[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence":3,"chapter-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-343":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Warlord: Starting with Daily Intelligence",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2338806,4572,"Chapter 343: I Was Impolite!","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-343",343,"\u003Cp>“Thank you!” Catherine accepted the gift, amid Scarlett’s envious gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet her demeanor remained unchanged, offering only the faint words “thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liam had thought his gift might soften her attitude, at least sparking a glimmer of surprise in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he never expected to end up just like Dent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This shouldn’t be happening!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Scarlett’s expression made it clear the fire-tinder rabbit was still highly prized by noble ladies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what about that baronial upstart? Why hadn’t his expression changed at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is he an idiot?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doesn’t he realize we’ve just utterly overshadowed him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now it’s my turn!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, two more noble youths stepped forward, presenting their carefully prepared gifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One offered a delicate necklace adorned with a sapphire the size of a fingernail, worth seven or eight gold coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other presented a silver rose figurine, fist-sized, also worth seven or eight gold coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, both gifts were expensive—but still fell short of the earlier Water-Condensing Pearl and fire-tinder rabbit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since everyone’s finished, it’s my turn now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the Marquis’s eldest son, Maurice, finally rose to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His status was the highest among them all, making him the grand finale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he clapped his hands, his attendants brought forward an exquisite wooden box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they saw the box’s design, Gervas and Catherine both subtly froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Maurice noticed nothing amiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confidently, he opened the box himself—and revealed a circular iron disc before the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? This disc is strange—it’s made of iron, yet its surface is engraved with inscriptions!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cousin Doyle, are these magical inscriptions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, these are definitely magical inscriptions—not mere decorative patterns!” Doyle nodded firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Scarlett’s eyes grew even more puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though a woman, as a Duke’s descendant, she well understood the value of magical artifacts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When had magical inscriptions ever been etched onto iron?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t that a degradation of magic itself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, since the gift came from Maurice, she couldn’t voice her doubts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Maurice quickly gave her—and everyone—a reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ladies and gentlemen, this disc is indeed made of iron—but it is also a genuine magical artifact!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it really is a magical artifact!” The crowd burst into murmurs, eagerly awaiting Maurice’s further explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ladies and gentlemen, have any of you heard that, besides the telescope, another item has recently become famous in the capital?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? Maurice, we haven’t heard of it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All present were eastern border nobles, far from the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>News from the capital took considerable time to reach them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the single-lens telescope, only Scarlett and Doyle had informed them of its fame in the capital—yet the eastern border already had them for sale, so they knew it had gained renown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So none of you have heard of it? No need to worry—it’s been over a month since it appeared; I’m sure it will reach the eastern border soon!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And now, I’ll tell you: in the capital, alongside Miss Catherine’s single-lens telescope, this disc is also one of the objects nobles are clamoring for!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Its name? The Magic Fan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Magic Fan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maurice relished their curiosity—and was astonished to notice, for the first time, a flicker of interest in Catherine’s eyes, a faint gleam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had never happened before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly energized, he personally flipped the switch on the Magic Fan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strong wind blasted forth, leaving everyone stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, ladies and gentlemen, you’ve seen its effect! Of course, since it’s late autumn, you may not fully appreciate it yet!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But when summer heat arrives, imagine how delightful it would be to cool yourself with this breeze.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such a peculiar thing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! If this were used in summer, it would truly be wonderful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his description, everyone immediately imagined the relief of such a breeze in the sweltering heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the crowd’s approval—and the longing expressions on Scarlett and Doyle’s faces—Maurice knew he had succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, the Magic Fan originally cost only five gold coins each!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But due to its scarce production, the price has now been inflated to twenty gold coins—and even then, you can’t buy one!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fortunately, my father happened to be in the capital recently and spent twenty gold coins to purchase one!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And today, I’ve brought it here specifically to give to Miss Catherine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Maurice bowed gracefully and personally offered the box to Catherine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He expected her to take it with her own hands this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the gleam in her eyes had already revealed everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Catherine’s reaction caught him off guard—she leaned back slightly, creating distance, then had her servant accept the gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?” Maurice froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what was that gleam in your eyes just now, then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pfft!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, Gervas could no longer hold back his laughter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sudden outburst ignited Maurice completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Catherine’s actions had left him deeply humiliated and confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Gervas, what are you laughing at? Do you think my gift is worthless?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If so, then show us what better gift you have to offer!” Maurice glared sharply at Gervas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Scarlett, Doyle, and the others immediately sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fool would’ve escaped their scorn if he’d just kept quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his laugh had handed them the perfect opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, such rudeness left even Catherine unable to defend him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet just as everyone expected Gervas to panic and beg forgiveness for his laughter—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gervas smiled calmly and admitted, “Lord Maurice, I apologize. I truly shouldn’t have laughed at your gift’s low value.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After all, the other gifts were even worse—and I managed to hold back my laughter. That was my mistake and my impoliteness. I apologize to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good heavens! The crowd gasped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, the man actually stood up to apologize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… Lord Gervas, what do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this provocation, five noble youths all sprang to their feet in fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scarlett and Doyle stared at Gervas as if he were a madman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this man insane?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does he even know what he just said?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s provoked everyone’s wrath!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet facing their accusations, Gervas remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he had no personal servant with him, he gestured to Migen, who was temporarily serving as one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Migen swiftly withdrew—and moments later, several attendants entered the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>",1036,"2026-06-20T22:44:02.338Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","176aed0987b62d6ef034e249b8540e612f984355aaa820ca7277ff6259583d00","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-344","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-342",521,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-cover.jpg"]