Negotiation (Part 1)

Midnight summer, the insects chirp incessantly.

Inside the battlements of Iron Furnace Fortress, torches burned fiercely. The leaping flames crackled, and sparks, accompanied by almost imperceptible black smoke, rose straight up, further charring the already oil-blackened walls.

The stench of burning grease, smoke, and sweat mingled in the air, so thick it was like roasting cured meat, making even flying insects and rats reluctant to linger.

Despite this, a man sat before an old, grease-stained wooden table. He still wore his armor, his black hair plastered to his face by sweat. Though his eye sockets were sunken, he meticulously reviewed every document.

His gaze swept over a page of parchment. After a moment's thought, he picked up his quill, intending to write something. But with just this movement, a bead of sweat the size of a pea fell from his nose, splattering onto the table with a patter, leaving a wet mark.

"Hoo…" The man opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the dry skin on his upper lip stuck to his lower lip, and a trickle of dark red blood flowed out.

He licked his lips, only then realizing how dry his mouth was. He walked to the wooden barrel of clean water in the corner and lifted the lid.

The inner walls of the old oak barrel were covered in moss. After only half a day, the water inside had become so foul it made one cover their nose. But the man paid it no mind. He scooped out a bowl with a wooden ladle and poured the slick, viscous water down his throat.

Knock, knock, knock. The sound of knocking came.

"Lord Judra, there's a letter for you."

Finishing his mouthful of water, Judra placed the wooden ladle back in its spot and returned to sit at the table. Only then did he say, "Enter."

A Knight in full plate armor walked in, holding a document with both hands and respectfully placing it before the table.

Judra picked up the letter. Seeing Denise's signature, he felt as if a refreshing breeze had caressed his face. His previously tired eyes cleared considerably.

He used a letter opener to cut open the envelope, took out the letter, and brought it close to his nose, inhaling deeply. He sighed contentedly.

Upon reading the contents, a long-forgotten joyous smile spread across his face.

This greatly surprised the Knight, as Judra hadn't been this happy even when the young master had sent a letter back from Monen City a month prior.

"Arden!" Judra raised his voice.

"Here, my lord!" The Knight stood at attention and saluted.

Judra commanded, "Immediately take men to scout Halberd Rock. Then, guard the vicinity. Unless you encounter danger, do not withdraw without my order. Every three hours, send someone to report the situation. If you can't find me here, come to my home!"

"Yes!" Arden accepted the order and left.

Halberd Rock was located on a hill at the border between Eagle Territory and Iron Furnace Territory. On the mountainside, there was a manually carved platform. Its history was unknown, the various structures long since ruined, overgrown with weeds.

Besides a few scattered stone tables and stools, there was only a massive rock, over nine meters high and three meters thick, shaped like a halberd, thrust diagonally into the ground.

This was also the origin of the place's name.

Arden didn't know why Lord Judra had ordered them to scout this place, but whatever he did was for the best.

Ever since returning from Eagle Fortress three months ago, Judra had been stationed on the walls of Iron Furnace Town as if he had been exiled, not even permitted to return to Iron Furnace Fortress.

Baron Anger's words had also been spread by those with intentions: "Judra, as long as I am alive, I am still the Baron of Iron Furnace Territory! You are merely my son and have no right to agree to any promises on my behalf! Now, get out and guard the city gate. Think about what you've done wrong. If you don't figure it out in a day, never come to see me again!"

And Judra, as if deliberately provoking Baron Anger, had indeed sat in the city tower for three consecutive months, handling various matters. When he was tired, he slept on the straw bales in the tower. He had even counted the times he went home to wash on one hand.

In Arden's opinion, since Judra was now coming out to do something, it was much, much better than sitting in the tower all the time.

Leading over a dozen soldiers to guard near Halberd Rock, from night to dawn, from dawn to noon, and from noon to midnight, the latest soldier reporting back said, "Lord Judra has arrived!"

Arden quickly rallied his spirits and organized the men. After a short while, they saw a flamboyant rooster slowly approaching from the foot of the mountain.

No, it wasn't a rooster; it was a person, and it looked like… Lord Judra?

Arden rubbed his eyes, confirming the situation before him. It was indeed Judra, but something felt very wrong.

He wore a soft leather hat decorated with exaggerated pheasant feathers. His face was covered in thick powder, which even concealed the red spots on his exaggeratedly large nose. His lips were as red as if he had just eaten two children.

