Hearing Earl Corodo's righteous words, Wilt silently deactivated Spirit Vision.
If you were a good deal less greedy and spoke a little more righteously, I might actually believe you were a good uncle looking out for your comrade's descendant.
But now, I can see perfectly well that you're blinded by greed and only want to squeeze more profit out of that gold mine.
Still, that's fine too. People like him are more fun to scam, and when he discovers the truth, he'll contribute more to my Potion digestion.
Wilt hid the amusement in his eyes and put on an excited expression. "Really, Uncle Corodo? Are you really willing to help me?"
"Of course. How could I ever lie to you?" But Earl Corodo immediately changed tack.
"However, this matter really is rather tricky. George Negan, the governor of the Rorsted Archipelago, belongs to the Negan Family. The naval general who intervened is part of a faction backed by the Church of Storms in the Loen Kingdom, and the Negan Family has worshipped the Lord of Storms for generations."
"So your present predicament is a trap laid for you by the Negan Family, with the aim of swallowing up your gold mine."
"Duke Negan is the leader of the Conservative Party, and his younger brother is the current prime minister of the Loen Kingdom. The enormous interest group behind the Conservative Party is definitely involved..."
"Although I am an Earl and a member of the Conservative Party, my influence is mainly in Tingen. As for my influence in Backlund..."
"Alas!" Earl Corodo sighed and shook his head.
"Difficult. It's simply too difficult. I can't possibly change the situation on my own."
"Ah!" Wilt's face showed alarm. "Then is there nothing we can do? Am I supposed to stand by and watch these people take my gold mine for themselves?"
"No! This isn't fair!" Wilt's tone suddenly turned angry.
"I haven't done anything wrong. Everything I've done is legal, and every procedure was carried out according to the laws of the Loen Kingdom. Why should they seize my gold mine for no reason?"
"Is it just because they have high status and great power?"
"If that's the case, does the Loen Kingdom have any laws or fairness left?"
Seeing Wilt almost hysterical, Earl Corodo was delighted.
He had deliberately made the situation sound dire so he could better manipulate Wilt later. He wanted Wilt to believe he was helping and saving him, to feel deeply grateful to him, and to get more benefits from Wilt.
Seeing that the time was ripe, Earl Corodo put on a sad expression. "I'm angry about this too, but there's nothing I can do."
"For now, let's discuss your problem. I didn't sleep a wink last night, and at dawn I thought of a workable solution."
Didn't sleep a wink? Wilt looked at how energetic Earl Corodo was and was at a loss for words.
Why do I get the feeling you slept soundly last night? And even if you really didn't sleep, wouldn't that have been because you were excited?
Nevertheless, Wilt continued to play along with Earl Corodo. Like a drowning man clutching at a straw, he hurriedly asked, "Uncle Corodo, what solution did you think of?"
"Emperor Roselle put it well: the enemy of our enemy is our friend!"
"So we need to start with the Negan Family's enemies."
Wilt: "..."
Why are you everywhere, Old Huang!
A puzzled expression appeared on Wilt's face, and he spoke hesitantly. "The Negan Family's enemies..."
"Do you mean the New Party?"
"That's right." Earl Corodo smiled with satisfaction.
"What the Negan Family did was against the rules and illegal. They can do this to you because you can't resist them, but things are different in the eyes of the New Party."
"This matter could serve as evidence for the New Party to attack the Conservative Party, escalate the conflict, and put the Negan Family in the eye of the storm, landing them in serious trouble. Then your problem would naturally be resolved."
Wilt's face lit up at first, but then he asked in puzzlement, "Uncle Corodo, aren't you a member of the Conservative Party too? Wouldn't doing this cause you trouble?"
Corodo solemnly shook his head and said with righteous conviction, "Don't worry about me."
"To help you get back what belongs to you, I'm willing to betray the Conservative Party and be condemned by every Conservative Party member."
"Because you are the sole heir to the title of Baron Mirage, my one and only good brother!"
"This is what I should do as your elder!"
"Uncle Corodo..." Tears welled up in Wilt's eyes, and he looked deeply moved.
"Thank you for everything you've done for me! I'll definitely repay you someday!"
But what Wilt was thinking was, Hmph, how shameless. You're doing nothing but singing your own praises.
Of everyone I've met, no one can match you in this regard except Amon and His avatars.
But he's laid so much groundwork, talking about party conflict and sacrificing himself. If I'm not mistaken, is it time to get to the point and talk about benefits?
Just as the thought occurred to Wilt, he heard Earl Corodo say, "Wilt, there's no need to discuss the price I'm willing to pay for you, given our relationship."
"But the main issue now is those New Party members. Without enough benefits to persuade them, they won't go to war with the Conservative Party for no reason, because the Conservative Party's retaliation would also bring trouble and losses to the New Party."
Here it comes! A glint flashed in Wilt's eyes, and he hurriedly spoke.
"That's simple. I have a gold mine!"
"As long as they can help me, I'm willing to give them ninety percent of the profits!"
Earl Corodo looked surprised. He had thought Wilt would offer only half, or at most sixty or seventy percent of the profits. He hadn't expected Wilt to start with ninety percent. That really was beyond his expectations.
However, this is good for me, because I can make more from it.
A delighted, beaming smile appeared on Earl Corodo's face. "Excellent! With that kind of resolve, our chances of success are already close to seventy percent. Just to be safe, let's act immediately!"
"All right, Uncle Corodo. I'll have Lanevus come in right away."
"What do you want him to come in for?"
"We're going to act now, so shouldn't we set up a gold mining company and then have the New Party members buy shares?"
Earl Corodo shook his head. "That all comes later. First, I'll take you to meet the mayor of Tingen City and the New Party members. As long as they agree, setting up the gold mining company will be easy."
Then Earl Corodo called out, "Glaint!"
The butler came in at his call.
"Have someone make Wilt a suit that fits him. I'm taking him to a charity auction tonight!"