Chapter 460: What

Title: Duke is still very reasonable.

Lei En deactivates the static force field, moves the warhammer pressing on Koste's head, and wears a smile.

Duke Dans, for the first time in his life, finds the word "reason" sounding so harsh; he has lived over two hundred years, served as Prime Minister of the Kingdom for several decades, controls vast territories, and as the Western Frontier Guardian, in Kangjiatuo he is second only to the ruler—when has he ever suffered such a humiliating disgrace?

He considers himself exceptionally wise, able to read hearts, easily manipulate power for his own gain, even looks down on King Mark, privately calling Mark a brainless brute.

Now he faces an even more unreasonable brute, full of schemes yet utterly useless, appearing so pale and feeble.

Duke Dans suppresses his anger, daring to be angry but not to speak.

He even offers a smile, a forced grin, saying, "Speaker, your reasoning is truly unique; it has broadened my horizons."

"You disagree?" Lei En retorts.

"I dare not," Duke Dans lowers his head again, fearing he cannot control his expression, provoking the brute to act.

Lei En cannot see his face, but his Soul Eye perceives his emotions, warning, "Whether you dare or not, obey or not, do not let me catch you being two‑faced or scheming behind my back, or I won't mind replacing you as Duke Dans."

Duke Dans feels a chill inside and loudly replies, "Speaker, the Dans family harbors no second thoughts."

He swears verbally, yet Lei En's Soul Eye sees his soul hue shift to red, then gradually darken, indicating growing hostility turning into hatred.

"To make me believe your loyalty is simple," Lei En suddenly says.

Duke Dans gets a bad premonition.

Sure enough, Lei En's next words leave him stunned, "You have half an hour to kill Mark's envoy, bring back his head, hang it on the gate outside Golden Fortress, and publicly declare the Dans family's allegiance to the Dragonborn."

Duke Dans hesitates briefly; doing so would cut off any retreat from cooperating with Mark.

"What are you hesitating about?"

Lei En's gaze turns dangerous.

Duke Dans glances at the still‑lying Koste, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes, "Speaker, I'll handle it immediately."

Saying that, he turns and leaves the hall, summoning two squads of Lionheart Knights to depart.

"Boorqi, you go with Title: Duke," Lei En's voice comes from behind, "If Title: Duke doesn't want to be dignified, you make him dignified."

"Yes, boss."

Duke Dans hears the reply, turns, and sees the awe‑inspiring Sun Knight catching up, never leaving his side. This mysterious transcendent, far stronger than himself, has a barbaric, odd appearance, a tall, muscular frame, and eyes with three concentric gold, red, and black irises that make anyone's scalp tingle.

"He doesn't seem as reckless as he appears..."

"How could a Legendary High-rank Wizard be brainless?"

Duke Dans gives Lei En a deep look, extinguishing the thought of secretly informing Mark's envoy to flee and the idea of finding someone to impersonate the envoy.

Such a trick cannot be hidden from the Sun Knight named Boorqi.

Lei En watches Duke Dans, under Boorqi's surveillance, lead people out of the castle; the hall now holds only Koste, Linna, Dinglaji—the three siblings—and himself. Outside, Lionheart Knights peek and whisper from every corner, yet none dare enter.

"Lord, thank you for sparing Koste," Dinglaji exhales, having thought Lei En truly intended to kill Koste.

Lei En gives a playful smile.

Dinglaji's heart jumps; he realizes he had overestimated Lei En.

He dares not speak further, pulls out a healing potion for Koste, and even spends a treasured Divine Technique scroll to save the near‑dead Koste.

A few minutes later, a hint of color returns to Koste's pallid face.

The Legendary High-rank Lionheart Knight possesses extremely strong self‑healing; he quickly stands, disregarding his wounds, and begins treating the barely‑alive Linna. The woman is drenched in blood, scarred all over, all caused by Dinglaji; the worst is a wound that pierces her abdomen. If Boorqi hadn't intercepted and casually released a few Holy Light Restoration spells on her, she would have been dead.

Dinglaji watches coldly, and soon Linna regains consciousness.

She leans in Koste's arms; her once‑radiant golden hair has been burned away by Shadow Flame, her face smeared with blood, pain coursing through her body causing spasms and tremors, no longer exuding the lofty arrogance she once had.

Linna's eyes land on Dinglaji, and she instinctively opens her mouth to scold.

"You..."

Then she sees Lei En, as if confronting the world's most terrifying Demon, too frightened to utter a full sentence, curling up trembling in Koste's arms.

Koste's mood is also complicated.

Linna's spoiled, bratty temper, nurtured since childhood, was untouchable by her father or herself; after marrying Mark and becoming queen, she grew even more overbearing, yet she is also very scheming—aside from the Dinglaji incident, she usually gauges her actions well, earning a third of respect from anyone who meets her.

Today she finally stepped on a steel plate and tasted a bloody lesson; she may now bear a psychological scar.

Koste feels immense pity, but he can see the reality, so he remains silent.

Only Dinglaji is delighted, even whistling.