A bright red cloak was draped diagonally across his shoulders, making his dark green top appear even more vibrant. A gold chain adorned with gems hung on his chest. At his waist was the white and purple short skirt commonly worn by noblemen. His lower half was a pair of tight, light yellow slim-fitting pants that perfectly accentuated the lines of his legs. On his feet, he wore black leather boots decorated with silver thread.

He walked up to everyone and dismounted, "How is it? Does it look good?"

Arden wanted to laugh but dared not. He could only say, "My lord, your taste is truly… unique!"

"Hmph, of course," Judra adjusted his collar. "Alright, all of you, retreat. Later, no matter what sounds you hear, do not come up without my order. Understand?"

Arden stood straight and said, "Yes!"

Although Halberd Rock was on the mountainside, the terrain was not steep. After they retreated, they could conceal themselves well within the forest, without having to return via the main road.

Just as they were about to retreat out of sight of the platform on the mountainside, a carriage slowly drove up. The driver was not an ordinary coachman but a young girl.

She wore a blue woolen dress, the kind servants wore, but it did nothing to conceal her beauty. Under the moonlight, it instead exuded a pure and hazy allure.

The carriage stopped, the door opened, and a woman, helped by the young girl, stepped out of the carriage.

Arden finally understood why Judra had dressed like that.

The girl driving was already beautiful, but the woman who stepped out of the carriage was as beautiful as an elf!

She wore a silver headband that shone brightly under the moonlight. Her fair complexion made even the moon seem dim and lusterless, giving her an aloof and detached aura. A white gown draped over her. Though her figure was as full as a melon, she appeared elegant, noble, and inviolably majestic.

Arden dared not look further and lowered his head, retreating.

The woman walked forward step by step like a queen, as if even the moonlight was following her.

Judra swallowed, his eyes bursting with a surging passion. He knelt on one knee, took the woman's hand, and performed a flawless kiss of the hand. "My dear Lady Denise, by the grace of the Lord of Light, I finally see you again."

"Mr. Judra, I…" Denise opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

But Judra immediately interrupted her, "Denise, my heart, you don't need to say anything more. You only need to be silent and listen to the poem I've prepared for you."

As he spoke, he stood up, spread his arms like a peacock displaying its tail feathers, and took two steps back in a dance-like motion. His left hand rested on his chest, while his right hand was raised high. In the mountain evening breeze, he recited with deep emotion:

"Love is like a flood that bursts from a mountain stream.

Deep water is silent, shallow water murmurs and tinkles.

Love expressed with flowery words is superficial and weak.

If one expresses love through incessant talk, Then he is not worthy of being a qualified lover."

He looked at Denise with deep affection, a hint of forced ease in his smile. He took a deep breath, preparing to recite the second stanza of the poem.

Clap, clap, clap.

Just as Judra's emotions were reaching their peak, rhythmic applause sounded, and a voice came from inside the carriage: "Oh, oh, oh, what a touching recitation. If I were a woman, I might even be moved by you."

Immediately after, the carriage door creaked open, and Raven jumped out: "Long time no see, Mr. Judra."

Judra's face visibly turned from pale to red, then from red to black.

Having his carefully prepared love poem interrupted by someone, especially by Raven, was as embarrassing as being stripped naked and thrown onto the street.

He didn't even dare to look at Denise. He was like a chicken whose neck had been grabbed, opening his mouth several times but unable to speak. Finally, he gritted his teeth and asked with annoyance, "Raven, why are you here!?"

"Because this meeting was arranged by me." Raven walked to Denise's side as if it were the most natural thing. "Aunt, were you startled?"

Denise raised an eyebrow and didn't answer directly. Instead, she bowed to Judra: "Mr. Judra, this was indeed Raven's request. Men's matters don't require women's involvement, so I will excuse myself."

With that, she turned and walked back into the carriage.

The moment the carriage door closed, Judra roared, "If this is a joke, it's gone too far, Baron Raven!"

His expression was extremely ugly. His fragile pride made it impossible for him to accept being toyed with by Raven, a man of questionable origins. He spoke with condemnation: "Using a lady is never something a nobleman should do!"

"Ha, how amusing." Raven clapped his hands again. "What a righteous reprimand. Then, as a nobleman, have you fulfilled your duties?"

Judra's brow twitched violently. He inhaled sharply through his nose and averted his gaze.

Under the witness of many nobles and church priests, he had personally promised to return the Eagle Beak Mountain mine and the Thousand Needle Jungle to Eagle Territory. However, under his father Anger's strong pressure, he couldn't fulfill it. This had been the heaviest stone in his heart for the past three months.

