Chapter 275: 275 Trust (Part 2)_1
Translator: 549690339
“Marquis Dawson, I hope my intrusion has not disturbed your rest?”
Upon entering, Marquis nam greeted him cheerfully.
Behind him was Count Anka.
Marquis Dawson replied with a composed smile, “Of course it hasn’t.”
After inviting the two n to sit down, Marquis Dawson ordered his personal guards to bring tea. Without haste, he quietly savored his tea, waiting for Marquis nam to elaborate on his visit.
It wasn’t long before Marquis nam took the initiative to speak. “Marquis Dawson, as you must know, Anka has just returned from Winterfell City.”
Marquis Dawson glanced at Count Anka, laughing lightly as he asked, “How did the mission go? Did the St. Hilde family agree to negotiate?”
“The attitude of the St. Hilde family was worse than we imagined!” Marquis nam sighed.
Count Anka tily interjected: “I found out that the St Hilde family has even learned of Mr. Ji’s death, which was completely unexpected to !
Moreover, this made the peace talks extrely difficult!”
Marquis nam’s face darkened as he coldly speculated, “It is likely soone from our end secretly passed on the ssage. Otherwise, the St. Hilde family could not have known about Mr. Ji’s death so quickly.”
Although Marquis Dawson berated his foolish son internally, he kept his composure, tactfully changing the topic:
“So, does the St. Hilde family refuse to negotiate?”
Marquis nam, oblivious to the traitor was the son of his ally before him, did not dwell on that issue and shook his head,
“No. The St. Hilde family is willing to negotiate. However, they put forth an extrely outrageous condition.”
Marquis Dawson’s heart skipped a beat, imdiately recalling the intelligence his son had recently brought back. He asked with a smile,
“What condition?”
Marquis nam stared intently into Marquis Dawson’s eyes and enunciated, “The St. Hilde family demands that I deliver you to them!”
The complexion of Marquis Dawson shifted and his gaze gradually hardened as he asked sternly, “So, Marquis nam, do you plan to accept this condition?”
Marquis nam continued to scrutinize Marquis Dawson, but did not respond imdiately.
Marquis Dawson, in turn, matched his gaze unflinchingly.
They were like two beasts eting on a narrow path, engaging in a silent face-off before a fight to the death.
The atmosphere in the tent gradually stagnated, the air almost becoming suffocating.
On the side, Count Anka beca restless, breaking out in cold sweat, confused by his father’s behavior —
Why deliberately provoke Marquis Dawson?
Especially in his own camp?
Was he not afraid of being hacked to death by the furious guards of the Dawson Family?
Just when Count Anka was about to crack, Marquis nam suddenly burst into laughter.
Following suit, Marquis Dawson imdiately joined in the laughter.
The stagnant air seed to flow again at this mont, as if everything before was rely an illusion.
Count Anka was a bit baffled, but relieved nonetheless.
“Marquis Dawson, do you believe I would accept such a condition?” Marquis nam asked casually.
Marquis Dawson’s face was all smiles, treating as if he was entertaining his most intimate friend. “Of course not! The friendship between the Dawson Family and the nam family has existed for a thousand years, and we are both vital in revitalizing the Dwarf clan!
“Why would we engage in fratricide?”
“Absolutely!” Marquis nam applauded, declaring loudly, “Viscount Angler is too naive if he thinks he can create discord between us with such a treaty!”
“Haha, since you are so candid, I will not beat around the bush either. I just received a letter from Archbishop Agani. Her letter attempts to warn that the nam family is planning to betray the Dawson Family.”
“Oh?” Marquis nam shifted his gaze, chuckling, “It seems that you have quite a good relationship with Archbishop Agani, she’s even feeding you inside info.”
Marquis Dawson waved his hand dismissively, “Well, I think this woman harbors ulterior motives; probably plotting how to use us in the Dawson family to her advantage.”
“Indeed!” Marquis nam nodded. “I dare not get too close to that bewitching priestess for fear of being manipulated by her. Your choice to keep your distance from her is indeed a wise decision!”
Count Anka finally reacted and imdiately flattered, “Indeed, humans are too cunning and sly. We dwarves should stay united and resist foreign enemies!”
Marquis nam nodded in approval of his son’s words, then caught a glimpse of the letter in Marquis Dawson’s hand, and asked, “Is this the letter from Archbishop Agani?”
“Yes, the contents are the sa old tricks, trying to deceive , but they are not quite there yet.” Marquis Dawson unabashedly handed the letter to Marquis nam, saying, “Would you like to read it?”
“Okay,” Marquis nam didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted it instantly.
But imdiately, his eyebrows furrowed; he asked, “How co there are so many changes on it?”
Marquis Dawson casually responded, “Ah, this was how the original letter looked when I received it. Perhaps the Archbishop had so trouble with her words.”
Marquis nam skeptically glanced at Marquis Dawson but said nothing further and continued to carefully read the contents of the letter.
After a while, he looked up, handed the letter back to Marquis Dawson, and said, “It seems the situation in Winterfell City may not be entirely stable.”
Marquis Dawson nodded, “Exactly, there must be people in Lion Roar Castle who are reluctant to see Vera succeed the Duke, moreover, the Uman clan, if Mr. Ji’s information is accurate, are blood feud with the Angler family.
The potential resistance within the city should not be underestimated. Perhaps, we can take advantage of it.”
Marquis nam stroked his chin thoughtfully, and after a mont, nodded, “That is indeed a viable approach, but how do we make contact with people inside the city?”
Marquis Dawson coughed embarrassedly, “I have a way of getting in touch with Archbishop Agani, however, I don’t think she is trustworthy.”
Marquis nam laughed dismissively, “There’s no need to trust her. Our relationship with the Church is one of mutual exploitation. You can pretend to agree to her demands for now and see what she has in store for you.”
Marquis Dawson seed intrigued, thought for a mont, and then nodded, “Alright, I can try to get in touch with those inside the city who are discontent with Vera and see if we can win them over.”
“Good! I’ll leave that to you!”
“You’re too kind!”
Marquis nam then stood up and bade Marquis Dawson goodbye.
The night outside the tent was deep, no moon could be seen in the sky, only scattered stars.
Marquis nam and his son walked silently until they reached their own camp before Marquis nam suddenly asked,
“Do you think Marquis Dawson was lying?”
“Er?” Count Anka was taken aback, “I suppose… not?”
“Heh,” Marquis nam sneered, “Did you see that letter? It’s full of corrections. Dawson claims it ca like that, but I suspect he intentionally modified the crucial information after receiving it!”
Count Anka thought for a mont, then nodded, “That’s certainly possible…”
Marquis nam continued, “And the handwriting on that letter, did you notice?”
Count Anka was embarrassed because he hadn’t paid attention to the handwriting.
“Doesn’t it feel familiar?” Marquis nam hinted.
Count Anka thought for a mont, then suddenly dug out the negotiation proposal from his chest, exclaiming, “The handwriting from the letter is the sa as the one on this proposal!”
Marquis nam nodded, then asked, “As I recall, you said this proposal was written on the spot by Viscount Angler?”
“Yes! I saw him writing it with my own eyes!” Count Anka finally realized, “So, the letter was not written by Agani to Marquis Dawson, but by Viscount Angler!”
“Yes, Marquis Dawson must have lied.” Marquis nam’s face was grim as he added, “And that’s not his first lie.”
“He withheld other things?” Count Anka asked, surprised.
“Do you rember his reaction when I told him soone in the camp leaked the news of Mr. Ji’s death to Winterfell City?”
Count Anka thought for a mont and was shocked, “He didn’t react but changed the subject!”
“Exactly,” Marquis nam sneered, “such an important matter as having a traitor in the camp, he shows no concern about it at all, don’t you find that odd?”
Count Anka imdiately interjected, “Unless, he was the one who arranged for the traitor!”
“Yes,” Marquis nam sighed, suddenly stopped walking.
He turned around to look in the direction of the Dawson family camp and murmured,
“Fran Dawson, how can I trust you?”
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