In less than half an hour, Duke Dans returns, blood still staining him, a murderous aura on his face, and he reports meekly, "Speaker, the person is dead, the head is hung outside. I have issued a citywide proclamation announcing the Dans family's allegiance to the Dragonborn, mobilizing vassal armies to march against the usurper."

Lei En sees Boorqi nod in confirmation, then reveals a satisfied expression.

The Voice of All Things also hears the bustling talk inside and outside the castle, all about the Dans family's surrender to the Dragonborn.

"Well done," Lei En remarks approvingly.

It's clear Duke Dans still harbors hidden intentions, but he knows he has no choice; if he hesitates again, Lei En won't give another chance, so he acts without delay.

Duke Dans glances left and right, then says, "Speaker, I have something I wish to discuss with you alone."

Lei En's brows furrow.

Dinglaji strongly objects, warning, "Lord, beware his tricks; conspiracies always arise in dimly lit surroundings."

"My matters with the Speaker leave no room for you to interject," Duke Dans says calmly, then looks earnestly at Lei En, "Speaker, I swear in Heim's name that I will never harm your interests; on the contrary, this is very important to you."

Lei En stares at him, his Soul Eye indicating the words are relatively trustworthy.

"Dinglaji, you all go out first."

After a moment's thought, Lei En orders, "But don't go too far, Boorqi, take good care of Mr. Koste and Ms. Linna." He says to care for them, but actually treats the two as hostages, gripping Duke Dans's vital seven‑inch point.

Dinglaji dares not defy, reluctantly retreats to outside the hall.

Duke Dans produces a Soundproof Force Field scroll; after Lei En's appraisal and approval, he tears it open, isolating the hall's sounds.

"Speak, what is it?" Lei En asks.

He doesn't believe Duke Dans could have any comeback tricks; even a Legendary First‑rank Lionheart Knight could be crushed with a single hammer strike, and any conspiracy cannot evade the scrutiny of Truth Willpower and the Soul Eye.

The most crucial point is that Lei En has already figured out Duke Dans's temperament; he values his life and is not the ruthless type who would gamble his own life.

Duke Dans said, "Honorable Speaker, are you aware of the process by which Ma Er Ke usurped the throne?"

"I've heard of it."

"Then you should know what the Dans family did during the usurpation war," Duke Dans said, a look of regret and helplessness on his face. "King Xi Rui Ya was an outright tyrant, slaughtering the innocent, losing the people's support; every great clan was forced to rebel, and the king himself precipitated the downfall of the Zhuogeng Fortress dynasty."

"The Dans family was loyal to the Iron Throne and did not wish to rebel; initially they remained neutral."

"But no one expected Ma Er Ke to gain so much support, quickly reaching the gates of the capital Jinsilan; the Dans family had to make a choice, merely to protect themselves, not truly intending to betray the Dragonborn family." Duke Dans's face turned very sorrowful at this point.

Lei En remained expressionless.

His words sound nice, but he's just trying to whitewash himself.

If it hadn't been for Duke Dans deceiving the capital's gates back then, Jinsilan would not have fallen so easily; the Zhuogeng Fortress dynasty would have still had a sliver of hope, at least enough time to arrange the Dragonborn's escape instead of being besieged and slaughtered to extinction.

"What are you trying to say?" Lei En asked.

"I fear Her Majesty Ai Mi Li Si holds a deep misunderstanding of the Dans family; I hope you can persuade Her Majesty on behalf of me and my family, assuring that she will not hold us accountable for our actions during the war." Duke Dans appeared extremely sincere, but Lei En saw through him at a glance; it was certainly not the truth.

"Weizelan Wizards and Ai Mi Li Si are merely in an employment relationship; I cannot give you any guarantee."

Duke Dans's eyes lit up, "Honorable Sir, may I boldly ask, how much remuneration did Ai Mi Li Si pay you and the other Wizards?"

Lei En narrowed his eyes; this was actually what the other side truly wanted to ask.

"Why are you asking that?"

Duke Dans sensed a dangerous aura, uncomfortable as a needle prick, yet forced himself to speak slowly: "Honorable Sir, the Dans family's wealth is certainly not less than that of the Dragonborn; it is even greater."

Lei En stared at him without speaking.

Duke Dans mistakenly thought Lei En had been swayed, a faint smile curling his lips, "Given the Dans family's strength, both their army and reputation far exceed those of the Dragonborn, who have been annihilated for years; the resistance they face would be smaller. If the Weizelan Wizards help the Dans family ascend the throne, no matter how much the Dragonborn offer as reward, the Dans family would pay double."

After a long pause, Lei En finally asked, "Is the Dans family very wealthy?"

"Yes," Duke Dans nodded confidently.

"Buying hearts with money is an excellent tactic, always effective; I often use this move myself," Lei En suddenly laughed. "But there is a prerequisite: you must have the power to protect your own money. Lord Duke, I give you a saying: what's yours is mine, and what's mine remains mine."

"Before dawn, I want to see ten million golden dragons placed before me, or I will raze Golden Fortress." Lei En smiled, the bamboo pole he presented would be pointless if left untouched.

Duke Dans's face turned ashen, as if struck by a blunt blow.

(End of Chapter)