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Count Howell stood quietly to one side, the flush of rage on his face had subsided as if he had finally calmed down.

Yet, the determination and resistance in his eyes remained undiminished.

Putting down his coffee cup, Count Evan turned his head to look into Count Howell’s eyes, and asked,

“Have you heard some rumours about the assassination of Marquis Vincent in Silver Moon City?”

Count Howell nodded and seemed to realize something. His face became extremely pale.

Seeing this, Count Evan sighed, knowing that the other side must have guessed, and said, “Yes, although the Northerners have blocked the news, we have confirmed an unfortunate fact—

My beloved brother, Marquis Vincent, has died in Silver Moon City.”

“Impossible!” Count Howell roared, becoming suddenly irate again. His eyes, red from the rush of blood, stared angrily at Count Evan, as if he wanted to choke him with his gaze.

Count Evan appeared unconcerned for his safety, his expression composed, even somewhat sad as he said,

“I too wish this news was false, but it’s the truth.

Colin Angler worried that this message would provoke retaliation from the Eastland, so he blocked the news and proposed severe ransom condition to deliberately delay time and wait for reinforcements from North Territory.

Unfortunately, with the sudden news of the Orcs’ advancement in Westland, the North Territory reinforcements may not make it to Silver Moon City.

So, Count Howell, this is also an opportunity for us, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for revenge!”

“Revenge?” Count Howell sneered disdainfully, “It seems to me that for you, this is an opportunity to eradicate the Howell family! Eliminate Marquis Vincent’s support base and take complete control of the Pegasus Navy. Heh, it’s quite a multi-pronged approach!”

Count Evan shook his head slowly and said, “Purge? No no no, almost all the nobles in the Eastland were once supporters of my brother. Should I bathe the Eastland in blood?

Count Howell, in my view, for your family this represents an opportunity to prove themselves once again.”

Seeing Count Howell still looking skeptical, Count Evan continued, “My father should have made a formal announcement, you may not have received the news yet – my engagement to Princess Lexie’s daughter Sallya has been terminated and instead, I have become engaged to Count Brugen’s daughter, Grace.”

Count Howell’s eyes noticeably contracted, but even before he could utter a word, Count Evan spoke again:

“This is Brugen family’s sincerity, and my stance – not to purge, but to accept my brother’s former supporters.

However, like the Brugen family, I must see the sincerity of these supporters in their change of stand.

Particularly you, Count Howell, I know your daughter married my brother, even bearing him a child.

Rest assured, I wouldn’t hold grudges against a child, nor would I consider Howell family as an enemy because of it.

But all this has a prerequisite—you, the Howell family, must prove your loyalty!”

Count Howell gave a bitter smile and retorted, “So we can only prove our loyalty by self-destruction?”

“How can it be self-destruction?” Count Evan said with surprise, “It’s just a few warships. As long as the Howell family, the nobility, and the territory still exist, a resurgence is only a matter of time.

Moreover, I can assure you solemnly, as long as you complete the task I assign in the upcoming ransom action, the position of commander of the Pegasus Navy will still be yours!”

“What task?”

“A tributary of the Crystal River leads directly to the Half-Elf Palace within Silver Moon City, but there are three sluice gates along the way…”

Count Howell’s expression shifted, he instantly responded: “Do you want me to use the warships to be delivered to the North Territory to destroy these three sluice gates?”

“Yes.”

Count Howell couldn’t help but scoff and shake his head, saying: “Count Evan, after all, you’ve never commanded a naval battle. You don’t fully understand how difficult it is to destroy those three sluice gates. Not even our six heavy battleships and those sailing warships we’re handing over this time, let alone if we bring in the entire Pegasus Navy, I’m afraid we wouldn’t be able to destroy the gates.”

However, Count Evan mysteriously smiled, turned to the desk, opened a wooden box on it and took out a palm-sized ceramic pot, confidently saying:

“What if we have this?”

Count Howell moved closer with a puzzled look, but when he saw the viscous liquid with a creepy green glow in the pot, his face changed dramatically, he bellowed:

“Wildfire?”

“Exactly.” Count Evan nodded. The faint green halo emanating from the ceramic pot cast a somewhat hideous glow on his handsome face. “This time, my father purchased three thousand jars of Wildfire from Yevir at a great cost. They will help you destroy the defenses of the Half-Elves on the Crystal River!”

“Three thousand jars!” Count Howell’s voice changed, “These things might also destroy my fleet… So, that’s your plan. In your eyes, the Howell family’s warships have long been ashes, right?”

Apparently a little impatient, Count Evan said coldly, “Count Howell, you don’t really plan to hand over those warships to the North Territory intact, do you?

Their fate has been sealed!

I just want them to take as many enemies with them to hell before they perish!”

Count Howell fell silent, after a while, he finally whispered, “Is this the price the Howell family must pay?”

“Yes. As long as this task is completed, I can assure you, the Howell family will still have a place in the future of the Eastland!”

Once again, Count Howell fell silent.

He pretty much understood Duke St. Prowse’s plan, which was to deliver a batch of Eastland warships to the outskirts of Silver Moon City along the Crystal River, under the pretext of negotiating the ransom for Marquis Vincent. The reason why the North Territory is still keeping Marquis Vincent’s death a secret is to wait for the warships of Eastland to arrive and then forcefully seize them, while handing over a corpse to the Eastland.

However, since Duke St. Prowse had already confirmed Marquis Vincent’s death, he intended to outsmart them by secretly filling the warships with Wildfire and breaking through the water defenses of Silver Moon City with mutual destruction.

In this way, the subsequent navy fleet could march straight in and invade the Half-Elf Palace.

However, Count Howell was clear that the task assigned to the Howell family by Duke St. Prowse was akin to a suicide attack with slim odds of survival.

After this battle, even if Eastland successfully captured Silver Moon City, the military power that the Howell family relied on would be destroyed, and Count Howell himself might even die in Silver Moon City.

If he could, Count Howell certainly wouldn’t accept this task.

Regrettably, Marquis Vincent was already dead.

The Howell family’s biggest backer had fallen.

The arrangements made by Duke St. Prowse obviously favored his second son, Count Evan.

If the Howell family defies orders this time, they certainly won’t escape the reckoning by the St. Prowse family.

Thinking of his family still in White Dew City, Count Howell heaved a sigh, and finally accepted the ceramic pot filled with Wildfire from Count Evan, saying in a deep voice:

“Alright, the Howell family, accepts the task!”