Chapter 103: Traveling Together (Part 2)

“Not bad!”

Dean answered while standing up. He pulled a chair for the Miss Baron in front of him and invited her to sit down.

“You think acting this way will make me forgive you?”

The Miss Baron stared at Dean. She looked like a little cat that had been provoked. Not only did she bare her claws and show her teeth, she also seemed ready to pounce and bite.

“I just want you to sit down and talk. After all, the matters we need to discuss cannot be finished in a short time. As for forgiveness? Miss Lily, did I do anything to wrong you? If I did, please let me know, and I will correct it. If I didn’t, please sit down so we can discuss how to deal with the Nephew of Baron Defendi. The two-day journey is not long, but if someone is determined, accidents can still happen.”

After speaking, Dean walked back to his bed and sat down, just as he had before.

“You!!”

The Miss Baron opened her mouth wide to say something, but the words stuck in her throat, and she realized she couldn’t say a thing.

After all, as Dean had said, had he done anything to wrong her?

Given their relationship, Dean had already fulfilled the duties of a guard, even performing them exceptionally well. He had rescued her from danger twice. Facing such a guard, what could she possibly say?

Vent her dissatisfaction? Make unreasonable arguments?

Although the Miss Baron really wanted to do that, the education she had received all her life made it impossible for her to disregard her dignity like that.

Therefore, in the end, the Miss Baron sat down angrily.

“Huck already mentioned the Nephew of Baron Defendi to me earlier. However, I think you should know more about him. Can you describe this Nephew of Baron Defendi in detail?”

Dean completely ignored the Miss Baron’s anger. Seeing that she had sat down, he asked directly.

“The Nephew of Baron Defendi… Heh, it would be more appropriate to call him a son. Everyone knows this in private!” Although the Miss Baron was angry, she did not stop talking because of it. On the contrary, she spoke very carefully. “Churde Defendi has the same cunning and gloominess as Baron Defendi. He planned many of the ‘actions’ that Baron Defendi’s Territory took against our Tier Territory in the past. He caused us considerable losses. And…”

When she reached this point, the Miss Baron paused, looking slightly hesitant.

However, after a moment, the Miss Baron continued, “And, according to the inference of Father and Your Excellency Ikes, there should be an insider within Tier Territory!”

“An insider? A spy!”

Huck was stunned. Then, he widened his eyes in surprise.

“Yes, Vice Regiment Commander Huck, do you remember our last hunt?”

The Miss Baron asked.

“The time when the Baron was assassinated?”

Huck’s expression became serious. Obviously, this burly man was also beginning to realize that something was wrong.

“That’s the one. It was a hunt within the family, and outsiders could not know about it at all. To arrange such an assassination, one must know the exact time and location. If Father hadn’t sprained his waist and couldn’t ride a horse, the one who died wouldn’t have been a groom who was holding the horse!”

The Miss Baron’s face darkened when mentioning the assassination attempt on her Father.

Anyone would feel extreme aversion towards assassination.

“Did that assassin say anything?”

Dean interjected and asked.

Why was he so certain?

If they hadn’t caught that assassin, how could Baron Tier and that Aide be sure that Baron Defendi was behind it?

“No. In fact, that assassin was a Dead Soldier. When he realized he couldn’t escape, he committed suicide directly. However, Your Excellency Ikes, who had traveled through the Four Northern Counties before, recognized him and even traveled with him… But after arriving in Vauban County, that person went to Defendi Territory, while Your Excellency Ikes came to Tier Territory!”

The Miss Baron explained.

“So coincidental?”

Dean mused.

“Are you suspecting Your Excellency Ikes?”

Anger appeared in the Miss Baron’s voice. Huck beside her also looked at his young Regiment Commander in astonishment. Obviously, he didn’t understand why his Regiment Commander would ask such a question. After all, what Ikes had done in Tier Territory was visible to everyone.

In fact, without the assistance of that Aide, Ikes, no matter how hard the Miss Baron tried, Tier Territory would inevitably face a decline.

“No, I don’t mean to suspect Your Excellency Ikes at all. I just suspect the matter itself… A Dead Soldier, and one that Your Excellency Ikes happened to know. No matter how you look at it, it seems like a directed play!” Dean shrugged, indicating that he had no malicious intent. He looked at the Miss Baron and said, “You and Huck have told me more than once about the cunning of that Nephew of Baron Defendi. Consider, why would a cunning person make such a mistake? Even if it was a Dead Soldier, compared to his caution, he should have investigated clearly. Such a flaw should not have appeared!”

“Maybe they were creating a fake scenario?”

The Miss Baron asked defiantly.

“A fake scenario? Under the circumstances at that time, the best choice was to completely clear any suspicion. Don’t doubt it. If your Father, Lord Baron, had really been assassinated, as the heir, would you or your brother seek revenge for your Father? When the culprit points to Baron Defendi, would you care if they were creating a fake scenario? Probably, you would lead the armed forces of Tier Territory and attack Defendi Territory directly, right?”

As Dean spoke, he looked at the Miss Baron.

Without a doubt, her previous behavior, which seemed like a split personality, made Dean believe that she was absolutely not as mature and steady as she usually appeared.

