met free Chapter 356 Working with you insects, how can we manage the Great Western Territory well?!
Chapter 356 Working with you insects, how can we manage the Great Western Territory well?!
Chapter 356 Working alongside you insects, how can I manage the Great Western Territory well?!
The Great Western Territory is a city located at the southeastern crossroads.
A group of nobles and officials from various cities in the western borderlands gathered here for this grand event.
"Lord Sweeting, how have you been lately?"
A young nobleman, holding a glass of red wine and accompanied by a beautiful woman, approached an elderly man with gray hair and dressed in fine clothes and greeted him.
"What's so good about it? Those savages with no brains, relying on their little bit of strength, set so-called rules for us upper-class people."
Nowadays, the tax revenue of my territory is declining year by year. Even if I want to find some pretty girls to play with in my territory, I have to be afraid that the lowly people below might report me to those barbarian assassins..."
The elderly man in fine clothes began to complain.
"Lord Sweeting, watch your words!"
The young nobleman's expression changed, and so did his form of address.
The Assassin's Creed's blade has killed far too many high-ranking officials and dignitaries over the years.
"Be careful what you say! Those barbarian assassins won't be around for long!"
The elderly man in fine clothes said dismissively.
"It's not over yet, what if this time..."
The young man was interrupted by the old man before he could finish speaking.
"There's no 'what if' scenario. Even if the assassins sent by the Empire don't work out, don't forget we still have the top martial arts expert in the Western Region. And once we take care of the two leaders of those barbarian assassins, what chance do the rest have against our army?"
The old man was very confident, and those around him who overheard him echoed his sentiments. These nobles of the Western Regions had long been suffering under the Assassin Alliance.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to generously contribute funds and secretly provide unconditional support to the Empire's spies after learning that so many people were willing to join forces against the Assassin Alliance.
"However, I never expected that Baron Romanson, who outwardly fawns over the Assassin's Guild the most, would actually be the one who initiated this plot against those barbarians of the Assassin's Guild by joining forces with us."
Someone suddenly spoke, and the surrounding dignitaries all looked at the person mentioned, the city's lord, who was now surrounded by others in the center, seemingly the central figure, the newly noble Baron Romanson.
"This is probably what they mean when they say that a dog that bites doesn't bark, but will wag its tail and beg for a bone from its temporary owner."
The elderly man in fine clothes made a sarcastic remark in response.
"Hahaha……"
The powerful figures surrounding him smiled in agreement.
However, no one laughed too loudly.
After all, that baron over there, who was originally a tax collector, was valued by the Assassin's Guild because he was the first city lord to fawn over the guild by paying taxes. As a result, he was also regarded as an important traitor by the empire that was plotting against the Assassin's Guild.
If the Assassin Alliance is wiped out this time, this person's contribution will be significant. His previous minor transgressions of flattering the Assassin Alliance might be easily forgiven, and he might even be highly regarded by the Empire, rising to a position on par with, or even surpassing, those with established power and influence.
Even though their group was led by the Marquis of Sweeting, they couldn't openly offend Baron Romanson, for who knew what the future held?
Seemingly sensing the thoughts of those around him, the elderly man in fine clothes suddenly whispered a piece of gossip to them.
"I have a cousin who works in the central government of the empire as a clerk in the minister's office. According to him, Minister Ernest is very unhappy with Baron Romanson, who is leading the way in paying taxes to the barbarians."
"Yes, he looks glamorous now, but that's because the empire still needs him. But what will happen to him when they no longer need him?"
"Lord Sweetin, what do you mean?"
"Romanson is a sycophant who puts on a show on the surface, but he has probably amassed quite a fortune in private. When we settle accounts with him, we will send half of his estate to Minister Ernest, and I will keep the other half for myself. I ask you all to share it. Moreover, if any of your family caravans pass through this area in the future, all your commercial taxes will be reduced by half."
Upon hearing this, the laughter of the surrounding dignitaries suddenly intensified. Although the old man might end up monopolizing the city's administrative power, he would still receive a share of the profits and other benefits.
"Gentlemen, what are you laughing at?"
At this moment, Baron Romanson, who had heard the laughter, came over and asked the group with a smile.
"It's nothing, it's just that His Excellency the Marquis of Sweeting told a joke that we found funny."
Someone answered.
"Oh, I wonder what the joke was? Could you tell me about it?"
The baron smiled and pressed for an answer, but those around him remained silent, concealing the wolves and tigers in their eyes.
"This joke is funny to us, but it may not be funny to you, Lord Romanson. It's getting late, you should go up on stage and say a few words."
