Dear Broom Knight

Ortiz reached out and pulled the illusory image in the copper plate a few times until it stopped at only his side of the small building.

This was a peculiar item passed down through their family for generations. When used in conjunction with their family's special knightly skills, it could monitor locations within the disc at any time and sound an alarm when it detected foreign enemies.

It wasn't a particularly powerful peculiar item, but it was well-suited for their family.

A set of three, this one was the weakest, but it was enough for use here.

Although Ortiz didn't quite understand why Valeria was being so cautious, he heeded her advice.

Especially since it was an order from their own count.

In his heart, Fabrice's only flaw was his lack of strength.

He had only just become an eighth-level knight at his age.

Over at Lorry's side, even Charles, the weakest of them all, was a bit stronger than him.

But he couldn't be blamed for that… Sometimes, Ortiz really wanted to ask his cousin, who had passed away many years ago: What exactly were you up to?

Oh, it wasn't a complete waste; at least he gave the Gezall family a great gift and left the Montes family, known for their brute strength, with a great mage who wasn't close to anyone.

Ortiz shook his head helplessly.

After seeing Valeria in person, he did feel a bit sad.

If Lorry had stayed in Montes… how great would that have been!

Alas, the most helpless and unattainable thing in life is 'what if'.

—

Otherwise, what could I do?

Although I had already applied for permission from Mr. Milian, I didn't expect that it would be used so soon!

That house has nothing in it, not even bedsheets; they have to use their own.

If I didn't have you go and put on a smiling face, who could deal with that Miss Valeria!"

Bowen Holmes frowned and said, "Since it was sudden, there was no preparation, so the two of them can understand, but… you don't plan to send anything over later, do you?"

He looked at Count Ezra's embarrassed expression and narrowed his eyes into bean-sized slits: "Lord Count! We haven't gotten that poor yet!"

"They definitely won't use it anyway," Ezra said stubbornly. "I only have a few tens of thousands of gold coins left in my pocket! I dare not waste a single copper!"

"If you hadn't fallen for that trick, we should have had two million in hand," Bowen Holmes said calmly. "Being able to exchange it for supplies as it is now is already His Majesty the King's benevolence. What else do you want?

Didn't we agree that we must treat the Green Maple Territory and the Montes Territory, which stand by the King's side and will definitely support His Highness Lyon, with friendship?

We owe them a great debt!"

Count Ezra couldn't help but shrink back.

He had been working hard to become the vice-commander, and he finally saw hope in despair. How could he not be tempted!

Who would have thought that it was a Travis bastard who set the hook for him?

That Travis guy must have deliberately waited until he had sent all the money out before arresting people.

Ezra didn't believe that the bastard had really spent all the money.

Having been mixed up with the White Dragon for so many years, what good could Travis be!

Everything he discounted to him was impractical junk.

Just this crystal cover outside… who in their right mind would use it!

Although he was also quite good at pretending, he didn't need to pretend this much.

Count Ezra glanced at Bowen Holmes, whose face was as deep as water… His long-time financial officer, his heart couldn't help but tremble a little.

Although he was the boss, what decent soldier wasn't afraid of the one who managed the money?

Especially when he couldn't manage it himself.

Bowen Holmes sighed softly: "You offered yourself up. It's good enough to get something back to offset the losses.

His Majesty the King also wants to teach you a lesson.

Don't forget, Lord Ezra, you were still wavering after making a promise to His Majesty the King!"

"Then what could I do?" Ezra raised his head. "I…"

His high-spirited aura slowly deflated like a punctured balloon under Bowen Holmes' gaze: "I have accepted my fate and won't be fooled again."

"I will arrange for someone to send things over," Bowen Holmes didn't want to say too much and changed the subject directly.

Their lord was already miserable enough.

"They may not want it, but we must send it," Bowen Holmes said calmly. "The two most crucial territories in the Northern Border, the Green Maple Territory and the Montes Territory, have given us enough face; we can only accept it, and accept it well."

We must not be shameless.

They couldn't beat them.

They were too poor.

Although they brought a lot of things, including many that were particularly expensive, they… couldn't enhance their combat power, nor could they be used to win over people's hearts; at most, they could just put on a show.

The White Dragon King was too ruthless.

But who could they blame?

They were clearly very rich before!

Bowen Holmes anxiously flipped through his small notebook and glanced at the mines recorded by his count.

