Chapter 427
Chapter 427: I Will Save You (1)
Upon hearing that Count Penris had arrived, Count Grafton narrowed his eyes.
“Hmm.”
It was obvious why the Northern Army, struggling against the rift, had come. They must have come to seize medicinal herbs and medicine.
He chuckled to himself and stood up.
“A very famous person has come; we must greet him. Show him in.”
“They say they want to see you outside.”
“What?”
“They’ve already prepared a spot outside.”
“Huh, impatient, isn’t he?”
Count Grafton attempted to rise from his seat but hesitated.
Count Penris had become so well-known in the kingdom that no one was unaware of him, especially with his mastery and reckless personality.
If that madman were to get angry and try to kill him, there would be no stopping it.
Pondering over this, he asked the knight delivering the news.
“How many troops has he brought? Is the Northern Army all here?”
“No. The Northern Army is waiting outside the outer castle, and he has only brought a few knights and dozens of soldiers.”
“Is that so?”
While stroking his chin for a moment, Count Grafton turned to his retainers.
“What if Count Penris gets angry and starts rampaging here because he refuses to release the medicine? They say he’s a madman, after all.”
“…….”
Seeing his retainers unable to respond, Count Grafton clicked his tongue.
“Tsk, tsk, are you just thinking blankly? Pathetic. Even if Count Penris is a master, with that few troops, can’t we take him down?”
At that, the faces of his retainers turned pale.
“Milord! Absolutely not!”
“They say a master can take on thousands of soldiers by himself!”
“There’s nothing good to gain by clashing with the Northern Army! We would all die.”
Count Grafton shook his head at the retainer’s reactions.
“Getting scared without even trying to fight… I have no intention of fighting. I was just asking. That madman wouldn’t rampage here without reason, would he? Right? We haven’t broken any laws.”
At that, the retainers nodded.
There wasn’t anything wrong with Count Grafton’s words. A clever man, he had already prepared for such situations.
Count Grafton stood up.
“Let’s go; we can’t keep a distinguished guest waiting. And everyone, be careful with your words. Got it?”
“Understood.”
As the retainers bowed their heads, Count Grafton moved forward with a satisfied smile.
Upon exiting with Count Grafton and his retainers, a spot was indeed prepared in front of the Lord’s Castle.
A tactical meeting table and chairs, typically used in the military, were set up. Other than that, there was nothing.
Ghislaine sat there with her arms crossed. Around her were just a small number of troops, as anticipated.
Count Grafton clicked his tongue at the sparse arrangement and sat opposite Ghislaine.
“Tsk, tsk, bring some refreshments. We can’t welcome such a distinguished guest like this.”
As the maids moved, Count Grafton finally turned to Ghislaine and asked.
“Welcome. Yes, I’ve heard of your recent activities. What brings you all the way here?”
Ghislaine responded with a blank expression.
“I assume you have already received the formal notice. The epidemic is spreading rapidly.”
“That is unfortunate news. That’s why I’m trying to produce medicine as much as possible to distribute it.”
“Considering that, it’s rather insufficient. The people living on the outskirts of your territory are all suffering from the epidemic. And neighboring territories are the same.”
“I can’t help it. If the medicine is insufficient, what can I do alone? What have the other lords been doing all this time…? Tsk, tsk.”
Ghislaine stared at Count Grafton’s shameless face for a moment before continuing.
“I do not wish to forcibly take away rights and properties. If you hand over the stockpiled medicine and materials now, I will adequately compensate you in food and money for the price you paid. This is guaranteed by the royal family.”
“Hahaha, what am I to do when I have nothing left? Bring me the documents quickly. I need to prove it for sure.”
At his words, a retainer brought several documents. They were already doctored stock reports.
Ghislaine took the documents and skimmed through them. The discrepancies from the information she received were too vast.
Ghislaine looked at Count Grafton with cold eyes and said.
“I will advise you one last time. Cooperate with me. Many lives are at stake. Compensation will be sufficient.”
“No, don’t you get it? I truly have nothing more to offer!”
Words failed to reach him. Eventually, Ghislaine raised her hand and told Gillian.
“Search everything thoroughly. Find the medicinal herbs and medicine.”
“Understood.”
The troops Ghislaine had brought spread out in all directions. Seeing this, Count Grafton’s face darkened with anger.
“Count! What is the meaning of this in another lord’s territory? How do you think you’re treating me by doing this?”
Ghislaine said nothing. She simply closed her eyes, folded her arms, and sat quietly.
Count Grafton, seeing her demeanor, sneered.
“I won’t forget this. I’ve heard the rumors about the Count being reckless, but I never thought you would doubt people like this. The price of tarnishing my honor will surely be paid. Other nobles will not let this slide either.”
That was a blatant threat; it meant he would try to obstruct all of Ghislaine’s future endeavors.
Other nobles would not look kindly upon someone like Ghislaine, who acted so recklessly.
Yet, Ghislaine continued to wait in silence.
Hours later, Gillian returned with a gloomy expression.
“Other than the mentioned amounts… there are no herbs or medicine.”
At those words, Count Grafton laughed again, and his retainers sighed in relief.
In contrast, the Northern Army troops that Ghislaine brought wore expressions of shock. This was the first time Ghislaine’s efforts had missed so badly.
Count Grafton couldn’t hide his sneer.
“Take the remaining herbs as the law of the kingdom demands. If you need them, take them all. But do you really need to? We’re working hard to produce and distribute them to the area as well. And since no order has been given to restrict or seize the medicine yet, I will use it as I see fit.”
Hearing that, Ghislaine looked up at the sky.
