Chapter 75: The Spy’s Dilemma and the Governor’s Game

Night fell upon the forest outside Wind’s Edge Town.

As a spy, I found myself once again in the presence of the envoy from Coldwind Territory.

“What’s wrong with that Rodd? He’s about to marry the Young Miss, so why pick a fight with Clearwater Port now?”

After hearing my report, Raven appeared quite surprised.

“Perhaps it’s because… he was attacked by people from Clearwater Port on his way back?”

I ventured a bold guess.

“Even so, it shouldn’t be now. For a lord, the most crucial thing is to maintain a stable position. Even if the Governor did send people to attack his retinue, a normal lord wouldn’t completely lose face in such a situation…”

Raven still seemed unable to comprehend.

“Is that Rodd perhaps tired of his position as lord being too secure? And you, his lover, warming his bed for me for so long, still don’t know what he’s thinking?”

“Uh…”

I turned my face away, slightly embarrassed. I truly couldn’t bring myself to tell him that I was still…

‘That Rodd, he seems wary of everyone.’

“Is that so? Sigh, it seems there’s no other way… Besides this information, do you have anything else to tell me?”

“Other things…”

I was about to mention the matter of his deceased wife, but as the words hovered on my lips, I hesitated.

‘Eh?’

‘Is it truly wise to hand over all the information at once?’

‘I’ve been working myself to the bone gathering intelligence, yet there’s still no end in sight for news about Lulona or the return journey.’

‘Why should I exert myself so much then?’

‘It would be better to hold back a little each time I gather information, submitting it bit by bit. That way, they won’t complain.’

‘Before, I was too honest, fearing they might monitor me constantly. But Mankha is dead now.’

‘Hmm, I’ll do that for now. I’ll save the information about his deceased wife for next time.’

“No, nothing else.”

I shook my head, my innocent, childlike face contorted into a vulnerable expression.

Raven stared at me for a long moment.

“Alright, this information is somewhat valuable. If you have any requests, state them quickly.”

‘Phew, I succeeded…’

‘Just as that Long said, my greatest advantage is this face.’

‘My harmless appearance allows me to lower people’s guard, even when lying, preventing suspicion.’

‘Do I have any requests to make now?’

‘Since that’s the case…’

“Lord Raven, about the child I asked you to look after before…”

“Lulona?”

“Yes! You remember her!?”

I suddenly became agitated, even stepping closer to him without thinking.

“She… how is she doing now? Has she been taken care of? How is she eating? Winter is approaching; does she have warm clothes and thick blankets? Is she still living with the other maids? Those places are too crowded; could she be moved to a better place? Like…”

“Aren’t you annoying?”

“Eh?”

“Aren’t you annoying!?”

I hadn’t expected Raven to say such a thing and was taken aback.

“Lord Raven, you…”

“All the information is relayed through other channels. Even if you ask me so many questions here, how would I know if she’s doing well? Am I supposed to leave this wretched place to go check on that child for you? Can I!?”

Raven’s emotional outburst left me somewhat frightened. It was the first time I’d seen him like this.

‘Did I anger him?’

‘Why?’

‘Because I asked too many questions?’

‘But I clearly…’

“Enough, let’s leave it at that…”

Raven turned his back to me, taking a few deep breaths. His tone softened.

“I didn’t mean to argue with you; I just got a little agitated…”

“I’ll leave you with this: in this world, only things you can decide for yourself can… Forget it, pretend I didn’t say anything.”

With that, Raven’s figure vanished into the darkness.

That night, I felt my steps grow incredibly heavy on the way back.

I am Tim.

I am immensely wealthy, a major shareholder in Clearwater Port’s shipping industry. Thousands of gold dragons pass through my hands daily, and my home is overflowing with maids and servants.

My mother told me from a young age that I was the illegitimate son she secretly bore with an earl, my bloodline far superior to those common merchants.

As my career flourished, people even began to see a resemblance between me and the chin-buttock-faced Royal House of Borun.

