CHAPTER 468: CHAPTER 02: NINE-PETAL SNAKE FLOWER FLAG (2)_2

"Thank you for your compliment."

"This isn’t flattery, truly. You are a child of the Dracula Family, right? Hayman Dracula."

"Yes, he is my father."

"I met him once, and he seemed quite ordinary. I didn’t expect... he would be able to raise a child like you. Remarkable. To be honest, I’m starting to regret not arranging for my daughter to marry you back then. Of course, I know it’s impossible now. Your achievements cannot be praised enough. The entire Blood Clan has never had a lord as young and successful as you. There probably won’t be one in the future either."

Jones felt a bit embarrassed from the praise, only able to smile awkwardly, "So... Uncle Don, um... you know my father, should I call you Uncle Don?"

"It’s my honor."

"Alright, Uncle Don, you represent the Elder Council. Is there something you need?"

"Uh... sorry, I almost forgot. The shock of coming here has been overwhelming, making me almost forget the really important matter. I truly apologize." Don then realized, quickly taking a stamped document from the leather bag next to him, handing it over, "This is a notice from the Elder Council for you."

Jones took it with both hands, looking at it carefully.

Don added, "The Elder Council hopes you will attend the next hearing."

"What is the hearing about?" Jones casually flipped to the second page.

"It’s about trade. Your achievements are undoubtedly astonishing, but matters of trade, you must understand. If you make a hundred gold coins, then those hundred gold coins are undoubtedly taken from someone else’s pocket. Normally, there could be two people who are unhappy: one who spent the hundred gold coins, and the other who should’ve gotten those hundred gold coins. Some people have issues with you, and... there could be quite a few."

Jones’s brows slowly furrowed, looking significantly toward Don.

*This was expected, right? Though, it came a bit sooner than thought, even if for some it might already seem late.*

"Could I not go?" Jones asked softly.

"Better not." Don coughed twice and said, "Before coming here, I learned a bit about you. You are Lich King Gray’s adopted son, with a large group of Liches supporting you. But the Kolin Peninsula is ultimately Blood Clan territory, and Giant Snake City is in the Kolin Peninsula. Moreover, the Blood Clan supports free competition, and the accusations against you are unfounded, baseless. It’s a small issue, you don’t need to let it develop into a big one. If you refuse to attend, then the nature of it changes."

Jones quietly looked at Don.

After a pause, Don continued, "I believe you have the ability to handle any measures the Elder Council might take, but there’s no need, right?"

Saying this, Don smiled at Jones.

Jones quietly looked at Don for a long while, then slowly smiled, "Okay, I understand. When?"

"It’s on there." Don pointed at the document in Jones’s hand.

"I will attend, don’t worry."

...

A bat formed from a vampire flew across the sky.

The blue moonlight shone over Giant Snake City, and also over the tower where Jones resided.

"Lord Jones, I truly think you don’t need to bother with them." Dora said angrily, pouting, "It’s too shameless, we followed their rules completely, even doing better than they did. How could they falsely accuse us just because we won? I think they can’t beat us."

"Dora, we can’t always think of war. If war solved everything, we should be in the north with Richie now, right?" Examining the document carefully, Jones said softly, "Pursuing justice is to make everyone happy and joyful, not to make them die in the pursuit of justice. That’s not what we want. As a city lord, I have the responsibility to avoid war, to avoid the potential death of every resident. Moreover, if it really comes to that, we will face many issues."

"What issues?"

Closing the document, Jones said, "A third of our trade is with Blood Clan territories, another third with other regions is completed through Blood Clan territories. Of the funds invested in Giant Snake City, fifty percent comes from the Blood Clan, and another thirty percent, though not directly, comes from merchants with countless ties to the Blood Clan. In reality, I and the true residents of Giant Snake City only own twenty percent of the city’s total assets. If we fallout with the Elder Council, then, we will immediately lose two-thirds of our trade routes and eighty percent of our funding sources. This is exactly what our opponents want to see."

Dora listened, stunned, slowly widening her eyes.

Jones looked over at Adelle, who was dressed in formal attire and slouched on the sofa.

Adelle shrugged, saying, "Our Sambo family certainly supports you. But if we completely rupture, I’m not so sure. You know, after all, the opponent is the Elder Council. My grandfather and great-grandfather are both in the Elder Council. No vampire can escape the grasp of the Elder Council, but of course, you might be an exception."

Jones nodded and replied softly, "Understood."

"Also, I know the main force opposing you this time is the Ganggro Family. I heard you rejected their request to enter Giant Snake City. Maybe you should accept it."

"But if I do that, the Sambo family’s support for me would diminish. Right?"

"Yes."

"So it makes no difference." Turning his face, Jones looked at Dora, "We have to admit, we are taking everyone’s business. The whole cake is only so big, if we want to eat our fill, we can’t feed everyone. Those who aren’t full will become our opponents. This is something we must face, perhaps for a long time. Seeking balance in cooperation and competition, striving to develop, is the path we’ve chosen."

At that moment, Goya, dressed in casual clothes, pushed the door open and walked in, seeing Jones, Dora, and Adelle, she was momentarily stunned.

Who was Goya? The female werewolf, remember? Yes, it was her.

"Is there something?" Jones asked.

"Mr. Barrel." Goya said with difficulty, "Hope you confirm the output, arrangement."

"Place it here, I’ll look at it later." Jones pointed to the corner of the table.

"Alright... alright." Goya nodded to Adelle and Dora, smiled awkwardly, and put the thick stack of documents in her hand on the corner of Jones’s desk. Then she left, closing the door behind her under the watchful eyes of Dora and Adelle.

"She can speak Common Tongue now?" Adelle asked.

"Yes, though not very well, but at least we can understand her meaning." Jones responded.

"Hmm... she’s a female werewolf, and you’re having her do paperwork. A bit of a waste. But you have the right to waste, though if you could be extravagant in other areas, it would be better." Smiling, Adelle sat with her wine glass opposite Jones’s desk, "What do you plan to do about the hearing?"

"Face it head-on." Jones took a deep breath and replied, "We haven’t broken any rules, that’s our advantage. There’s no way they can topple us through existing rules. Unless they specifically create a rule against us."

"There is such a possibility, but it’s unlikely." Adelle raised her wine glass high, "If they are really that shameless, I support you in declaring war. I will forgo the Sambo family name and support you."

After speaking, she downed her wine in one gulp.

"Thank you." Jones replied with a smile.