My queen is rebelling!

Chapter 241: Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder - Sis, let me teach you some new knowledge!

Hearing Nephthys' voice, a tall, middle-aged noble in the crowd shuddered, then forced himself to perk up and stepped forward.

Forcing a stiff smile, he said with a hint of flattery:

"Your Excellency, I am Auston Grey."

"Follow me."

Count Auston took a deep breath and subtly touched the object in his arms, feeling more confident.

He followed Nephthys out of the waiting room, down a long corridor, the Queen's office visible in the distance.

Ever since Cohen's "Lord of Shadows" identity had been exposed, many people at home and abroad had been collecting information about him.

As the woman who had been by the Lord of Shadows' side the longest, she was definitely a key target, and Nephthys knew this very well.

Her affair with the DuPont family wasn't a secret, and anyone who bothered to investigate would soon find out the true relationship between her, Aunt Morton, and the DuPont family.

As Nephthys expected, Count Auston continued:

"I once had the honor of teaching Ms. Morton's magic class.

Your Excellency, this is a small token of my appreciation. Please, for Ms. Morton's sake, you must accept it."

Nephthys glanced at it casually, her eyebrows slightly raised, and a hint of surprise appeared in her eyes.

Count Auston had taken out a huge pearl emitting a幽蓝 light. From the strands of magic surrounding it, Nephthys quickly identified its origin.

Naga Heart!

A special magical item produced by the Naga race of the海底, a treasure formed by adult Naga over a period of time.

It contains a certain amount of healing magic, but more importantly, it contains the curse power of the Naga Queen, which can be used to control people's minds.

It is one of the most suitable treasures for mind术士.

As a successor of the ancient术士 family "Night Rose," Nephthys naturally knew everything about Naga Hearts.

Judging from the magic波動 above, it was produced by at least a Gold-tier Naga. If auctioned off, it would be worth around ten thousand gold coins.

This Auston really knew how to choose gifts and was willing to spend a lot of money.

Nephthys thought of the information the military intelligence had gathered about this count in recent days, and the surprise in her eyes turned into a thoughtful look as she calmly replied:

"I appreciate the thought, but I won't accept the gift.

It's just a simple report, no need to be so nervous."

Count Auston's expression changed slightly. He had carefully selected this gift, and with the added connection of having taught Morton, he felt that this trip would be safe.

He didn't expect her to refuse!

This was the most suitable Naga Heart for mind术士!

Although it was only Gold-tier, its rarity made it extremely valuable.

Besides, Nephthys had only just broken through to Silver-tier. She wouldn't be able to control a Naga Heart of too high a level.

Count Auston couldn't help but feel discouraged. He naturally didn't know that Nephthys had been given a Legendary-tier "Insight" ring by Cohen when she was in Bronze-tier.

Auston's attempt to bribe Nephthys with a Gold-tier Naga Heart was naturally a miscalculation.

Soon, the two arrived at the entrance of the Queen's office.

Nephthys signaled Auston to wait outside, then walked in alone.

The office was very空旷, with only Yadel and a few female officials.

Seeing Nephthys enter alone, Yadel asked:

"Didn't Count Auston come?"

Nephthys replied:

"He did. He's standing outside. I was going to bring him in directly, but on the way here, he told me that he had taught my mother and adoptive mother."

Yadel's eyes narrowed slightly. Cohen had also told her about Nephthys' background. She didn't expect these people to find even this connection, and couldn't help but sneer:

"If these people put the energy they spend on cultivating relationships into real work, Effie would have developed long ago."

Nephthys said:

"That's not the main point. The main point is that he took out a Gold-level Naga Heart to bribe me!"

Yadel's lips curled into a 冷笑 upon hearing this:

"A Gold-level Naga Heart?

It seems that the reports received by the military intelligence are not unfounded. This Auston Grey is indeed colluding with the offshore pirate groups.

Let him in."

Standing outside the door, Auston was filled with trepidation. Nephthys' refusal of the Naga Heart made him feel uneasy.

Could it be that the matter he was involved in was too big and she didn't want to accept it?

Which matter had the Queen found out about?

As his thoughts wandered, Nephthys' stiff tone rang out from inside the room:

"Come in."

Auston's expression tightened. He swallowed, straightened his clothes, gently pushed open the door, and walked in.

The huge crystal chandelier cast a brilliant light, but under the figure in the center of the office, it all paled in comparison.

The Queen sat on the gorgeous throne, her eyes 清冷 and majestic, releasing elegance and nobility from head to toe.

