Imperial Crown.

Chapter 299 Dilemma
When there was a knock on the door in Fox Castle, someone also knocked on Raven's door in Eagle City.

Raven was currently reviewing the letters from the nobles, and was personally formulating a general response plan for each letter.

This is for Junason.

Old Gordon was busy with warehousing and material allocation. Fiona was not only responsible for assisting her grandfather, but also had to take care of the affairs of the college.

Currently, Zhu Nasheng is the only clerk who has some experience in official documents.

But Raven couldn't fully trust his abilities, so he had to decide on a general direction first.

Pulling a letter aside, Raven said without even looking up, "Come in."

Immediately, the door was slightly opened and a woman in a black burqa walked in.

As soon as you enter the door, you will smell a rich floral scent that will lift your spirits.

Under the burqa, her figure sways like a lotus in the wind, charming and attractive.

But Raven subconsciously moved his chair back and covered his nose with his hand: "Stop, just stand there, don't come any closer."

"Master..." A hand with black nails reached out from under the robe and lifted the hat, revealing Margaret's sprouting potato-like head: "I am here this time..."

"Take it." Without giving Margaret a chance to speak, Raven threw a crystal bottle to her: "Come back to me if you don't have enough."

It has been a year since Margaret returned from her serious injury.

In fact, her injuries had basically healed half a year ago - at least she didn't have to hold her head in her hands while walking every day.

Her strength has not yet fully recovered. Even with the Essence of Corrupted Souls, she has only just recovered to level three, five stars, and there is still a certain distance from level three, nine stars in her heyday.

But the stink she was emitting was becoming more and more like the one when Raven first met her.

"I have to remind you that you can't cover up your odor by just spraying perfume. Take a shower more often!"

"I won't care about what happens between you and William."

Margaret took the crystal bottle filled with the essence of the corrupted soul, put it away, and rubbed her palms again: "Master, I am taking a bath, but I am very old after all. When witches get old, they will be like this..."

At this point, Margaret's tone became a little sour: "Of course, except for the divine blood witch like An Nuo."

Raven was silent, which meant that he had no time to chat and did not want to be disturbed by the witch anymore.

Margaret did not leave, but lowered her head and cautiously asked: "Master, you are about to attack the Principality of Eivor."

"War doesn't just happen on the battlefield. A beautiful and loyal woman can also play a significant role."

"I hope you can give me a beautiful enough body, so that I can help you accomplish many things!"

Pausing what he was doing, Raven looked at Margaret and said, "So, you already have a goal in mind?"

"Yes, Master, you really have eyes that can see through people's hearts!" Margaret swallowed her saliva, with a greedy look in her eyes:

"I'm hoping it'll be Patty. She's very beautiful, but she's only an alchemist. I can totally take her place!"

"Or Jenny, she's also very beautiful, and I swear, she won't let anyone see any flaws, and she can inherit her identity and help you win over Simon!"

After saying this, she looked at Raven expectantly, wanting to get a positive answer.

“Petit, Jenny…” Raven sneered and nodded repeatedly, uttering one word:

"roll!"

Margaret wanted to plead, but as Raven frowned, a scarlet curse light began to shine on her chest.

With a scream, the witch bowed hastily and rushed out of the room.

Raven closed his eyes and turned his attention back to the letter.

If the witch provided a more unfamiliar name, Raven would not punish her, nor would he reject her so quickly. He might even agree to it after examining her.

Although the witch asked for the skin out of selfish motives, her words made sense.

A beautiful woman who knows how to please a man can do things that a man cannot do.

But she has stretched her hands too far. She must be taught a lesson to curb her boundless greed.

If I let her off today, she might dare to target Fiona, or even Denise or Nancy next time.

Meanwhile, Foxburg.

Anthony was kneeling naked on the bed, with a delicate girl under him.

The girl was lying on her back, her hands tightly grasping the sheets, her skin flushed.

Behind Anthony, there was a woman massaging his back.

Anthony, who was enjoying himself, heard a knock on the door, but he didn't want to pay attention to it - what could happen in the Nord Province now?

Last year, Anthony was the first governor of the four disaster-stricken provinces to propose that there was no need for tax reductions.

With him as an example, the other three provinces had to follow suit.

Of course Anthony knew that this would make people hate him, but so what?

