6kv Chapter 408 - 355: Returning to Black Stone Territory and Karachi’s Secret Envoy
Chapter 408 - 355: Returning to Black Stone Territory and Karachi’s Secret Envoy
"Yes, My Lord!"
Back in his room, Raylo took a refreshing bath and changed into a well-tailored black formal suit with silver trim, attire befitting his status as a Lord.
The weariness from his journey vanished, and he once again exuded the calm and composed air of a nobleman.
When he walked into the study, the fire in the hearth was blazing, and a rather tall stack of documents was already piled on his desk.
His steward, Alex, and his scribe, Evan, were already waiting by the side.
"My Lord."
Alex bowed.
"Tell me, what’s happened in the territory and its surroundings while I’ve been away?"
Raylo sat down in the main chair.
Alex took a step forward and began his report in a clear, organized manner.
"My Lord, first, the southern border. Aiden Duke has reached the southern frontier. According to the latest intelligence, there are constant skirmishes between the Scouts of both sides. The Duke seems to be actively seeking a decisive battle with the main force of the Lion Duchy."
Raylo raised an eyebrow slightly.
’It seems the Duke has adopted my suggestion.’
Alex paused, giving Raylo a moment to process the information before continuing.
"Second, the eastern border. Our old rival, the Fiery Sun Kingdom, has been restless lately."
The scribe, Evan, who was standing to the side, opened his notepad and interjected.
"An urgent military report from Lord Marquis Nu River, Luke. Over the past month, the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s border legions have repeatedly crossed the tacitly agreed-upon buffer zone, leading to several small-scale clashes with the Marquis’s patrol teams. Both sides have suffered casualties. Although the scale is small, the provocation is blatant."
Raylo fell into thought.
’A decisive battle to the south, and now friction in the east.’
The world never stopped turning just because someone was away.
While Raylo had been carving out a foothold in the Giant Dragon Realm, his rivals in the Human World had not been idle either.
"Anything else?"
His voice was calm.
Alex said.
"My Lord, there is one more thing."
"King Karachi’s secret envoy arrived in Black Stone City three days ago."
Raylo nodded.
"Go inform the envoy that I will see him in the drawing-room in one hour."
「An hour later.」
In the drawing-room of Black Stone Castle, flames danced quietly in the hearth, casting a warm glow on the thick red carpet.
The door to the drawing-room opened, and Alex led in a middle-aged man dressed in dark, plain traveling clothes.
The man was average in appearance and build, the sort who would never draw a second glance in a crowd.
"My Lord, the envoy of His Majesty Karachi has arrived."
Alex announced.
"Mm."
Raylo’s gaze shifted from the fireplace to the newcomer, and he gestured for him to sit.
The envoy dispensed with pleasantries. After a slight bow, he sat down in the chair opposite Raylo, his back ramrod straight.
"Lord Earl, I have come on the orders of His Majesty Karachi."
His voice was as unremarkable as his appearance, betraying no emotion.
Raylo raised a hand, motioning for him to continue.
"His Majesty has tasked me with relaying two matters."
The envoy said, getting straight to the point.
"First, regarding your Duchy’s war with the Lion Duchy. The Light Holy See has been pressuring His Majesty repeatedly. They even sent a personal letter from the Pope, demanding our kingdom dispatch troops immediately to intervene in the war between your Duchy and the Lion Duchy."
This news was within Raylo’s expectations; he just hadn’t thought the Holy See would act so quickly.
The envoy seemed to see through his thoughts and continued.
"His Majesty has resisted the pressure, using the excuses that his army has not yet completed its reorganization and that logistical supplies are difficult to procure, thereby shelving the matter for now. However, the Holy See’s stance is extremely firm. His Majesty says he can buy your Duchy a month at most. After one month, regardless of his own wishes, the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s army will be forced to act."
"One month."
Raylo repeated the words softly, as if weighing their significance.
’I have fatal leverage over Karachi. By giving this advance notice, he’s both offering a favor and laying the groundwork for his future military action against the Thunder Dragon Duchy.’
"I understand."
Raylo nodded.
The envoy inclined his body slightly.
"The second matter. As per your prior agreement with His Majesty, he has once again prepared a ’gift’ for you."
