Chapter 247: Countermeasure

Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Countermeasure

There’s no such thing as an airtight secret, especially since Count Kudro’s daughter had slashed the promotional poster to shreds in front of witnesses.

Word of the incident quickly spread from those few wealthy merchants, and within two days, it had reached the ears of the nobility, who made it their business to collect all sorts of gossip in the Royal Capital.

Such an act was a clear slight to the Kennedy Clan’s honor, so many families were watching with great interest, eager to see how the Kennedys would handle the situation.

Of course, Duane, being one of the parties involved, was also aware of the incident.

"I’m going to challenge her to a duel!"

Inside a small meeting room at the Golden Crown Opera House, Sharp shouted.

He loved sailing and was generally affable, but that was an attitude he reserved for friends and business partners.

When it came to enemies, he had a volatile side.

Moreover, he was the one who had personally put up the poster at the docks. Now that it had been slashed to pieces, he felt he had never been so thoroughly humiliated.

"Calm down, Sharp!"

Natalia gently chided him, stating the cruel truth. "You can’t beat her."

Tara’s exact strength was unknown to the public, but rumor had it she might be at the Celestial Tier.

And Sharp, despite being the son of the Celestial Tier Warrior Marles, was currently only an Advanced Peak Warrior. He hadn’t even reached the Tier Realm.

"That’s right, Sharp. That Tara is a little maniac, just like her father. If you challenge her to a duel, aren’t you just setting yourself up for public humiliation?"

Derek sounded helpless. If they were dealing with an ordinary person, he might have been able to come up with a solution.

But their opponent was Count Kudro—a man who, when enraged, wouldn’t even give Count Kais a second thought, let alone a mere Baron’s heir like himself.

Sharp slammed his fist on the table, saying resentfully, "So are we just supposed to swallow this insult and do nothing?"

Natalia said reassuringly, "My father is already aware of this. Time Closet operates under the Kennedy Clan’s name, so he has submitted a formal protest to His Majesty the King and has been granted an audience."

Despite her words, everyone knew that such a protest would likely end with little more than a slap on the wrist.

After all, the Kingdom’s founding anniversary was just around the corner. At such a critical time, the King certainly wouldn’t want two of his Counts to be at odds with each other. It would be an embarrassment to the entire Kingdom.

Therefore, King Eric would most likely make both sides take a step back—Count Kais would be told not to press the issue, and Tara would be made to offer a cursory apology.

And that would be the end of it.

At this thought, Sharp turned to Duane and asked,

"Duane, you’re the clever one. Is there any way for Time Closet to salvage some of its pride in this situation?"

The others also turned to look at Duane.

Among the five founders of Time Closet, Natalia had the most noble standing, but if you were talking about who actually held a title, it was Duane alone.

"Tara’s actions have not only damaged the dignity of the Kennedy Clan, but they are also a test for the future of Time Closet."

Duane paused for a moment before continuing, "Natalia and Derek are right. Challenging Tara to a duel would be unwise. I agree with them."

’Even though I could defeat Tara, there’s no need to be hasty.’

Hearing even Duane say this, Sharp lowered his head, forced to accept a reality he couldn’t change.

However, Duane’s next words rekindled his hope.

"A duel may be out of the question, but we can reclaim our honor in other ways."

Duane said, "Count Kudro can tarnish our name, and we can do the same to his Hassa Clan."

Sharp’s eyes lit up with excitement. He quickly asked, "What do you have in mind?"

Derek reminded him, "Duane, Kudro is a madman. Don’t think your title will protect you. If you really provoke him, he won’t hesitate to act!"

Natalia also looked worried, but she didn’t try to stop him, wanting to hear his plan first.

"If we back down on this, he’ll just take a mile for every inch we give. We have to show some resistance."

Duane continued, "Of course, compared to their crude and boorish methods, ours need to be a little more civilized."

"They destroyed our poster, didn’t they? Well then, we’ll just create a new painting to hang at the Golden Crown Opera House. Only this time, the painting’s content will combine our fashion show with a bit of satire aimed at the Hassa Clan!"

"Excellent!"

Sharp clapped his hands in approval. "They humiliated us, so we’ll humiliate them right back!"

Derek and Zelina nodded in agreement, but Natalia’s brow was furrowed.

"Duane, if you do this, you’ll be putting yourself on the front line. It will draw Count Kudro’s animosity."

She said, "We’re different from you. If something happens to us, my father, or Derek’s father, can step in to help. But if Count Kudro decides to target you, you have no one to fall back on."

Natalia was right. The thought of how Duane had faced Earl Orlando and his allies all alone made her heart ache for him.

Sharp’s resolute expression faltered. "Yeah, Duane, maybe we should reconsider?"

"Don’t worry. What’s he going to do, eat me?"

Duane wasn’t concerned.

’So what if Kudro is at the Silver Moon Level? I am too.’

’It’s not yet certain which of us is stronger.’

As for the problem of being targeted...

Black Forest Island was isolated far out at sea, and with a partner like the Silent Shore, he was bound to get advance warning if Count Kudro decided to send a fleet.

"I’m going to finish this painting tonight, and we’ll hang it at the opera house first thing tomorrow morning."

Seeing everyone’s hesitation, Duane stood up and clapped his hands to rally their spirits.

"Alright, alright, stop worrying about me. Right now, I need your help!"

"Come on, give me some information on Count Kudro!"

Faced with Duane’s insistence, the others stopped trying to dissuade him. Instead, they began to describe the physical appearances and personalities of Kudro and Tara, as well as some stories about the Hassa Clan’s past.

Duane jotted down every detail they provided. After returning to his room, he began his creation.

「Meanwhile」

Inside the Cyan Snake Fortress, King Eric had summoned Count Kais, as well as Count Kudro and his daughter.

Count Kais’s demands were simple. He only required Count Kudro and his daughter to write a public letter of apology to the Kennedy Clan and the founders of Time Closet.

But Kudro objected on the spot.

He then brought up the matter of the marriage contract between his daughter and Count Kais’s son, George.

If they wanted an apology, the marriage contract had to be fulfilled first.

Count Kais was so furious that he blurted out, "It looks to me like no one else wants your daughter, so you’re trying to shove her onto the Kennedy Clan!" This remark ignited Kudro’s explosive temper.

He unleashed his Silver Moon Level aura, which was so powerful it even startled the Black-eyed Cyan Snake—a creature that resided in the Cyan Snake Fortress and hadn’t been seen in years.

Its enormous body and overwhelming presence made it impossible for Count Kais to gauge its strength, but it was clearly far beyond a Level 6 Demon Beast.

With the argument escalating to this point, His Majesty the King finally intervened to mediate, urging both sides to back down in his usual placating manner.

In any case, the official announcement to the public was:

Under the King’s firm mediation, Tara had apologized to Count Kais, and the Kennedy and Hassa Clans had shaken hands and made peace.

Just when everyone thought the matter was settled, a new painting hung outside the Golden Crown Opera House escalated the affair to a whole new level.