Chapter 413 Do you...know me?
[No time to check for typos, post it first]
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When Claire finished speaking, Duke Stein suddenly felt unwell...
Just over half a year ago, Baron Henrik from the Principality of Idar was assassinated in the southern part of the Kingdom of Basel.
With this as a trigger, Idar CIA agents broke into his castle in the middle of the night and pulled him out of bed. (See Chapter 346 for details) He was just a baron!
To put it nicely, he was a nobleman, but to be frank, the Baron Henrik who was assassinated was just a marginal figure who was insignificant to the Principality of Idar.
But even though he was just an insignificant marginal figure, he almost cut off the inheritance of the Stein family, which made him feel extremely thrilling every time he thought about it.
This time...
Krell, the director of the Idar CIA, stood in front of him and righteously claimed that his closest family members were captured by the nobles under his command? !
This is simply asking for his life!
Being an ordinary baron, he had been living in fear for a long time. The Stein family's savings for generations were plundered by the Idar people, and he was even awakened by nightmares every night.
And now...
The younger brother of the CIA chief in Idar!
Just hearing the name, I'm afraid it's countless times more serious than the last time!
You know, the person standing in front of him is the director of the Idar Central Intelligence Agency, the most powerful intelligence and espionage chief in the Principality of Idar! "Lord Claire..."
Duke Stein felt like he was about to cry.
He himself never dared to provoke these ferocious Idar people, but why were the nobles under him always looking for ways to get themselves killed? ! The most important thing is... it doesn't matter if they want to get themselves killed, but they must not drag him into it!
At this moment, Clare had no interest in taking advantage of Duke Stein. After all... Duke Stein had always been very cooperative with the Idar Chamber of Commerce and could be considered the most important partner of the Idar Chamber of Commerce in southern Basel.
Based on the principle of joining if you can't beat them, a large number of goods and commodities produced in the Principality of Idar were landed in the territory of Duke Stein, and sold to various parts of the Kingdom of Basel in the name of Duke Stein.
Although Duke Stein also made a considerable profit from it, the bulk of the profits were definitely taken away by his own Duke.
Since Duke Stein is now considered a "friend" to the Principality of Idar, it is not appropriate to come up with the "Basel Scalpel" plan.
Otherwise... who would help the Idar Chamber of Commerce sell its products? Therefore, Claire did not make things too difficult for the Basel nobleman who knew how to act. After a brief conversation, he roughly explained the purpose of his visit.
And when Duke Stein heard that there was not much blame or questioning in Clare's words, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But as he relaxed, he couldn't help but feel secretly frightened.
Duke Stein collected a lot of information about the Principality of Idar during this period.
He also knew some information about recruiting civilians to join the administrative agencies and allowing civilians to hold official positions.
But even though Duke Stein knew the news, he still felt that this was just a means for the Principality of Idar to recruit refugees and to deceive civilians.
but……
When he saw the CIA director in person, he had to believe the rumors about the Principality of Idar.
According to what Claire just said, Duke Stein has clearly realized...
The CIA director in front of him was a real civilian in the past !
How could his mother and brother be trafficked to the Kingdom of Basel by human traffickers, and even appear in his own territory? Thinking of this, Duke Stein felt more and more that the Principality of Idar, located north of the Kingdom of Basel, was really an unfathomable and mysterious country.
Commoners hold official positions and serfs are liberated. Which of these facts happening in the Principality of Idar is not incredible?
But in the Principality of Idar, this is a living reality!
I don’t understand…
I really don’t understand…
"Lord Claire, please let me lead the way for you..."
Although Duke Stein himself was a duke-level noble, he did not dare to act arrogantly in front of Claire, who did not have any title, and he did not have the courage to show his noble status.
Because the Idar CIA really left a deep impression on him.
"Then I'll trouble you."
Claire nodded, but did not refuse Duke Stein's kindness.
After all, he is the director of the Idar CIA. Deep in a foreign country, he represents the Principality of Idar and his own Duke, so naturally he has to show the momentum and extraordinaryness of the Idar people.
and……
When it comes to rescuing abducted civilians, the most difficult part is actually finding out where these Idar people are.
But these things have been almost all found out by the Graf family, that is, the non-staff members of the Idar CIA. The task on my shoulders is not too heavy. Even if I am not in charge, the Idar agents can fully handle this job, so...
The Krei people naturally had to go and pick up their brother and family and bring them home, so that they could leave this land with their heads held high, which would not disappoint the Duke's kindness.
Duke Stein warmly welcomed Claire into a luxuriously decorated aristocratic carriage, and then, with a large group of people and under the escort of Agent Idar, they slowly drove towards their destination.
The carriages of the nobility were naturally extremely luxurious, and the interiors of the carriages were all decorated with precious gems.
But Claire knew very well in his heart that the reason why Duke Stein could enjoy such a luxurious life and rely on the mountains of gold and silver behind him was all accumulated bit by bit by exploiting the blood and sweat of civilians and serfs.
In contrast,...
Although the living conditions of his own Duke are also good, while benefiting himself, he also allows all the people living in the Principality of Idar to live a better life, and makes all Idar people look forward to the future!
It's not just the Principality of Idar, but also the Conte Territory on the west side of Stranglethorn Vale and the eastern highlands of the Odin Empire...
As the Idar people gradually moved out of the eastern part of the empire, these originally barren and backward areas underwent tremendous changes under the influence of the Idar Principality.
The Duchy of Stein, located in the south of the Kingdom of Basel, is naturally no exception.
Since the Idar Chamber of Commerce built numerous plantations in the Duke of Stein's territory, the number of Idar ships docked at the port to load and unload goods has increased day by day, and the dirt roads in the Duke of Stein's territory have long disappeared.
