Chapter 53 - 49: Challenging the Southern Dominator’s Authority

Chapter 53: Chapter 49: Challenging the Southern Dominator’s Authority

Green Shade Territory, the Lord’s Mansion.

The key ministers of Green Shade Territory were gathered in the study.

There was Minister of Finance Omari Hani, looking even more bloated than usual from recent overwork, who was struggling to suck in his gut.

There was Minister of Internal Affairs Karel Dennis, his face caked with what looked like two pounds of powder. With his high-bridged nose and thin lips, he looked rather severe—a man who always prioritized elegance and beauty.

And there was Minister of Foreign Affairs Alex Pool, petite but with beautiful black hair and amber eyes.

The expressions on all three of their faces were incredibly solemn, just like the first time they had faced Lian to tell him Green Shade Territory owed the bank three hundred million in debt.

The matter Lian had just told them about was, in their eyes, undoubtedly as thorny a problem as that massive bank debt.

Upon hearing the news of Lian’s engagement, the saddest of them all had to be Minister of Finance Omari Hani.

’I haven’t even had a chance to introduce my beautiful daughter to Lian! How can he be getting married already?’

’Oh, but making my daughter Lord Lian’s mistress? That would be an absolute injustice to her.’

His thoughts in a jumble, Omari Hani gave up on holding his breath. His stomach instantly bulged out, and a button shot off unceremoniously, flying toward Lian, who was seated in a mahogany armchair.

Omari Hani nervously reached out, but his movements were so slow he couldn’t have caught a pregnant mosquito, let alone the button.

Just as he worried the button would hit Lian in the face, Lian extended a hand, deftly caught it, and remarked,

"Omari, if you don’t plan on losing weight, please find a new tailor. Stop wearing these slim-fit suits. They make you look like a talking barrel."

"Yes, yes, my Lord. I’ll remember that."

Omari Hani said, wiping away his sweat.

The three ministers all breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, they also noticed a change in Lian.

’Lord Lian’s reflexes are astonishingly fast. He caught that flying button in an instant.’

’He clearly hasn’t had any time to train recently. Is this just sheer talent?’

Karel Dennis suppressed his inner astonishment and said seriously,

"Lord Lian, there is something I wish to say, but I am not sure if it is my place."

"Then don’t say it."

Lian replied directly.

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Karel Dennis’s face, but he steeled himself and spoke anyway.

"The Jackson Family of Blue Moon Territory was once immensely wealthy, and the territory itself was renowned throughout the Empire for its Blue Moon Ore. But that is all in the past. Lorne Jackson is the husband of Lady Mary, the Lord of Rose Territory. Lady Mary will certainly back Lorne Jackson to become the new Lord of Blue Moon Territory. If we help Miss Catherine, it means making an enemy of Lady Mary."

"Indeed. Not only is Lady Mary a Sequence Five, but she is also His Majesty the King’s older sister. She is currently one of the four most powerful lords in the Holy Empire—the Southern Dominator, Iron-blooded Mary. She commands a large number of fiercely loyal assassins. Anyone who opposes her ultimately meets their end through a brutal assassination."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Alex Pool added,

"Choosing to form a marriage alliance with Miss Catherine is tantamount to challenging the authority of the Southern Dominator."

"Our Green Shade Territory is in a critical phase of development right now. We’ve only just made our first repayment on the loan from the Empire Bank, and the Green Shade Territory Bank is just getting started. This is really not the right time to be provoking Iron-blooded Mary."

Omari Hani said, swallowing hard.

The three ministers were surprisingly unanimous in their opinion: Lian should not risk agreeing to Catherine’s request and forming a marriage alliance with Blue Moon Territory.

Even though Catherine had promised half of the Blue Moon Ore, they still felt the risk was too great.

After all, if they failed to help Catherine secure the title of Lord, all her promises would be empty. It was an all-or-nothing gamble.

Win, and you get everything; lose, and you lose it all.

"Lord Lian, you are intelligent, wise, and young. You lead Green Shade Territory. As long as we steadily develop our economy, we can guide Green Shade Territory to prosperity and strength. There is no need for you to take this risk."

Alex Pool said.

Lian rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I thought you would support me. I didn’t expect that not a single one of you understands my intentions."

"And what might your intentions be?"

Karel Dennis asked, confused.

Lian rested his chin on one hand, looked at his three ministers, and asked,

"Are Mary and His Majesty the King on good terms?"

The three ministers were taken aback for a moment, then fell into deep thought.

"From what I know, Bloody Mary and His Majesty the King are not on good terms. Bloody Mary is His Majesty’s older sister. Twenty years ago, she fought alongside the previous king and was a female lord with dazzling military achievements. She has always believed their father should have left the throne to her, and she resents His Majesty the King."

Lian said with a smile. He had, of course, learned these secrets from the erudite Anna.

He stood up from the sofa, walked over to the large map on the study wall, and pointed to Black Heart Territory.

"This was once Mary’s territory. But His Majesty the King, fearing her, changed her domain. It was a reward in name, but a demotion in reality. He gave her the vast Rose Territory, but it is a great distance from the Royal Capital."

"The Southern Dominator, Mary, is in fact a pitiful creature exiled to the fringes. To reclaim everything that she believes is hers, she has begun using marriage alliances to annex the small surrounding territories."

"She has married three times. Her first two marriages allowed her to acquire Yusofa and Holloway without fielding a single soldier. Now, she has set her sights on Blue Moon Territory."

"Now look at the distance between Blue Moon Territory and our Green Shade Territory."

Lian said, turning to look at his three ministers.

The ministers’ eyes focused on the map.

Between Blue Moon Territory and Green Shade Territory lay the Bone Forest.

But the Bone Forest could be cleared with the power of a Witch, if one was willing to pay the price.

The three of them immediately understood Lian’s meaning.

"You mean that after Blue Moon Territory is taken by Lady Mary, her next target will be our Green Shade Territory."

"Exactly. Blue Moon Territory is the buffer zone between us and Rose Territory. Without that buffer, Mary’s gaze will certainly fall upon Green Shade Territory. Even though we run a deficit every year, pay little in taxes, and are considered the Empire’s malignant tumor for our massive bank debt, we have a large population, ample soldiers, and on top of that, we possess the Eye of the Future. We are destined to become her next target."

Lian looked at his three ministers. "I have no desire to become Bloody Mary’s fourth unlucky husband, which is why I’ve chosen to marry Miss Catherine."

"Lord Lian, you have convinced me."

Karel Dennis said with a grave expression, "But I have one more question. How do you plan to help Miss Catherine win the title of Lord? Are you... planning to start a war?"

Omari Hani and Alex Pool both turned to Lian, awaiting his answer.

Lian took the dart that was stuck in Green Shade Territory on the map and plunged it into Rose Territory.

"If war is what will maximize our interests, why should we refuse?"