Chapter 78: The Governor’s Unexpected Hospitality

“Hahahaha! Lord Rodd, your esteemed presence is truly our honor!”

Before Miss Cassina could even speak, the man seated at the head of the table rose first and walked towards us with a beaming smile.

He was a seemingly kind and refined middle-aged man. His well-groomed golden hair was slicked back, and his beard was neatly trimmed.

‘Who is this guy…?’

“Lord Rodd, do you no longer recognize me?” the stranger asked, extending his hand towards Rodd, his smile unwavering.

“Ah, it’s you…”

Rodd simultaneously reached out his hand, and they clasped palms.

“Mr. Sherlock.”

“!”

“What?!”

“It’s him?!”

“Hahahahahaha! I can’t believe that after all this time, Lord Rodd still remembers a humble man like me. Come, come, please take your seats, everyone—”

Governor Sherlock’s gaze, still smiling, met mine for a fleeting second.

For some inexplicable reason, a chill ran down my spine.

I hadn’t felt this uneasy even when I was with the Lord of Coldwind…

Once we were seated, Miss Cassina finally spoke.

“My sincerest apologies, Lord Rodd. Although I organized this banquet, I encountered Mr. Sherlock during the preparations. He was unexpectedly enthusiastic about using this opportunity to speak with you, and I truly couldn’t refuse, so…”

“My fault, my fault, Lord Rodd! It was entirely my decision to ask Miss Cassina not to inform you of my presence. I was so worried about losing this chance to make amends with you…”

Governor Sherlock’s fawning demeanor genuinely surprised me.

Was this truly the esteemed Governor of Emerald Harbor?

His subordinates dared to put on airs with Rodd, yet when it came to him, he adopted such a low posture.

“Make amends? What do you wish to make amends for?” Rodd’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Hahaha…” Governor Sherlock chuckled softly. “Then, Miss Cassina, would you permit me to usurp your role as host this once?”

“Please, feel free.”

Cassina offered a polite smile, subtly glancing at me.

‘Why does this young lady keep looking at me…?’

‘She’s not still plotting something against me, is she?’

Just as I was silently pondering this, Governor Sherlock suddenly raised his voice.

“Bring those men forward!”

No sooner had he spoken than several men, bound hand and foot, were escorted in. They collapsed miserably to their knees, unable to move.

I recognized these individuals; they were the representatives who had come from Emerald Harbor for negotiations a few days prior.

Now, their expressions were listless, and their eyes were filled with terror.

‘These men were my representatives, yet this happened?’

Governor Sherlock wore an expression that seemed to say, ‘I truly couldn’t control them.’

“Some of them spoke disrespectfully to Lord Rodd, while others audaciously attempted to lay hands on Lord Rodd’s maidservant. Even more shockingly, some dared to fabricate evidence, falsely accusing Lord Rodd of being the true assassin of this humble person.”

As he spoke, Governor Sherlock approached the men. He drew a gleaming short sword from his waist, its dull edge lightly scraping across each of their faces in turn, flaking off a layer of grease.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, what outrageous audacity…”

With a swift motion, he sheathed the short sword, then, raising both hands, presented it to Rodd.

Governor Sherlock’s smile was replaced by a solemn expression.

“Lord Rodd, I genuinely wish to conduct business with you. However, I have a small handful of despicable individuals under my command who seek to sow discord. My failure to strictly manage my subordinates is my sin. As a token of my sincerity, I have personally brought these men here today. How they are to be punished is entirely for you to decide.”

“This blade has been sharpened for an entire day and night. It is so keen that it will not even stain with blood when taking a life. You may test it on them at your leisure.”

‘No, he must be joking, right?’

But Governor Sherlock’s expression didn’t seem like a jest at all.

And those men who had been brought forward were trembling incessantly.

Huff…

Rodd closed his eyes, slowly exhaling. He then took the exquisite short sword, examined it in his hand for a moment, and offered a faint smile.

“On such a beautiful day, spilling blood would be quite unappetizing, wouldn’t it?”

“Hahaha! Excellent! Lord Rodd is truly magnanimous. Then, let us… attend to our main business first!”

