CHAPTER 495: CHAPTER 473: 2,000 POUNDS

"It’s been a whole month since we threw in those 2000 gold pounds, why is there not even a sound from the Demon Hunters?"

While tearing open the wax-sealed letters handed over by the head of family intelligence, Puzilio Oslar complained to his father behind the desk.

"It’s only been a month." Duke Omes, with a stern face, read one letter after another in his hands, occasionally comparing them, "Don’t rush, although some small mistakes were made, there will be results."

Sitting beside the luxurious carved desk, Puzilio helped his father organize letters from nobles and relatives in various places.

Noticing his father’s displeasure, Puzilio didn’t say more, and continued to organize the letters in his hands.

"The descendants of those two Langsong nobles are asking for support from our Northern people?" Opening a new letter, Duke Omes snorted coldly, "Wishful thinking, let the envoy have a good meal and drink, then send him away."

Though he claimed he didn’t want to support the two Royal Dukes, Omes was quietly funneling support to them through "gift money" and his affiliated commercial guild.

It was all between the Lanfeng Clan and the Langsong nobles’ matters, and he was quite happy to see them bleed more.

"Father, why don’t we give these envoys a lesson and avenge Uncle Link?"

"Arguing with envoys only makes others think you’re cowardly; don’t do unnecessary things."

Duke Omes pressed the quill pen heavily onto the paper: "Compose yourself, it’s not time to step onto the gambling table yet."

"Those shameless bastards, the Oslar Clan always avenges its grudges, they’ll see." While it had some elements of performing in front of his father, Puzilio was genuinely sincere.

Their feud with the royal family was far from as simple as Boned put it.

After the founding King of Fajinueman, Leia, died, he passed the royal title and the most fertile fief to his second son Tumendjis from his first wife, and to the two younger sons Lu’el and Nedbach from his second wife.

The eldest son of the legitimate wife from the Oslar clan, Andagis, who was Tumendjis’s elder brother, only received an empty Duchy title and a piece of land about the size of the Earl’s Territory in the inheritance division.

The reason was that he had been excommunicated by the Church for three years due to a divorce.

The final outcome was naturally that this Andagis died in depression, leaving no heirs, and the Oslar clan’s bloodline in the royal family was completely severed.

After this event, the two families maintained a superficial friendship, but privately knew there was no possibility of reconciliation.

However, the death of Andagis was not intentional by the royal family to eliminate the only Oslar bloodline within them, he died in the Windmill Land plague of 1414.

At that time, even the old King Tumendjis almost succumbed to illness, let alone Andagis whose fief was right in Windmill Land.

Andagis’s two sons died of the plague, leaving only a daughter, Gabriel, who was visiting relatives at the clan’s territory.

This led to the Oslar Clan having no legitimate supporters to back them in the Leia civil war.

Unless all adult male heirs with inheritance rights were wiped out, Gabriel Brubey couldn’t even have a seat at the table.

Duke Omes’s cousin is currently still living in the clan’s territory, she’s already forty-five this year, still unmarried.

Thinking back to his Aunt Gabriel’s voluptuous and passionately demanding body, Puzilio couldn’t help but bend down and clench his legs.

"Puni (Puzilio’s endearing nickname), what’s wrong with you?"

"Ah? Nothing, just thinking about the Salvation Army issue in the Thousand River Valley." Puzilio quickly raised his face and explained.

Duke Omes wasn’t suspicious, he looked at his youngest son’s face and spoke slowly: "For an Oslar, always remember, we solve problems with money, but money is never the problem.

You entrusted the Church to hire Demon Hunters with those 2000 gold pounds, I guess only 500 gold pounds reached the bottom-ranking Demon Hunters.

But so what, once money is spent, it’s spent, don’t regret it, don’t dwell on it."

"Yes, Father." Puzilio quickly agreed, then coughed and continued, "I was thinking, should we take the opportunity to intervene in the Thousand River Valley? After all, Prince Kongdai has already expressed his stance."

"Now? I don’t want to get involved for the time being." Duke Omes stood up, walked over to the tea table, and poured himself a cup of refreshing black tea with a delicate bone china teapot.

"Are you and Marika very close? Why are you so persistent about this matter?"

Puzilio felt a few cold sweats dripping down the back of his neck; he was nowhere near familiar with Countess Marika, it was his cousin Gabriel who was close with Countess Marika.

Last night while they were bathing together, he promised Cousin Gabriel what he said must be fulfilled, water already shot, he could only reply stubbornly with difficulty:

"Mainly, I’ve heard some rumors that the Shepherds on the Shattered Stone Plain have some discontent regarding the Inosen Dam, it would be a good chance to weaken the local noble’s power."

"They have issues? Why am I not aware? Call the head of intelligence and the Minister of Finance..."

"No, no... no need to bother the two uncles..."

Frowning at the awkward youngest son before him, Duke Omes was a bit puzzled. Unlike his brothers, this youngest seemed steady and capable, what was happening today?

Being stared at by his father’s bayonet-like gaze, Puzilio maintained a steady face but with a drum-like heartbeat, speaking without thinking: "Father, I’m already 24 this year, my child is already 8, while that Salvation Army’s Horn is merely 19 this year..."

Duke Omes blinked, a flash of inspiration in his mind, suddenly comprehending.

This youngest son never showed it, yet hadn’t expected him to harbor such a trace of pride.

Duke Omes thought Puzilio’s biggest flaw was being too content with small gains, having ears too soft, easily losing his own opinion.

Now he realized, it was because there wasn’t someone among his peers to spur him on.

The eldest son being a pudgy coward who couldn’t even ride a horse, the second son prancing around in vibrantly colored backless dresses, and the third son was only good for fighting, like a pig.

If there’s a group of useless people around him, naturally there’d be no upward motivation.

Though he couldn’t understand how Horn would inspire Puzilio, Puzilio, who had never sought proactive advances, had indeed changed.

While there were still signs of submissiveness, the fact he could counter his own insistence to lead independently was truly a source of comfort to Duke Omes.

"Not bad, not bad."

Seeing the comforting smile on Duke Omes’s face, Puzilio was bewildered. Wasn’t he just expressing that Horn was too young with great potential and needed to be suppressed early?

What was good about it?

"Since you want to make a name for yourself on the battlefield, I, Omes, have this boldness." Duke Omes pulled out a bottle of wine from the cabinet, poured himself a glass, and poured one for Puzilio as well.

Puzilio bewilderedly accepted the glass with both hands: "Father, I..."

"Drink it, I’m genuinely happy you’re brave enough to take this step." Duke Omes fixed a gaze of a child finally grown up upon Puzilio, forcing him to gulp the wine down entirely.

"The thing you want to do, I have to discuss it with your uncles, you’ll get what you want." Omes patted Puzilio’s shoulder, "Work hard, your brothers’ health isn’t very good."

Though he didn’t understand what exactly transpired, Puzilio understood that between Omes’s lines, it was still about sending troops to the Thousand River Valley.

Yet he also knew his father couldn’t possibly launch a large-scale offensive against the Thousand River Valley, as it would disrupt the original plan.

Most likely, he’d simply send a batch of Shattered Stone Noble troops south, traversing through Hotam County to launch an attack on the Salvation Army in Langsande County.

As for the main commander, it was highly likely to be his third brother.

Either way, he completed Aunt Gabriel’s task.

Closing the door to his father’s study, Puzilio spoke to the servant, feeling relieved, "Let’s go visit dear Cousin Gabriel."