"I admit, that matter was my fault. If you're looking for revenge, then congratulations, you've succeeded!" Judra took a deep breath. "I value my reputation more than my life, so I can forgive your rudeness today. But I don't want a repeat! Otherwise,..."

"The shame of reputation can only be washed away with blood!"

His eyes were filled with hatred as he looked at Raven. Then, he turned and headed straight for his warhorse. He didn't want to stay here for another minute.

Raven scoffed, "Ha, a dignified second-tier Flame Knight, yet you only know how to evade when you encounter problems. No wonder Baron Anger looks down on you!"

"What did you say?" Judra stopped in his tracks and turned around, his eyebrows twitching furiously.

"Oh ho, didn't hear clearly? Then I'll say it again." Raven cleared his throat and said loudly, "You, Judra Worton, are a good-for-nothing, a coward who only knows how to run away from problems, a pathetic worm scared witless by the truth!"

"You!" Worton's fist ignited with a layer of fiery Battle Qi. He walked towards Raven step by step, his feet leaving deep, clear imprints on the ground: "Raven, my composure is not a reason for your recklessness!"

"Then come at me." Raven patted his cheek with a mocking smile. "Hit me, hit me hard."

"After all, it was I who obstructed you, preventing you from returning those two territories to me."

"It was also I who, rather than breaking the contract, trampled your reputation into the mud like dog excrement, making the name Judra infamous throughout Nord Province."

"It was also I who interfered, making you and Anger despise each other, getting you banished to the city walls to work like a dog, a noble in his prime living worse than a stray!"

"I'll kill you—" Judra lunged forward, his thick fist, encased in Battle Qi, smashing towards Raven's face like a meteor in the night.

The latter didn't dodge. His eyes were filled with a contemptuous smile. Just as the fist was about to land, Judra's movement stopped. The wind he stirred blew Raven's hair aside.

"Hoo... hoo... hoo...!" Judra's breaths were as rough as a bellows. He slowly retracted his fist. "Stop your tricks!"

"No matter what you say, I won't act here today. I won't throw away my future just for a few 'buzzes' from a Little Bee!"

Raven was a true nobleman, an Imperial Baron. If Judra were to beat Raven here, he could have his inheritance rights revoked by the Noble Council, and his father and brother would be very pleased to see that happen.

"Oh, oh, oh, I'm starting to look at you with a bit of respect, Mr. Judra." The smile on Raven's face became less mocking and more appreciative. "To be able to consider the gains and losses at this moment and suppress your anger, you are indeed a wise nobleman."

Judra let out a cold laugh, shrugged his shoulders, and said disdainfully, "I haven't degenerated to the point where I need you to evaluate me."

"Pride, my favorite sin." Raven was unfazed by Judra's offense. "I asked you out today because I hoped to have a firm ally, and you haven't disappointed me."

Judra turned again, "But I don't need an ally like you."

"That's a shame." Raven shook his head and sighed. "It seems my prepared gold coins will have to go to Mr. Mark."

Judra's footsteps stopped. He turned around, his eyes sharp. "What do you mean by that?"

Raven spread his hands. "I need a Baron to be my ally. Since it's not you, it can only be Mark. Is that strange?"

Judra's lips twitched slightly. "Don't act like you can do anything. You have no power to decide who inherits Iron Furnace Territory!"

"Mhm, I don't deny that." Raven nodded. "But if things continue like this, Mr. Judra, you will never become the next Baron Worton. That is also a fact."

Judra couldn't refute it. Although he had cultivated some of his own influence over the years, under Anger's favoritism, Mark's strength far surpassed his.

Of the six enfeoffed knights under Iron Furnace Territory, only Arden was loyal to Judra. However, there were two loyal to Mark, one of whom was even a second-tier knight!

Three knights remained neutral between the two of them, but Judra also knew that if Anger needed them, these three would readily side with Mark.

Seeing Judra fall silent, Raven struck while the iron was hot, producing a pre-drafted document. "It's still early, Mr. Judra. Why not take a look at my proposal before making a decision?"

Judra took the document, unfolded it, and began reading it word by word by the bright moonlight. His eyebrows trembled more and more violently, and finally, he threw the parchment back onto Raven's chest with a thud. "Daydreaming!"

"Raven, I'm not you, and I'm certainly not Donald. Personal gains and losses aren't that important to me! Even if I can't inherit the barony, I will never harm the Worton Family's interests in any way!"

Listening to the impassioned words and watching his unmoving stance, Raven, with a smile hidden by the document, revealed a triumphant grin.

After playing along for so long, the fish

finally took the bait!