The elegantly dressed old man responded with a smile, showing no trace of the disdain he had just displayed for the baron before him.
"Is it time yet?"
Just then, a male waiter ran over and whispered in Baron Romanson's ear.
"Sorry, sorry, I'll go up on stage right away."
After hearing what he was saying, Baron Romanson smiled.
He apologized to everyone present and headed straight for the high platform.
"A lucky dog who rose to power, hmph, let you be smug for a while."
Marquis Swett spat after Baron Romanson had left.
"Thank you all for gracing this banquet..."
Baron Romanson, upon taking the stage, first delivered an opening speech, and then recounted the various acts of cruelty and atrocity the League of Assassins had committed against them, the powerful and wealthy, over the years.
"We're just collecting taxes (heavy taxes) normally, and occasionally playing around with our subjects (bullying men and women, killing someone we don't like for fun). Yet those barbarians (the Assassin's Guild) use that to judge us as criminals and commit horrific acts of slaughter against us, the noble ones..."
Baron Romanson took out a handkerchief, wiped away non-existent tears, and suddenly raised his arm and shouted: "But fortunately, the lords of the Empire have arrived, and the sun will shine again in our Great Western Territory."
I know there must be some people among those present who are inclined to side with the assassins, barbarians, and traitors, but I'm telling you, those traitorous assassins are finished.
Just now, I received intelligence that the Empire's assassination squad has wiped out that group of barbarians in the dense forest five kilometers west of the city.
As soon as he finished speaking, the room erupted in discussion. But one thing was certain: the dignitaries who had come here to participate in this grand event (planning the assassin alliance) were all loyal subjects of the empire, and their faces were all beaming with joy.
"Bring in the fine wine."
Following the order from Baron Romanson on the platform, a group of male and female attendants pushed carts filled with fine wines and glasses into the main hall of the city lord's mansion.
"This is a treasure from the cellar of the Marquis of Clinton's family. Although the Marquis of Clinton was murdered by the League of Assassins three years ago, his wine is still with us at this moment when the dawn breaks over the Great Western Region. I wish to share this victorious wine with you all."
Baron Romanson was the first to pick up the glass of red wine brought to him by a waiter who came up on stage, raised it high, and said to the crowd below, "To the Empire, cheers!"
The atmosphere was perfectly set, and emotions were fully stirred. The nobles below, without suspicion, raised the fine wines served by their attendants and chanted in unison, "To the Empire, cheers!"
On the stage, Baron Romanson downed the fine wine in one gulp.
Below the stage, a group of powerful and wealthy people followed suit.
However, a few people frowned, sipped the wine, and felt that the taste was a bit strange.
"Baron Romanson, I'll have to take care of you from now on."
Some believe that after this incident, Romanson will surely be fawned over by powerful and influential figures who will be given important positions.
The nobles surrounding the Marquis of Sweeting watched him like a clown, oblivious to the truth, fawning over a dog, their eyes filled with mockery.
But this playful expression was quickly broken...
"Take good care of you? How can I take good care of you?"
"Of course, in every aspect..."
*Smack!*
Before he could finish speaking, the young nobleman, who was shamelessly asking for special treatment, was slapped across the face by Baron Romanson.
"How can we manage politics and govern the Great Western Territory effectively while working alongside greedy insects like you?"
A furious shout rang out, and the dignitaries present all looked over, somewhat puzzled as to what was wrong with the other party.
"Baron Romanson, what's wrong with you? Now that you've made it big, you don't care about me anymore, why did you have to resort to violence?"
An official who was close to the beaten nobleman stood up for him.
"Ha, take action? No, this is what taking action truly means!"
After saying that, Baron Romanson suddenly threw the empty wine glass in his hand to the ground.
With a loud crack, the wine glass shattered.
And this was like a starting gun; in the next moment, a series of whooshing sounds came from all around the hall.
The dignitaries present all looked in the direction of the sound and saw that their personal guards who had followed them in were being killed by the waiters who pushed in the wine.
"Romanson, what are you doing?"
Some people, filled with shock and anger, questioned him.
"What for? Of course, to kill you greedy insects."
Baron Romanson answered matter-of-factly.
"But why is that?"
Someone else asked.
In response, Baron Romanson simply stood there, made a somewhat odd gesture with his hands at an angle, and then shouted to the group of nobles questioning him: "Long live the Young Pioneers! Long live the League of Assassins! Justice is with me!"
The voice was loud and clear, which stunned the powerful and influential people who heard it.
"No, you're with the Assassin's Guild?"
Two or three seconds later, a nobleman asked a question.
"Exactly."
Baron Romanson withdrew from his strange posture, but smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.