Governor Sherlock gestured behind him, and the bound men were dragged out as miserably as they had been brought in.

“My sincerest apologies. Today was supposed to be a wonderful day for Miss Cassina and Lord Rodd’s rendezvous, yet an old, money-grubbing fellow like me had to spoil it.”

Governor Sherlock continuously expressed his apologies to the two of them, his posture so low he nearly turned himself into a chair for them to sit on.

“But I genuinely wish to discuss cooperation with Lord Rodd. If any part of the agreement displeases Lord Rodd, I humbly ask for another chance, Lord. Emerald Harbor can certainly offer a price that will satisfy you!”

“…”

‘Why is this guy acting like this? He’s practically fawning over Rodd like a filial son. I don’t understand Governor Sherlock’s actions at all. After all, I heard that several lords who tried to reclaim Emerald Harbor suffered greatly at the hands of Governor Sherlock’s family.’

“Mr. Sherlock,” Rodd said, looking at the subservient man before him with a puzzled expression, echoing my own question, “why do I feel your attitude towards me is a little too enthusiastic?”

“Hehe, Lord Rodd… have you forgotten?” Governor Sherlock’s smile widened. “Ten years ago, we… had a brief encounter.”

“Oh? Ten years ago? At that time, I believe I was still idling away my days on the Western Continent. A progressive governor like yourself, you’ve met me?”

“Of course.”

Governor Sherlock’s words were earnest, his tone tinged with a nostalgic sentiment. “Back then, I happened to be expanding into some markets on the Western Continent and had some dealings with the Moen family. You might not recall, but once, as I accompanied your father strolling through the Moen family’s pastures, a swiftly moving figure suddenly dashed past, startling me! Your father then proudly pointed to your retreating figure on horseback and said that was his youngest son, Rodd.”

“Is that so…” Rodd’s expression was somewhat complex. “You still remember such distant events.”

“Alas, as a businessman, how can one succeed without a sharp mind? Wouldn’t you agree, hahaha…”

Governor Sherlock seemed to have finished what he wanted to say. He slowly rose.

“Well then, that is all this humble one wished to convey today. The remaining time I shall leave to Lord Rodd and Miss Cassina.”

Without waiting for either of them to speak, Governor Sherlock, with a beaming smile, beckoned to me.

“Miss Lilian, I apologize for the embarrassment you experienced last time. I also have a small token of compensation for you here. Would it be convenient for you to step out with me for a moment, and perhaps leave these two with a little space?”

“Um… alright.”

Since he put it that way, I certainly had no opportunity to refuse.

I glanced at Rodd, noticing that his expression seemed somewhat strained, perhaps due to Cassina.

I knew why this was; he was probably still pining for that first love of his.

‘Tsk, tsk, tsk, how pathetic. This Lord likely has no idea what a terrifying individual the young lady he is about to marry truly is.’

“Come, come, Miss Lilian~”

Governor Sherlock led me out of the dining room, opened the cabin door, and guided me downwards.

The surroundings were pitch black, appearing dim even with candles lit.

After walking for what felt like an eternity without reaching our destination, and instead going further and further, my initially settled heart gradually began to feel uneasy.

Eventually, I plucked up the courage to ask.

“Um… Mr. Sherlock?”

“Hm?”

“Where… where are you taking me?”

“Oh, to a rather private room.”

“A private… room?”

“If I had to give it a name, perhaps ‘cell’ would be more fitting.”

“What—”

“After all, there’s a rather important person I need you to meet.”

“But you… but you just said something about compensation…”

“Indeed~” Governor Sherlock’s tone was now filled with delight. “According to my old client, for you, this should be a form of compensation, shouldn’t it?”

He stopped in front, turning to face me with a strange smile.

“Oh dear—”

A tightly closed wooden door slowly creaked open, emitting a dry, grating sound.

The flickering candlelight from outside cast a very faint glow that slowly spread inward, falling upon a lean, petite figure curled up on the ground…

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Law of Reaction

ActionDramaPure Love

Read Now →
Not interested