It is enough that His Majesty the King is happy.

To consolidate this, he imposed a "spear tax" at the beginning of this year.

If he can make His Majesty the King happy and allow the Nord Province to live a good life, then he doesn't mind being a good person.

But, I can't do it.

Antony was a court noble whose power came from the king and the king alone.

When the interests of the king conflict with the interests of the Nordic provinces, taking sides is naturally not an option.

Anthony's efforts paid off.

His Majesty the King granted him a manor on the outskirts of the royal capital and made his eldest son a viscount.

Although he had no fiefdom, at the beginning of the year, his eldest son had entered the cabinet as a clerk, and it was very likely that he would inherit his father's business in the future.

This certainly needs to be celebrated.

Following a loud scream from the girl on the bed, Anthony smiled, pecked her on the face, then stood up and cleaned himself with the help of the young woman beside him.

Anthony put on his clothes slowly and walked out of the room refreshed, and saw Akori with a bitter face.

"Finally I'm not as irritable as before, but it's still not enough." Anthony adjusted his collar and said, "Next time if you're not sure what I'm doing, just wait at the door for a while and don't rush to knock."

"One or two hours, no one will die."

Akori looked at Anthony's trembling legs as he stood there, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Anthony, however, had already started walking: "Tell me what's the matter? Don't delay the evening party."

"Yes... it's news from Eagle City." Akori followed in small steps and handed over the document in his arms.

"Just read it." Anthony didn't care.

"This..." Akori hesitated slightly, but still started reading.

Just as he read the third line, Anthony suddenly stopped and snatched the document from his hand.

After reading line by line, Anthony rubbed his eyes and read it carefully again.

He was finally sure that he was not mistaken. Raven really wanted to mobilize soldiers from the five northwestern counties to attack the Principality of Eivor.

"Why did you send it to me now?" Anthony said in a dry voice: "It has been released for 4 days!"

“…Raven did not use mercenaries, but rather issued an announcement through the Imperial Post System, so it was only delivered just now.” Akori said.

"The evening party is cancelled." Anthony turned away expressionlessly: "I have official business to attend to. No one is allowed to disturb me."

Without waiting for Akori's response, Anthony left quickly.

He tried hard to maintain his walking posture, hoping that others would not notice anything unusual, but his steps became faster and faster, attracting the attention of the servants on the road.

In the end, Anthony almost threw open the door of the study. Throwing the statement on the table, Anthony rushed to the desk, opened the drawer, took out a bottle of medicine, bit the stopper with his teeth and drank it whole.

Anthony sat down on the chair with a thud, and half of his body slid down. He put his hand on his chest, and it took him a long time to recover.

He picked up the document that he had just dropped on the table, looked at it again, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help twitching, so he threw it away.

The parchment fluttered in the air and fell to the ground like a feather.

"Raven, how dare you!!!"

This action shows that he does not respect his authority as the governor at all!
Who is he?
It's Anthony Vanya Edwards!

Imperial Marquis! Governor of the Nord Province!

Trying to crush Raven to death is as easy as crushing an ant.

But now, this ant dared to mobilize the army without his permission and even threatened to go to war with other countries.

Anthony grabbed a quill and crushed it, but he could not vent his anger.

Because he knew clearly that he had no way to deal with Raven at this time.

Raven was able to mobilize the army because Antony gave him the authority.

"Shameless bastard, scum of the lower classes, ungrateful bastard!"

Throughout the history of the empire, the governors and even His Majesty the King have done some things to temporarily divide power.

Some are for war, some are due to financial and tax issues, and some are to deal with sudden natural disasters.

Although there are a few times when those temporarily divided responsibilities will become fixed positions.

For example, a provincial governor.

But in most cases, this power expires, which is something all nobles know tacitly.

The same applies to setting up a cordoned off area.

But Raven shamelessly broke this unspoken rule.

Throwing the crumpled quill into the trash can, Anthony slapped the broken feathers on the table with his palm and suddenly saw a document he had never seen before.

It should have been delivered this morning and it's not an emergency.

Anthony casually opened it and took a glance at it. He smiled bitterly, crumpled it into a ball, and with a flick of his wrist, let it follow the footsteps of the quill.

That was the statement from Viscount John.

