Chapter 768: The Phoenix Family’s Second Son

The rough-mannered Viscount House has no objection, but Viscount Pierre protests at once.

"Absolutely not!"

Fenas asks, "We haven't even named a price. How can you refuse already?"

Pierre waves him off. "No price would be enough!"

Pierre turns back to Kaku. "Young master, you cannot do this."

"Keeping the supplies for ourselves is one thing. Selling them to outsiders would be something else entirely."

"Young master, look at what they want!"

"Thunderclap Ballista Bolts, Heart-Piercing Lotuses, stamina-restoring potions, enhancement potions..."

"Every item on that list is under Peace Haven's strict export controls!"

"If we use them ourselves, we can still explain. But if we sell them..."

"Peace Haven will take the matter straight to the duke. Any punishment we receive would be minor. The real problem is that every plan we have would collapse."

Eric winces theatrically. "Oh, if that is the case, we certainly won't press the matter."

"I could never live with myself if the duke scolded Count Kaku again because of us."

Kaku scowls. "Do not mock me. I am not a child who lets his father scold and beat him at will."

"Name your price. I will consider it."

Viscount Pierre shoots to his feet. "Young master! Absolutely not! This will..."

Kaku cuts him off with a raised hand. "Enough! I know what I am doing. I do not need a lecture from you!"

Eric beams and claps. "Good, good! Brother Kaku truly is a man destined for great things!"

He gestures toward Fenas. "Show Count Kaku how sincere we are."

Kaku takes the slip of paper Fenas brings him. His eyebrow rises as he looks at Eric.

Eric smiles. "Well? Have we shown enough sincerity?"

Kaku crushes the slip in one hand. "Add fifty percent. No bargaining."

Eric freezes for a moment, then sighs. "Ah, since Young Master Kaku is so direct, I have nothing more to say. We will do it your way."

Late that night, Kaku's supporters gather in his study.

Viscount Pierre pleads with him again. "Young master, we truly cannot sell those supplies."

"Eric is up to no good. He waited until his elder brother Glens went north to fight."

"Only then did he begin taking over the family's authority. Sudden power has gone straight to his head!"

"He knows neither how formidable Henwell is nor how powerful Peace Haven has become. We know both very well."

Viscount House takes a long drink. "That sounds like a jab at Young Master Kaku. Are you saying he rose only because Orak went away?"

Pierre's longsword clears its sheath. "Are you insulting my loyalty to the family?"

House draws his own sword. "What? You old fool, do you want to duel me?"

Kaku slams a hand down. "Enough! Both of you, sit!"

He turns to House. "Think before you speak! Without Uncle Pierre's support, I would never have come this far."

"You have no right to question his loyalty. Apologize to Uncle Pierre now!"

House reluctantly sheathes his sword and apologizes. Kaku then turns to Pierre. "Uncle, I have no other choice."

"Now that we have taken this step, there is no turning back."

"My elder brother's confidants are flocking to Peace Haven. I must seize this chance and strengthen my own forces."

"In this age, military power is the only thing we can rely on!"

"All our armies together number only ten thousand, and their fighting strength is nowhere near Peace Haven's."

"Even if I empty the family's coffers, how many troops could I possibly maintain?"

"Of course I know that Eric and the others harbor ill intentions."

"I am not a fool. I know perfectly well that they are using me."

"But you saw their offer. That money will arm another eight thousand troops."

"In six months, I will take this new legion to the Northern Mountain Front."

"Only by fighting there will I have a chance to sway the mixed legion."

"Once the mixed legion backs me, my place as heir will be secure."

Pierre sighs. "Kaku, it is not that simple."

"The mixed legion's commanders all lean toward Peace Haven. They will be wary of you from the start."

Kaku remains calm. "Of course I know that. But Peace Haven's future strategy will inevitably turn south."

"The Phoenix family will always belong to the Phoenix family!"

"Most of those soldiers came from our family. They know whom they should serve."

"I can give them wealth and titles. What can Peace Haven give them?"

"By now, we all know Peace Haven will never establish a nobility."

"That is a challenge to the entire noble class!"

"If the mixed legion's soldiers want to rise above ordinary men, and its officers want the glory of nobility, they must return and swear loyalty to me."

Excitement glints in Kaku's eyes. "Peace Haven looks powerful, but the institution it means to uproot is stronger still."

"Arius, Fabio, every noble in the kingdom, and every noble on the continent will become its enemies."

"I cannot overthrow Peace Haven, much less contend with a prodigy like Henwell."

"But I do not want much. I only want what should have been mine!"

"Apply a little leverage at the right point, and we can claim our share from this struggle."

"I know they are using me. But I am using their power as well."

"Let them do the dirty work. As long as we do not cross the line, Peace Haven will not break openly with us."

"Besides, none of this harms the family. We are preparing to make it stronger!"

A few days later, Peace Haven's representatives return empty-handed.

Kaku smiles, stalls, and insists that he will personally deliver the supplies to the Northern Mountain Front later.

He claims he has not taken them for himself and is merely preparing to fight in the north.

After some discussion, Peace Haven shelves the matter until Henwell emerges from seclusion.

Kaku's faction seems convinced that it has read Peace Haven correctly.

Two months later, it intercepts another shipment of northbound supplies.

This time is different. They cannot let Kaku continue unchecked.

Each shipment is worth nearly a million gold coins.

With no other option, they ask Melissa to intervene.

Melissa leaves at once for Phoenix family territory. Several days later, she returns and tells them to drop the matter.

Duke Jansen has promised it will not happen again.

Only Rawkins and a few others know Melissa never met Duke Jansen, or at least not at first.

Duchess Grace summoned her away outside Wolfclaw City.

The duchess apologized for Kaku's actions, then made him apologize to Melissa in person.

She also offered one million gold coins and asked Melissa to accept them as payment for the supplies.

Presented with that arrangement, Melissa has to consider the Phoenix family's relationship with Henwell, especially Duke Jansen's.

She insists there must never be another incident, but refuses the money and calls the supplies a gift of respect to Duchess Grace.

When Rawkins and the others learn what happened, they all fall silent.

A dark shadow has begun to gather over Peace Haven.

Cumberland of the Military Intelligence Office studies the document in his hand, then destroys it.