying an Enchanted Longsword and wearing an enchanted ring.

Just as expected.

The inn was silent. Raven followed the man upstairs and arrived at the innermost room.

The man walked to the door and pushed it open, stepping aside. "Go in."

After pausing briefly to make sure there were no traps by the entrance, Raven entered.

In the sitting room, a young man with short golden hair parted down the middle sat boldly on a long couch. A gentle golden radiance emanated from him, displaying the strength of a First-tier Light Knight.

Green magical light shimmered on his feet, waist, and fingers, while the necklace around his neck shone with a blue radiance.

High-quality enchanted equipment.

Behind him stood a man identical to the one outside. If not for this one having a beard, they could have been mistaken for the same person.

Despite being under tremendous pressure, Raven brazenly dragged over a chair and sat directly opposite the young man. A trace of anger flashed through the latter's eyes. "Raven, I haven't permitted you to sit yet, have I?"

"Oh, sorry. I didn't realize that, as a baron, I'd need someone else's permission to sit in my own territory." Raven shrugged.

"Impudent!" The man behind the young man rested a hand on his sword hilt. "Do you know who you're speaking to?"

Raven picked up a grape from the table and tossed it into his mouth. "Of course I do. Hyde Slate, Count Talon's son. Neither the most favored nor the most trusted."

The man fell silent.

Hyde finally sat up straight. "How do you know who I am?"

"It's simple." Raven pointed to the man behind him. "That cloak is the standard equipment of your family's elite private soldiers, Typhon's Fang. A young man capable of commanding them, whose initials are 'HS'—apart from you, I can't think of anyone else."

"You do have some cleverness. Is this the survival wisdom of a rat in a gutter?" Hyde sneered. "Since you're so clever, why don't you guess why I called you here?"

"If you can't answer..."

His eyes were blue tinged with gray, appearing especially sinister under the dim light. He extended a finger and drew it horizontally across his own throat.

Raven put on a frightened expression. "Oh, my esteemed Lord Hyde, please forgive my arrogance and pardon my offenses. As long as you make a request, I'll do anything for you!"

A trace of smugness appeared on Hyde's face. He was just about to speak when Raven suddenly straightened his expression. "Did you think I was going to say that, Mr. Hyde?"

Hyde's face instantly paled. "You're courting death! The dignity of the Slate Family cannot be insulted!"

"Mm, excellent. Very imposing." Raven slowly applauded. "If Count Talon himself had said that to me."

"You!" Hyde's face flushed crimson. He gritted his teeth. "Aren't you afraid I'll..."

"Afraid of what?" Raven asked. "Afraid you'll kill me here? Do you really dare, young master?"

Hyde's breath caught.

He was indeed the count's son, but Count Talon had had two wives, seven sons, and two daughters in total. Although Hyde was the youngest son, all the family's affection was lavished on his younger sister.

If he really killed an Imperial Baron here, Count Talon might not protect him. Even if he did, his brothers were watching him closely.

"I won't kill you." Hyde said, "But I have plenty of ways to make you wish you were dead!"

Raven widened his eyes and asked innocently, "Such as?"

"For example—" Hyde's voice caught in his throat, and he froze.

Yes. Such as what?

Using his resources to strike at the economic lifeline of the Griffith Family?

The Griffith Family... did it even have such a thing?

Or sending people to sabotage Eagle Town's industries?

But Eagle Town only had a few hundred acres of farmland. Could he really have his men set fire to the fields for fun?

Or threaten to kidnap Raven's family... Denise or Weston, for example.

But if those two were kidnapped, Raven would probably laugh with delight.

After thinking through everything, Hyde was surprised to discover that he couldn't find even the slightest leverage over Raven.

"So, is there anything else?" Raven asked. "If not, I'll be leaving."

In just over ten minutes, Raven had completely seized control of the conversation.

Hyde said sullenly, "I do have something to discuss with you."

"I want you to give up the title of baron of Eagle Territory and hand it over to me. Of course, I won't let you suffer a loss."

He clapped his hands. The man behind him turned and left. Before long, he returned carrying a heavy wooden chest in both hands and gently placed it between Raven and Hyde.

Hyde opened the lid, and the room instantly filled with dazzling golden light. "There are five thousand Gold Coins here. That should be enough, right?"

"Oh, oh, oh, five thousand Gold Coins. That's quite a lot." Raven praised him, then reached out and closed the lid.

Hyde's brows furrowed tightly. "What do you mean by that?"

"It means your price is too low."

"Raven, don't push your luck!" Hyde slammed his hand on the table. "You're nothing but a filthy commoner who crawled out of a gutter, a thug from the slums who merely happened to obtain a title. Do you really think you're a noble?"

Raven gave him a deep look, stood, and turned to leave.

"The rainy season is about to arrive in Bloody Highlands. When it does, large numbers of bandits will stream down from there." Hyde shouted behind him.

"Landed nobles have a duty to defend their territory!"

"I'll be waiting right here. Remember this: within a month, you'll kneel here and beg me to take your territory!"