"But how can you be a member of the Assassin's Guild?"
As the leader of an anti-Assassin alliance who acted as a bridge between the Imperial intelligence agencies in the Great Western Territory and various powerful figures, both large and small, who harbored hatred towards the Assassin Brotherhood within the major cities of the Great Western Territory.
Despite being the official leader, his sudden appearance against the anti-assassin alliance left all the powerful figures in the alliance somewhat bewildered.
"Why can't I be a member of the Assassin's Guild? From the moment the Imperial intelligence agents contacted me, I reported this to Lord Merard of the Assassin's Guild. And that lord told me to play along, the purpose of which was to lure out you bunch of hidden insects. I really didn't expect you guys to be so stupid, your brains are as worm-like as insects..."
Baron Romanson's sarcastic remarks made a group of nobles feel somewhat envious.
"The news that the barbarians of the Assassin's Guild were completely wiped out by the Imperial assassination forces..."
"That's obviously fake. The ones who were actually wiped out were the Imperial assassination squad."
"what!"
The powerful and wealthy exclaimed in surprise, and immediately some quick-witted individuals slid down to their knees.
"Lord Romanson, you know me. I have always been your staunch supporter. You support the Empire, so I support the Empire. You support the Lord of the Assassin's Guild, so I support the Lord of the Assassin's Guild..."
"You really are a good dog, but unfortunately, I don't want a fence-sitter like you who sways from side to side."
"Oh no, how could this be?!"
The official, who failed to slide on his knees, looked utterly desperate.
"Damn it, grab Romanson! Only by grabbing him can we live."
Suddenly, someone shouted from among the group of powerful and wealthy people.
Some young nobles, unwilling to sit idly by and await their doom, were filled with rage. Already somewhat weakened by being deceived, they began to charge at Romanson.
I'm currently reading the error-free version! This is the first time I've published this novel.
"Miss Hill, please."
In response, Baron Romanson bowed slightly to his bespectacled attendant.
"Get behind me, or you'll get splattered with blood."
The girl with glasses said something, and a cute little white dog slipped out from under her long skirt.
"Don't be scared, it's just a puppy. Even if it's a domesticated, special breed, it's still a greyhound!"
Some people stopped, but others continued to urge them on. The crowd rushing towards Romanson paused for a moment, then continued to surge towards them.
"Little Puppy~"
Hill gave a soft call, and the little white dog instantly transformed into a muscular white dog.
It was over two meters tall, with bulging muscles, scarlet eyes, and sharp teeth.
With a sweep of his hand, the first few people in the surging crowd were caught in the sweep.
In an instant, they were sent flying like rag dolls, their bodies torn apart by the dog's claws.
"Bang!"
With another punch, one person who didn't have time to retreat was smashed into the ground from head to toe by the Hundred-Armed Giant, Xiao Wang, with blood, flesh, and mud splattered everywhere.
"Roar~"
With a roar, it opened its huge mouth, revealing rings of fangs, which terrified a group of powerful and wealthy people covered in blood and flesh, causing them to run away in panic.
"Lord Romanson, please forgive me! I swear to serve the Assassin's Guild from this day forward!"
The person, terrified out of their wits, immediately knelt on the ground and began to beg.
"Sorry, it's a bit late for you to talk about this now. Well, it's about time."
"What do you mean...?"
The middle-aged nobleman who had been hiding in the back suddenly felt something dripping onto his hand. Looking down, he saw that it was blood.
"Oh no, you're bleeding!"
Someone exclaimed in surprise.
"You...you poisoned the drink?"
"That's just pesticide."
"Ah~"
Everyone clutched their stomachs and collapsed to their knees in agony.
"Squeak~"
The gates of the city lord's mansion opened at this moment, and Merad, dressed in a tight-fitting combat suit, walked in with a cat-like gait.
"Da da da~"
As he passed by the fallen dignitaries, the man looked around as if admiring a blooming spider lily.
"Romanson, you did a good job."
She praised the Baron.
"This is all thanks to Lord Merad's wise leadership."
The Baron bent down, not daring to look at the sexy leader of the Assassin's Guild with prejudice.
"I only provided you with insect venom. It's all your skill that you managed to get so many idiots to drink it. Don't be so modest."
"Yes."
Baron Romanson obediently agreed, and after a moment asked, "Lord Merard, shall we dispose of these bodies separately?"
"Yes, cut off their heads, make them into specimens, and send them back to their cities for the residents, nobles, and officials to see. Let everyone know the consequences of daring to violate the ban and rebel against our Assassin Alliance."
Melard thought for a moment and said.
"Should we also consider the families of these guys...?"
