Starting as the Baron of the Lonely Island

Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Simone’s Decision

Monbodt rode his horse, galloping toward Forest Village.

He felt that ever since Duane had arrived on Black Forest Island, he had become more of a messenger.

Whenever the Lord had something to relay to Bard and Daniels, it was his time to take the stage.

Lately, the mental pressure had kept him from sleeping at night.

He felt both awe and resentment toward the Lord, but he was utterly helpless.

After all, even the strongest man on the island had bowed his head. What could an old man of nearly sixty like him possibly do?

Before long, he met with the leader of the Broken Wave Gang. Without beating around the bush, he directly relayed Duane’s order.

Of course, he did so in a much more blunt, commanding tone.

Bard listened without showing any dissatisfaction. Instead, he asked, "Is it only my Broken Wave Gang that needs to contribute?"

"Of course not. As the Baron’s subjects, the Holy Hand Association must naturally contribute as well. I’ll be going to inform Daniels shortly."

Bard nodded slowly, leaning back in his plush chair, and fell into deep thought.

Ten days had passed since he had leaked the secret. Although the Baron had sent patrols to Forest Village and Broken Wave Bay to assert his sovereignty, no orders had been passed down to him.

Even now, Bard didn’t know what the Baron would do. Would he let Daniels off? Would he pretend not to know? Or would he collude with him?

What he feared most was the Baron joining forces with Daniels.

After all, it was a Magic Potion that could help people break through. Even if the ingredients were a bit special, someone was bound to give in to the temptation.

"My lord, are you not planning to send anyone?"

Monbodt was secretly delighted. ’If the Broken Wave Gang openly disobeys the order, another conflict will arise.’

"No. Go back and tell the Baron that I will have Gaius lead a team. As for me..."

He paused before adding, "My injuries haven’t fully healed. I won’t be participating in this operation."

"Er... Fine!"

Disappointed, Monbodt left Forest Village Castle and headed to Broken Wave Bay, where he received the same reply.

A single duel had smoothed away the sharp edges of the two forces that had been established on Black Forest Island for years.

He rode back, feeling helpless.

"Who are we sending tomorrow?"

Daniels looked at Uleir. "Will you lead the team, or should we have Simone do it?"

Neither of them doubted the truth of the matter. After all, Frog Fish Monsters had appeared more than once before, and the operation was scheduled for the next day.

If it were a lie, they would have found out today.

Uleir shrugged. "Simone completely obeys our commands now. A troublesome task like this should naturally be handed over to him."

Over a hundred Frog Fish Monsters, including a Level 3 Demon Beast... Uleir didn’t want the trouble, much less the risk.

Daniels considered that Bard was sending Gaius, who was stronger than Uleir. He didn’t want the Baron to think he was being negligent.

"Very well, go inform Simone. He will be the one tomorrow... No, Kalina, you go with him. With you there, he won’t dare say anything out of line."

Uleir was a bit reluctant. "Why do you always make Kalina go?"

Daniels chuckled. "Gaius is the Vice Leader of the Broken Wave Gang. It’s perfectly appropriate for me to send Kalina."

Kalina affectionately patted his shoulder. "Then why don’t you come with me?"

Uleir took her hand. "Alright then!"

Daniels maintained his smile, but inwardly, he was cursing the couple for acting like they were in heat right in front of him.

"Alright, stop fooling around. If Uleir goes, what if Simone breaks in and snatches Vera?"

He pointed to himself. "Are you expecting an old man like me to stop him?"

Kalina came to her senses. "That’s true."

Uleir sighed in resignation. "Fine. Let’s go. We’ll go inform that guy."

Lately, Simone had been spending his days drinking.

Although it was difficult for alcohol to numb a Human Tier Warrior, it depended on the quantity and, at the same time, the drinker’s mood.

Simone already had a weathered and downcast appearance. Now that he had lost Vera, it was as if his soul had been ripped out, leaving him in a constant daze.

When Kalina and Uleir arrived, the weather-beaten man was slumped over a table, dead drunk. The servants in the house didn’t dare approach him.

"Hey, Simone!"

Uleir roared. Seeing no reaction, he resorted to a threat.

"If you don’t want anything to happen to Vera, I suggest you lift your head and listen to me!"

The man on the table stirred and barely managed to raise his head, his eyes shot with blood.

That icy gaze made Uleir a little afraid.

But the thought that they held Vera gave him the courage to puff out his chest.

"Daniels orders you to take a team to Lingang Village tomorrow and assist the Baron in exterminating the invading Frog Fish Monsters!"

Kalina pinched her nose. She disliked the stale stench and the strong smell of alcohol in the room.

"You’d better stay sober. There are over a hundred Frog Fish Monsters this time. Besides us, Gaius from the Broken Wave Gang will also be leading a team."

Simone didn’t reply, as if he hadn’t heard.

Uleir had to bring up Vera again, which finally got a response from the drunkard. He agreed.

"Let’s go, let’s go!" Kalina was the first to leave.

The corner of Uleir’s mouth curled up as he glanced smugly at Simone.

In the past, Kalina would have been proactive and intimate with this guy, especially after learning he was from the Nobility.

But today, the look on her face showed she didn’t want to stay a second longer, which made Uleir feel like he had won.

He had a twisted personality, a bit like an extreme sycophant—something a normal person would find hard to understand.

After the two left, Simone’s expression remained cold.

But he was becoming increasingly sober. As his Fighting Qi circulated, the numbing effect of the alcohol in his system rapidly faded.

"The Baron!"

His eyes flickered as if he were contemplating something.

In a daze, he recalled the scene from two days ago when he went to visit Vera.

Daniels hadn’t been lying. He had indeed found girls to play with Vera and arranged for plenty of servants to attend to her.

But his daughter didn’t like any of it.

Several days of confinement had made his once well-behaved and lively daughter look haggard, with a vacant, dazed expression.

Especially when she saw him visit and then leave, her heart-wrenching, hysterical cries were enough to break anyone’s heart.

But Simone could only visit from across a doorway, with Uleir watching him closely. He didn’t even have a chance to go forward, hold his daughter, and comfort her.

The thought that his daughter might grow up to be withdrawn, or even twisted in character, made Simone slam his fist on the table!

CRACK!

The table shattered into pieces.

His gaze grew sharp, as if he had made some kind of decision.

If there was anyone whose power he could borrow to save his daughter now, looking across all of Black Forest Island, the only possibility was Duane.

Moreover, the man had previously invited him to join the Brian Clan.

’As long as I can save Vera, what does it matter if I serve you?’

Although it was still a matter of pledging allegiance and working for someone else, Duane and Daniels were fundamentally different.

Simone took a deep breath, his thoughts becoming clearer.

’Kalina will stick close to me tomorrow, monitoring my every move. Vera is still in their hands, so I can’t show any weakness.’

He stood up and paced back and forth in the room.

’I have to find a way to inform the Baron of my situation and my willingness to pledge allegiance, to seek his protection, without Kalina noticing!’

He couldn’t let Daniels control his daughter forever. He had to take action.