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Chapter 56: I've Come at the Right Time
Chapter 56: I've Come at the Right Time
Crack!
The sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the meeting hall.
Owen held the cracked cup, ignoring the shards that pierced his skin, blood trickling down his hand. His bloodshot eyes locked onto the middle-aged man sitting across from him, his voice hoarse as he demanded, "Did the Marquis really say that?"
The middle-aged man was impeccably dressed, with a neat mustache that gave him an air of noble refinement.
After hearing Owen's question, he took a sip of his tea before leisurely responding, "The Marquis is currently busy dealing with matters in the Stormlands. He has no time to concern himself with your affairs."
"Besides, the Marquis has already provided you with considerable assistance, even going so far as to help you contact the Starfire Sect's assassins. What have you done to repay him?"
"To be reduced to this state by two mere upstarts—do you know how many nobles are laughing at you now?"
The middle-aged man spoke calmly, but his words were merciless.
Owen's temples throbbed with anger, but he dared not lose his temper in front of this man. He gritted his teeth and endured it.
Honestly, he couldn't fathom how things had come to this.
In less than two years, how had those two brothers managed to build Blackrock City into such a formidable stronghold?
And Su Nan, who was once a worthless nobody, unable to even master the Breathing Technique, how had he suddenly become a wizard, powerful enough to kill Martel?
It made no sense!
Owen truly couldn't understand!
Perhaps he should have ignored his pride and eliminated the brothers when he had the chance.
But now, it was too late.
Unless the Marquis of Golden Rock decided to send troops, Owen's chances of holding onto Flash City with his remaining forces were slim to none.
Even if he managed to hold it, his title as Baron of Flash would be nothing more than a hollow shell.
With this in mind, Owen took a deep breath and suppressed his anger. "Envoy Jillette, if the Marquis is displeased with me, he can punish me later. I won't have any complaints. But if Flash Fief falls to another, the Marquis will find it much harder to regain control. Surely, the Marquis isn't willing to give up Flash Fief?"
Jillette glanced at Owen, a half-smile on his face. "That's not your concern. Even if Flash Fief falls, the Marquis will reclaim it in his own time."
Owen was taken aback.
What did that mean?
Was the Marquis of Golden Rock finally going to break the unwritten rules of the nobility and directly seize another noble's territory?
If he did, the other nobles of the duchy would never allow it and would surely attack the Marquis en masse!
Even the Marquis of Golden Rock couldn't bear such consequences.
Or did the Marquis have a way to make the other nobles turn a blind eye?
"Envoy, what do you mean?" Owen asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.
"That's none of your concern."
Jillette waved his hand dismissively, narrowing his eyes. "Though you've failed, the Marquis is a man of great magnanimity. In recognition of your past service, he has instructed me to take you away from Flash City. You'll live a peaceful life as a manor lord in Golden Rock City from now on."
Owen's face drained of all color.
To go from a prestigious baron to a mere manor lord was a fall too great for him to accept.
But if he refused, he wouldn't be able to hold Flash City on his own, and the only outcome would be his own demise.
Jillette sipped his black tea leisurely, looking down at Owen with a condescending gaze. He was confident that Owen would make the right choice. Or rather, at this point, Owen had no other options.
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside. The scribe rushed into the hall, seemingly eager to report something, but hesitated upon seeing Jillette and the cloaked man sitting beside him.
Owen waved his hand impatiently. "Speak quickly!"
The scribe bowed and said, "My lord, the scouts have reported that the Blackrock City army is now just five kilometers from the city gates. They will reach us within an hour at most."
Owen shot up from his chair, his face pale with panic. "How could they arrive so quickly?!"
Realizing his loss of composure, he quickly tried to regain his calm. "Send the order to Dario to defend the city. We must not let a single Blackrock soldier set foot inside!"
As the scribe bowed and hurried out, Owen turned to Jillette without hesitation. "Sir Envoy, I agree. I will go with you to Golden Rock City!"
Jillette set down his teacup and smiled. "A wise choice."
"Please, Sir Envoy, give me a moment to gather my things."
Fleeing was one thing, but he couldn't leave his wealth behind. If he wanted to be a manor lord, he needed the funds to buy land.
With the Blackrock City army closing in, he had to act fast to secure his possessions.
To avoid upsetting Jillette, Owen handed him a small bag of gold coins. "Thank you, Sir Envoy."
Jillette weighed the bag in his hand, his smile widening. "There's no need to rush, Baron. With Sir Hodge here, we will be safe even if the Blackrock army surrounds the city."
Owen glanced at the cloaked man, surprised. Since entering the hall, the man had remained silent, and Owen had assumed he was Jillette's guard. However, from Jillette's tone, it seemed this Hodge was of equal or greater status.
"Sir Hodge, you are—"
Before Owen could finish, a commotion erupted from outside. His brow furrowed, and he was about to call for his guards when the cloaked man, Hodge, suddenly stood up.
"Something's wrong. There are screams. It's an assassin!"
An assassin? Owen was skeptical. The Blackrock City army was still ten kilometers away, and his manor was heavily guarded. How could an assassin get in?
But Owen's doubts were quickly dispelled. The sound of battle cries grew closer, then abruptly fell silent. Moments later, a figure stepped into the hall.
The moment Owen saw the face, his eyes widened in horror.
"Su Nan!"
Jillette's eyes narrowed, and he sat up straight, watching the young man at the door with a mix of curiosity and interest.
This was the wizard from Blackrock City?
Su Nan's gaze swept over the three men in the hall, pausing on Hodge. His eyes narrowed, and he smirked.
"Looks like I've arrived just in time. Were you three discussing how to escape?"
(End of Chapter)
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