Even though he had seen the Queen's portrait on the official calendars released by the country every year, seeing the Queen, who had the title of the most beautiful woman on the continent, in person still stunned Auston, causing him to freeze for a moment.

Having broken through to Legendary-tier, Yadel, after Cohen's tireless nourishment and灌溉, was unstoppable in her charm and was revered as a goddess by the entire Effie.

Fortunately, Auston was, after all, a veteran noble family. After a few seconds of being恍神, he immediately bowed on one knee and performed a standard noble etiquette, his voice clear and steady:

"Your Majesty the Queen, Count Auston Grey is here at your summons to report on his duties."

Then he lowered his gaze, staring at the floor paved with high-quality 明玉, not daring to move.

Yadel glanced at Auston, her gaze returning to the information on the desk, and her 清冷 voice rang out:

"Get up."

Auston felt as if he had been granted amnesty, relieved in his heart. He slowly got up, but still kept his eyes lowered, not daring to have any disrespectful behavior towards the Queen.

The Queen slightly opened her red lips, her voice devoid of any emotional fluctuations:

"Helios Province, besides the three provincial-轄 counties, is all the territory of your Grey family. Tell me, what is the development situation of the Grey County in the past five years?"

Auston's expression凝固 slightly. Following the meticulously crafted report materials, he reported to the Queen on the development of the county, mainly regarding agriculture, industry, and the development of超凡者.

The report lasted for ten minutes, without anyone interrupting. After Auston finished speaking, he quickly glanced at the Queen.

The Queen's beautiful玉容 showed no signs of joy or anger, leaving Auston still unsure.

Finally, the Queen's majestic voice rang out from his ear:

"Count Auston, I heard that in the past few months, offshore pirates have frequently harassed the residents near the sea. Is this true?"

Hearing the Queen's question, Auston's heart tightened, and cold sweat broke out on his back. After thinking quickly, he swiftly organized his words and replied:

"Your Majesty, recently there has been a small group of pirate forces that have been quite猖獗, but I have already organized elite soldiers to set up a警戒线 along the coast. Currently, the harassment incidents have been greatly reduced.

I am now preparing forces, ready to take the initiative to attack after a while, search for the pirate's gathering islands, and completely eliminate the offshore pirate forces!"

A long silence fell in the palace. Auston's heart was pounding, until the Queen's voice sounded again:

"The 'Black Sail Gang', which has three Gold-tier, more than fifty超凡者, and thousands of people, is just a small group of pirates in Count Auston's eyes?"

Auston's heart felt as if it had been gripped by an invisible hand. His face visibly paled, and his voice was slightly distorted as he replied:

"This… we really didn't know that the opponent was so powerful. Our intelligence work was not done well…

Thank you, Your Majesty, for informing us of the details in time, otherwise we would definitely suffer a big loss."

The Queen's voice carried a hint of sarcasm:

"Suffer a big loss?

I don't think so. How did I hear that you and the vice团长 of the 'Black Sail Gang', Bonnie Wagner, are very good friends.

Didn't you also jointly invest in several factories in the Western Region Empire!"

Auston's eyes widened suddenly, a buzzing sound rang in his ears, and his legs weakened. He forcibly steadied himself and said in a trembling voice:

"Your Majesty… I don't understand what Your Majesty is saying?"

The Queen's indifferent voice sounded like a death knell in Auston's ears:

"You can leave if you don't understand."

How could Auston dare to leave? If he left now, he was afraid that before he could return to Helios Province, his family would be trampled by His Majesty the King's兽人 army.

He knelt down with a plop and hurriedly shouted loudly:

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it was all Bonnie, that bastard, who bewitched me.

He often led pirate groups to harass our family's territory and maritime industry.

I really had no choice but to reach an agreement with them."

"That's not an excuse for you to collude with pirates and slaughter your people!"

Auston hurriedly defended himself:

"Your Majesty, I have never instructed the pirate group to屠杀 my people. On the contrary, under my mediation, they are now only looting property and never harming people."

"Oh, so should I give you an award?"

Auston shivered all over and immediately said:

"Your Majesty, I am guilty, but… but I have important clues to report!"

Yadel raised her eyes and stared at Auston, who was full of horror, and said coldly:

"I hope your clues can buy your life!"

Auston swallowed, feeling his throat burning, and said dryly:

“Your Highness, I… I suspect that the vice-captain of this ‘Black Sails’ group, Bonnie Wagner, is related to… to the Ceylon Kingdom’s naval fleet!”

Adair's jade-like face slightly condensed, and a trace of astonishment emerged in her eyes.

