Chapter 54: Unlucky William

"If someone were really pushing this behind the scenes, who do you think it would be?" asked Duke Harold casually.

"Father, I don't," Jason shook his head. In fact, after hearing about William's intelligence, he hadn't slept all night, pondering who could be behind pushing for war.

He mentally ran through all possible names but couldn't find anyone suspicious.

"Alright, no need to guess," Duke Harold smiled, taking out a precious cigar from a brown wooden box sourced from the south. He leisurely cut a smooth notch with a silver cutter.

After lighting the cigar with a match, Duke Harold didn't rush to put it to his lips. Instead, he held it in his hand, quietly feeling the bluish-gray smoke generated by the burning cigar dissipate in the air, and asked, "Why stop the war?"

"Because many, many people would die?" Jason said uncertainly, never having been on a real battlefield.

"Indeed, in war, there are always casualties, but you also need to see what you gain."

"Just as you and William said, the Bertritch Kingdom to the east, with a foolish monarch and corrupt officials, would have been annexed long ago if not for the Church of the Gods."

"If the kingdom gained control of the eastern seaport, what would that signify? Do you understand?" Duke Harold hinted at his exceptionally talented younger son.

"That would be beneficial for the kingdom's development, but..." Jason spoke with a hint of uncertainty.

"You've also seen that the kingdom needs war to seek change, some costs are bearable, and the Church of the Gods has changed its stance," Harold hinted.

"So, father, are we to just watch and even push for the outbreak of war?"

"Of course not."

Duke Harold stood up, walked to the window of the study, and slowly said, "Our Harold family is deeply trusted by His Majesty the King, do you know why?"

Without waiting for Jason's response, Duke Harold continued, "Because we always stand behind the king, obeying His Majesty's orders. Do you understand?"

"Yes, father," Jason replied.

Jason hesitated for a moment and asked softly, "So, His Majesty doesn't want to start a war?"

Duke Harold didn't answer directly but continued, "So, what His Majesty doesn't want to see, we must prevent."

"The question now is, how will they make His Majesty agree to start the war?"

Jason thought carefully but shook his head.

Duke Harold paced back and forth in the study, then looked up at Jason and said, "Since it was Viscount Cain who told you, ask him if there's any other news."

He paused, then smiled and added, "Also, express our gratitude and sincerity to the Cain family. After all, being informed of such confidential matters is quite interesting, my boy."

Jason shook his head. Every time he discussed serious matters with the old man, it gave him a headache, and explaining things clearly didn't tire him.

Looking at Nichole, who was rolling on the sofa with Mooney, the little moon leopard, in the living room, his temples started to ache again.

"Why did the wise King entrust me with taking care of the princess?"

The past six months had felt much more exhausting than before.

"Jason, Jason, what are you looking at?" Nichole on the sofa raised her head alertly, noticing Jason's strange gaze.

"Nothing, I just feel like Mooney is being bullied by you."

"Where did you see that! Mooney has always liked me."

Nichole tightly hugged Mooney, unaware of the exhausted expression on Mooney's face.

Elena wasn't home, so there was no escape from Nichole's clutches.

"Jason, what are we having for lunch? I'm hungry!"

"Alright, alright."

Jason reluctantly got up and went out to a nearby restaurant to buy lunch.

Thinking about having to get special food for Mooney as well, Jason couldn't help but sigh deeply.

I really don't want to be a nanny!

Meanwhile, at the Cain family mansion

William walked out of the basement with a calm expression and said to Welf and the others guarding outside, "It was just a thief trying to kidnap me. I've already taken care of him. Understand?"

"Understood, Master William."

Welf and the others quickly responded.

"Well, if anyone asks, that's what happened."

William nodded and lifted his foot to go upstairs.

Suddenly, William stepped on empty air, unable to maintain his balance, and slammed into the nearby hard wall.

"Master!"

Welf was shocked and quickly helped William up, but accidentally, with uncontrolled force, he heard a "crack" as William's right arm dislocated.

William's eye twitched, gasping for breath.

With a bump on his head and a dislocated arm, he couldn't even speak due to the pain.

Seeing this, Welf immediately stopped moving, full of question marks.

This shouldn't happen. As a golden warrior, how could he lose control of my strength?

Moreover, Master William has been training for a long time. How could he dislocate his arm just by being helped up?

In a daze for a few seconds, William, who was awakened by the pain, gestured with his uninjured left hand for Welf and the others to step back.

Holding his breath, pressing his dislocated arm, clenching his teeth, he exerted force.

"Crack!"

William, who had reset his dislocated arm, frowned, his face slightly pale. But even so, he dared not let Welf and the others help.

He had already realized what the problem was.

Looking at his status panel

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[Unlucky Status: Remaining Duration 70 hours 10 minutes]

---

Feeling uncomfortable, how was he going to get through the next three days?

William didn't expect the negative effect of the Lucky Brooch of Arcadia to come so quickly, almost suffocating him.

'What should I do? Now I'm a bit afraid to move!'

William had a headache, feeling danger everywhere around him, as if stairs would collapse as soon as he stepped on them, or the roof of the second floor would collapse as soon as he stepped on it.

He couldn't just stand here all the time. Who knows, a brick might fall on his head at any moment.

Feeling the fiery pain on his forehead, William held his breath deeply and tentatively walked up the stairs.

One step, two steps, three steps...

William dared not be careless with each step, focusing all his attention on controlling his body and observing the surrounding objects.

Welf and the others behind him watched William's strange movements, but what happened just now made them dare not ask, afraid of alarming the young master and causing trouble.

The staircase that usually takes one minute to climb took William a full ten minutes this time. He stopped every step to observe the surroundings, checking for loose bricks overhead and damaged stairs underfoot.

Finally reaching the hall, William breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as he was careful, he could still avoid unlucky things from happening!

Just as William was thinking about where to go and wait for the unlucky effect to end,

"Oh, Master! I made a fruit pie as you instructed, please try it!"

Maid Rosie saw William standing there and happily ran over with a hot fruit pie.

There seemed to be a puddle of water on the ground that hadn't been wiped dry. Rosie slipped, and the fruit pie in her hand flew directly out of her hands.

It flew towards William.

"Unlucky, unlucky, unlucky, unlucky!"

He heard voices roaring around him!

(End of this chapter)