‘Sigh…’
People like this were the real problem. Skating the thin line between law and crime, taking advantage of their own benefits.
To some extent, such behavior could be understood. Everyone prioritizes their own gain. But those who go overboard are the real issue.
Ghislaine didn’t possess any beliefs about cleaning up the world. In fact, as the scale of Penris grew, the number of officials accepting bribes disguised as gifts had also increased.
She didn’t interfere with every little thing. Such matters were left to Claude and other officials.
“That’s just how people live.”
Having experienced the bottom herself, she understood that human greed could not be entirely suppressed.
That’s why she firmly established the laws and systems of the territory, allowing for lenience as long as the line was not crossed. There simply wasn’t enough time to scrutinize every single infraction.
But stepping over that line would never be forgiven. She would ensure a significant lesson was given.
That was Ghislaine’s governing belief.
Resolving in her heart, she looked at Count Grafton and spoke.
“Count Grafton, it seems that I must ‘persuade’ you now.”
“Haha, persuade? Well, if you need my assistance, try persuading me. If it’s within my capacity, I shall help.”
Count Grafton wore an arrogant smile. He was feeling a thrill of pleasure.
The Count, known as the strongest of the North, was saying that he would need to persuade him. He wanted to gain his help.
Such a notion brought an unspeakable thrill to him.
As Ghislaine extended her hand, a spear flew from the saddle of the Black King.
“Oh?”
Count Grafton looked on in amazement. Masters could apparently use such fascinating techniques.
However, as Ghislaine held the spear and stood, her cold gaze spoke.
“Let’s begin the persuasion.”
“What do you—?”
Crash!
The table blocking the space between Ghislaine and Count Grafton was instantly shattered and flew to the sides.
Now, nothing stood between them.
Approaching the startled Count Grafton, Ghislaine shoved the spear directly into his shoulder.
“Grahh!”
Count Grafton screamed in surprise. But Ghislaine, without blinking, pulled the spear out again.
Crack!
She stabbed it into his thigh, melding him with the chair.
“Grahh!”
Count Grafton shouted with bulging eyes. Now fused to the chair, he couldn’t even stand.
Even his retinue nearby were taken aback.
“My Lord!”
“Commander! What is the meaning of this!”
“Please, retract the spear!”
To suddenly use force in someone else’s territory like this! It was enough to spark a war.
Going too far doesn’t even begin to describe it. Everyone was left dumbfounded.
Slowly regaining their senses, Count Grafton’s guard knights drew their swords, and the soldiers of the Lord’s Castle began to rush in.
But even the incoming soldiers dared not attack Ghislaine.
“Your Honor! Stop this!”
“You mustn’t do this!”
“Retract the spear and step back immediately!”
They were merely fidgeting, surrounding Ghislaine.
Count Grafton cried out in agony.
“What are you doing! Quickly, take care of this woman! Attack her now!”
In pain, and half-crazed, he blindly shouted for the soldiers to strike Ghislaine.
Yet the knights who knew of Ghislaine’s reputation could not bring themselves to attack her.
Ghislaine, staring coldly at Count Grafton, spoke.
“Gillian.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Anyone who obstructs my work shall be executed on the spot.”
“I will obey.”
Clang!
As Gillian drew his sword, Penris’s other knights also unsheathed their blades.
The Northern Army troops that followed them raised their spears high. Though Count Grafton’s forces were far more numerous, none of them showed fear.
Rather, their expressions were filled with confidence. There was a clear disparity in fighting spirit between the Northern Army and Grafton’s men.
As the Northern Army showed their readiness to fight, Count Grafton’s soldiers retreated a bit in fear.
Ghislaine continued, a fierce smile on her face.
“I know fellows like you quite well. Those who refuse to listen to reason.”
“Grr… You… do you really think you’ll get away with this? Other nobles will not let it slide!”
Count Grafton shouted, struggling in pain. But Ghislaine’s expression remained indifferent.
“And? If we don’t properly deal with the rift and the epidemic now, everyone will die. What difference does it make?”
Ghislaine seized Count Grafton’s collar and pulled him closer.
Staring into the blazing eyes of Ghislaine, Count Grafton found himself momentarily speechless. He could feel pure intent to kill and hatred radiating from her.
What on earth was she fighting for?
Before he could ponder further, Ghislaine hissed.
“It doesn’t matter if you eat everything yourself. But at least during a crisis like this, you shouldn’t impact others. You should’ve eaten just enough. Did I really need to get involved?”
With that, Ghislaine pulled out an axe from her waist and struck Count Grafton’s other shoulder.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
“Tell me where you’ve hidden it. Unless you want your head to roll here and now.”
“Grrr, I don’t have it; that’s all there is! You crazy woman!”
Count Grafton thrashed, fully aware that facing madness would lead him nowhere. He knew he wouldn’t easily give in.
He didn’t want to point out the hiding place of the medicine, knowing well that doing so would lead to his punishment.
To avoid death, he intended to hide it.
Though he was no coward, he had his pride as a noble.
“And what is this kind of thing to a noble of the kingdom! Aren’t you afraid of the consequences? All the nobles will turn their backs on you! You must stop this madness at once!”
Seeing him, Ghislaine laughed. It seemed he truly had some guts after all.
Realistically, Ghislaine was confident she could get to the bottom of this through thorough investigation. Yet she had no intention of wasting time on such matters.
Pulling the axe out from Count Grafton’s shoulder, she stood upright.
“That’s right; you can’t do this alone.”
Taking a deep breath, Ghislaine pointed the dripping axe towards the gathered retainers.
“Who is the chief officer and treasurer here? Step forward.”
The faces of the retainers turned pale at the sight of the blood-dripping axe.
