Marquis Henry turned around and found no one behind him.
The soft little hand that had been resting on his shoulder had vanished as well.
Penny's call from moments ago felt like a dream.
Yet his will had already changed.
Faced with Jonathan's dual intimidation, the fear and worry in his heart vanished without a trace.
He then fixed Jonathan in the projection with a sharp gaze and answered word by word.
"The storm is coming. I will protect the Lancaster Family!"
"Put away your contempt, Your Grace."
"Those born of the storm will never yield!"
The Lancaster family motto began with storms and ended with protection.
Legend had it that the Lancaster Family's ancestors came from the sea and had once crossed the dreadful Storm Ocean.
So when Penny proposed "selling" the great city and taking the entire family's forces away from the continent to seek colonies in the ocean, Marquis Henry had not objected.
In truth, the sea was where the Lancasters truly belonged.
The spirit of resistance of the saltfolk and ironfolk still flowed in their blood.
Influenced by the [Rose Mark], Marquis Henry's courage suddenly surged, and he no longer feared Jonathan.
On the surface, his answer was merely an imposing declaration.
But Jonathan heard the conviction hidden within it.
Such a reaction was undoubtedly beyond his expectations.
It was not the result of political maneuvering, but an accident!
Faced with Marquis Henry's sudden change in attitude, Jonathan hesitated for only a moment before changing his expression. The tension left his face, and he returned to his gentle demeanor.
"As expected of a descendant of the storm!"
"Since that is the case, why don't we discuss the terms?"
"What exactly do you want?"
"More fiefs? Money? Resources? Or talented people?"
"Henry, state your demands."
"I can