Chapter 798: A Lone Mediator

Kaku enters the castle council chamber, where his closest confidants are already waiting.

Viscount Pierre immediately asks, "My lord, how did it go? What did Duke Jansen say?"

Kaku shakes his head. "Father refuses to see me."

He sweeps his gaze around the room. "Have you found anything? Who poisoned my father? Who's trying to kill him and me along with him?"

No one answers. Kaku roars, "I never wanted to usurp him, much less murder my own father!"

"I know I am not capable of leading the Phoenix family!"

"The Church has also made it clear that it will not allow my elder brother to return!"

"My father may have named Henwell second in line to inherit the family, but everyone knows he won't come and claim the position."

"Henwell intends to support my elder brother's child. All I wanted was to win a chance for my own child!"

"The family's power will not pass to anyone of our generation. It can only be inherited by the next."

"I have neither a reason nor a motive to murder Father!"

Pierre sighs. "My lord, it's too late for that. We believe you, and even Henwell might believe you."

"But that doesn't matter. Peace Haven won't believe you because it doesn't care about the truth. It only wants an opportunity."

"An opportunity to intervene openly and legitimately in the Phoenix family's affairs."

"They'll make the accusation stick and brand us as the people who murdered the head of the family."

"Peace Haven has no nobles, so it will not allow us to remain nobles either!"

"Whether Henwell wants it or not, Peace Haven will use this chance to purge every voice in Phoenix that opposes it."

"My lord!"

"This is a no-win situation."

"The outcome became inevitable the moment you started dealing with Eric of the Descartes family."

One of Kaku's confidants, Viscount House, speaks up. "My lord, Viscount Dadanis sent a verbal message."

"He hopes you will make your decision as soon as possible."

"Once you agree and the family council convenes, every member will elect you as the new head of the family."

Kaku sneers. "Heh... Looks like Uncle Tuster has decided to push me forward and let me take the blow."

House lowers his voice. "My lord, if you become head of the family quickly enough, it remains to be seen who will shield whom."

"The Church has offered to preside over your investiture ceremony and guarantees that Arius will compromise."

"We can then place all the blame on Count Tuster. The Church has promised to cooperate with us on that point as well."

"When the time comes, we can say that Count Tuster invited Ika's army into our territory and allowed the Descartes forces across the border."

"If Henwell demands accountability, we can offer them up as the targets."

"We are willing to let the titles held by half of Phoenix's nobility be abolished. We cannot control that half anyway."

"Afterward, Lady Grace can negotiate with Henwell. Once we have made such a concession, Peace Haven should stop."

"With the Calamity War about to begin in earnest, Peace Haven cannot bear the consequences of either breaking with us or forcibly purging us."

The people in the chamber find the proposal rather tempting.

Count Tuster's side is probably making the same calculation.

Count Tuster's side is likely making the same calculation.

They want the Kaku faction to take the blame when Henwell strikes, calming his anger, satisfying Peace Haven, and eliminating their enemy in one move.

The following evening, a solitary figure arrives outside Silver Claw City.

After presenting his pass and entering the city, he heads straight for the duke's castle.

At the castle gates, the visitor asks the guards to announce him.

Kaku asks in confusion, "An envoy from Peace Haven? Did he give his name? Did he bring a letter?"

"No. He came alone, he is quite young, and he says he has a verbal message for you, Lord Kaku."

Kaku looks at the others. "What do you think?"

Pierre considers the question for a moment. "Let him in. We should hear what he has to say."

A little more than ten minutes later, the messenger appears before them.

Everyone freezes when the messenger enters. The young man's face looks strangely familiar.

He bows. "Pabos Phoenix Rudolph greets the elders of the family!"

Everyone in the room, Kaku included, shoots to their feet.

Kaku points at him with a trembling hand. "You... Why are you here?"

Pabos smiles. "To solve the trouble facing both our sides. The situation isn't out of control yet, so we still have one chance."

"As my father's eldest son, it is my duty to step forward and resolve this problem while he is in seclusion."

"I represent no one in Peace Haven today. I represent only my father's wishes."

"My father does not want a war, nor does he want conflict between our two sides."

"At this critical moment, we must set aside our differences and face our common enemy together!"

Kaku frowns. "Is this Lady Melissa's decision?"

Pabos shakes his head. "I made myself clear. I came here representing only myself, though my blood also allows me to speak for my father."

Kaku asks, "Then tell us. What solution do you have?"

Pabos answers, "First, mobilize immediately and attack Count Tuster. Fight them to the death."

"Don't merely defeat or rout them, and don't take captives. Kill every noble in the Tuster faction."

"Only then can you place everything on their shoulders. The dead cannot argue in their own defense."

"After that, accept a one-rank demotion in title and surrender all military command and governing authority."

"You will remain nobles, but you will have no legal immunity. You will receive one-third of the revenue from governing your former lands."

"You will not need to do anything. You can simply lie back and collect the money."

Kaku scoffs. "Naive! Your father is not a king. He has no authority to strip us of our titles!"

Pabos nods. "My father is indeed not a king, but he is far more formidable than one."

Everyone falls silent. They cannot deny the truth of that statement.

Kaku waves a hand. "Tell us the second option."

Pabos points south. "Our Expeditionary Zone's fleet has found a sizable island in the open sea. It covers four thousand square kilometers."

"The climate is mild and the resources are plentiful. As the sea route develops, the island will become a strategic resupply hub for the Expeditionary Zone's maritime exploration."

"Returning to the mainland is convenient as well. The voyage to the coast takes only half a month."

Kaku asks in confusion, "Why are you telling us this?"

Pabos answers, "Because that's your second option. Run. Take everything you can carry, and we'll provide the ships."

"The island will belong to you. You can remain nobles there and live safer, more prosperous lives."

Kaku stares at him, then bursts out laughing. "Hahaha... You really are a child. Do you even understand what you're saying?"

Pabos sighs. "Of course I do. I don't have my father's wisdom, and this is the only solution I've managed to find in nearly a year."

"I am trying to save your lives and the lives of many others."

"My father is exhausted. I only want to ease his burden so he does not have to waste so much energy on matters like these."

"What arrogance!"

Pabos answers calmly, "I have the standing to say it, don't I?"