Amber Sword

Chapter 1159: Chapter 290: The Meeting (Part 2)

He frowned and thought to himself that You Xi intended to imply something. He couldn’t help but quietly glance at the other party, but found that the Marquis looked ashen-faced, not deliberately provoking him. Vitokin was taken aback for a moment, then relaxed; deep down, he looked down on the King’s brother and naturally wouldn’t suspect him of having such a scheme.

At this time, the youth beside Vitokin smiled: "Indeed, in terms of personal prowess, Erune might not find anyone more talented at this age. But noble politics has never been dictated by personal power, and the nobles in the North probably won’t hand over their interests just because of a genius. Even someone mighty like a Sword Saint can only show bravado on the battlefield."

"Is that so?" Marquis Youxi showed a look of disdain: "Saying that Erune can’t find anyone more talented than him might not necessarily be true. I heard Tonyger has produced a hero who stepped into the Golden Domain at merely twenty and also demonstrated extraordinary talent in military affairs. What does Your Excellency think?"

The youth’s face turned red, comparing him with a mere bandit was the utmost insult among nobles. If Count Vitokin hadn’t previously warned him about the other’s uninhibited speech, along with their vast difference in status, the Xifah Duke might not yet have struck the Royalists today, but an internal duel would have already played out.

Nevertheless, the young man was so angry that he couldn’t utter a word. He couldn’t retaliate against the King’s brother, but inwardly he resented Brand, who sparked this conversation. As for the ’hero’ from Tonyger mentioned by Marquis Youxi, he hadn’t yet debased himself to argue with a mere bandit, considering their fundamentally different statuses, not even belonging to the same world.

At this moment, Vitokin finally noticed something was amiss, couldn’t help but silently curse You Xi as one who ruins affairs. Yet he didn’t doubt it and quickly changed the topic: "Alright, Tonyger is Jandener’s concern, unrelated to us all, isn’t it?"

"Naturally." Marquis Youxi shrugged, "I was merely mentioning it in passing."

Vitokin Count finally couldn’t stand his flippant demeanor, gritted his teeth and bitterly said: "Alright, Marquis, you know well I came to speak on behalf of that big shot. Let’s get back to the point—you can’t fool that big shot with your Death Replacement arrangement; any sharp-eyed person can spot a flaw. Ou Fuwei’er and Macaro are shrewd fellows; aren’t you afraid they’ll uncover it and grow wary?"

"Wary, and then what?" Marquis Youxi chuckled: "I originally didn’t support this approach. I don’t think my lovely niece can stir up much trouble. If you directly have her abdicate, wouldn’t that solve the problem?"

"She hasn’t been crowned yet, what abdication? Besides, even if abdication were to happen, it concerns Haruz." Vitokin Count silently cursed this guy for his sharp tongue but still meekly reminded: "Do you want the people to remember us Erune Nobles yielding under Kruz people’s coercion?"

"And why not, isn’t that the truth?" Marquis Youxi smiled slightly: "Unless you think I care about that reputation, I actually want to drag you down with me; since you want the throne, naturally you must give something in return."

Vitokin Count was nearly infuriated: "You’re simply mad."

"What did you say?" Marquis Youxi’s expression cooled.

Only then did Vitokin recall the man before him was vindictive and quickly composed himself to reply: "Nothing, it’s...just too insane. If it leaves the populace with an impression that the Flame Temple and Kruz people can sway the Erune Nobles, it might be unfavorable for the Xifah family’s rule; at that time, Erune would merely exist in name. You should at least consider your nephew’s future, shouldn’t you?"

"And what does that have to do with me?" Marquis Youxi coldly sneered: "You want benefits yet hesitate to pay the costs? Let me and Anlek take the blame? Being a slut isn’t that easy. Frankly, though this morning’s plan had some surprises, I believe Anlek wasn’t surprised at all; with just eight Golden Rank individuals, do you really think they can detain Liwu and the Princess? You underestimate the Royal Family’s Strength; now you face only two paths: either use the Kruz people’s hand to coerce my niece into abdicating or return North to prepare for war."