Chapter 149: Compensation (Part 2)

The box was opened, and familiar armor and a standard Knight’s Longsword appeared before Dean.

“Isn’t this armor the one from the auction?”

Looking at the extremely familiar armor, Dean expressed his surprise with perfect timing.

“Didn’t I once say that I have many similar armors in my collection? This is one of them!” Marquis Vauban looked at the surprised Dean and could not help but smile; clearly, he was very satisfied with Dean’s expression. Therefore, he took out another item with great interest and said, “This is a standard Knight’s Longsword that has also had its weight reduced and swinging speed increased—I originally wanted to give that Frost Longsword to you, Dean, but the envoy from Dell County has already sent the Longsword back to Count Dell!”

As he spoke, a look of regret appeared on Marquis Vauban’s face.

“These gifts already make me overwhelmed!”

Dean waved his hands repeatedly, expressing his gratitude.

That weight-reduced Steel Armor had sold for a high price of two thousand five hundred Gold Pulton at the auction. Although the price was somewhat inflated, in Dean’s view, its true value was around one thousand five hundred Gold Pulton. Even in a truly prosperous place like the Capital of Emerald, selling it for one thousand two or three hundred Gold Pulton would not be a problem.

As for the other Longsword, its value was naturally no lower than this armor, especially after Marquis Vauban’s simple introduction, which made Dean evaluate it even more so.

The weapon and armor, with their combined value nearing three thousand Gold Pulton, were not insignificant to Dean.

As for the Frost Magic Longsword mentioned by Marquis Vauban?

Perhaps he really did ask about it, but to take it as compensation?

Not to mention that the other party was also the County King of Dell County, just the value of that Magic Longsword alone made Dean understand that this was just Marquis Vauban being polite.

After all, considering the value of that Magic Longsword itself, the total value of the three items Marquis Vauban was giving out now would probably be several times higher.

Although Dean had indelible merits, giving out tens of thousands of Gold Pulton as a reward all at once would probably be impossible even for the Emerald Royal Family, let alone Marquis Vauban.

However, even so, Dean still expressed his gratitude.

After all, in the previous battle, his Longsword had been completely ruined, and armor was one of the purposes of his trip to Vauban County—in battle, for anyone, the existence of weapons and armor is indispensable.

That Marquis Vauban could give these two gifts as compensation was enough to show that he was thoughtful.

One should know that his previous assistance was not for the compensation of these gifts, but merely to help the Emerald Grand Duke.

Simply put, whether it was the title or the gift compensation, it was an unexpected joy for Dean.

And facing such unexpected joy, how could Dean have any dissatisfaction?

“This is the Contract for a shop in the Lower District, mainly dealing in spices and furs. I have already sent someone to notify the manager there; you can send someone to take over at any time, Dean!”

Marquis Vauban took out a piece of parchment, which bore the seal of the Marquis Vauban Family and a Magic brand. When Dean signed his name, the Contract had clearly truly taken effect—Dean now had his own property in Vauban City.

Perhaps it was not very large, but for his status as a Lord, it was undoubtedly another form of proof.

Without a fief, and if there were no property either, the title of Lord would clearly be undeserved. Relying on this to enter Emerald high society would only bring ridicule—in fact, Dean’s plan included details about purchasing property in Vauban City; however, Marquis Vauban’s arrangement had saved him the trouble.

Perhaps this property was not very valuable, but it once again showed that Marquis Vauban handled things flawlessly.

At the very least, the evaluation of him as an old fox was not wrong.

“Lord Marquis, regarding the battle at the Ancient Castle…”

After expressing his thanks once more, Dean directly steered the topic toward the previous battle—given Dean’s performance at the time, he naturally had the right to know everything.

And Marquis Vauban had never denied this. He signaled to Baron Jandu, and the latter immediately walked toward the door, dutifully acting as a Guard.

“There are some things that Jandu should not know!”

Turning his head, Marquis Vauban explained to Dean with a slight bitter smile. His candid manner made one involuntarily feel favorable toward him.

“Some things are just inevitably like this!”

Regarding such a half-truth, half-fake performance, Dean was noncommittal in his heart, but on the surface, he nodded in agreement.

“There was more than one Spy by my side. After I set up two traps, one real and one fake, I walked into the real trap… When you appeared, my miserable state was one of the few times in my life… The only thing that made me feel gratified was that my luck was still decent, and I ran into you, Dean!”

