Lord: I can see loyalty.

Frido Stone Tower, top floor.

After Derek's pirate crew left, Freedore Port quickly returned to its usual calm, but the number of militiamen patrolling the streets and alleys did not decrease.

Torches could still be faintly seen swaying in the alley.

The night was already deep outside the window, and the sea breeze, carrying a salty and fishy smell, wafted in through the open window cracks.

The fire in the fireplace was burning brightly, warming the whole room.

Vio leaned against the high-backed chair by the window, holding an exquisite silver cup in his hand.

The wine in the glass was amber in color, gleaming warmly in the candlelight. It was mellow on the palate, with a unique herbal aroma characteristic of the North.

"How is it?" Across from him, Timothy leaned lazily against another chair, also holding a silver cup, a faint smile playing on his lips. "This is a treasure from the North. My men went to great lengths to get it."

Vio took a sip and nodded.

"Indeed, it's much better than many inferior wines from the West and South."

Timothy raised an eyebrow but didn't reply. He simply watched Vio quietly, the candlelight flickering on her face, illuminating her delicate features.

Her bluish-gray eyes stood out conspicuously in the dim light, like an allure, making it impossible to discern what she was thinking.

After a moment of silence, she put down her wine glass, her expression finally becoming more serious.

"Let's get down to business. I have news from the capital."

Vio's gaze darkened slightly.

Tell me about it.

"My men have found out." Timothy's voice was low but clear. "That internal strife was orchestrated by the Golden Griffin family."

Vio paused slightly in the hand holding the wine glass.

The Golden-maned Griffin, that's the name again.

That family that had once stalked him in the capital, that behemoth that had its eyes on him the moment he arrived in the capital…

"Are you sure?"

"I'm pretty sure." Timothy nodded, his gaze sweeping over Vio as if plunging into water. "My men have been in the North for so long, they can definitely get this kind of information."

"The capital is in chaos now. The major families are suspicious of each other's stance, and the young king is in a terrible predicament. It is said that several ministers have already been dismissed."

Vio fell silent and did not answer.

His thoughts involuntarily drifted back to a few months ago.

At that time, he had members of the Brotherhood gather intelligence on swordsmanship and breathing techniques in the capital.

Later, he learned that the "Knights' Party" was hosted by the Golden-Maned Griffin family, and that the family's eldest daughter, Daphne Villar, had Vance deliver a message to him:

"The Kingdom of Rovia is about to be engulfed in war once again. Be prepared."

Now that I think about it, could that sentence have been referring to this?

But why did she remind herself of that?

Vio frowned slightly. The Golden Griffin Clan was the mastermind behind this internal strife, yet that young lady had warned him beforehand? Which side was she on?

Or rather, which side does she want to be on?

After all, Vio knew that these large families, though outwardly glamorous, were actually deeply entrenched in complex relationships.

He had seen plenty of cases of fathers and sons turning against each other and brothers killing each other. This Daphne was known for her strength, which was no less than that of her brothers. Who knew if she was on the side of the family or if she wanted to take the opportunity to rise in rank, to pledge her loyalty to the king, and to exchange it for future wealth and glory?

Or perhaps... she was betting on both sides?

Latest plot update: Click to follow.

Has a rift developed within the family? Or does she have ulterior motives, merely using me as a dispensable pawn...?

"Feed".

A somewhat magnetic female voice interrupted his thoughts.

Vio looked up and saw Timothy staring at him, a hint of amusement in his bluish-gray eyes.

"What are you thinking about? Why have you been thinking about it for so long?"

Vio snapped out of his daze and shook his head.

"It's nothing, I just spaced out."

Timothy didn't press the matter, but simply picked up his glass and took another sip, shifting his gaze from Vio to the night outside the window.

"Whatever you're thinking, you definitely need to finish dealing with things in the Western Territory as soon as possible," she said calmly. "If things get chaotic in the capital, the Northern Territory will definitely fall into chaos as well, and then my 'business' won't be so easy to do."

"The western border will definitely be affected as well."

Vio nodded. "Of course I understand. I'm already speeding up the process in the Western Territory."

He paused, then added, "My men will also keep a close watch in the North, and I will relay any news to you."

"My ally."

Timothy glanced at him, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"At least you still have some conscience."

Vio didn't reply, but simply picked up his wine glass and looked out the window at the sea.

The night was deep, and the moonlight shone on the shimmering sea, like a layer of shattered silver.

In the distance, a few fishing lights can be faintly seen, indicating that the fishing teams in Frido Port are fishing at night.

"By the way," Timothy suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a deliberately casual tone, "that Sea Bear Arnold, you really just let him go like that?"

Vio did not turn around.

Timothy chuckled softly.

"That's true, a wise choice. After all, that guy has quite a reputation and connections in the Northern Continent. If we really kill him, there might be other troubles later."

She paused, her gaze fixed on Vio, her tone filled with disbelief.

"But you really managed to beat him into submission, which makes me look at you in a new light. You know, there are plenty of people who can beat him, but you must be the only one who can make him retreat on his own initiative."

Vio finally turned around, met those bluish-gray eyes, and chuckled softly.

"What, you thought I wasn't good enough before?"

Timothy did not avoid his gaze, but simply raised his chin slightly.

"I used to think you were just a lucky minor nobleman. After all, many counts and nobles in our Kingdom of Rovia either have a good father or a good father-in-law." She paused, her smile deepening. "But now..."

"That's starting to get interesting."

The room was quiet for a moment.

The firewood crackled in the fireplace, and the flickering candlelight cast long shadows of the two men.

Vio withdrew his gaze, picked up his wine glass, and drank it all in one gulp.

"The wine is pretty good. Could you please bring more next time?"

Timothy chuckled softly and finished his drink, his movements elegant yet casual.

"Okay, I'll bring you a few buckets next time."

Outside the window, the night remained deep, and the sea breeze howled, fluttering the flags of Frido Port and the Earl of the South.

In the distance, in the northern sky, flashes of lightning could be faintly seen, like some kind of ominous sign.

A storm is brewing that will affect the entire Kingdom of Rovia.

……

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