In its place was a brand new road that was repaired by the Idar Chamber of Commerce.
Although the purpose of building the road was to allow the Idar Chamber of Commerce's convoys and goods to pass more smoothly, the funds for the road construction also came from the money stolen from the Duke Stein's treasury.
However, the repair of the road has indeed made travel more convenient for local residents.
The plantations opened on this land naturally continued the usual methods and routines of the Principality of Idar.
After the civilians and serfs employed by the Idar people fully realized the benefits of the work point system, they naturally worked extra hard.
There is no need for whipping or verbal threats. Working on the Idar plantations has almost become a dream job for the local people.
Although working on the plantation is tiring, the copper coins you receive every month are real money.
As long as you work harder, you can earn more, and there will never be any phenomenon of salary arrears!
As a result, a large part of the arable land in the Duke of Stein's territory was gradually converted into plantations of tropical cash crops such as rubber and sugarcane, forcing the Duke of Stein to purchase food from the Idar Chamber of Commerce.
Although Duke Stein knew in his heart that purchasing food from the Idar people would mean letting the Idar people control the food lifeline of the entire dukedom, but...
Planting rubber and sugar cane can really make a lot of money! Anyway, he had the Idar people's leverage over him, so he decided to just go for it.
And even if something really went wrong, I definitely wouldn't be the one starving.
…
It was almost afternoon when Claire's convoy passed through the endless plantation.
Viscount Creamer, who had already received the news, was already standing by the roadside with his entourage waiting.
Although it was unclear why Duke Stein suddenly visited his small viscounty, but...
After all, the Duke is the Duke, and he is also his own lord, so naturally he has to be given enough face.
then,
When Viscount Creamer saw the Duke's convoy slowly approaching from afar, he hurriedly led his entourage to meet them.
Even while walking, he was still thinking in his mind about the reason why the Duke suddenly came.
Most of the southern nobles of the Kingdom of Basel have the tradition of sending their subordinates to do business, and Viscount Creamer, as a vassal of Duke Stein, naturally contributes a considerable amount of wealth every year.
Could it be because...
I donated a large sum of gold coins in the first half of the year and was appreciated by the Duke?
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed to Viscount Creamer.
Especially after his Lord Duke got in touch with the legendary Idar people, every time his caravan went out, it would bring a lot of profit to Duke Stein! It must be a good thing. After all... Which lord would not value a vassal like himself?
Seeing Duke Stein's motorcade slowly stop in front of him, Viscount Creamer quickly tidied up his clothes and greeted them respectfully:
"Your Excellency the Duke, I..."
What caught Viscount Creamer off guard was...
Before he could finish his words, Duke Stein interrupted him rudely: "Where is Lady Agnes? And René Cabral! Where are these two people?!"
Clare Cabral, this is the full name of Clare, the CIA director in Idar.
And Rene Cabral is, of course, the name of Claire’s younger brother.
only……
Viscount Creamer was stunned at this moment.
He could naturally hear that the Duke had a rather gloomy tone in his voice.
But the question is... what the hell is this about, Lady Agnes?
I have never heard of it! "This..."
"These two..."
Viscount Creamer was unable to react for a moment and could only look at the butler beside him, wanting to know who the two people suddenly mentioned by the Duke were.
only……
The butler naturally didn't know who this was!
I've never even heard of it! He could only look at Viscount Creamer beside him with a bitter look.
"They are two commoners, or serfs, who should be working in your castle or farm!"
Duke Stein seemed to realize that it was unlikely for a viscount to pay attention to the name of a commoner, so he added with a cold face.
civilian?
That's easy! It probably means that he hit the Duke's frame? Or was he disrespectful to the Duke? Thinking of this, Viscount Creamer quickly replied:
"My Lord Duke, why don't you go to the castle and rest for a while? I will ask the butler to catch them. If they dare to..."
Thinking that Claire, who had not yet gotten off the car, might have heard Viscount Creamer's words, Duke Stein quickly shouted at Viscount Creamer: "Shut up!"
"Go find that person now! And then invite him to your castle respectfully!"
"If Lord Krel's relatives suffer any injustice, just wait and see!"
Eh? This script is wrong!
Viscount Creamer was somewhat confused.
His Excellency the Duke came here specifically to find two civilians, and asked me to invite them respectfully?
in addition……
Who is Lord Krel?
Before Viscount Creamer turned his head, he saw a young man in Idar's standard military uniform slowly getting down from another carriage.
Surrounding the young man were Idar soldiers wearing griffin emblems on their chests.
As a vassal of the Duke of Stein, Viscount Creamer naturally knew that his lord had some kind of connection with those Idar people.
And as early as half a year ago,
The news that the Idar agent had traveled thousands of miles and stabbed to death a baron who had attacked the Idar nobles had already spread throughout the land, so...
The nobles of the Principality of Idar have long become someone who can walk sideways in the southern part of Basel!
It seems like... I'm in trouble?
Viscount Creamer and his trusted men, who realized the situation belatedly, turned their noble territory upside down as quickly as possible. An hour later, they finally brought a mother and son, who were poorly dressed and skinny, from Viscount Creamer's private farm to the castle.
When he saw the woman with gray hair and a thin face, even Claire, who had always been extremely resolute, couldn't help but have red eyes.
But as the director of the Idar CIA, he could never cry easily!
so……
He forced himself to turn his head, clenched his fists tightly, and said to his brother in a trembling voice: "Rene Cabral, do you... still recognize me?"
Thanks to "Lynching" for the tip! Double the monthly tickets in the past two days! Go for it!
(End of this chapter)
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