Just as before, Qin Ran and the old Earl Aidale sat facing each other.
As for the atmosphere?
It was as silent as before.
Qin Ran sat there, waiting for the old Earl Aidale to reveal the Snake School's secret.
He had no intention of speaking first or urging the old earl on.
A full half minute later, the old earl finally raised his head and looked at Qin Ran.
"Before I tell you the Snake School's secret, can you honestly tell me whether you look down on James?"
The old earl's inexplicable question made Qin Ran frown.
It was not because the other man had guessed what he was thinking, but because Qin Ran was not used to such roundabout conversations.
Given Qin Ran's habitual caution, he would never look down on anyone.
That was true even of ordinary people, much less a king.
Qin Ran believed that anyone capable of becoming king was no simple person, even if that person had always appeared exceptionally cowardly.
But one must not forget that, before this, it had been this seemingly cowardly man who had kept Janie James and Earl Will of the south in check.
If James VIII truly were as cowardly as he appeared—
He would have been eliminated long ago!
Qin Ran had never doubted Janie James's ruthlessness.
Nor had he doubted Earl Will's ambition.
Still less did he doubt...
The Snake School's professionalism!
The Snake School remnants' earlier assassination attempt on James VIII had been filled with restraint.
It was the kind of restraint that wanted to get rid of someone as quickly as possible, yet feared what consequences a direct attack might bring.
Otherwise, a dagger or a crossbow bolt would have been far more useful than that painting.
Qin Ran did not believe they had