After ending the communication with Molten Iron King, Count Mills suddenly pushed open the oak window.
The dazzling afternoon sunlight outside the window poured into the study, causing him to squint his eyes subconsciously.
He took a few deep breaths of the air scented with garden roses, his chest heaving, trying to dispel the irritation and humiliation caused by the negotiation.
Slowly, his mind calmed down and he returned to his usual calmness.
"Perhaps... we should redeem Xia'er."
When his mood gradually calmed down and he reviewed the negotiation with Evil Dragon just now, a feeling of regret gripped him.
Count Mills realized that the decision he made at the last minute was influenced by emotions and was not rational.
Flower Knight has indeed become a useless person and has lost its former value.
But with the Albert Family's strong foundation, it is not difficult to take care of one more disabled person.
What's more important.
This move can serve as an excellent example for all other adventurers - look, if you work for the Albert Family, even if you unfortunately end up crippled and miserable, your family will be kind and responsible to the end, and will never abandon it.
Once such a reputation spreads, Albert Family will surely gain the gratitude and support of more adventurers, making those simple and passionate idiots more willing to sacrifice their lives for the family.
Putting aside the so-called old feelings and morality, purely from the perspective of family interests, redeeming Xia'er is obviously a better choice.
Nothing more.
In the long tug-of-war negotiation with the greedy, cunning, and outrageously calculating Red Iron Dragon.
Suffering from the humiliation of being repeatedly emphasized by the other party about the family's failure, forced to cede business lines, and pay astronomical compensation.
Mills Count's patience was worn away bit by bit, and the accumulated irritability was like hot lava, constantly impacting the bank of his reason.
Eventually.
The accumulated negative emotions completely overwhelmed his calm thinking, causing him to make a decision that lacked careful consideration and was just for a moment of emotional catharsis.
Of course, this decision is not without any consolation.
Give up Xia'er, at least you won't let the hateful Evil Dragon get his wish and take another gold coin from his hand!
Thinking of the disappointed or angry expression that the dragon might show, Count Mills felt a sense of joy in his heart, which made him feel a little relieved.
"Would you like to contact the other party Evil Dragon again, negotiate again, and redeem Xia'er?"
He hesitated and looked back at the crystal Communication Artifact on the table that had just fallen silent.
However, after only thinking for a few seconds, he shook his head slightly and gave up the idea.
"Forget it, after all, he is not an important person related to the overall situation."
"Redeeming him is just the icing on the cake for the family's reputation at best. Besides, if you change your mind and negotiate again at this moment, it is inevitable that the cunning Evil Dragon will seize the opportunity and blackmail you severely again."
The pride and dignity belonging to the nobility also made Count Mills unwilling to go back on his word easily and show weakness in front of his enemies.
Mills Count paced slowly in the thickly carpeted study.
The remaining annoyance in his eyes was gradually replaced by coldness.
Having suffered such a huge loss and caused the family to suffer unprecedented humiliation and loss, there is no way he, Mills·Albert, would just let it go.
Otherwise.
Albert Family's face will be completely wiped out in the aristocratic circle and he will become a laughing stock.
"The top priority is to ensure that the transaction with the Molten Iron Tribe goes smoothly, stabilize them, and first redeem the core backbones Rod and Sienna safely."
"As long as these pillars of the family are still there, the foundation will not be shaken."
After calming down, Count Mills's thinking was very clear.
"After this... comes the real moment of reckoning."
As for why we have to fight to the death with the Molten Iron Tribe who is far away in the wilderness and occupies a favorable position?
The reason couldn't be simpler.
First, the face of a noble is more important than gold.
Either swallow his anger, swallow the bitter pill of humiliation, and endure the endless ridicule and insults from other nobles.
Or use all your strength to fight to the end, wash away the shame with the blood of the enemy, and restore the majesty of the family.
The second reason is also more practical.
In this matter, Albert Family has invested a lot of resources, and the sunk cost is huge.
