Imperial Crown.

Chapter 25: Recovering Shanjin Town, he has to thank us
When she saw the haggard Raven getting off the carriage, Denise smiled for the first time and said teasingly, "My Lord Baron, is your process of 'recovering' Goldshire going smoothly?"

"Thank you for your concern, aunt. Everything went smoothly." Raven stretched. "In less than a week, Shimmering Gold Town will be back in the territory of Eagle Territory."

Of course Denise wouldn't believe it. She raised a disdainful smile and folded her hands over her chest to squeeze her northern hemisphere even fuller: "Ha! If that's the case, I'd rather wash your feet!"

Raven's eyes suddenly lit up: "Then you have to wear a maid outfit."

"I won't go! I won't go! I won't go to school—"

A pig-slaughtering howl sounded, and Weston, who was tied up like a pig, was being pushed out by Goyle and Link.

But as soon as his eyes met Raven, he immediately became obedient and his face turned extremely pale.

He was so afraid of Raven that he was afraid he would pull out his crossbow and attack him again.

Raven glanced at Visdon. With the help of divine magic, the wound on his shoulder had completely healed, but there was no way he could replant a severed limb. Not to mention in the Eagle Territory, even in the City of Mon'en, no one would be able to do it.

"What is this for?" Raven asked.

"Send him back to Mon'en City." Denise said coldly, "He has been relaxing here for too long. He needs to go back to continue his studies."

This may not be a lie, but it is definitely not the whole truth.

Raven could also understand that no matter how much a mother loved her son, she would still feel a little resentful after learning that he had been betrayed.

Weisdong pleaded in a low voice: "Mom, do I really have to go back? Please let me stay, I promise I will be good and obedient..."

This sentence made Denise's eyes flash with real reluctance and kindness. She patted Weisdong's shoulder and said, "Be good, go back, study hard, and become a real man. Mom will also help you find a way to repair your arm."

Looking at this scene, Raven sighed inwardly.

Denise's concern and love for Weston are real, but her determination to send him away is also real; it is true that Weston betrayed Denise, but her reluctance to let him go is also real.

Maybe this is the complexity of human nature.

As soon as he returned to the hall, Raven ran into old Gordon.

Seeing his appearance, Old Gordon was also shocked, and a trace of anger appeared on his face: "Lord Raven, Viscount John dared to humiliate you like this?!"

Raven's heart warmed, and he smiled and said, "No, I just played a little play with him."

"I'm going back to my room to sleep for a while. You go to Eric first and divide the money in the box into three parts: 3,000, 2,000, and 1,000 gold coins. Then wake me up when Viscount John's carriage appears on the horizon."

"Okay, Master Raven..." Old Gordon nodded in agreement, and then realized the amount Raven mentioned: "Master, you just said gold coins!?"

"Yeah." Raven nodded matter-of-factly, "Any questions?"

Old Gordon swallowed his saliva and said, "Could this money be taken from the treasury of Snow Maple Castle?"

Raven was amused by Old Gordon: "Don't worry, they are all legitimate. I don't have the ability to rob a viscount!"

"But don't rely on these 6,000 gold coins to make your budget. It's hard to say how much you'll have left."

Old Gordon was a little confused about what Raven said, but considering that Raven had not missed anything since he came to Eagle Territory, he stopped asking questions and helped Eric sort out the gold coins.

Although he was mentally prepared, he still couldn't help holding his breath when he saw the box of yellow gold coins.

Six thousand gold coins!
During the heyday of the Eagle Territory, the annual income was only around a thousand gold coins!

With this money, not only can we renovate Eagle Castle and make it look brand new, but we can also buy more subjects from other lords, reclaim more land, and earn more income!

Yes, slave trade is prohibited on the mainland, but only people who possess human rights can give up their human rights and become slaves. Serfs cannot be considered human beings, so naturally no one will protect their rights.

The Keynes Empire has enjoyed peace for a hundred years, and the population of many territories has expanded to the limit. For many lords, it is no longer a wealth but a burden.

"I hope this money can be kept, at least part of it." Old Gordon prayed secretly: "Even if it's only one thousand, no, five hundred gold coins!"

Raven didn't know about old Gordon's request, he was thinking about something else.

During last night's conversation, he buried three baits.

The Slater family, Bloody Heights, Angel's Tears, no matter which one John noticed, he would eventually lead the "bandit invasion" incident to the Slater family itself.

Next, it depends on whether Viscount John will take the bait.

Do your best and leave the rest to fate. There is no point in thinking too much. Raven lay down on the bed without even taking off his clothes - he was really too tired.