After seeing the Military Intelligence Bureau’s investigation report on the Austen Gray Earl family, she thought it was just Austen being blinded by profit and colluding with the pirate groups of the Endless Sea.

She didn't expect that behind this “Black Sails” group, there was also the Ceylon Kingdom’s navy background.

Ceylon Kingdom…

Adair glanced at Austen, who was kneeling on the ground and trembling all over, then looked at Nephthys beside her.

Nephthys' voice resounded in Adair's mind:

“Your Highness, what should we do with this person?”

“Transfer him to the Military Intelligence Bureau and have him explain his dealings with the ‘Black Sails’ group clearly.

After Cohen returns, ask for his opinion. Isn't he planning to go to the Ceylon Kingdom next? See if we can use this pirate group as an opportunity.”

“Okay.”

Adair opened her mouth and said:

“Your matter will be directly transferred to Military Intelligence. Whether the Gray Earl family can continue to exist in Effie depends entirely on your performance.”

Austen's face turned pale, and his voice was almost pleading:

“Your Highness, I will definitely tell you everything I know. Please, for the sake of the Gray family guarding the coastline for the Corleone royal family for generations, give me a chance to reform!”

Adair said expressionlessly:

“Also, you should be aware of what happened at the Northwest Region Exchange Meeting not long ago.

The country now needs to support many ‘elite-level’ troops, which is a considerable expense…”

Austen immediately said in a shrill voice:

“Your Highness, Your Highness, our Gray family is willing to donate three-quarters of the family property free of charge to contribute to the country's national defense!”

Adair's voice still had no emotional fluctuations as she said:

“Earl Austen, your performance now is quite good. I hope you can continue to maintain it.

Go down.”

After Austen left, Adair got up and walked around, asking Nephthys:

“Who's next?”

Nephthys replied directly:

“Viscount Leonardo of Cornwall County, suspected of illegal slave trading and smuggling prohibited items.”

Adair's voice was very cold:

“Okay, then let him…”

Adair's eyebrows twitched slightly before she finished speaking, and she changed her words:

“Let's stop here for today. Tell the people outside to go back.”

Nephthys was stunned for a moment, then realized something, and a hint of jealousy filled her heart as she replied:

“Okay, Your Highness.”

Before Nephthys could finish speaking, Adair turned into a streak of blue light and disappeared from the office.

The sorceress muttered:

“She was still acting like a cold goddess just now, but as soon as the man comes back, she becomes so impatient. What's she turning into…”

…

A burst of blue light flashed, and Cohen opened his eyes, the magnificent and luxurious palace coming into view.

Winsarde looked at the large, ship-shaped solid wood carved bed in the center of the palace and啧啧said:

“Is this His Majesty the King's palace?

This bed is really big enough.”

Cohen wanted to say a few frivolous words, but a burst of icy blue light suddenly flashed before his eyes, and Adair appeared before them like a goddess descending to earth.

A gentle smile instantly appeared on Cohen's face as he stared at Adair's exquisite face and said softly:

“I've heard about everything recently. You've worked hard these days.”

Adair's red lips slightly curved as she came to Cohen and said in a low voice:

“I didn’t come to hear you say that!”

After speaking, she wrapped her arms around Cohen's neck, kicked off her high heels, and stepped her cold and lustrous jade feet on Cohen's feet. Not caring about Winsarde beside her, she directly began a deep kiss.

Cohen's desire was instantly ignited, and his large hands brushed over Adair's purple robe, tearing it open, following her smooth jade-like back, towards the lustrous feeling of…

Adair's beautiful eyes no longer had any coldness, filled with a dazed expression. She tightly clung to Cohen's body, her jade hands unbuttoning the front of her chest, her legs, even through the transparent gauze in front of her skirt, coming into contact with Cohen's… already made her… heartbeat uneasy.

Winsarde, watching this couple who were acting as if no one else was around, almost naked and ready for a battle, felt a violent impact on her heart.

She wanted to say something, but looking at the violent waves in front of Adair's chest, she couldn't help but feel disheartened.

Even as a woman, she felt a little moved.

Winsarde sighed softly and silently left the palace.

A sound of weeping came from behind her…

…

“Sister, I’ve learned some new knowledge recently. Do you want to try it?”

A trace of coldness appeared in Adair's eyes, and she said in a cold voice:

“Who did you learn it from?”

Cohen was stunned for a moment, then coughed lightly:

“Self-created.”

