Chapter 402 - 212: Another Master?
Chapter 402: Chapter 212: Another Master?
"Between Lawrence and Morin, only one can remain."
The moment the words were spoken, the entire Royal Court fell deathly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Duke Sed’s expression immediately turned ugly.
He hadn’t expected the Auswiss Clan to actually intervene, much less take it so seriously that they would send their next Patriarch in person.
He especially hadn’t expected them to be so utterly ruthless.
Annoyed, he couldn’t help but say sullenly, "Young lady of the Auswiss Clan, we have all heard of Auswiss’s great renown and have always held your esteemed family in high regard. However, this is ultimately an internal affair of our Doria Kingdom. By interfering like this, aren’t you overstepping your bounds?"
It was clear he was trying to be polite—after all, he wasn’t stupid and knew the power of the Auswiss Clan—but he was so used to being high and mighty that his words still carried a sharp edge.
Ordinarily, everyone in the Kingdom, even the King himself, was long used to his attitude and wouldn’t have held it against him.
But now, he was facing a future Imperial Marquis.
Upon hearing this, Nolen shot him a cold glance. "Overstepping?"
"Are you saying that I should just stand by and watch while your subordinates bully my sister and my aunt? That only by doing nothing would I not be overstepping?"
"..."
Duke Sed was rendered speechless, unable to utter a word for a moment.
’How could I have known that wretched woman from the Lawrence Family would be crazy enough to provoke someone from the Auswiss Clan? And I certainly didn’t expect a great clan like Auswiss to be so sentimental. They’re doing all this for someone who abandoned her surname and turned her back on the family, yet they still value her so highly.’
"So, what will it take for you to stand down?"
Uttering such words meant that Duke Sed had already backed down, hoping to settle the matter peacefully.
But he still didn’t want to see the Lawrence Family completely destroyed. At this point, it was no longer just about benefits. ’The Lawrences know too much. If I abandon them completely, who knows what secrets they might spill? Besides, I’ve backed them for so long. If they’re just wiped out like this, how will I ever save face?’
’I’ll never be able to hold my head high in the Kingdom again.’
So, his question was an attempt to negotiate.
"Didn’t I already make myself clear? Between Morin and Lawrence, only one can remain. As for which one disappears, you choose."
However, Nolen merely shot him a cold glance, showing no intention of yielding.
Duke Sed glanced at the ministers around him. Those who had been staunchly supporting him just moments ago were now completely silent.
Even the King put on an expression of helplessness, content to watch the fire from the opposite shore.
And those who had spoken out against him earlier were clearly waiting to see him humiliated!
Overcome with a mixture of shame and indignation, Duke Sed could only play his trump card again. "Your Majesty, if you continue to disappoint your loyal subjects like this, then I’m afraid I will no longer be able to remain in the Doria Kingdom!"
The King’s brow furrowed slightly. Just as he was about to speak, Nolen cut in, "Oh, by the way. Aside from resolving a private family matter, I also came to the Doria Kingdom to discuss business with the King... The Auswiss Clan is interested in opening new markets in the Doria Kingdom. I wonder if Your Majesty would be interested?"
Her tone toward the King was noticeably more courteous than the one she had used with Duke Sed.
Kiao was stunned. ’I thought she was just here to settle a score,’ he thought, ’I never expected such a wonderful opportunity!’
The Auswiss Clan were not only Marquises of the Violet Empire; their family’s Oshira Commerce Association was also one of the largest alchemy consortiums on the Continent. Their business spanned the Three Great Empires and numerous Kingdoms, and at a conservative estimate, they controlled a full 20% of the Continent’s entire alchemy trade!
This was a true alchemy titan. Compared to them, the Morin Clan... well, to call them a drop in the ocean would be an overstatement. They were a small pond at best.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course. In fact, you could say it was the primary reason I came in person..."
As she spoke, she gave Duke Sed an imperceptible glance, the implication clear: he was beneath her notice.
Duke Sed was now both shocked and furious. ’Not only is she forcing me to abandon the Lawrence Clan,’ he thought, ’she’s trying to destroy my livelihood!’
’Of course he knew the extent of the Auswiss Clan’s influence in the alchemy industry. Once their business entered the Doria Kingdom, it would take them ten years at most to seize nearly half the Kingdom’s market share. And the majority of that would be profits snatched directly from his own hands.’
’At that point, it wouldn’t just be a loss of profit. He would lose his pivotal position in the Kingdom, and the bitter seeds he had sown with years of arrogance and tyranny would all come back to haunt him.’
’This wasn’t a choice between two options at all! She obviously intends for both the Lawrence and the Morin clans to be destroyed!’
He panicked and hastily cried out, "The Lawrence Clan—I can abandon them! Little Marquis, there’s no need to go this far..."
"I am speaking with the King. Do you have any right to speak here?"
Nolen snorted. "Old dog, shut your mouth."
When had Duke Sed ever been so humiliated? His face turned beet-red. He could see she was serious, and that the King was clearly planning to cooperate. With no other options, he completely lost his composure.
"You little brat, acting so recklessly! Aren’t you afraid I’ll drag you down with me?!"
"If you think you have what it takes... you’re welcome to try."