Chapter 276 - 249: Cooperating with the Princes

Chapter 276: Chapter 249: Cooperating with the Princes

"The Third Prince?" Uncle Musa leaned forward. He didn’t understand why Shire would choose him as a candidate for "cooperation."

"First," Shire said calmly, holding up one finger, "we’re not cooperating with just any nobles. As Red Bull develops, the Royal Family is bound to learn of it, and its production will gradually increase. So, to prevent others from coveting it, we might as well go directly to the Royal Family."

"Besides, from what I know, the two princes of the Royal Family are currently engaged in both open and secret strife." A mysterious smile touched his lips; the information he’d gotten from Yun Xiya had just reminded him of this. "When Valentine goes to the Royal Capital this time, he will certainly meet the Third Prince. And for the Third Prince, he needs Red Bull more."

"The Third Prince needs Red Bull more?" Musa looked at the goblin before him, feeling a bit bewildered. How could his young master live in the Nightmare Forest yet know so much about the Fran Kingdom, even down to the affairs of Plantagenet City?

"Based on what I learned when I was a Political Assistant in Plantagenet City, the Second Prince’s maternal family is quite powerful, and their territories are concentrated around the Royal Capital. This is one of the reasons why, after his mother was poisoned, the Eldest Prince was immediately imprisoned and stripped of his succession rights. Those nobles all conspired together." Shire paused as if recalling something. "It’s also one of the reasons the Duke of the North didn’t take any drastic action."

"The Duke of the North who commands the troops at Fortress ’Giant Nest’ and defends against the army of the northern Argon Kingdom?" Uncle Musa sat up a little straighter. He had heard the great Duke’s name many times and knew he commanded a large army. As the Supreme Commander responsible for fending off the northern kingdom’s probing attacks, he was often spoken of.

"Yes. The Eldest Prince was originally the first in line for the throne. Although his mother died of illness, his maternal uncle was still around. But unfortunately, that guy..." Shire shook his head, his tone tinged with regret, "only knows how to brandish swords and spears. He’s got nothing but muscle in his head. I suspect his downfall had everything to do with the concerted efforts of those Great Nobles around the Royal Capital."

"Then why don’t we choose the Second Prince?"

"For that, we have our ’philandering’ His Majesty the King to thank. He fathered the Third Prince, but unfortunately, in an attempt to balance the Great Nobles—or perhaps just playing with fire and trying to create some kind of aristocratic equilibrium—the Third Prince’s maternal family isn’t a prominent Great Noble house." Shire tapped the table slowly, his tone mocking. "His mother’s family can only be called second-rate nobles. But they are clearly very ambitious."

"They can’t compete with the Great Nobles surrounding the Royal City, so they’ve turned their attention to the four corners of the Fran Kingdom. The Border Counts and Barons have become their targets for recruitment."

"So Count Valentine and the Third Prince already have a connection," Musa instantly recalled what Shire had just said.

"Correct. I even suspect it was the Third Prince who plotted against our family." Shire slammed his hand on the table, a trace of contempt in his eyes. "That ’Poodle’ is playing a pretty big game."

"The Third Prince plotted against our family?"

"Yes. His maternal family isn’t that strong, but they still need to win over those border nobles. Besides promising them a share of the spoils after future political and military struggles, they also need to offer some cold, hard cash. And that’s not to mention needing to support a sizable army to stand against the Great Nobles and the Duke of the North." Shire pursed his lips, his voice laced with resentment. "That requires money. A lot of Gold Coins."

"So the Third Prince and his maternal family set their sights on..." Uncle Musa’s fist tightened, and he ground out the words through clenched teeth, "Deep. Water. Port."

"That’s just my speculation; it might not be the case," Shire said, waving his hand dismissively. "The person managing the city hall’s affairs in Torch City now... I suppose they must be one of the Second Prince’s people, right?"

"Young Master, you are truly wise," Musa nodded hastily. "It is indeed one of the Second Prince’s men."

"The Third Prince would have immediately filled the port and its surrounding positions with his own people. The Second Prince, on the other hand..." Shire thought for a moment. "As the noble everyone calls ’the most magnanimous and merciful in the Royal City,’ he would certainly have someone take over administrative duties first to pacify the common folk."

"As for the infighting with the Third Prince’s officials, that’s naturally just the underling officials trying to claim credit for themselves." He shook his head and sneered, his face full of disdain for the Royal Family’s internal struggles. "And now that you tell me they’ve started hiring Necromancers to control those skeletal sailors at sea, it seems they’re having quite a lively squabble."

"So, are we approaching the Third Prince because he’s short on money?" Uncle Musa asked immediately.

"Correct. He won’t refuse us. The Second Prince, in contrast, would refuse us openly but contact us in private. And cooperating with the Second Prince is far more dangerous." Shire narrowed his eyes. "Once the Great Nobles discover that Red Bull production is increasing, they will definitely move against us, trying every means possible to seize it for themselves, just like they dealt with the Naga Race in the past."

"And the Third Prince?"

"The ’Poodle’ won’t. At least, not for a while. He needs a stable income of Gold Coins to build connections with the border nobles. He won’t take the risk of wasting this channel of revenue. And by the time he does get ideas about taking it all for himself, the political situation—or rather, the war—won’t allow him to entertain that thought."

"Alright then. I’ll set off for Plantagenet City at once with the Red Bull." Uncle Musa started to get up, but Shire held out a hand to stop him.

"Not like that. Charging in directly will give people too many ideas," Shire said, looking at Musa, who had sat back down. He began to lay out his own plan. "We should first contact the officials in Torch City, the ones who manage the port. As long as we establish a connection with them, we can establish a connection with the ’Poodle.’ That way, we can make him willingly stock up on Red Bull."

"Won’t that be a little slow?"

"No. He must be very short on money right now; otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone through the Adventurer Association to clear out those Undead Monsters. You have to remember, a large portion of the Adventurer Association’s funding comes from the state and donations from the Four Great Churches. As long as we make our approach, those officials will report to the Prince very quickly."

"What reason should we use?"

"Tax exemption," Shire said with a mysterious smile. "This is a privilege that those merchants could never get from our family, no matter how hard they tried. Now, we can be the ones to propose it to them."

"Will they agree to a tax exemption?" Musa asked hesitantly.

"The tax exemption is just a pretext to get a meeting," Shire said, hopping off his chair and walking over to a small chest behind Uncle Musa. "Once they see this, I’m sure they’ll be more than willing to meet with you, Uncle. And by then, the course of events will no longer be up to them."

With that, Shire opened the chest. Musa’s eyes widened in shock. The chest was filled with Beast Cores of all sizes.