He deliberately emphasized the word "gift."
Raylo’s eyebrow twitched, his interest piqued.
"His Majesty has ’convinced’ a Knight Order of the Holy See stationed in the Fiery Sun Kingdom that there is suspicious activity in the Northern Territory of the Thunder Dragon Duchy."
A faint smile finally appeared on the envoy’s face.
"Therefore, a vanguard Scout force composed of three hundred Pegasus Knights will enter the Duchy’s territory from the edge of the Jade Swamp in three days to conduct ’reconnaissance’."
Raylo’s eyes sharpened abruptly.
’Three hundred Pegasus Knights, and from a Knight Order belonging to the Light Holy See, no less.’
"This Scout unit is well-equipped and well-trained, but they will be operating deep behind enemy lines, with no reinforcements, no supplies, and even... no follow-up contact plan."
The envoy spoke word by word, the Suggestion in his tone now completely undisguised.
"His Majesty says that this unit carelessly venturing too deep into the swamp and being completely wiped out would be a very reasonable explanation. And because of the unexpected loss of this Pegasus Knight unit, the Fiery Sun Kingdom will require more time for pre-war preparations before launching an attack on the Thunder Dragon Duchy."
After he finished speaking, a heavy silence fell over the drawing-room, broken only by the CRACKLE and POP of the firewood in the hearth.
This was no longer a Suggestion; it was an explicit offer.
’That little fox, Karachi. Killing three birds with one stone.’
’He’s paying his ransom, using my hand to eliminate the Holy See’s armed forces embedded in his country, and he can use it as an excuse to delay for even longer.’
’More importantly, he’s delivering a massive piece of war booty right to my doorstep.’
Three hundred Pegasi. Raylo could not refuse such a gift.
"Go and tell Karachi that I have received his gift."
Raylo nodded.
The envoy stood up.
"Since the message has been delivered, my task is complete."
Raylo rose to his feet.
"Alex, see our guest out for me."
The envoy bowed and took his leave, and Alex escorted him out of the drawing-room.
...
「Afternoon.」
Sunlight streamed through the study’s massive floor-to-ceiling windows, casting golden patches of light on the floor.
The faint scent of old scrolls and ink hung in the air.
"My Lord, the quantities you’re requesting are simply enormous." Business advisor Robert, a lean and capable middle-aged man, was frowning at the ledger.
Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, as if the numbers listed within were not figures, but mountains crushing the breath out of him.
"Eight hundred tons of Black Iron Ore, three hundred tons of Copper Ore, three hundred tons of Refined Iron Ingots, five hundred pounds of Mithril, two hundred pounds of Refined Gold..."
"My Lord, the quantities are too large. With the current channels available to our Black Stone Territory, we simply cannot gather so many raw materials in one or two months."
Robert’s voice was tinged with a sense of helplessness.
The foundation of Black Stone Territory was still too weak.
Just as the atmosphere in the study grew stagnant, the door was gently pushed open.
"What are you discussing that’s so serious?"
A gentle, pleasant voice broke the silence.
Avril walked in carrying a platter of sliced fruit. She wore a simple, light purple house dress, her long hair casually tied back. A faint smile graced her face, like the gentlest ray of afternoon sun.
Upon seeing her, Raylo’s tense expression unconsciously softened a great deal.
Robert quickly rose and bowed.
"My Lady."
"Please be seated, Mr. Robert."
Avril placed the fruit platter on the table, her gaze sweeping over the ledger that was giving Robert such a headache. "Have you run into some kind of problem?" she asked curiously.
Raylo pulled her down to sit beside him, casually picked up a slice of apple, and held it to her lips as he briefly explained the material shortage Black Stone Territory was facing.
After listening, Avril’s beautiful, wide eyes blinked, and she covered her mouth, letting out a light laugh.
"And here I was, thinking it was something serious."
She picked up the ledger, her slender fingers tracing the numbers, her tone belying the weight of the issue.
"So you were just worrying about such ’trivial matters’."
Robert opened his mouth, wanting to say that these were hardly trivial matters, but he immediately shut it when he remembered the Countess’s background.
"Leave the matter of these raw materials to me."
Avril closed the ledger and patted it gently.