Only by completely defeating those dragons - whether dead or alive, those dragons themselves and their families can bring immeasurable value, which can make up for all the family's previous losses, and even gain more.
On the other side, Ser Wilderness.
"Evil Dragon successfully instigated the rebellion of the knight of justice, and the cunning noble whose hypocrisy was exposed will eventually die under the sword of the knight he once deceived."
"Such a story is much more interesting than those clichéd warrior battles Evil Dragon."
Garos's eyes were shining with joy, and he was whispering silently in his heart.
He even wondered with great interest whether he should write a separate chapter [Art of Manipulating People] in his Dragon Inheritance memory specifically to record this method.
Many times, the first sentence of communication, or even the other person's posture before speaking, is enough to reveal a person's character.
Mills Count is undoubtedly an extremely calm and calculating opponent.
From the tragic defeat when his entire army was wiped out, to the humiliating negotiation when he was forced to face a powerful enemy, he was able to quickly suppress his emotions and maintain calm and rational negotiation during the entire process. There was no useless threat of anger, no out-of-control Furious Roar... This kind of determination is definitely not comparable to that of ordinary nobles.
Because of this.
In this negotiation, Garos gave up his usual straightforward style.
He chose the most lengthy and tedious way, counting every gold coin, repeatedly emphasizing the failure and weakness of the Albert Family, like a dull knife cutting flesh, constantly wearing down Count Mills's patience, inducing his irritability, and ultimately causing him to lose his usual calm judgment.
In the end, things developed as Garos hoped.
Mills Count will pay a heavy price far beyond his imagination for the brief loss of calmness at the negotiating table.
When pure power cannot directly solve the problem, Garos can often show extraordinary wisdom that is completely different from its huge body and ferocious appearance.
Who would have thought.
How could this majestic and extremely ferocious Red Iron Dragon, which seemed like the embodiment of violence and destruction, be able to manipulate people's hearts so skillfully?
"Use kindness as a gorgeous cloak, and good deeds as a foundation for bluffing."
"This method is more deadly and difficult to defend against than the sharpest sword and the hottest Dragon Breath."
"I have seen clearly the true appearance behind Count Mills's hypocritical mask - he is greedy, hypocritical, and regards human life as trivial. He is just like Devil in human skin, and he deserves death!"
Flower Knight Xia'er on the side had cold eyes and seemed to have a slight sign of darkening.
He was ruthlessly abandoned and betrayed by the person he once respected, trusted and was willing to fight for, and the past kindness has been wiped out.
At this moment, all he had left in his mind was the decisive thought of exposing the count's hypocrisy and practicing true justice with the sword in his hand.
"Don't be impatient, the sword of revenge needs to wait for the most appropriate time to be unsheathed."
Garos calmed the murderous intention surging in the knight's heart.
He asked Flower Knight to stay calm and stay with Creekwood Town to recuperate.
The final liquidation will begin only after the transaction with the Albert Family is completely completed and Molten Iron Tribe successfully obtains the trade channel and all the ransom.
On this point, the ideas of Count Garos and Count Mills are surprisingly consistent.
A transaction is a transaction, and a settlement is a settlement.
The difference is.
No matter how Count Mills wants to retaliate against Garos in the future, it will be difficult to achieve it in the short term due to the terrifying power of the dragon and the unique location of Ser Wilderness.
However.
When a Boundary Walker Pathway who is proficient in the way of space has murderous intentions in his heart, the guard will become useless.
A pampered old earl has basically no room to resist in front of the knight's sharp sword.
Next.
Flower Knight Xia'er·Hines stayed with Creekwood Town, and under the care of Molten Iron Kin, he was quietly recovering from the scars on his body and mind.
Garos returned to the depths of Conifer Valley, continuing his uninterrupted training and practice day after day.
Time passed by silently like the never-ending wind above Ser Wilderness. Soon, more than a month passed quietly.
