In the small courtyard outside the Earl's Mansion, Hant was reporting the latest information to Claire.
"Lord Claire, Count Vian has sent people to talk to us. Let us withdraw our troops. Everything else can be discussed."
"What else did you say?" Claire asked.
"He said he is willing to transfer Portland City to us, as long as we pay a certain amount of remuneration." After finishing speaking, Hant added, "The person he sent has also given the land deed to Portland City."
"Don't worry, let him continue to wait." Claire said lightly. If Count Vian is taken down now, it will still be a little conspicuous. What Claire wants is to be ready to annex the surrounding territories at once, so that the other nobles have no time to react.
In this case, after he has annexed the nearby territories, the other lords will not be able to do anything even if they react. Unless he seeks death and declares war with himself, in that case Claire wouldn't mind gaining another territory or colony.
"Understood, I will continue to delay." Hant nodded and continued: Then I will retreat first.
"Yeah." Claire nodded lightly.
As soon as Hant walked out of the gate of the yard, he saw Regan walking towards him with a man in ragged clothes, with a sallow face and a very poor mental outlook.
After Hant and Regan nodded to each other, Regan led the very down-and-out man straight into the Earl's Mansion.
Seeing this, Hant couldn't help but become curious. Who was that person just now? He obviously looked very depressed, but Lord Claire actually met him in person.
Not enough Hant was just curious and had no intention of exploring and answering his inner doubts. The more you know about many things, the better.
To give an inappropriate example, if a pig knows that it will be killed during the Chinese New Year, the meat quality of this pig will not be very good even during the Chinese New Year.
Still in the small pavilion outside the mansion, Claire was lying leisurely on his recliner, looking at the person in front of him.
He glanced at the piece of paper in his hand and muttered, "Austin* Carlyle, the eldest son of the previous generation Count Kairay, and the biological brother of this generation Count Kairay, because in Jue During the fight, he was framed by Count Kairay as the murderer of his father, so he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Noble Law court and has been detained in the dungeon of the kingdom until now. It must have been more than ten years now."
After finishing speaking, Claire threw the paper in his hand on the stone table aside and looked at the person in front of him with interest.
"Am I right?"
And Austin was also looking at the boy who was less than twenty years old in front of him. He thought that after entering the dungeon, he would stay there for the rest of his life until he died, but he did not expect that he would see the light of day again. While he was happy, he also knew that the reason why he was released on bail was because of the friendly-looking young man in front of him.
After a moment of silence, Austin nodded slowly, "Well, what you... said is... right."
Austin felt that his voice was a little unfamiliar when he said this sentence, and the short conversation he said was stumbling.
Yes, I haven't talked to anyone in my dungeon for many years.
When he thought of this, a wry smile appeared on Austin's face.
After a slight adjustment, Austin continued, "What do you want from me?" He didn't believe that the other party would rescue him from the dungeon for no reason. And he could also feel that this incident must be related to his damn brother.
Claire did not speak directly, but continued to ask, "You have been in the dungeon for so long and you don't want to come out?"
A trace of emotion flashed in Austin's eyes. Looking at the smiling Claire, the desire for freedom in his heart could not help but be revealed from his eyes.
Since this young man bailed himself out of the dungeon, he must be able to give himself freedom!
"I think! I think about getting out of the dungeon all the time!" Austin said firmly immediately, "As long as you let me come out, then I can do whatever you want me to do!"
Claire showed a smile again, stretched out his hand and pointed to the stone chair aside.
"Don't say it so generously, let's sit down and talk first."
Austin looked at the direction Claire was pointing and was slightly startled. He had been here for a few minutes before the other party allowed him to sit down. Do you think we can continue talking?
After Austin was in a daze for a while, he immediately sat down on the seat pointed by Claire. It would be great if it had value that could be used! If there is no value in being used, how can I have a chance to come out!
"What is your name, sir? What do you need me to do?" Austin asked quickly after sitting down.
"An... Claire." Claire almost subconsciously gave out his pseudonym. The other party's question was too similar to what traders would ask.
"I don't need you to do anything."
"Huh?" Austin was confused again. He thought he was fished out just to use it as a trump card against his younger brother. After all, he also had a lot of dirty information about his younger brother. If it comes out, it can also have a certain impact on Count Kairay. If it weren't for the fact that he was in the kingdom dungeon, his cruel brother would have sent people to kill him long ago.
This also made Austin a little confused. Why would the other party fish him out if he didn't need him?
"You don't need to do anything, but I will give you a big gift."
Austin asked subconsciously, "What gift?"
"Count Kairay's title, that thing that originally belonged to you, don't you want to go back?" Claire's tone at this time was like a demon tempting people to fall into hell.
Austin also showed a shocked expression, and the sound of breathing in and out could be clearly heard. The next second, he covered his heart again. Austin felt that his heart was about to jump out at this moment.
"What did you say?" Austin couldn't believe his ears.
"You also have the right to inherit the title Count Kairay, right? If your brother hadn't plotted against you at that time, you would have been the first heir."
Austin's memory seemed to go back to the moment eighteen years ago when he was accused by his biological brother as the murderer of his father. It was also from that moment that he realized that his previously well-behaved brother could actually show such a sinister smile. He was not bad to him at all. He also thought that after inheriting the title, he would find a good official position in the royal capital so that he could live a better life.
Sadness, greater than heartbreak, was the only feeling he felt at that time.
"I..." Austin became incoherent and didn't know what to say.
Finally, he choked out a sentence, "But I have been in prison for eighteen years, and I have lost my status as a noble." This is also the reason why he has no confidence. Losing his status as a noble means that he has lost his inheritance rights.
"Weren't you wronged?" Claire asked.
"Yes, but it has been so long. It is impossible to overturn the verdict..." Austin's tone became less confident.
"It's just a matter of words." Claire said lightly. Now Grand Judge is still Joseph, and Claire can still control the other party.
"?!" Austin stood up in shock, such arrogant words.
"After you go back to the dungeon, I will arrange for someone to help you reverse the case. Since he used the law to send you to jail, then use this method to fight back against him."
"Then Count Kairay, the real culprit in the case, goes to jail. You can take the position of your earl as you wish and become the new lord of Count Kairay. What about this proposal?" Claire arranged the future of Austin in a few words.
Austin nodded in astonishment, but still asked a little uneasily, "What happens next?"
He still understands that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
Now that he hasn't paid any price, how dare he eat the bread like this.
Portland City is Count Vian, the viscount of Harvey Lianli City, and the previous one has also been changed. Don't panic, it's not a big problem