Fortunately, as long as they waited until summer, they could get this year's first income.

Bowen Holmes looked at the notebook and sighed softly.

In the past, the Hamilton Territory, although it could ensure that the people in the territory had enough to eat and drink, and the income was decent, the income mainly relied on the major adventure groups.

Although there were also some mines, His Highness Lyon turned them into public mines.

It wasn't that they didn't make money, after all, the miners had to pay taxes in kind.

But they couldn't make big money.

The profits of a proper noble's mines wouldn't be so thin.

But this couldn't be changed.

Even if their Lord Ezra gained a foothold in the future, they could only continue to do so.

Not to mention whether they themselves could be cruel enough to bear the pressure… His Highness Lyon wasn't dead; he was going to be the king.

Bowen Holmes couldn't help but sigh again.

Ezra felt numb all over.

Actually, he hadn't completely not considered the future problems.

But if he became the vice-commander, then he wouldn't have to worry about not being able to support his family!

The vice-commander had to follow the commander for the first three years to learn, so he could completely use the commander's protection.

His knight order could stay at home to rest… If they didn't participate in the battle, tens of thousands of gold coins could definitely last until the first mining income in summer.

If he thought he would lose the bet, he wouldn't have bet!

But listening to Bowen Holmes' sigh, Sir Ezra really didn't know what to say.

If he hadn't agreed to follow Travis's orders in everything after arriving in the territory, he wouldn't even be able to get these things now… His Majesty the King had never been a good person since he was a child.

That guy wouldn't think that the confiscated spoils and the property Ezra was cheated out of were the same thing.

But how could Ezra say this to Bowen!

It was better to let his financial officer think that His Majesty the King, although ruthless, was still principled.

Otherwise, Bowen might really go on strike.

This was the result that Ezra couldn't accept even more.

"You don't seem to be worried about Baron Watson," Bowen Holmes turned his head. "Do you think it's completely meaningless for him to disgust you in this way?"

"I don't care if his whole family dies here," Ezra sneered. "Was my reputation very good before?

I thought arrogance and inhumanity were my bywords!

I have done what I should do. If he really has to kill his two children, then let him die!

As long as Valeria and Ortiz don't participate, who cares about them."

Bowen Holmes nodded: "That's good, the people I arranged in the reception hall can be more casual."

"So, you think, the Green Maple Territory really won't care about Watson's affairs, is that right?" Ezra confirmed.

"I think they hate your reflective crystal wall more," Bowen said without looking up.

"Then there's nothing I can do. If they have any objections, they can ask His Majesty the King," Count Ezra smiled happily. "However, the people of Green Maple Territory should understand ~ This is just the White Dragon's preference!"

—

"Under the starry sky, this castle is still passable," Valeria stood outside the castle and examined it for a while before turning to the Ortiz knight and saying.

"Yes, soft light is more suitable," Ortiz replied in a stiff manner. "Let's go in! Time is almost up."

Today was the second day of Valeria's arrival in this city, also Count Ezra Hamilton's welcome banquet for the guests. The official succession ceremony was tomorrow morning.

Valeria raised her leg and walked in slowly: "Sir Ortiz, have you had any special feelings these past two days?"

"Are you talking about our residence?" Ortiz replied steadily. "Often, some small guests are poking their heads around outside."

He glanced at Valeria: "Didn't you catch some?"

"Too small, no reaction, all fed to my ivy," Valeria replied expressionlessly.

"Ah ~ I thought there might be some special abilities!" Ortiz said regretfully. "How rare are insects that can be active in the cold season!"

Valeria's eyes darted around, and she didn't say much.

Although Green Maple Territory had many birds, it wasn't completely without space for insects to live.

But, the weak ones, the few in number, really couldn't survive.

Poisonous insects were the same.

After all, many birds thought that poisonous insects tasted more delicious.

Small insects like the Ficus Microcarpa wasps that appeared outside their residence this time would definitely have difficulty even surviving.

"He seems to want us to think that these are products brought from the south," Valeria said softly.

"A bit of brains, but not much," Ortiz evaluated acerbically.

If they were really southern insects, could they still be alive?

Even if they mutated, it wouldn't be possible to complete the mutation in ten and a half months.

"It doesn't seem like the Watson family's style either," Ortiz thought for a while before saying, "Watson would probably rather strangle a few sons than raise insects."