The Albert Family messenger stepped into the territory of Ser Wilderness as promised and arrived at Creekwood Town.
The messenger brought a formal legal cession document stamped with the heraldry seal of the Albert Family and certified by Federation Notary Office, as well as a magic reinforced box containing heavy war compensation and prisoner ransom.
Under the solemn witness of a priest from Scales Sanctum wearing a white robe, and under the lively gaze of many Creekwood Town residents, in the square in the center of the town, representatives of the Albert Family and Molten Iron Tribe completed the signing of the contract and handed over the captives and ransom.
There were no surprises or twists and turns during the entire process.
It is worth mentioning that Scales Sanctum is a transcendent organization that spans many kingdoms and even exists within a huge empire.
They believe in gods who govern the laws of fairness and justice.
The contract signed under the personal witness of a high-level priest of Scales Sanctum has a sacred binding force far beyond the ordinary Magic Contract. Any party who dares to violate the oath of the contract will face extremely severe and terrifying punishment under the gaze of the gods.
After successfully redeeming all captives.
The personnel of the Albert Family were always in high spirits and on alert throughout the process, and carefully and slowly exited the boundary of Ser Wilderness.
To their surprise, the return journey went extremely smoothly.
Only some blind wild beasts and low-level monsters launched sporadic attacks, but they were all easily killed by the guards.
Time passed day by day in a tense march.
This group of people finally set foot on the relatively safe land in the south without any danger.
Subsequently, under the escort of the response team sent by the family, after another journey, core figures such as Rune Knight Rod, Alchemist Sienna, and Warding Mage Sanchez were brought back to the depths of the heavily guarded manor of the Albert Family.
In the study at the core of the manor, they met Count Mills again.
"My Lord Count."
Rod, known as Albert Direwolf, was kneeling on one knee with his head drooped, showing an expression of shame and pain like a loyal dog.
"We failed to complete the task assigned by you, but instead caused the family to suffer huge shame and immeasurable losses."
"We. let you down."
Behind him, Sienna, Sanchez and others also lowered their proud heads.
"Get up, everyone, get up!"
Count Mills quickly stepped forward, bent down personally, and lifted up Rod who was kneeling on the ground, and gently patted the dust of the wilderness off his shoulders.
A smile as gentle as the warm spring sun appeared on his face, and his eyes were full of unpretentious distress and relief.
"It's not your fault."
The count said, "It was me who seriously underestimated Molten Iron Tribe and the real power hidden in that Red Iron Dragon. It was my mistake in decision-making that put you in danger and suffered so much."
He looked around at these scarred but still loyal subordinates with warm eyes.
"You have suffered."
"Now, your top priority is to return to your respective rooms, have a good rest, and recuperate in peace."
Mills count said seriously, "Don't think about useless self-blame, let alone revenge."
"Remember, only by recovering your health and strength as soon as possible can you serve your family better in the days to come!"
"The future of our family still needs you!"
More than half an hour later.
After finally appeasing the core members who had survived the disaster, Count Mills dragged his slightly tired body back to his study.
He closed the heavy carved wooden door with his backhand, cutting off the noise from the outside world.
He took a long breath, as if he wanted to expel all the turbid air in his chest, and then half-lyed down in the soft high-back seat with some fatigue, raised his fingers, and gently rubbed his swollen temples.
"Molten Iron Tribe, those damn dragons."
He looked at the complicated gilt decoration on the ceiling and whispered to himself.
"They are entrenched in the depths of Ser Wilderness and occupy an absolute advantage. If we send a large army to attack them in depth again, I am afraid that the result will only be the same."
Mills Count frowned and fell into deep thought.
"With the power that Albert Family can currently use, it will be too difficult to completely solve Molten Iron Tribe's serious problem."
"Is it time to use the precious favors accumulated by the marquis ancestors for the family?"
Thinking of this, Count Mills felt troubled and upset.