Extortion 3

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

Emerson waited resentfully until noon the next day.

After Paul bid farewell to Quill and playfully teased his own female adviser, Bernard sent someone to find Emerson, informing him that he could meet Earl Grayman at 2 PM in the castle's reception room.

At two o'clock, Paul arrived at the reception room, but the envoy was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh well, I'll wait a bit."

Paul opened a book and began reading in the reception room.

After finishing a chapter, he glanced at the grandfather clock in the room. Fifteen minutes had passed.

He shook his head, feeling slightly annoyed. Since succeeding as the lord, he had yet to encounter anyone who dared to stand him up.

After waiting a while longer, it was already half past two, and Paul couldn't hold back.

"Bernard!" he called out loudly.

The chief secretary immediately rushed out from his office. "What is it, Lord Grayman?"

"Hmm? Where is Sir Emerson? Has he left already?" Bernard realized something was amiss.

Paul frowned. "I was about to ask you! Did you perhaps notify him of the wrong time?"

The chief secretary quickly replied, "That's not possible, Lord Grayman. I sent someone to remind him again at half past one."

Paul grew suspicious. "Could something unexpected have happened? Send someone to find him again."

"Yes, Lord Grayman," Bernard said, turning to leave.

Just then, a servant entered and reported, "Sir Emerson, the envoy from Emden, is here to meet Earl Grayman."

Paul was immediately infuriated. "Fine! Looks like I've simply been stood up."

The chief secretary was taken aback. "Oh! That's too much."

The envoy had appeared arrogant yesterday, but as a mere secretary, Bernard hadn't thought much of it.

Now it seemed the envoy was utterly arrogant, making a Earl wait for half an hour. He decided to stay in the reception room to see how things would unfold.

The servant escorted Emerson in. Paul glanced at him—a decent-looking man, but there was a hint of fierceness in his eyes, whether natural or deliberate.

Emerson approached Paul and performed the noble courtesy with proper decorum.

Paul didn't even bother to stand up, let alone return the gesture. He merely gestured with his hand for the envoy to sit opposite him.

Seeing Paul's demeanor, Emerson smirked slightly and took his seat.

Paul then spoke, "Sir Envoy, traveling such a distance to Alden Town. What brings you here?"

Emerson calmly said, "I am not here to give advice. I have come under the orders of Earl Kent to inquire about the unauthorized detention of Earl Ganard by Alden."

Paul scoffed, "Hmph! I've also sent notices to you. Haven't you seen them? Or are you choosing to believe the word of those few traitors?"

Emerson shook his head, "Lord Grayman, please do not reverse the truth."

Paul turned to Bernard and instructed, "Fetch Malon."

He was tired of Emerson's words and wanted to hear from the main actor himself to see what he would say.

The reception room fell into silence. Paul ignored the envoy who stood him up and accused him of distorting facts, picking up his book and continuing to read.

Emerson also fell silent and began to meditate with closed eyes, appearing calm and unruffled.

After a while, Malon arrived at the reception room. Bernard had informed him of what had transpired. Upon entering, Malon said, "Sir Envoy, the tales told by Ankiro and others are nothing but lies. These traitors murdered my father, their liege lord, and later conspired against me. Luckily, I overheard their plans, wrote a secret letter to my blood brother Paul Grayman, and fled to Alden Town before their plot was uncovered. Then, Paul led forces to defeat those traitors."

"In short, please do not believe the deceitful words of traitors."

Emerson patiently waited for Malon to finish, then smiled and said, "Earl Ganard, I understand you are in a precarious situation and must say things against your will. However, rest assured, Earl Kent will definitely seek justice for you."

Paul and Malon were speechless after hearing his words, unsure of how to respond.

Malon retorted, "I am perfectly fine now and am completely free."

Emerson shook his head, "If you were not under house arrest, if Earl Grayman had not attempted to annex Byerldine, how do you explain that you have not returned to Buteya but remain in Alden Town? Furthermore, how do you explain that the decrees issued within Byerldine are now coming from Alden Town?"

Malon explained, "Because my subordinates are all traitors, I currently have no loyal and capable assistants to help me govern Byerldine. Therefore, I had to seek assistance from Alden Town. Besides, I returned to Buteya a few days ago to convene a meeting with the merchants in my territory and stayed there for several days. You can ask around in Byerldine!"

Emerson ignored his explanations and persisted, "Earl Ganard, I understand your predicament. Trust me, the surrounding lords will not sit idly by in the face of such injustice."

He then turned to stare at Paul and continued, "Even if the vassals of Byerldine have rebellious intentions, they should be dealt with by Duke Fraule of the Northwest with justice. Earl Grayman's unilateral use of force to take over Byerldine without consultation is disrespectful to Duke Fraule."

Paul retorted, "The Ganard and Grayman families are both vassals directly sworn to the royal family. We can handle our affairs without consulting Duke Fraule and handle them ourselves."

Emerson stood up abruptly, sneering, "Lord Ganard, if it weren't for your confinement, if Earl Grayman hadn't attempted to swallow Byerldine, how would you explain that you still haven't returned to Buteya and are staying in Alden Town? Furthermore, how do you explain that the decrees issued in Byerldine are now coming from Alden Town?"

"You..." Malon tried to continue arguing with Emerson.

However, Paul stopped him.

Paul had already figured out that this envoy sent by the Kent family was determined to insist that he had detained Malon and had even brought up Duke Fraule of the Northwest. This was clearly a provocation and reasoning with him would be futile.

Had he offended the Kent family? Oh, except for catching a few spies.

But back then, he was the reasonable one. He had intended to suppress the situation and hadn't gone to Emden to accuse them, but unexpectedly, they had taken advantage of the situation.

Wait, spies? Those spies had seemingly come to steal papermaking technology...

Thinking about this, he generally understood the purpose of the envoy sent by the Kent family.

Paul adjusted his attitude, smiled at Emerson, and gestured for him to sit down.

In a soft voice, he said, "Sir Envoy, please sit down first. Many things can be discussed slowly."

"Many things!" He repeated as he looked into the other's eyes.

Seeing Paul's smile, Emerson's expression gradually softened.

He sat down and returned the smile, saying, "Of course, Lord Grayman. Many things can indeed be discussed slowly."

The young count finally got on track.

(End of the Chapter)