If a real collapsing situation occurred, she would definitely act like a madwoman.

Dean was very certain about this.

After all, a woman who could use her own Health as a chip for amusement, what else wouldn’t she do?

And the Miss Baron’s silence afterwards undoubtedly showed that Dean’s guess was so correct.

“Are you saying someone is trying to provoke us and Baron Defendi into a conflict?”

The Miss Baron looked at Dean and asked with a serious expression.

Such seriousness was necessary because if the matter was true, it would certainly be a huge incident.

“Maybe! However, there is no one left to prove it now… Moreover, don’t forget the difficult problem we face at the moment, that Nephew of Baron Defendi. As for the rest? That is a matter for after we return to Tier Territory!”

Dean spread his hands, indicating that he didn’t know, and steered the topic back to the main issue again.

“After we return, I will discuss this carefully with Father and Your Excellency Ikes!”

The Miss Baron’s expression remained solemn, indicating that she would keep such a matter in mind. Then, the Miss Baron introduced the Nephew of Baron Defendi with even more detailed descriptions.

“Churde Defendi had previously gone to the Three Southern Counties to study. He brought back several skilled craftsmen, making the armed forces within Defendi Territory very powerful. Their weapons and Armor were such that even Marquis Vauban could not look down upon them. This also attracted many Mercenaries from Vauban County to go there. After all, compared to the strictness of Marquis Vauban, Defendi Territory was more relaxed and offered better treatment!”

When the Miss Baron reached this point, a look of worry appeared on her face.

“Many people?”

Dean asked.

“Yes. At least two hundred people, all experienced veterans. They usually stay within Defendi Territory, accepting the employment of Baron Defendi. If they have their own tasks, Baron Defendi will not stop them, as long as they keep more than half of their numbers to guard the entire Defendi Territory. The Commander of these Mercenaries is that Nephew of Baron Defendi!”

The Miss Baron nodded.

“He has good abilities to command troops. What about his own Strength?”

Dean nodded and continued to ask.

“His personal ability is weak… The family of Baron Defendi is not famous for martial bravery!”

When Miss Tier mentioned the family of Baron Defendi, a look of contempt immediately appeared on her face.

“Strength does not only refer to physical power… Fortunately, we only need to deal with those Mercenaries!”

After reminding the Miss Baron of this, Dean began to think about the possible situations in his mind and started to make plans.

Undoubtedly, traveling together when they left tomorrow morning would be a ‘competition’.

And for Nobles, the items of ‘competition’ could certainly not be too many. Wealth, women, and physical power. If summarized, there were only these three items.

Considering the outdoor travel, and that the representative of Baron Tier was his daughter herself, the first two items could be automatically discarded.

So only the item of ‘physical power’ remained.

And this was undoubtedly their strong point. Those Mercenaries who mixed in various places, with excellent equipment, were undoubtedly an unbeatable combat power.

It was even far beyond the members of some regular Knight Orders.

After all, they had experienced too much actual combat and faced too many dangers. As long as they survived and didn’t die, they must have considerable abilities.

And gathering these people together, the combat power would naturally be considerable.

Of course, Dean would not be afraid or yield because of this. If he were afraid or yielded just because of some Mercenaries, how could he have faced the Knight Orders of City and Goth, and the Inquisitors of the Divine Church back then?

Moreover, Dean knew those Mercenaries, like vultures, quite well.

The organizational structure of the opponent, the behavior patterns of the opponent, and… the greed of the opponent!

If Thieves and Assassins walked in the Shadow, then Mercenaries walked in the Shadow wearing a glowing ‘blanket’—just to make more people accept them. In essence, what was the difference between them and Thieves and Assassins?

In fact, they were far inferior to Thieves and Assassins.

At least, Thieves and Assassins would abide by professional ethics, but Mercenaries?

Their greed made them believe in Gold Pulton.

“Mercenaries, huh?”

Dean muttered silently. Then, he unconsciously tightened his grip on the Longsword beside him. A trace of killing intent began to spread. Because Dean thought of some traitors back then.

And those traitors were from Mercenaries.

Hatred again made the ferocity in Dean’s heart stand out. And the standpoint he was in now made Dean not need to hide anything.

“Miss Lily, leave the itinerary for tomorrow and the day after to me!”

Dean looked at the Miss Baron and said so.

“Of course!”

The Miss Baron nodded confidently. She had seen Dean’s movements clearly before. Unlike the Misses of general Noble families, the Miss of the Tier Baron Family had experienced many situations. Therefore, she felt the killing intent that had chilled her body earlier.

Although she didn’t know what it was about, the Miss Baron could be certain that it was not bad for her trip.

Just looking at Dean’s slightly cold face was enough to know everything.

Moreover, for such a matter, if she didn’t entrust it to the guard of her trip, who could she entrust it to?

“Regiment Commander Dean Ken, I look forward to your performance!”

After the Miss Baron finished speaking, she left the room.

“Regiment Commander, what are we going to do?”

Left behind was Vice Regiment Commander Huck. He looked at his Regiment Commander and asked unconsciously.

“Naturally, we will ‘welcome’ that Your Excellency Churde Defendi to join our group!”

Dean said calmly.