[It’s too late to check for typos, so I’ll post it first]
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When Krell's words fell, Duke Stein suddenly felt that his whole body was not well...
Just over half a year ago, Baron Henrik from the Principality of Idar was assassinated in the southern part of the Kingdom of Basel.
Taking this as a trigger, the agents of the Idar CIA broke into his castle in the middle of the night and pulled his hair out of the bed. (See Chapter 346 for details)
That’s just a baron!
To put it nicely, he was a nobleman, but to put it more directly, Baron Henrik who was assassinated at that time was just a marginal figure who was indispensable to the Principality of Idar.
But even though he was just an inconspicuous and marginal figure, the inheritance of the Stein family was almost cut off, making me feel extremely thrilling every time I think about it.
And this time...
As the director of the Idar CIA, Krell personally stood in front of him and claimed righteously that his closest family members were captured by his nobles?!
This is simply killing yourself!
For an ordinary baron, he had been fearful for a long time. The Stein family's savings for generations had been plundered by the Idars, and he was even awakened by nightmares every night.
And now...
Idar, the younger brother of the CIA director!
Just by hearing this name, it would probably be countless times more serious than the last time!
You know, the person standing in front of him is the director of the Idar Central Intelligence Agency, the most powerful intelligence and spy chief in the Idar Principality!
"Lord Krell..."
Duke Stein felt like he was about to cry.
He himself would never dare to provoke these wolf-like Idar people, but the nobles under his command...why do they try to seek death in various ways all day long?!
The most important thing is...it doesn't matter if you seek death, but don't drag yourself into it!
At this time, Krell has no interest in harvesting wool from Duke Stein. After all... Duke Stein has always been very cooperative with the Idar Chamber of Commerce, which can be regarded as the most important Idar Chamber of Commerce in the south of Basel.
partners.
In line with the principle of joining if you can't defeat it, a large number of goods produced in the Principality of Idar were landed in Duke Stein's territory and sold to all parts of the Kingdom of Basel in the name of Duke Stein.
Although Duke Stein also received a considerable amount of profit from it, the bulk of the profit must have been taken away by his own Duke.
Since Duke Stein is now considered a "friend" to the Principality of Idar, there can be no more "Basel Scalpel" plan.
Otherwise...who will help the Idar Chamber of Commerce dump goods?
Therefore, Krell was not too embarrassed about the Basel nobleman who knew how to advance and retreat before him. After a brief discussion, he roughly stated the purpose of coming here.
And when Duke Stein heard that there was not much blame or questioning in Krell's words, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But while he was relaxing, he couldn't help but feel secretly frightened.
Duke Stein collected a lot of information about the Principality of Idar during this period.
He probably also knew some information about recruiting civilians to join administrative agencies and allowing civilians to hold official positions.
But even though Duke Stein knew this information, he still felt that it was just a method used by the Principality of Idar to attract refugees and to deceive the common people.
but……
When he saw the CIA director in front of him with his own eyes, he had no choice but to believe the rumors related to the Principality of Idar.
According to what Krell said just now, Duke Stein has clearly realized that the CIA director in front of him was really a genuine civilian before!
If not,
How could his mother and younger brother be trafficked to the Kingdom of Basel by human traffickers and still appear in their own territory?
Thinking of this, Duke Stein felt more and more... that the Principality of Idar, located north of the Kingdom of Basel, was really an unfathomable and mysterious country.
Civilians hold official positions and serfs can be liberated. Which of these facts that happened in the Principality of Idar is not an earth-shaking change?
But in the Principality of Idar, this is a living reality!
I don’t understand…
I really don't understand...
"Lord Krell, please let me lead you..."
Although Duke Stein himself was a duke-level noble, he did not dare to be arrogant at all in front of Krell, who did not have any title, nor did he have the courage to show off his status as a noble.
Because, the Idar CIA really left a deep impression on him.
"Then I'm sorry to trouble you."
Krell nodded, but did not reject Duke Stein's kindness.
After all, he is the director of the Idar CIA. He is in a foreign country. At this time, he represents the Principality of Idar and his own Duke, so he naturally has to show the momentum and extraordinaryness of the Idar people.
and……
In matters such as rescuing abducted civilians, the most difficult thing is actually to find out the location of these Idar people.
But these things have been explored by the Graf family, which is now the non-staff personnel of the Idar CIA. The task on my shoulders is not too heavy. Even if I don't sit in the middle, the Idar agents are fully capable of it.
This job, so...
Naturally, the Clay people would personally pick up their younger brother and family members to go home and let them leave this land with their heads held high, which would be regarded as living up to the good intentions of the Duke.
Duke Stein warmly welcomed Krell into a luxuriously decorated aristocratic carriage, and then he led a large number of people and horses, escorted by Idar agents, and slowly drove towards the destination of the trip.
go.
The carriages of nobles are naturally extremely luxurious, and the interiors of the carriages are all decorated with precious treasures.
But Krell knew very well in his heart that the reason why Duke Stein was able to enjoy such a luxurious life, relying on the mountains of gold and silver behind him, was all due to the blood and sweat of the common people and serfs, which was accumulated bit by bit.
.
On the contrary,...
Although the living conditions of his own Duke are equally good, while benefiting himself, it also allows all the people living in the Principality of Idar to live a better life, and makes all Idar people have a better life.
Looking forward to the future!
It's not just the Principality of Idar, the Conte Territory on the west side of Stranglethorn Valley, the eastern highlands of the Odin Empire... As the Idar people gradually move out of the eastern part of the empire, these originally barren and backward areas are all in the Principality of Idar.
Great changes have taken place under the influence of.
The Dukedom of Stein, located in the southern part of the Kingdom of Basel, is naturally no exception.
