Chapitre 96: Taking Advantage
Translator: Cinder Translations
...
At 9 AM the next morning, Emerson once again arrived at the Lord's Manor, this time without deliberately making Paul wait for him.
"Hehe! Lord Grayman, you've set up quite a gathering," Emerson chuckled upon seeing the additional people in the room.
Of course, this didn't faze him. Emerson confidently took his seat from yesterday without waiting for Paul to speak, asking, "Lord Grayman, I trust you've had enough time overnight to consider?"
'Endure it Paul—' Paul silently advised himself.
Smiling, he nodded, "Sir Emerson, I have made my decision."
"For the sake of the friendship between the Kent family and the Grayman family, I have decided to accept your request regarding profit sharing. However, concerning the co-administration of Byerldine, I absolutely cannot agree. Otherwise, I would dishonor my late uncle, Ganard, and besides, the true lord of Byerldine is Malon Ganard."
"I cannot agree to your proposal regarding Byerldine," Malon interjected beside him, shaking his head.
"Oh..." Emerson looked somewhat disappointed as he shook his head.
"Lord Kent will be very disappointed," he added, staring at Paul motionlessly, and thus both sides confronted each other.
Finally, after much internal struggle, Paul compromised to his bottom line, "If the Kent family can abandon their demands on Byerldine, we can share more in terms of profit."
Then, he waited silently for Emerson's response.
Emerson continuously stroked his chin, seemingly pondering Paul's words. In truth, he had already made his decision, but he relished the feeling of "judging" the situation, watching the other side anxiously (in his view) awaiting his reply, feeling somehow that his words could determine their fate.
"Now, the entire room waits in suspense for my judgment," Emerson thought to himself.
What judgment should he render upon them?
Alas, Grayman, oh Grayman, if only you had come to greet me promptly the day before yesterday, I might have spared you now.
Unfortunately, alas, you committed the error of disrespecting me at that time and must be punished.
Intentionally waiting a while longer, Emerson finally put on a serious expression and spoke, "Paul Grayman."
"Since you have failed to make a satisfactory decision promptly to satisfy the Kent family, I, on behalf of the Earl, hereby make the following demands upon you."
"First, increase the profits to be shared with Earl Kent and Duke Fraule to one-third."
"Second, transfer the technology of papermaking and porcelain manufacturing to the Kent family."
"Third, immediately surrender half of Byerldine's territory to the Kent family."
"Fourth..."
A strange smile appeared on Emerson's initially serious face:
"... Swear allegiance to Maltz Kent, the rightful heir, in the most legal and appropriate manner."
After stating these four demands he added himself, Emerson's excitement could no longer be suppressed:
Hmph! Kneel and beg for mercy, for this is the punishment for your disrespect toward me.
Paul Grayman, as a weakling, dared not to come to see me immediately. Who does he think he is, just a nominal earl without even a knight under his command?
But if he could please me, perhaps I might spare him. Of course, perhaps.
Although excited inside, Emerson maintained a calm demeanor with a slight smile on his face. He casually picked up a glass of water and took a sip.
Paul, by now, was stunned. He was completely shocked by the other party's greed.
Others in the reception room also wore expressions of disbelief, unable to react.
Suddenly, Paul felt someone tug at his sleeve. When he snapped back to reality and turned to look, he was surprised to see Steward Ford pulling him.
Old Ford extended his right hand with fingers spread in a chopping motion.
The message was clear: My lord, let the battle commence!
The demands were outrageous, exceeding what Alden could bear. If agreed upon, the Grayman family would have no foothold left in the northwest.
There are certain things on a spiritual level that cannot be abandoned. Clearly, it was time to fight.
Seeing even Steward Ford, the staunchest advocate for peace, seeking battle, Paul quickly made his decision in his heart.
He straightened himself up and asked Emerson with a smile, "Sir Emerson, may I ask if you have full authority to represent Earl Kent?"
Emerson, who was waiting for Paul to plead with him, hesitated slightly but then sternly replied, "Certainly, Lord Kent has instructed me to handle negotiations with you."
Paul continued, "Were the conditions you just proposed personally requested by Lord Kent?"
Emerson was slightly annoyed, "What do you mean, Lord Grayman? As I just mentioned, Lord Kent has entrusted me with full authority to negotiate with you. I do not wish to repeat myself."
Alright, Paul didn't want to continue pressing the issue. Whether Maltz Kent himself requested these four terms or whether this envoy named Emerson was overstepping his bounds, it didn't matter now. The situation had escalated to a point of no return.
Crossing his arms on the table, determination etched on his face, Paul suddenly made Emerson uncomfortable with this new posture and expression.
Could this young lord dare to refuse the conditions I proposed? Haha, impossible.
Confidence returned to his face. This time, he demanded far more than expected on behalf of Earl Kent, and this elder would surely reward him handsomely.
However, what Paul said next caught him off guard.
"Sir Emerson, considering the Kent family's audacious and unreasonable demands, I find this to be a grave insult to the Grayman family."
"Therefore, anyone related to the Kent family will no longer be welcome in Alden and Byerldine. Upon discovery, they will be immediately expelled."
"Now..."
Paul suddenly paused, staring intently at the face across from him that he found utterly repugnant, and said each word distinctly:
"You... can... leave!"
Emerson's smile froze on his face.
What? Did I hear correctly? Did this young lord, who can't even muster a single knight under his command, just tell me to leave? Ridiculous.
He asked in confusion, "Count Grayman, what did you just say?"
Paul replied curtly, "I said, 'Leave.' Are your ears clogged with dung or is your brain too waterlogged to understand someone else's words?"
Alright, this time Emerson understood clearly. This young lord, who can't even muster a single knight, really told him to leave, told him, a noble of the capital, to leave, told him, an envoy of the Kent family, to leave.
Absurd! Utterly absurd!
Emerson stood there, unsure of what to do next.
"Leave!"
Bryce suddenly shouted at him.
"Leave!"
"Leave!"
Others in the reception room began angrily repeating the same words.
Emerson suddenly felt a bit scared. He struggled to control this feeling, pointing his finger at Paul and the others.
"You, you, and you, just wait. You all just wait!"
Seeing him so arrogant, Bryce drew his sword and pointed it at Emerson, shouting again, "Leave!"
The intimidating gleam of the sword shone on Emerson's face. He shivered but quickly regained his arrogant expression.
"Hmph!"
He snorted heavily, straightened his clothes in front of Bryce's sword, then turned and walked out.
...
Emerson returned to the inn without stopping, calling his servants and riding his horse out of Alden Town.
"Just wait! Just wait for the knightly army of the Kent family to crush you ignorant fools!"
He cursed inwardly.
But first, he had to figure out how to face his Uncle Kent. If it weren't for him overstepping and proposing those four new demands, Paul Grayman would have almost agreed to the previous conditions...
(End of the Chapter)
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone