Volume 2: Empire Chapter 89: Betrayal
The Jackal Howl signed the Western Region Logistics Establishment Agreement and the Western Region Trade Route Development Plan, and the Western Region Commercial Development Project led by Luke was officially launched.
According to the agreement and plan, Screaming Howl was responsible for persuading the Sand Bandits to change their careers and use the information they had to actively engage in the material distribution industry in the Western Territory. Luke was responsible for the Sand Bandits' laundering process. As long as they ran business honestly, all the crimes they committed could be written off.
If someone still wants to have a dual identity, the Empire may not be able to do anything about it, but the Moonlight Court will definitely have a way to make it impossible for him to survive in the Western Territory.
The carrot and stick tactics made the Jackal Howl very cooperative. He even took the initiative to hand over a part of the list of sand bandits and safe routes, which not only proved his loyalty but also got the first investment from the Nutao City.
The matter was settled, and Luke threw a thick stack of gold coupons to Howl.
"These are the start-up funds for the Westbound Logistics Company. If you are willing to make money with me, we will be the veterans of the Westbound Logistics Company. If you are not willing to make money with me, I will not force you. I will give you some money and let you make a living on your own.
Just don’t fall into my hands in the future.”
Scream Howl took the gold vouchers in his hand and weighed them, estimating that there were two or three hundred gold vouchers.
Such a grand gesture made Scream even more certain that his choice to follow Governor Meteorite was correct.
He stood up and saluted Luke respectfully: "Please rest assured, Governor. I can't guarantee that there will be no more sand bandits in the Western Territory in the future, but I can guarantee that there will be no more sand bandits that can become powerful. Your trade route is absolutely safe, and your investment will definitely pay off."
"Of course I believe that my investment will pay off, otherwise I wouldn't have come to you." Luke stood up and straightened his clothes, then said to Scream, "Let's end our meeting here today! I have important things to deal with in the next few days. Don't come to me unless it's urgent.
Once everything is done, I will discuss with you in detail how the Westbound Logistics Company should operate."
Howl immediately accompanied Luke out and asked tentatively, "What urgent matter is there, Governor? We still have some power in Sun City. If you give me some time, I can provide the Governor with several hundred elite warriors."
Luke saw through Scream's little thoughts, he chuckled and said: "From now on you will be a regular businessman, a businessman should behave like a businessman. What are you doing gathering hundreds of warriors to come to Sun City?
Rebellion?
Shockingly, he apologized immediately, "I'm sorry, Governor! I'm a little uncomfortable with the sudden change of identity. I just mean well."
"No matter what you think, don't get involved in national-level struggles. You can't afford it with your limited assets.
With this time and energy, just do what you should do clearly! "
Luke pounded and screamed.
Since we have taken the knives from these bandits, we cannot give them the opportunity to touch the knives again, and we must also stop them from wanting to touch the knives. Otherwise, once we open our mouths, it will be difficult to control these vicious criminals.
Westbound Logistics Company can use force, but the use of force must be strictly controlled within the necessary scope.
Howl understood what Luke said and knew that the lawless sand bandits were really going to become a thing of the past in the West.
"As you command, Governor."
Luke left Slave Corner and returned to the Central Lake Castle of Sunny Manor. As soon as he walked through the gate, he was told that Her Royal Highness the Princess had summoned him.
Luke followed the princess's personal attendant to Agatha's bedroom. Agatha was standing on the terrace looking at the scenery outside. She was wearing a bright white dress, but there was a look of worry in her eyes.
The female official reported: "Your Highness, the Governor of Meteorite is here."
Agatha turned her back and waved her hand to let the maid leave. The maid went out and closed the door.
Luke walked to the terrace and looked outside before asking, "What are you looking at, Your Highness?"
"I'm looking at the castle's defenses. I wonder if we can hold out until help arrives in the face of a siege."
Luke couldn't help but laugh. "Since we entered Sun City, we have been harmless and focused on shopping. Who would attack us? Did you spend the money you gave me and have nothing to do? Are you here daydreaming?"
Agatha turned her head and stared at Luke with sharp eyes. She said in a dissatisfied tone, "Don't think I'm stupid. I admit that I didn't know why you asked me to go shopping like crazy at first, but the rising prices in the Sun City market in the past few days made me understand your plan.
Raise the prices of goods during the Harvest Festival and increase the cost for the Western Territory lords to maintain the operation of their territories.
Very beautiful plan!
But have you ever thought about how we can leave here? Do you think the nobles of the West will let us go? The great nobles of the West are all here, and the Celtic envoys are also here. If you do this, not only will we die here, but you will also completely push the West to the Celtic side.
You have done very well in both Raging Waves City and Saint Lun City, but you don’t know the Western Territory. You should have told me your plan in advance!"
At this moment, Agatha could hardly control her emotions. She felt that she had trusted Meteorite too much, and Meteorite's previous performance had made her lose her judgment.
Now that the Harvest Festival is about to be held, the prices in Sun City have been raised. This is like stabbing a knife into the aorta of the nobles in the Western Territory to bleed them. These nobles who are on the edge of the empire's rule will definitely not sit idly by and wait for death.
Agatha took a step towards Luke oppressively, resisting the urge to press him against the wall and beat him up.
Facing Agatha, who was obviously furious but still controlled her emotions, Luke felt it was time to explain to her what he had done.
And some things also require the endorsement of the Empire's Princess.
But before Luke could explain, the lady-in-waiting pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing Agatha and Luke face to face and so close to each other, she immediately shifted her gaze to the side.
"Your Highness, Governor General, Count Urd has arrived. He requests an audience with Governor General Meteorite..."
Agatha realized that she had lost her composure at this moment. She immediately took a step back and then noticed the words used by the lady-in-waiting.
"Earl Urd said that he requested an audience with the Governor of Meteorite. Are you sure he used the words 'request' and 'audience'?"
Earl of Urd is an earl, and Falling Star is a viscount.
Count Urd is the lord of the Solar Oasis, and Meteor is the governor of Raging Waves City.
Earl Urd is higher than Yunxing in both title and position. Why would he use this kind of honorific term "lower" to "superior" when he came to see Yunxing?
You should say this to me when you come to see me.
The female official confirmed: "Earl Urd did say so. He is waiting for the response from Governor Meteorite in the living room on the second floor."
There must be a story behind this.
Agatha looked at Luke and asked with a puzzled look: "Why did he come to you?"
Luke knew that Count Urd must have understood the information he had revealed to him.
Guessing the purpose of Urd's visit, Luke said to Agatha: "Since Earl Urd is here to seize the window of opportunity, Your Highness, please come with me to meet him. By the way, I can explain to Your Highness what I have done these days.
Don't worry! No one is besieging us."
After saying that, Luke walked out the door and asked the lady-in-waiting to lead the way to see Count Urd.
Agatha looked at Luke's back and couldn't help but smile self-deprecatingly: "It seems that you are still the guy who can create miracles. I wonder what kind of surprise you can bring me this time."
Agatha strode after him.
Count Urd, who was waiting in the living room on the second floor of the castle, was very restless. Although this was his castle, he did not feel at home at all.
I just made a difficult decision, a decision that would affect the future of the Urd family. This window of opportunity was fleeting, and I couldn't afford to waste time thinking and weighing the pros and cons.
Without letting Count Urd wait too long, Luke pushed the door open and walked in first.
"Governor..." Earl Urd immediately stood up and saluted Luke. When he saw Agatha coming in, he saluted Agatha again: "Good morning, Princess Royal, and good morning, Governor."
"Good morning, Lord Earl. Please take a seat!" Luke asked Earl Urd to sit down, and he and Agatha also sat down. Then he asked, "Is the Duke of Celtic's envoy here with you?"
Agatha couldn't help but look at Luke who was sitting next to her, wondering if she could just ask this question directly?
But who would have thought that Earl Urd would answer: "Yes, Earl Celtic's envoy does live in Sunny Manor. The Governor should know this envoy. His name is Erguya, and he has been to Raging Waves City."
“That barbarian Erguya?” Luke didn’t expect that the Celtic envoy was an acquaintance. He said to Count Urd, “Although I have never met him, I know that the Duke of Celtic relies on him very much.
Has he met with you powerful nobles in the Western Territory?"
Earl Urd replied, "This morning in the basement of the Quiet Courtyard on the southeast side of the manor, I held a meeting with the main nobles of the Western Territory, and Erguya participated in the whole meeting."
"What did you talk about?"
This time Urd was a little hesitant, and beads of sweat kept coming out of his forehead.
Luke knew what Urd was worried about, so he comforted him: "Her Royal Highness the Princess is also here this time. This is your chance, and your only chance.
I'll say what I want to say. The Urd family will still be a prominent family in the West in the future, and its status may even be higher than it is now. If you can't seize the opportunity I give you... it would be a waste of my sincere efforts to help you."
Although Agatha didn't know what Luke had done to Earl Urd to make him a spy of the Western nobles, she knew what she should do now.
Agatha showed the aura of the eldest princess of the empire and said to Earl Urd: "No matter what you are discussing, it is still at the stage of discussion. The empire will not punish its friends who have been guarding the border for the empire for something that has not happened.
Of course, we will not let down those who have made contributions to the empire.
The fact that you're here means you know you have no chance of winning, so do what smart people do."
Things have come to this point, Earl Urd has no choice but to take the risk.
"During this meeting, the nobles of the Western Territory reached an alliance and jointly sent troops to attack the Crescent Oasis after the Harvest Festival. At the same time, the nobles of the Western Territory will jointly call on all members of the Blade Brotherhood to... rebel..."
After saying this, Earl Urd couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. After taking this step, he no longer had any other thoughts.
Luke had expected the decision of the Western nobles, and the timing was just right, forcing Urd to his side.
Now that Count Urd has turned against them, Sun City has become their home ground.
What remains is to catch the turtle in the jar and beat the dog behind closed doors.
Luke asked Count Urd again: "You...no, when will they decide to take action against me and His Highness?"
"Tonight!"
This is also the reason why Earl Urd couldn't wait to come and surrender. If he cannot extricate himself from this incident after tonight, he and the nobles of the Western Territory will be sandwiched between the Moonlight Court and the Golden Shield Empire.
Now Urd no longer cared about how the empire would deal with him in the future. By saving the empire's eldest princess, at least his family would not end up destroyed.
Luke didn't expect that this group of Western nobles would be so anxious. They had a meeting in the morning, and they couldn't wait to kill him and Agatha in the evening. It was estimated that Erguya had contributed a lot to it. After all, he could only feel at ease if the rebellion of the Western nobles became a reality as soon as possible.
But since Count Urd has surrendered, it doesn't matter when they take action.
Luke glanced at Agatha and knew that although she looked calm, she must be confused in her heart. There was no point in expecting the princess to make a decision. Luke said to Urd: "With the power of Sun City, can we wipe out the rebels in the shortest time possible?"
Earl Urd said awkwardly, "The nobles in the Western Territory are all very wary of each other. They all brought powerful guards with them when they came to Sun City to participate in the Harvest Festival. Most of the military forces in Sun City are used to maintain the city's order. In addition, a large number of barbarians have gathered inside and outside the city. If the battle spreads out... I'm afraid it will cause riots throughout the city."
Luke nodded. Count Urd's concerns were justified.
Once the battle spreads out, the barbarians inside and outside the city will not know who the battle is directed at, and once the riot breaks out, it will be out of control.
So Luke said to Agatha: "If we punish all these nobles, I am afraid their successors will be used by the Celtic Duke. It is better to narrow the target of extermination to those coming from the Tedega Hills. This can not only disintegrate the Celtic strategy in the west, but also minimize the adverse impact on the empire.
I have another way to deal with them, so I'll let them go this time."
Agatha's mind was in a mess since she came in. She had no idea what the meteor had done to cause such a dramatic change in the Western Territory.
But it is definitely not the case that I buy and buy every day and sell out into this kind of situation.
Agatha really can't make a decision now, nor does she dare to make a decision. Of course, whatever Luke says is the final decision.
But the gesture still needs to be made.
"I just said that what didn't happen didn't happen. Some nobles in the Western Territory were deceived by Celtic and said some things they shouldn't have said. I don't think my father would mind.
The Celtics are the culprits of all the crimes, and we will only pursue the crimes of the main culprits.
It shouldn't be difficult for Sun City to deal with the Celtic envoy."
Count Urd immediately replied: "It's not difficult. I have confined Erguya and the people he brought with him to their residence. As long as Her Royal Highness the Princess gives the order, I will immediately send people to encircle and suppress them.
It’s just that… Erguya came with an Abyss Mage, and there seems to be an Abyss Apostle among them, so it might be a little tricky.”
At this time, a voice sounded in the room: "Leave the Apostle of the Abyss to me."
Agatha looked at the elf that suddenly appeared in the room and stood up happily: "Ms. Qingkong, you are also in the West?"