Just when I was confused, there was a rapid and heavy knock on the door.

Raven opened his eyes and saw the midday sun shining on the curtains. He asked impatiently, "What's the matter?"

Eric's voice rang out: "Lord Raven, it's Viscount John! His carriage has passed through Eagle Town!"

"What!?" Raven sat up from the bed, surprised and happy: "Why did he come so early?"

Eric said, "I heard that his butler had both legs broken in Goldshire."

"Oh, I didn't expect Viscount John to be so impatient." Raven said with a smile.

His request to Hyde was to reject all invitations from the Luke family, but he didn't expect Hyde to do even more than he expected.

But think about it, Hyde is such a proud guy, first he was controlled by me, and then Viscount John only sent a butler to meet him, it's hard not to get angry.

Opening the door, Raven quickly ordered, "Go to the kitchen immediately and find me some leftovers from last night. Put them on a plate and bring them to the conference room. Then you and old Gordon, try to act as if you don't care about me."

As he spoke, he took off his gloves and began to slap his cheeks hard.

Ten minutes later, when John saw Raven in the conference room, he was stunned.

Raven looked even more listless than when I first met him. His eyes were almost closed and his cheeks had an unnatural blush. On the table was dry and hard black bread. The bowl of soup was pitch black and there were even flies around it. He looked so miserable!
He now believed Raven's words 100%.

Although I saw a few familiar faces when I entered the castle before, those private soldiers were all wearing chain mail and had undisguised murderous intent in their eyes. This was definitely not something a group of peasants could pretend!
"Baron, Mr. John is here." Old Gordon said in a low voice.

"Oh! Really?!" Raven shook his head in realization. He pointed to the seat opposite him and said, "Viscount John, please sit down! Forgive me, I am not very sober right now."

As he spoke, his hand touched the soup bowl and he immediately flew into a rage: "Where's the maid!? Maid! Why would there be something like this left on my conference table!?"

Old Gordon reminded expressionlessly: "The maids are all dead."

"Oh, yes, dead." Raven nodded nervously and looked at John: "Viscount John, what's the matter with you coming to me?"

Seeing Raven in such a horrible state, John felt really uncomfortable, and a feeling of grief for the loss of his friend spread in his heart.

If I still refuse to hand over Shining Gold Town, will Raven's present be my future?
He swallowed his saliva and said, "Lord Raven, about the matter of Goldshire..."

"Goldshire is a really good place. There are a lot of people, it's beautiful, and there's a lot of tax revenue." Raven murmured, "It's really a good place."

The more irrelevant Raven's words were, the more flustered John became. He said, "I came here this time to return the money to Shining Gold Town. If you give me five thousand gold coins, I will immediately return the original lease documents to you!"

He raised his hand, took the parchment bag handed to him by the retainer Vongola, and pushed it in front of Raven.

The latter did not accept it as he expected, but just twitched his mouth slightly and pushed the parchment bag back.

"Baron Raven, what are you doing...?" "It's too late, Viscount John." Raven scratched his nose, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the ceiling with lifeless eyes: "Golden Town is no longer important to me..."

As he spoke, tears suddenly welled up in his eyes: "Oh, my little Jiadi, my pearl, she will never come back, never come back..."

This time, not only John, but also old Gordon and Eric were stunned.

Who is Little Katie? I've never seen a maid with this name in the castle! ?

But Viscount John understood.

Raven has always been nicknamed "Little Bee", so it is natural for him to have an illegitimate daughter outside. Now it seems that Hyde was using this illegitimate daughter to threaten Raven before.

Because Raven was incompetent, Hyde simply killed her!

It must be like this.

"Lord Raven, the dead cannot be resurrected." John persuaded: "You are still young, you will find a suitable partner and give birth to new heirs."

This is of course a lie. How could the Slater family allow a puppet to have offspring?

There was a hint of anger in Raven's eyes: "Yes, you are right, I am still young, I still have a chance!"

He sat up and asked again, "What on earth did you come to see me about?"

John was so angry that he almost broke down.

So everything I just said was in vain, right?

But since it was about the safety of Xuefeng Territory, he had to calm down and think: "I am here to return Shanjin Town. As long as you can give me 5,000 gold coins, this lease document can be handed over to you immediately."

"Oh! Yes, Goldshire!" Raven slapped his forehead and said with a wry smile, "It's too late. I told you that Hyde only gave me 4,000 gold coins, but I couldn't convince you, and of course I couldn't keep that much money..."

"I only have my own 1,000 gold coins in my hand now."

John frowned, "Too little! You know, I spent 10,000 gold coins in one go to sign the agreement!"