As the Idar Chamber of Commerce built numerous plantations in the Duke of Stein's territory, the number of Idar ships docked at the port to load and unload goods was also increasing, and the dirt roads in the Duke of Stein's territory had long since disappeared.
Instead, there is a brand new road repaired by the Idar Chamber of Commerce.
Although the purpose of building the road is to allow the convoys and goods of the Idar Chamber of Commerce to pass more smoothly, and the funds for building the road also come from the money stolen from Duke Stein's treasury, at the same time, the road
The renovation has actually made it easier for local residents to travel.
The plantations established on this land naturally followed the consistent methods and routines of the Principality of Idar.
After the civilians and serfs employed by the Idars realized the benefits of the work-point system, they naturally worked extra hard in their work.
There is no need to use whips or verbal threats. Working on the Idar people's plantations has almost become a good job that the local people dream of.
Because although working in the plantation is very tiring, the copper coins given to you every month are real. As long as you work more, you can get more, and there will never be a delay in salary arrears!
As a result, a large part of the arable land in the Dukedom of Stein was gradually converted into plantations of tropical cash crops such as rubber and sugar cane, causing Duke Stein to have to purchase food from the Idar Chamber of Commerce.
Although Duke Stein also understands in his heart that purchasing food from the Idar people is equivalent to letting the Idar people control the food lifeline of the entire duchy, but... growing rubber and sugar cane can really make a lot of money!
Anyway, he already had the leverage in the hands of the Idar people, so he simply broke the jar and threw it away.
And even if something goes wrong, I will definitely not be the one who goes hungry.
…
When Krell's motorcade passed through the endless large plantations, it was almost afternoon. Viscount Creamer, who had already received the news, stood by the roadside with his entourage and waited.
Although it is not clear why Duke Stein suddenly visited his small viscounty, the Duke is a duke after all, and he is also his own lord, so he naturally has to show his respect.
then,
When Viscount Creamer watched the Duke's motorcade slowly approaching from a distance, he quickly led his entourage to greet it.
Even as he walked, he was still thinking about the reason for the Duke's sudden arrival in his mind.
Most of the southern nobles of the Kingdom of Basel have a tradition of sending their subordinates to do business, and Viscount Creamer, as a vassal under Duke Stein, will naturally contribute a large amount of wealth every year.
Could it be because...
I contributed a large amount of gold coins in the first half of the year, and was appreciated by the Duke?
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed to Viscount Creamer.
Especially after the Duke established a connection with the legendary Idar people, every time the caravan under his name went out, it would bring a large amount of income to Duke Stein!
It must be a good thing, after all... Which lord wouldn't value a vassal like himself who does his duty?
Seeing Duke Stein's motorcade slowly stop in front of him, Viscount Creamer quickly arranged his clothes and greeted him respectfully:
"Your Excellency, my Excellency..."
But what caught Viscount Creamer off guard was that before he could finish his words, Duke Stein interrupted him unceremoniously:
"Where is Madame Agnes? And Rene Cabral! Where are these two?!"
Krel Cabral, this is the full name of Krel, director of the CIA in Idar.
And Rene Cabral is naturally the name of Krel's younger brother.
only……
Viscount Creamer was stunned at this moment.
He could naturally hear the Duke's rather gloomy tone.
But the question is...what is this talking about?
Lady Agnes?
I’ve never heard of it myself!
"this……"
"Are these two..."
Viscount Creamer was unable to react for a moment and could only look at the butler following him, wanting to know who the two people the Duke suddenly mentioned were.
only……
Naturally, the housekeeper doesn’t know who this is!
Never even heard of it!
He had no choice but to look at Viscount Creamer aside with a bitter look.
"They are two civilians, they should be working in your castle or plantation!"
Duke Stein also seemed to realize that it was impossible for a viscount to pay attention to the name of a civilian, so he added with a cold face.
civilian?
This is easy to handle!
Then it probably collided with the Duke's frame? Or was it disrespectful to the Duke?
Thinking of this, Viscount Creamer quickly replied:
"My lord Duke, why don't you go to the castle to take a rest first? I will instruct the butler to catch them. If they dare..."
Thinking that Krell might have heard Viscount Creamer's words before he got out of the car, Duke Stein quickly shouted at Viscount Creamer:
"Shut up!"
"Go find the person now! Then bring the person to your castle and invite him to your castle respectfully!"
"If Master Krell's family members suffer any unfair treatment, just wait and see!"
Eh?
This script is wrong!
Viscount Creamer felt somewhat confused.
The Duke came here specifically to find two civilians, and also asked himself to invite them here respectfully?
in addition……
Who is Lord Krell?
Before Viscount Creamer could turn his head, he saw a young man wearing Idar military uniform slowly getting out of another carriage.
Surrounding the young man were all Idar soldiers wearing gryphon badges on their chests.
As a vassal under Duke Stein, Viscount Creamer naturally knew that his lord had some kind of connection with the Idar people.
And as early as half a year ago,
The news that Idar agents traveled thousands of miles and stabbed to death a baron who attacked the Idar nobles has already spread throughout this land, so...
The nobles of the Principality of Idar have long been able to walk sideways in the south of Basel!
It seems like... I'm in trouble?
After realizing it, Viscount Creamer and his confidants almost turned their aristocracy upside down as quickly as possible, and then finally an hour later, a pair of poorly dressed and skinny men were brought together.
Mother and son were brought from a plantation to a small hall in the castle.
And when he saw the woman with gray hair and a thin face, even Krel, who had always been extremely determined, couldn't help but feel a little red.
But as the director of the CIA in Idar, he can never cry easily!
so……
He forced his head to turn around, clenched his fists tightly, and said to his brother in a trembling voice: