Not long afterward, the Thunder Duke received a report from Viscount Samat. It gave a detailed account of the situation in Keen Territory, with particular emphasis on the green dragon that occasionally patrolled the skies.
"I thought Tu'en Samat was a warrior capable of sharing his lord's burdens. Now it seems he is merely an ordinary man." After reading the report, the Thunder Duke displeasedly tossed it onto the table and said to the adviser beside him, "It was my mistake to place such high hopes on him."
"Alas, most nobles are like this!" The adviser let out a long sigh. "Even if it was agreed before he set out that he would spare no cost to provoke a conflict, giving Your Majesty an excuse to intervene directly in Keen Territory, once he became a lord, there were all the interests under his command, his own family, his reputation... There certainly are death-sworn men who would sacrifice everything, but hoping that a landed noble would be such a death-sworn man was never very realistic."
The Thunder Duke nodded, gathering up his gloomy mood. "Even a tough man who fought as fiercely as a wild boar on the Great Swamp battlefield will become smooth and vulgar after becoming a lord—or rather, even if he himself wants to hold to his old ways, his subordinates and subjects will force him to change. It is only natural. There is really nothing to regret."
"Yes. No matter what, his presence over there will at least put some pressure on Keen Territory. Perhaps we can find another opportunity to stir up trouble in the future—the nail has already been driven in. Sooner or later, it will serve its purpose."
The Thunder Duke smiled. "Exactly. Those who accomplish great things should never be impatient."
But then