Chapter 287

Damn! Gervas, you damn well know it!

Earlier, I already felt this scene was familiar.

Now that I think about it, isn't this exactly the tone the Civil Officer of Silver Shield City used when he approached me during the Second Son Challenge?

He's making me take the blame, yet acts like I've struck it lucky.

Right now, the Second Prince wants to buy my Magic Fan and Monocular Telescope, offering only five hundred gold coins and ten percent profit.

And yet, he still acts as if I'm the one blessed by their charity.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to suppress the urge to just smash this bastard's face until even his own mother wouldn't recognize him.

"Lord Japas, I'm deeply grateful for the Second Prince's kindness, but my monocular telescope already has a partner!"

"Who?" Japas frowned. Had his subordinates been right—had the First Prince already moved first?

"The Violet Count Family!"

Japas's expression immediately softened. So it was just a mere count family.

"By the way, this Violet Count is the biological granddaughter of Duke Hernade!"

"The female count who was recently recognized by the Hernade family—the one everyone was talking about!" Gervas added helpfully.

Japas's softened expression darkened again.

Even if the partner were the First Prince, he could still pressure Gervas into compliance—at least force him to hand over the technology.

But if it's the Hernade family, that's a different matter.

These ducal families are still neutral for now; after all, such great houses won't suffer much even if they stay out of the princes' disputes.

So the Hernade family is one he absolutely cannot offend.

"What about the Magic Fan?"

"The Magic Fan is the product of a mysterious mage. I only hold the right to sell it; as for how it's made, you'll have to ask the mage himself!"

"Where is this mage?"

"Lord Japas, I already said he's a mysterious mage—I have no idea where he is, only that he lives in the Chaos Wastes!"

"Count Gervas, you're lying to me! If a mage truly came to you himself, why wouldn't he partner with a great noble instead of some minor border lord like you?"

Hearing this, Gervas instantly raised his estimation of Japas—he'd spotted the flaw at once.

But it didn't matter anymore; let him believe what he wanted!

"Lord Japas, everything I've said is true. But if you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do."

Japas's gaze sharpened—he clearly heard the implicit ultimatum in Gervas's words.

"Count Gervas, think carefully: you're just a border count, easily expendable. Being noticed by a noble like the Prince is your fortune!"

"And if you reject such goodwill, you'll make the noble displeased!"

"Lord Japas, I only wish to live peacefully as a minor lord. I have no interest in court affairs!"

"My businesses are small ventures—truly, no partnership is needed!" Gervas firmly declared his stance.

"Fine! Very fine! Count Gervas, you're certain you want to offend the Second Prince?"

Japas laughed bitterly—he never imagined a minor border lord would dare snub the Second Prince.

Right then, he tore off his mask entirely and dropped all pretense.

Seeing his reaction, the two Silver Knights with him immediately unleashed their aura of martial pressure.

Of course, Lei Meng and Mi Ke reacted just as swiftly, countering with their own pressure.

Mi Gen and Mai Ke outside also stepped into the hall at once.

In an instant, the entire hall grew heavy with tension.

Japas, who had been ready to explode, froze—he hadn't expected this minor count to have so many titled knights.

And two of them were Silver Knights.

Gervas, however, smiled and waved to Lei Meng and Mi Gen and the others.

"What are you all doing? Don't you know Lord Japas is our guest? Do you really think he'd harm me inside my own castle?"

"With the Kingdom's laws in place, even the Second Prince can't just attack a noble lord without cause!"

Japas gritted his teeth.

This was clearly meant for him.

His eyes flashed with malice. "Count Gervas, the Second Prince is a kind man—he wouldn't strike a noble without cause."

"But the Second Prince is not someone anyone can offend, especially not a minor lord like you."

"By the way, I heard that Count Parker was attacked by dark creatures the very night after his dispute with you. Isn't that rather coincidental?"

"When I return, should I have Iron Wolf City investigate again?"

Japas had naturally inquired about Gervas when passing through Iron Wolf City.

With his status as the Second Prince's envoy, plenty were eager to curry favor.

So he knew everything about Gervas.

Besides, the attack on Parker Castle had been officially closed, and confirmed to have no connection to Gervas.

But if someone had ulterior motives, it could always be reopened.

Gervas's face turned icy.

"Lord Japas, are you threatening me?"

Japas smiled.

Not only did he not fear Gervas's cold gaze—he felt he'd finally found a way to control him. "Count Gervas, I wouldn't call it a threat. I'm just reminding you: in the Second Prince's eyes, being noticed by a noble like you is your fortune!"

"Enough. I'll stay in Iron Wolf City for three days."

"So think carefully—come find me within those three days. Otherwise, if something irreversible happens later, don't blame me, Count Gervas."

With that, Japas stood up.

This time, Gervas did not escort him out—Old John saw him off at the door.

Japas had expected Gervas to call him back, to beg for mercy.

But Gervas didn't stop him. Still, Japas didn't care. "Let's go. We'll wait three days in Iron Wolf City! Ha!"

After all, he believed he had Gervas firmly in his grip.

What he didn't know was that he'd just walked straight into his own death.

"Gervas, what do we do? That shameless bastard is capable of doing exactly what he threatened!"

Wood had been standing outside the door all along, pretending to be a servant and eavesdropping.

As soon as Japas left, he stepped into the parlor.

As someone who'd fled the capital, he'd seen too many of the nobility's vile tricks.

Far dirtier, far more despicable than anything country lords could dream up.

"Originally, I just wanted to make some excuse to brush him off—I figured even if I offended him a little, the Second Prince in the capital wouldn't have time to deal with a minor border lord like me."

"But this Japas just had to go and dig his own grave!" Gervas's eyes flickered with killing intent.

"Gervas, you want to kill him? But his party has two Silver Knights, five or six Bronze Knights, and dozens of Knight Captains and full Knights!"

"That won't be easy. And if word leaks out…" Wood's face showed concern.

He had no objection to killing the bastard.

After all, these men weren't just after Gervas's money—they wanted Wood's too!

But the problem was, the bastard was hard to kill, and the risk was too high.

"Wood, I know. So we absolutely can't do it ourselves."

"Huh… but if not us, then who can help us?" Wood froze.