As mentioned above, Viscount John fully supports Raven's decision.

At a time when the empire was in danger, Viscount John believed that Raven's action was driven by justice and worthy of learning and emulation by all the nobles in the province.

Therefore, Viscount John decided to "ruin his family to help the needy". He would provide any knight who followed Raven to conquer the Principality of Eivor with a key material for promotion to the second level as long as he achieved merit.

"You're just doing this kind of superficial work." Anthony sneered viciously: "You're talking so much, why don't you go, old man!"

But Anthony also knew that this was just a statement made in anger.

It was impossible for Viscount John to join Raven's troops in person.

With his title, he cannot become Raven's subordinate. If he joins, he can only be Raven's superior, which is something this good old man will not do.

And it's not just John, other barons and viscounts will not take action personally.

The Baron would not lower himself.

If the Viscount made a high-profile entrance, he could indeed steal the limelight from Raven, but if he did so, he would have to shout louder and do it more thoroughly than Raven.

If Raven still has the possibility of putting on a show, then if a viscount really wants to take over Raven's position, he must fight with all his heart, even at the cost of his own life.

On the other hand, Viscount John's attitude is only a small part of the whole incident.

You don't need to look to know that now in the entire Nord province, everyone who knows the news of Raven's dispatch of troops must support Raven verbally, no matter what they think in their hearts.

Because Raven's move may seem crazy, but his motives are impeccable.

This is also the reason why Anthony was furious at the beginning.

Indeed, Raven did not have the power to provoke a war without authorization. This required the authorization of His Majesty the King. Raven's actions were not in accordance with procedures.

But Raven is only 26 years old.

To outsiders, Raven was just a reckless young man who was full of passion and wanted to protect the empire, and no one would find fault with him in this regard.

Raven gained great reputation, but the final responsibility will fall on Anthony.

If this war really breaks out and Raven loses, it will mean that Anthony is incompetent in governance and has no way of disciplining his children.

If Raven wins—he can't win!
Thinking of a future in which he would be held accountable by the cabinet and scolded by the King, Anthony felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

Because he really had no way to deal with Raven.

Anthony had no doubt that if he took back the power from Raven, it would not only be of no help, but would also lead to extremely fierce attacks.

Public opinion in the province will surely be in an uproar, and maybe that old John will write to scold him again.

Moreover, neither his political enemies nor the governors of the other three provinces who had been forced by him to declare that they did not need tax exemption would let him go.

The reason is also very simple.

Raven has already responded to the King's call to "fully support this war", and it is clear that he is a loyal and passionate noble. What is your intention in suppressing him at this time?
Are we going to go against His Majesty the King?

Antony knew his Majesty.

The young, strong, and narrow-minded king might protect him, but only to maintain his own authority.

Antony would be seen as someone who brought trouble to His Majesty, and even if he was safe for a while, he would be held accountable later.

His Majesty hates trouble the most.

"..."

Anthony's face turned paler and he felt a headache.

He began to regret writing the letter recommending Raven to become Viscount.

Now, he cannot suppress Raven; and with the letter, His Majesty is likely to think that Raven's actions were at his instruction.

That would bring about a series of diplomatic crises!
Taking out a brand new quill pen, Anthony took a deep breath, frowned, and began to write the letter.

A letter to Raven.

This letter no longer had the condescending tone as before, but instead used a gentle and tactful tone to discuss with Raven.

The core idea is that no matter what Raven wants, they can negotiate.

To this end, Anthony used both coercion and inducement.

The intimidation was to warn Raven that the title of Viscount was on the way and he should not go against his own future and the future of the Griffith family.

The bribe was to hint to Raven that if a fight really came about, he could provide some soldiers who were not on the record and help Raven fake a great victory.

As long as they don't really attack into Eivor's territory, everything will be fine.

After writing it, Anthony checked it again, confirmed that there were no problems, and copied it again.

This attitude is more serious than writing a letter to His Majesty the King.

"Huh..." Anthony breathed a sigh of relief, stuffed the letter into the letter paper with a bitter face, stamped it with wax, and said loudly:
"Somebody come!"

"Tell A'Kori to deliver this letter to Eagle City on my mount, the faster the better."

"You must deliver it to Baron Raven personally!"

……

(End of this chapter)