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Only Count Nicoll and Count Evan were inside the room; even Anna did not enter.

Count Nicoll personally poured a glass of hard liquor for Count Evan, chuckled, and said:

“Count Evan, there’s no fine wine in the camp, so please bear with this.”

“Haha, you might not know that to a real alcoholic, fine wine is great, but bad wine can also have its unique taste.” Count Evan took the wine cup, clinked it with Count Nicoll’s, and then drained it.

Count Nicoll put down his wine cup and asked, “Count Evan, since you’ve been in White Dew City for a while, why have you been hiding your tracks?”

Count Evan smiled and said, “Count Nicoll, let’s not waste time testing each other here, shall we? You must know why I have not dared to show myself publicly.”

Count Nicoll also laughed and praised, “I’ve long heard that you, Count Evan, are extraordinarily intelligent. Today I see that it is indeed true!”

However, Count Evan shook his head somewhat gloomily and sighed, “If this were the past, I might have accepted your praise with confidence, even feeling smug about it, but now, hehe, I’ve at last understood that compared to a real genius, I stand no chance, especially on the battlefield…”

“Count Evan, you really can’t blame yourself for that. The Eastern Army has grown too complacent over time. Compared to the Blood Knight Army, which fought their way out of the Sky Ice Plain, the strength gap is indeed large. No matter who is in command, the outcome would remain the same.”

Count Evan did not respond, but poured himself and Count Nicoll another glass of wine. The two seemed to be drowning their sorrows in drink.

But soon, Count Evan put down his wine cup, his expression growing serious as he said:

“Count Nicoll, do you know why I took the initiative to find you?”

Count Nicoll glanced at Count Evan and shook his head.

Count Evan immediately said in a deep voice: “Count Nicoll, I came to help you.”

“Oh?” Count Nicoll’s eyes were twinkling, he laughed, “Count Evan, why would I need your help?”

Instead of directly answering the question, Count Evan asked: “Count Nicoll, what promises did my mother make to you?”

Count Nicoll seemed unwilling to leak the agreement between him and the Duchess to Count Evan. Moreover, he thought he saw Count Evan’s real purpose, so the smile on his face gradually faded, saying:

“Count Evan, I think it is you who are trying to seek my help, isn’t it? But, pardon my frankness, your brother, in the current situation, is the most suitable successor to the Duke of the East.”

Count Evan sneered, “My brother? Or my three-year-old nephew?”

Count Nicoll’s expression remained unchanged, “Either of them will do, but definitely not you. Because the East needs the Howell family at this time.”

“I agree,” Count Evan honestly said, “And you misunderstood my intention. I did not come to persuade you to support my ascendance to the Duke’s position.”

“Oh?” Count Nicoll was surprised and puzzled, “Then why did you come to me?”

“I’ve told you, I came to help,” Count Evan smiled.

Count Nicoll stared at Count Evan in confusion, asking, “How can you help me?”

“Of course, to help you and the Nicoll family overcome the biggest predicament!” Count Evan said seriously.

Count Nicoll’s eyebrows furrowed tighter, “Count Evan, what is the biggest predicament of the Nicoll family?”

“Count Nicoll, don’t you know what the biggest predicament of your family is? As ‘outsiders’ and ‘traitors’, your Nicoll family has never been truly integrated into the East!

Do you really believe that by cooperating with my mother this time, she would return the favor and help solve this problem?”

Count Nicoll fell silent.

Because he knew that Count Evan was right.

The Nicoll Family’s badge is the “Mountain Huorong”, yes, the Huorong of Huorong City.

More than three hundred years ago, Huorong City was still a territory of the Nicoll Family, and the Huorong Army was the title of their private army.

At that time, the area north of Mount Althus was still the territory of the St. Sean Family, and the Nicoll Family were naturally their vassals.

So, when the St. Prowse Family defeated the St. Sean Family, the Nicoll Family became an awkward existence.

At that time, the Nicoll Family saw the unfavorable situation and decisively chose to surrender to the St. Prowse Family. To destabilize the morale of the St. Sean Family’s vassals, Duke St. Prowse chose to accept the loyalty of the Nicoll Family, showing his compassion.

But since the Nicoll Family was once a vassal of the St. Sean Family, they naturally could not fully gain the trust of the St. Prowse Family.

For instance, Huorong City, a pivotal military area, was given to the Brugen Family by Duke St. Prowse, and the Nicoll Family’s territory was shifted to south of Mount Althus.

The Nicoll Family was aware that the St. Prowse Family had always been vigilant of them, so they have been cautious and low-profile all these years, striving to eliminate Duke St Prowse’s prejudice towards the Nicoll Family.

Like the recent inheritance dispute between Marquis Vincent and Count Evan, most of the Eastern nobles chose sides, but the Nicoll Family remained mere observers.

Of course, this was indeed because Count Nicoll was profoundly cunning and understood the risks. However, more than that, it was because the Nicoll Family did not dare to express an opinion lightly, fearing they might arouse the suspicion of Duke St. Prowse.

At this time, being pointed out by Count Evan, Count Nicoll’s mind ran through countless thoughts, then after a long pause, he said solemnly:

“Count Evan, do you have a way to help the Nicoll Family escape this awkward situation?”

Count Evan smirking mysteriously, took out a delicate badge from his bosom.

The badge shaped like a Yuen Shield was engraved with the pattern of a roaring tiger, and was made of a material that reflected a splendid light under the sun.

Upon seeing this familiar badge, Count Nicoll was stunned, then incredulously looked at Count Evan and asked in a trembling tone:

“The…the Spotted Tiger? Count…Count Sir, where…where did you get this badge from?”

Count Evan smiled slightly and said, “Of course, it was given to me by Mr. Ji.”

“Mr. Ji?” While pleasantly surprised, Count Nicoll was also in disbelief, “Isn’t…Isn’t he already…dead at the hands of Prince Lexie?”

“You believe such rumours?” Count Evan countered, “If that were true, then why has Prince Lexie ended up like this? And who is he tracking down around the world?”

Count Nicoll, suppressing his excitement, asked in a deep voice, “What agreement have you reached with Mr. Ji?”

Count Evan smiled reservedly and said, “I will be marrying Mr. Ji’s daughter, and Mr. Ji, in turn, will help me take control of the East.”

“Daughter?” Count Nicoll looked puzzled, “But aren’t you already engaged to Grace of the Brugen Family?”

Count Evan smiled mysteriously, “You will understand eventually. So now, do you think I’m a better ally for the Nicoll Family than my mother?”

Count Nicoll kept his gaze fixed on the Spotted Tiger badge in Count Evan’s hand, and nodded, “Yes! If you have already reached an agreement with Mr. Ji, then the Nicoll Family would naturally be willing to follow in your footsteps!”

“Very well!” Count Evan chuckled in self-satisfaction, put the badge away, and said mysteriously,

“Count Nicoll, White Dew City will be particularly lively this evening, just wait and see!”