"Then you can take the document back." Raven said, "Mr. Hyde has left. What good will it do me to get the document now?"

This time, it was John's turn to persuade Raven: "It's useful, of course it's useful! Baron Raven, think about it this way, the reason why you lost little Katie is because you didn't do your job well and were punished by Hyde."

"But if you can take back Shining Gold Town, it will be a meritorious service for your crime, and the Slater family will definitely reward you!"

Raven's eyes gleamed: "Reward me?"

"Yes, reward you!" John struck while the iron was hot: "Fine wine, delicious food, and beautiful women! Slater is an earl family, they will definitely not be stingy!"

"In that case..." Raven scratched his head. "In addition to my own 1,000 gold coins, Mr. Hyde also left me 3,000 gold coins as payment for goods. This is for purchasing raw materials, building factories, and recruiting personnel after he takes back Shimmering Gold Town."

Hearing this, John felt both scared and happy.

It seems that the Slater family has indeed made up their mind to resolve the issue by force, otherwise they would never have left so much money.

Fortunately, he arrived early. If he had to wait until the bandits from the Bloody Heights came to kill him, he would probably have lost everything!
"Then four thousand gold coins!" John said, "Four thousand gold coins, and you can take back Shining Gold Town!"

Raven grabbed his hair and looked at Old Gordon next to him: "Then take out all the gold coins in the warehouse."

As he said this, he winked slightly.

Old Gordon was a very experienced man. Although he didn't know Raven's plan, he guessed it from the conversation between the two and instantly found his role: "This is still too much. You can use your gold coins as you like, but the Slater family's..."

Raven looked at John with a helpless expression: "Then I'm afraid I can only refuse..."

"Three thousand gold coins!" John shouted, "Three thousand gold coins, and you can take back Goldshire."

As he spoke, he looked at Old Gordon with a gleaming gaze: "Mr. Gordon, three thousand gold coins is definitely a good deal. If we really have to use force, the losses caused by the bandits will also have a serious negative impact on the future construction and production of the territory, which can never be made up by one or two thousand gold coins!"

"Hmm..." Old Gordon pushed up his monocle.

Although he seemed calm, he was actually very happy.

Let Viscount John beg for it humbly, and you can get back Shining Gold Town for three thousand gold coins!

This is something Gordon never dared to dream of!
How on earth did the Baron do it!?

"I think we can give it a try. What do you think, Lord Raven?"

Raven drew circles on the table with his fingers: "Then my thousand gold coins will be gone..."

Gordon's heart skipped a beat. If he continued to lower the price, what if Baron John left in anger?
"Two thousand five hundred gold coins!" John gritted his teeth and said, "Even if it's because I stood on your side at the funeral!"

"Then I can still keep 500 gold coins..." Raven nodded numbly: "Okay, since Viscount John said so, Eric, go and get the gold coins."

"Ah... OK!" Eric stood up from his chair suddenly, still confused.

How did I just spend 2,500 gold coins to take back the town of Shining Gold? !

But his advantage is that if he can't figure something out, he just doesn't think about it. He wears heavy armor and goes to the vault with a grunt.

Not long after, he came back carrying a box.

"Can you check it?" Gordon pointed to the box.

Viscount John waved his hand, and Vongola held the box in his arms, shook it gently, and then nodded at the former.

John let out a long breath and threw the brown paper bag in front of Raven like a hot potato. "I have other things to do in the territory, so I won't bother you any more."

After that, turn around and leave!
Gordon took the paper bag and immediately took out a letter opener to open it. When he saw the lease document with both family and personal seals, his eyes suddenly became red!
Ten years! Goldshine Town has been rented out for a full ten years!
Old Gordon thought that he would never see the day when it returns to Eagle Ridge in his lifetime. Unexpectedly, Baron Raven took it back just two months after taking the throne, and he used 2,500 gold coins, which was an impossible low price in his opinion!

Considering the future relationship with Viscount John, Old Gordon asked in a low voice: "Sir, are we going too far..."

Raven raised his eyebrows and responded in a low voice: "What's too much? He should thank us!"

As if in response to Raven's words, Viscount John, who had walked to the door of the conference room, turned around and saluted: "Thank you for your generosity and magnanimity!"

When Viscount John disappeared at the end of the corridor, Raven showed a relaxed smile on his face!

The performances of these two days were not in vain.

Shanjin Town was finally taken back by him!

And he still had a huge sum of 3,500 gold coins left in his hand!
"Gordon, Eric, cheer up!" Raven slammed the table and said loudly: "Next, the meeting officially begins."

“The topic is—

Spend money! "

……

(End of this chapter)