Chapter 420: Decision 418_1
Alfalfa City.

In the garden behind the Holy Light Cathedral, there was a faint scent of black tea drifting in the air.

Count Evan sipped his tea lightly and asked Orlando who was sitting next to him:

“Mr. Orlando, how long have you been in Alfalfa City?”

Orlando, who has just taken over as the chairman of the Alfalfa Brotherly Society, sat respectfully at the side. Upon hearing this, he quickly replied:

“Count, I have been in Alfalfa for fifteen years.”

“Where are you originally from?”

“My hometown is in Silver Moon City, my lord.”

“Is that so? That’s a good place. How could you bear to leave a garden city and come to this hellhole of Alfalfa City?”

Orlando somewhat awkwardly replied, “Count, when I was young and ignorant, I stole something that shouldn’t have been stolen from a significant figure. That’s why I had to flee to Alfalfa City…”

Count Evan gave a small smile and put down his tea cup, not pressing on with the questions. Instead, he changed his train of thought and asked:

“So Mr. Orlando, what do you think is the biggest difference between Alfalfa City and Silver Moon City?”

“The difference…” Orlando was at a loss for words. The two cities were not directly comparable at all, and if there were differences, there were simply too many.

However, faced with Count Evan’s question, Orlando couldn’t not respond. He had to rapidly put his mind to work. After pondering for a moment, he chuckled nervously and said:

“Count, I think the biggest difference between Alfalf City and Silver Moon City is that Alfalfa City lacks a prestigious ruler.”

Orlando didn’t continue, but Count Evan undoubtedly understood the buttering up. The so-called prestigious ruler, of course, referred to the St. Prowse family.

Count Evan smiled noncommittally, then rose to his feet and took a leisurely stroll deeper into the garden.

Orlando quickly followed.

“I’ve toured around Alfalfa City and seen many areas that are dilapidated. The residents here are impoverished and riddled with swindlers, even murderers, and robbers lurk around every corner. This makes me very sad! Although this city doesn’t belong to Eastland, there are a lot of Easterners living here. I want them to have a more dignified life, and I hope this city is no longer a sore spot in this land.”

Count Evan’s words positioned him as the ruler of Alfalfa City.

Could it be that Count Evan took Orlando’s flattery earlier seriously?

One must know, Alfalfa City is still nominally the territory of the Half-Elf Kingdom.

A shiver went down Orlando’s spine as he suddenly realized — Could it be that Eastland was confident in gaining control of Alfalfa City?

He knew that Eastland was negotiating with Count Angler to redeem the territory of Marquis Vincent, but since he wasn’t Count Angler’s confidant, he did not know the specifics of its progress or plans.

However, there was no time to think further on this right now. Orlando quickly replied in an obsequious tone: “Count, rest assured, I will immediately convene the leaders of the Brotherly Society to jointly discuss a governing plan for you to review. Under your guidance, we will spare no effort in reviving this city!”

Count Evan nodded in satisfaction, gestured for Orlando to leave.

Orlando took the hint, bowed, and excused himself.

Count Evan stood alone in front of an osmanthus tree, breathing in its rich fragrance when he heard the sound of footsteps behind him.

Glancing back, he saw Viscount Fein hurriedly approaching.

Count Evan raised an eyebrow and asked suspiciously, “How come you’re back so soon?”

Viscount Fein said with a serious expression, “Count, there’s trouble in Westland. The orcs may be about to invade!”

Count Evan was obviously taken aback by this news. He was stunned for a moment before he asked, “Where did you get this information?”

“Prince Harrison told me himself, and he hopes that we can settle the dispute with Northland as soon as possible to present a united front.”

Count Evan pondered for a moment before asking, “During your mission to Silver Moon City, what was Colin Angler’s attitude?”

“When I first arrived, it was the beginning of the Hunting Festival’s Martial Arts Competition. As you had arranged, I had Knight Omar go and cause a disturbance. However, Northland unexpectedly launched Ennsfa Lute…”

“The former Duke Lute of the Half-Elf Kingdom?”

“Yes. It turns out he didn’t die, and he is still working diligently for Colin Angler. As a result, I was not able to gauge through this whether Colin dares to turn against Eastland.

However, at the post-festival banquet, I took the initiative to discuss the ransom with Colin. His response was obviously evasive and clearly intended to delay.”

Count Evan nodded and said, “Indeed, Colin is feeling insecure now.”

“So, this threat of the orcs, it can’t be a Northland conspiracy, can it?”

“Most probably not,” Count Evan shook his head, “Such a lie would be too easy to expose. However, I will write to my mother to verify this, just in case.

Also, I just received a message this morning that the Northern Golden Lion Legion suddenly stopped advancing at the border of the Half-Elf Kingdom. At first, I was wondering what they were up to. Now it seems that they must have received the news from Westland.”

Viscount Fein looked puzzled, “We still haven’t reached an agreement with Silver Moon City. Why would the Golden Lion Legion dare to stop marching?”

“It must be Marquis Garcia’s order.”

“Marquis Garcia?”

“Yes,” Count Evan said confidently, “If you carefully study Marquis Garcia’s past, you will understand. He is a staunch ‘expansionist’ and opposes any form of internal conflict among humans.

That’s why, when the former Duke St. Hilde was alive, the relationship between the two brothers was tense. Marquis Garcia’s development of the cavalry, and his constant intensification of conflicts with the trolls, was a deliberate move to exhaust all the resources of Northland in the north, so as not to let Duke St. Hilde think about marching eastward.

Therefore, as soon as this threat from the orcs emerged, Marquis Garcia will certainly be the first to prevent Colin Angler from moving the Golden Lion Legion eastward, and may even ask him to return to Northland with his Blood Knight Army immediately.”

Viscount Fein looked pleased and laughed, “So it seems that this issue with the orcs might turn out to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us!”

“Exactly!” Count Evan became excited and hurriedly asked, “Have you reached an agreement with Colin Angler yet?”

“Not yet. Colin Angler asked for three more heavy battleships on top of our bottom line! What do you say, isn’t he still trying to stall?”

“Agree to it!” Count Evan ordered without hesitation, “No matter what he thinks, we can’t miss this opportunity.”

Viscount Fein hesitated, “But Duke St. Prowse…”

“I’ll deal with my father. You go back to Silver Moon city immediately and sign the redemption agreement on behalf of the St. Prowse family with Colin Angler.

Be quick!

We must at least thoroughly eliminate the threat from Colin Angler before Emperor Reinhardt issues a war order!”

“Yes, my lord!”