As he spoke, Marquis Vauban expressed his gratitude to Dean once more. Dean naturally waved his hands repeatedly, and then did not dwell on the topic of gratitude at all—Dean was quite clear on how to interact with these people in high positions. When the other party had already given compensation, if he kept holding onto his ‘merits’, it would only make the other party feel disgusted. It was far better to let it pass and make the other party feel favorable toward him.

“And those Spies?”

Dean asked with a serious expression.

“Apart from the confirmed one, the other was killed by you. As for whether there are any remaining, I am still thoroughly investigating!”

Marquis Vauban’s expression was also extremely serious, and his tone carried a thick chill—clearly, the Old Marquis was filled with killing intent at this moment.

After all, the previous battle had not only nearly swept away his honor, but had even nearly caused Vauban County to fall into enemy hands. Such hatred could only be washed away by the Blood of the enemy.

“And the confirmed one?”

Dean expressed his anger with perfect timing, appearing as if he shared the same enemy.

“It was Madel! But don’t worry, Dean, that guy is already dead—after Shiva led men to surround that guy’s residence, he set himself on fire. The Corpse was completely burned!”

Seeing Dean’s appearance of sharing the enemy, Marquis Vauban could not help but chuckle, speaking in a very relaxed tone.

However, Dean’s heart skipped a beat—

Dead?

Dean found this result somewhat hard to believe.

A Spy leader who had lurked in Vauban County for so many years, focusing almost all his Stamina on Vauban County—apart from gaining a lot, how could he not leave a way out for himself?

Unlike others who walked in the Shadows, Spies were a quite special type. Sometimes they could die generously, comparable to true Dead Soldiers, and sometimes they behaved weakly and unbearably, like cowards.

And based on Dean’s contact with that Madel, his approach of gathering men immediately upon facing a probe via a letter was clearly not like the first type.

Therefore, even when facing a Silver Level Knight, he should have been able to retreat unscathed.

After all, Shiva, this Silver Knight, was well-known among the high-level figures of Vauban County. If the other party had planned, it was impossible not to account for him.

Otherwise, Dean would have to doubt the other party’s qualifications as a Spy.

Faked death!

Almost instantly, Dean had this suspicion.

Looking at the smiling Marquis Vauban, Dean did not voice his suspicion—there were some things Dean obviously could not say.

Moreover, Dean did not believe that this old fox would have no suspicions.

He didn’t say it, only because he was still confirming, or… he didn’t want him to get involved.

As for why?

One must know, he was now the Regiment Commander of the Ferrchelen Knight Order in Tier Territory, not a subordinate of Marquis Vauban. In an emergency, a County King mobilizing the armed forces of a subordinate Territory was beyond reproach, but that did not mean they could be mobilized for everything—the County Kings needed to consider their own face and the thoughts of their subordinate Lords.

Regarding this, no matter what Marquis Vauban’s consideration was, Dean naturally had no objection.

After all, acting alone would be more advantageous for him!

“That guy really got off cheap!”

Dean expressed this.

“Yes, exactly!”

Marquis Vauban nodded, then changed the topic, pointed to the ‘Knight’s Baptism’ Potion, and said, “Dean, your ‘Knight’s Baptism’ is scheduled for a week from now—I asked the doctor, and by then you will be truly recovered… Although I wanted you to rest for two more days, Bishop Deholl is not a person to be questioned. His rigidity is as famous as his ‘justice’!”

A trace of sarcasm appeared in Marquis Vauban’s words.

Regarding this, Dean did not find it strange at all.

Since Royal Power and Divine Power both appeared on the grand stage of Goedz, the two sides had always been hostile. Perhaps on the surface it looked acceptable, but in substance, undercurrents were surging.

At least, among the major events occurring in various countries, the shadow of the Divine Church appeared more or less in all of them.

“In a week, I will be there on time!”

Dean answered thus.

Although Dean’s hatred for the Divine Church was as blazing as a Flame, now was not the time to reveal it. Dean’s Strength had long since determined that he could only hide it.

“Yes, at that time, as one of the officiators, I will also attend…”

Marquis Vauban nodded.

After that, the topic shifted to some trivial matters. Marquis Vauban seemed to transform into a knowledgeable elder and chatted idly with Dean.

Unlike the chat with the Emerald Grand Duke, Dean could clearly feel Marquis Vauban’s purpose—testing his knowledge.

After all, the aspects involved in the topic had long exceeded the scope of casual chat.

As for why he did this?

Dean was naturally well aware.