Baron Romanson made a gesture as if cutting off someone's throat.
"No need. Except for those families that stand up to resist, keep the kneeling ones for me. After all, we are assassins who represent justice, and we won't easily harm our families."
Melard said with a smile.
"Isn't doing this a bit like releasing a dangerous species back into the mountains...?"
"Ha, are those survivors considered dangerous species too?"
Merard chuckled and looked at the man before him, asking, "As for you, why are you in such a hurry to eliminate the threat completely? Are you thinking you'll have another chance to betray the Empire later?"
"Thump~"
Romanson immediately knelt down and protested, "Absolutely not! I used to want to be a good person, but I never had the chance. Now that the Assassin's Guild has given me that chance, how could I possibly betray them? My loyalty to the Assassin's Guild is as clear as day!"
"Then get the job done and don't overthink it."
Melard didn't say anything.
The Assassin's Guild only looks at actions, not human nature.
If I absolutely have to believe in anything, then it's probably only the knife in my hand.
Leaving behind a bunch of dead descendants of those who defied the ban, the people they hate most is this baron who betrayed them and poisoned their families.
This makes it significantly more difficult, if not impossible, for the other party to switch sides in the future. Only by wholeheartedly aligning themselves with the Assassin Alliance can the other party survive.
Well, some might say this is going too far, treating a righteous and good official like Baron Romanson, who has repented, in this way. But is he really a righteous and good official who has repented?
No, he's just an ordinary person who goes with the flow.
During the imperial period, the other party was a corrupt official who extorted money and forced impoverished people who couldn't pay taxes to sell their children and even themselves.
But after the League of Assassins arrived and killed a large number of disobedient nobles in the city, allowing them to rise to the position of city lord, Romanson became a reformed good official according to the League of Assassins' standards.
Moreover, because he was once a corrupt official, he was even more aware of the methods corrupt officials use to deceive their superiors and subordinates, which provided many constructive suggestions for the Assassin's Guild's prohibition standards.
This person betrayed the original corrupt officials and is a true opportunist; he will sway whichever way the wind blows.
The reason why such a person supports the Assassin's Guild is simply because the power and status he currently possesses are all derived from the Assassin's Guild's actions in the Western Region.
The other party is a smart man. He probably knows that once the Assassin's Alliance falls, he will lose his position as city lord and may even face retribution from the Empire.
"Oh, right, there's another one alive over there. He wasn't poisoned. Remember to be careful when you behead him."
Melard suddenly said.
"Bang!"
Sweetin, who had been feigning death on the ground, suddenly sprang to his feet and sprinted towards the gate of the city lord's mansion.
The city lord's guards tried to stop the other party, but were sent flying by a single punch.
"In my youth, I practiced martial arts at the Yellow Springs Temple. Get out of my way if you don't want to die!"
The old man in fine clothes roared and rushed to the door. Just as he was about to rush out the door, his head suddenly fell off his neck.
A thin thread lay across the entrance to the city lord's mansion. Merard moved his fingers, and the thread, which had been crossed at one end, was pulled back.
"Was Huangquan Temple's skill level really this bad before, or was it just that the opponent was a piece of trash, making it unsatisfying to kill, right, Hill?"
"Ms. Melard, I am still at work. Please do not engage in workplace sexual harassment."
"Woof~"
The puppy barked twice at Melard before jumping into Hill's arms.
Baron Romanson wiped the sweat from his brow as he watched the retracted crosshairs traverse across the front of his neck.
"By the way, Lord Merard, I don't know if you were attacked by the number one martial arts master in the West. I heard it was that old man Sweetin who organized people to donate money to hire Imperial spies."
He changed the subject, pointing to the corpses in the direction of the city lord's mansion entrance, and said.
"The number one martial arts master in the West? Who is that again?"
Melard was somewhat puzzled.
"It was Uncle Sambasang. After accepting the mission to deal with us and taking the money from the Empire, he came directly to one of our intelligence outposts and sold this information to us. He even swore to our intelligence personnel that although he was a warrior, he also knew righteousness and would never attack our Assassin Alliance."
Nahashu walked over and said.
"Oh, it's that guy who won two consecutive Western Conference championships with an inflated reputation. He talks a good game, but if he's really that good, he should make a move against us. Where is he now? I'll go talk to him."
The Empire's conspiracy has been thwarted by them, and a bunch of insects in the West have been wiped out. Now that they have nothing to do, Merard plans to go and slap the face of the West's number one martial arts master. He wants to know whether the other party is better at martial arts or dancing.
"He made a profit, and after selling the information, he went straight into the Gifunola Sea Tree Great Forest."
(End of this chapter)