I didn’t care if it wasn’t true. Once I ascended to a high position in Clearwater Port, I rarely mentioned such things to others.

Besides, anyone with a discerning eye knew that the Head of Shipping for Clearwater Port was a formidable figure, not to be trifled with!

But not everyone had discerning eyes, such as that bastard in Wind’s Edge Town.

And it was just a little teasing of one of his lowly maids, wasn’t it?

How dare he insult me so! After lying in bed for a full week, I didn’t even have time to dote on my favorite maid before having someone carry me to the Governor’s mansion.

“Governor! That Rodd wasn’t just hitting me; he was clearly slapping *your* face!”

Facing the figure before me, I recounted my miserable experience with anguish, tears streaming down my face.

Although the others had surely relayed the events to him while I was recovering, that didn’t stop me from embellishing the story.

The Governor needed not only the truth but also to understand our stance.

“Hmm… it seems that new lord isn’t as foolish as he appears!”

Governor Sherlock lounged lazily on the sofa, his eyes half-closed. He stretched out his legs, each resting on the bare chest of a voluptuous maid, allowing them to massage him with their breasts. He looked utterly content.

“Compared to the brainless worm of the previous lord, who only knew how to burrow into piles of women, this Rodd actually has some charm. It’s just… he’s a little too greedy.”

“This isn’t just greed! This is insatiable avarice!”

While enviously watching Governor Sherlock, I adopted a righteous and stern expression.

“That Rodd took the 1000 gold dragons you gave him and still wasn’t satisfied! He even tore up the agreement we made with the previous lord! Isn’t that just throwing the so-called spirit of contract into the latrine?”

Governor Sherlock’s half-opened eyes fluttered. He spoke airily:

“He’s not a merchant; what does he care about the spirit of contract?”

“Then he’s looking down on us honest, law-abiding businessmen!”

Seeing that Governor Sherlock still maintained his unperturbed demeanor, I grew a little anxious.

“Governor, we can’t just let that Rodd off! If he dares to slap your face and tear up agreements today, tomorrow he might even… even challenge Clearwater Port’s autonomy…”

“Slap whose face?” Governor Sherlock interrupted me. “Was *I* hit by him?”

His gaze was terrifying.

“No, no, that scoundrel hit *my* face, *my* face!”

I quickly adopted a fawning expression and said, “But everyone knows I’m your dog. Isn’t him hitting me like him hitting your backside? Besides, that Rodd even dared to send people to secretly assassinate someone at your mansion. Surely, we in Clearwater Port can’t just keep enduring this?”

“Hmm.”

That last statement seemed to finally strike a chord with Governor Sherlock. I watched as his previously half-closed, leisurely eyes slowly opened, and he let out a long breath.

“Speaking of which, about half a year ago, wasn’t there a month-long great storm on the sea west of our Eastern Continent?”

“Yes, Governor! That storm caused heavy losses for our deep-sea vessels, and countless lives were lost!”

At the mention of the storm, my heart pounded. After all, I had originally planned to take some maids out to sea for a party. If I hadn’t canceled at the last minute the day before, I would probably be at the bottom of the ocean too.

But the fleet I had sent out for business wasn’t so lucky. Dozens of ships never returned.

“That Rodd, I heard he survived that great storm, didn’t he?”

“Yes, I heard the old town elder of Wind’s Edge Town say that their original ship hit a reef, all their luggage was lost, and even most of their servants died…”

“Most died? Heh heh…”

Governor Sherlock’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“Then where did those dozens of people who appeared outside the Blue Whale Inn not long ago come from?”

“Eh?”

As Governor Sherlock’s loyal dog, I could always grasp his thoughts immediately.

“You mean…?”

“Ah, don’t jump to conclusions. Let’s investigate first. What if he truly is favored by fate, and his luck is just that good?”

“Uh, yes…”

“However, before that, we can certainly give our old client a heads-up.”

At this moment, Governor Sherlock displayed his famous, amiable smile.

“After all, no one wants their future son-in-law to be an impostor…”

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