Cohen looked at Adair's icy eyes and slightly cold face, his heart became even more fiery, and a base desire to completely conquer and ravage emerged from the bottom of his heart. He said in a hoarse voice:

…

…

…

Adair got up and washed her long hair, saying in a low voice:

“Next time, can you not make it everywhere?”

Cohen coughed lightly, concealing his embarrassment, then asked:

“Are you going to court today?”

Adair looked at the time and said:

“Let’s go, there’s a lot to do.

It seems that the Duchy of Saint Oak has sent a diplomatic representative over, probably because your actions in Silverfrost have frightened them.”

Cohen's eyes twitched slightly, it seemed that his arrangements in Saint Oak had worked.

He put down these matters and then told Adair about the gains in the ancient Elven tomb.

He focused on introducing the “Elemental Core Power Furnace”, “Long-Distance Teleportation Array”, and the lost ancient Elven music, magical forging, war pet training, and magical potion science knowledge inheritances that enhanced the army's morale and willpower attributes.

He suggested that Winsarde be responsible for transforming the research results related to the Arcane Empire and the ancient Elven race obtained from Starfall Valley into tangible benefits.

Adair's beautiful eyes showed joy when she heard that she had also found knowledge of the long-distance teleportation array, and she said:

“Okay, let her be responsible. I can study that long-distance teleportation array with her.”

After finishing talking about his experiences during this short period, Cohen asked about the most important factor for this return to the country:

“By the way, Melantha told me that demons have appeared in the Southern Border. What's going on?”

Adair stretched her beautiful jade feet to Cohen's side. Cohen was about to use both his hands and mouth when he was glared at by Adair's cold gaze. Then, he embarrassedly flipped out a pair of stockings and put them on for Adair.

Adair said softly:

“When Military Intelligence was investigating the Gunter family’s interpersonal relationships, they discovered the aura left behind by demons in several territories of the Gunter family, and there were even traces of summoning rituals being held.

The people from Military Intelligence didn't publicize it and are currently just monitoring it in secret.

According to the analyzed intelligence, it can be determined that these demons belong to the clan of the Fifty-Eighth Pillar Demon God, Amy.”

Cohen suppressed the lust in his heart and asked after a brief thought:

“Why didn't we see any traces of demons when the Southern Border rebelled?

If the Southern Border had this level of help, there's no reason not to use it.”

Adair stood up straight, revealing her amazing curves, shimmering with a bright light. She waved her hand gently, and the gorgeous palace attire instantly concealed all the beautiful scenery.

She tightened the ribbon in her hair, and her red lips parted slightly:

“I analyzed that it should be a member of the Gunter family who secretly had a transaction with the demons.

The former Southern Border Grand Duke, Kruger Gunter, was not aware of this.”

“Do you have any suspects?”

Adair shook her head and said:

“Most of the registered members of the Gunter family have been executed, and some with lighter crimes have also been exiled to the Northern Border. People have been sent to investigate them, and there are no traces of them having traded with demons.”

Cohen frowned slightly. Sandro shouldn't be that direct descendant member who colluded with the demons, otherwise, he would have noticed something after being in contact with him for so long.

Cohen pursed his lips and pondered for a moment, then said:

“Sister, do you suspect that the person is an illegitimate child who was not included in the Gunter family tree, but because of the relationship behind him, he also has certain power in the Southern Border, so he can cover up the fact that he colluded with the demons?”

Adair nodded:

“I suspect that this person should not be dead yet, and even… there's something very interesting.

Some of the higher-ranking members of the Gunter family who were exiled to the Northern Border did not arrive at their place of exile alive.

At first, I thought that the Northern Border was far away and the climate was harsh, so it was normal for one or two elderly people to die, but with the emergence of the demon matter, there is something strange about this.”

Cohen said in a low voice:

“Murder, the person who colluded with the demons, he silenced everyone who knew of his existence!”

Adair's face also became very solemn, and she said:

“The people sent to monitor the exiled Gunter family are all royal guards, and there are even golden-rank transcendents suppressing the formation. To be able to complete the silencing work under their noses without being noticed, the power this person possesses must not be underestimated.”

Cohen suddenly asked:

“What about Sandro?

That former Southern Border Grand Duke's second son who I developed into a secret agent, I should have left him in Florence to be something like… the deputy director of the post office, it seems.”

Adair said:

“I asked, but I didn't find any valuable clues.

You can try it, he should be more afraid of you.”

Cohen said:

“I know, I will handle this matter before going to the Ceylon Kingdom. I will stay in Effie for this period of time first.”

Adair walked to Cohen's side and kissed him lightly, then her red lips curved slightly, and she said:

“I'm going to court, you go meet your little lovers!”