Viscount Anqiluo walked cautiously in the corridors of the castle. Although he had been here many times, he still had not adapted to the environment inside.
It is dark and forbidding, and its characteristics are like those of a dungeon where ghosts live in horror stories. Why would the owner here like to live in a place like this?
Earl Kent, he is really an unpredictable person in all aspects.
With his own thoughts in mind, Anqiluo turned a corner and stopped in an open place.
He straightened his clothes and walked slowly to a tall and gorgeous room door.
There were two guards with halberds standing on the left and right of the door. Seeing Anqiluo approaching, they immediately crossed their weapons and blocked the door of the room.
The guard looked coldly at Anqiluo up and down, his look making him feel like a little lamb being targeted by a hungry wolf.
Remember, you are a noble, and these are just two Soldiers standing in front of you, and you are still the guest of their lord.
He regained some of his arrogance and tried hard not to appear timid. He puffed up his chest and said loudly in the accent he had honed while sitting in the Seal-Holding Chief Steward position:
"Bairdin Seal-Holding Chief Steward Viscount Anqiluo, came at the invitation of Earl Kent."
Damn it, I have met the count several times, but these two personal guards of his still don't seem to recognize me.
Anqiluo was not just angry, besides his injured self-esteem, he was vaguely aware of some kind of fear hidden in his heart.
The high hopes that I came to seek refuge with in the early days have all gone, and all that remains is the uneasiness of being under someone else's roof.
The two guards still stood still, continuing to stare at Anqiluo, and the weapons blocking the door did not withdraw.
Anqiluo Close your eyes and wait quietly.
One minute, two minutes, it feels like a century.
Finally, a voice came from behind the heavy wooden door. "Come in."
Anqiluo breathed out gently.
The two guards withdrew their weapons, and one of them gently pushed the door open.
He adjusted his mentality and walked slowly into the room.
A "clang" sound came from behind, and the closing of the door made Anqiluo shiver involuntarily.
This is Earl Kent's study room. The space is very spacious, but the atmosphere is even more weird than outside the room.
It was clearly broad daylight, but the windows of the room were tightly blocked with thick curtains, preventing even a trace of sunlight from entering.
The lighting in such a large room was only the faint light from a floor-standing candlestick. A man was sitting on a wicker chair next to the candlestick, concentrating on reading a thick book.
"Can he read the words clearly?"
Anqiluo Just as he had this thought, the man on the wicker chair spoke, although he didn't look up at him.
"Mr. Viscount, please sit down."
Maltz Kent Count pointed to the chair on the other side of the candlestick.
This is a man with pale skin and a sinister face. He has a sharp nose and faint dark circles surrounding his sunken eye sockets. Although he is only middle-aged, the hair on the top of his head is already half bald.
"Thank you Kent-sama."
Anqiluo swallowed a gulp of saliva, forced his weak legs to walk to the wicker chair and sat down, although he didn't know why his legs were weak.
"So, Viscount Anqiluo, come and talk to me about Bairdin."
Earl Kent said nonchalantly, his eyes still fixed on his book.
The other party was finally willing to mention Bairdin, and Anqiluo was about to cry.
I met the Earl several times, but every time he was sent away lightly after a word or two. The only time I met him for a long time was when I was stayed for lunch, during which he didn't even say a word.
You must seize the opportunity this time.
"Kent-sama, Arda's lord Paul Greiman has detained our lord without authorization - Count Mellon Garnard."
"And we, in order to safeguard the glory of Bairdin, raised troops to fight against this arrogant lord, but in the end we were defeated."
Anqiluo spent nearly half an hour describing in detail the "causes and consequences" that led to his exile.
"Your master is still in the opponent's hands, so you are so eager to raise troops. You are really brave and loyal!"
Earl Kent suddenly said this, without concealing the sarcasm in his words.
Anqiluo's face turned red, and then he said seriously, "Indeed, we were dazzled by the other party's evil deeds and slander at that time. His copy of the notice must have been distributed to you. How shameless can you fabricate something out of thin air?"
"So, you came to me because...?"
"Lord Earl, please make the decision for us. Please help us regain Bairdin! We... we have no place to stay now."
Then the room fell into silence.
Anqiluo just waited. Just as he was getting more and more irritable, Earl Kent asked, "So, what can I get?"
Naked and unabashed.
Anqiluo was immediately furious. In order to have a strong foreign aid, he had given so much money to the people in front of him. Now that he really needed help, the other party even asked for help.
But he did not dare to show any anger, and still said in a humble tone, "Kent-sama, I can't give you anything now."
Earl Kent shook his head. "I'm not talking about the present, but the future. What can you give me after you obtain the position of Lord Bairdin in the future?"
Anqiluo was shocked. "Sir, Mellon Garnard is still alive. I... I..."
"Humph, we don't need to hide it. Except for your careless young master, who do you think you can hide about Old Garnard? Now that the first step has been taken, how can there be any point in turning back?"
In just a moment, the other party's words made Anqiluo break into a cold sweat.
Earl Kent didn't urge him, just quietly waiting for his reply.
"Kent-sama..." Anqiluo finally said:
"If you can help me get the position of Lord Bairdin Territory, I will cede you a town's land."
There was no response.
Anqiluo gritted his teeth and continued to increase the price, "Two towns!"
After waiting awkwardly for a while, there was still no response as expected.
"A barony!"
After repeatedly raising prices to no avail, Anqiluo finally collapsed because the other party's appetite was too great.
But he couldn't give up. If he didn't grasp this straw, he would really have nothing. Before, I was looking for foreign aid targets everywhere, and only one person responded. Now it seems that I was really blind at that time.
He had no choice but to say the words that made his heart bleed, "Half Bairdin Territory soil, this is my final bottom line."
Earl Kent's fingers moved, tapping slowly on the armrest of the chair, as if he was considering what Anqiluo said.
Anqiluo Only then did he notice that the earl's nails were long and pointed, making people's scalp tingle just by looking at them.
He said bravely, "Your Majesty, if we cut it again, there will only be one Bairdin left, Butuya City."
"Okay! It's settled."
Earl Kent finally agreed, Anqiluo breathed a sigh of relief, and then felt extremely distressed.
"You go back first, I will let you know when I'm ready."
The count gave the order to expel guests, and Anqiluo had no choice but to obey. He stood up, bowed to the other party, and left the room slowly.
He knew that he couldn't be too impatient at this time.
From the moment he entered the room to the moment he left, the count's eyes never left the book, and he never glanced at him.
After the door was closed, Earl Kent finally closed the book and put it on the small square table aside.
Then, he picked up a water glass on the square table.
This is a water cup made of porcelain, very exquisite, with a lifelike rose drawn on it.
The count did not drink the water, but kept playing with the water glass in his hand. It was obvious that he liked this kind of vessel very much.
He looked at the water glass and said to himself, "Now, let me see which of you offers a higher price."