Pioneer Lord: A Leisurely Imperial Life

Chapter 318 Sudden Change

Chapter 322 Sudden Change

"You're from the Vatican, aren't you?"

Baron Yellowstone remained expressionless in the face of Richard's questioning.

"Viscount Chiffon, I don't know what you're talking about. I am a registered baron of the Empire and have no connection with the Papacy."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the twenty fully equipped unicorn riders in the distance before returning to Richard's face.

"But you, by launching a surprise attack on my dam, shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

Richard smiled.

"An explanation? Did you give Chishaling an explanation when you built the dam? Now that the dam is gone, you come to me demanding an explanation?"

As he spoke, his smile vanished, and his eyes instantly turned cold: "I don't care if you're from the Holy See or not. Enough with the nonsense, just tell me, are you surrendering or resisting?"

The waters in the East are too deep.

The mastermind behind the deaths of the Skyhawk heir and the beheading of the orcs in the Cape Region has yet to come to light.

If Baron Yellowstone is just an ordinary papal spy, that's fine, but if he's involved with the Holy War Alliance, killing him rashly could lead to even bigger trouble.

Who knows if this will attract the attention of some mysterious person behind the scenes?

I'm not afraid of them coming out openly, but I'm really worried about them secretly sabotaging our business dealings with the demon spirits. That would be the most troublesome thing.

However, not killing does not mean that the matter cannot be resolved; territorial wars are the most legitimate form of conflict between nobles.

As long as we win the right to use the Nansha River once, we can ensure the future water security of Chisha Territory.

Then, we'll pass on the news that "Red Rock Territory has been infiltrated by the Vatican and turned into a Vatican territory" to Skyhawk.

It would be much cleaner to let the Grand Duke of Sky Eagle, who was seething with anger, deal with the parasites in the East of the Eastern Territory himself than to kill them himself.

Baron Yellowstone took a deep breath, his face darkening.

"The population of Chisha Territory is not large, so I can just keep half of it, right? That way, we can each take a step back and meet again in the future."

Richard raised an eyebrow.

"How about we meet again in the future? You've blocked the Nansha River for three whole years, why didn't you say that? I don't have time to argue with you. Admit defeat or resist, choose one quickly."

Viscount Red Rock couldn't hold back any longer.

He took two steps forward, a fawning smile plastered on his face, and said, "Sir Richard, how about this? I'll treat you both to a seat at Red Rock Fortress, and we can sit down and talk things over..."

"roll!"

Richard ignored him and coldly retorted, "You have no right to speak here!"

Viscount Hongyan's smile froze on his face. His lips trembled a few times, but in the end he didn't dare to say anything more and shrank back to the side.

Baron Yellowstone also glanced coldly at Viscount Redrock, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes. It was his misfortune to have such a good-for-nothing as a saddle.

But now is not the time to dwell on that.

He seemed to have made a difficult decision, lowering his voice to a volume only the two of them could hear, and said, "Richard, we're on the same side, there's no need for us to fight amongst ourselves."

Richard was suddenly stunned!

They're on our side!?

I'm on the same side as the Vatican, how come I didn't know?!

This unexpected remark caused him to momentarily lose his composure.

He stared into Baron Yellowstone's eyes, which held a mixture of expectation and complexity, unlike a fabricated story meant to avoid conflict.

That's really strange!

His only connection with the Vatican was with Charles...

Could it be because of him?

That old man with the charcoal was a former papal guard of light; judging by his status, he definitely belonged to the papacy's faction.

Later, however, he was declared a devout believer by the Inquisition and stripped of his status as a high priest. Finally, the Vatican issued an arrest warrant for heretics.

In other words, Charles is not dead; he may be hiding somewhere.

The key point now is that he provided Charles and the hundreds of priests with dozens of cartloads of food, essentially helping them escape from the checkpoints where the forces of light were being cleared from the North.

Perhaps some people within the Vatican see his covert support as making him appear to be a potential ally of the Vatican.

After analyzing this, Richard shook his head vigorously, quickly distancing himself, "I have nothing to do with your Vatican, don't drag me into this. It's all business. I'm only interested in business."

If he hadn't been too weak to defeat Old Man Tan, and if he hadn't planned to ask Old Man Tan to help him cancel his sister's heretical order, he wouldn't have helped him.

Seeing Richard's unapproachable attitude, Baron Yellowstone's expression darkened.

He stared at Richard for several seconds, and finally sighed softly.

"Fine, I admit defeat, but I must retain half of the water in the Nansha River. For this, I can pay you compensation."

what! ?

So you've already given up?!

Richard was in a bit of a bind. He had finally decided to fight a proper war, but the other side had already surrendered.

This script is wrong!

He narrowed his eyes, staring at Baron Yellowstone, and asked, "So, how much compensation are you planning to pay?"

Baron Yellowstone said softly, "I can only offer a maximum of five hundred gold coins."

Richard burst out laughing: "Do you think I'm a beggar? Let me tell you, don't even bother talking to me if you don't have at least ten thousand gold coins!"

Baron Yellowstone's eyebrows were all furrowed.

Ten thousand gold coins!?

Do you think everyone is as rich as you?!

Just as he was about to say something, Richard didn't give him the chance: "If you can't afford it, then control of the South Sand River is mine!"

"I'll allow you to create a half-meter-wide and half-meter-deep open channel, but you're not allowed to touch anything else. Otherwise, I will consider it a breach of agreement, and don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Baron Yellowstone's expression changed drastically, and he roared, "Don't push your luck!"

Richard snorted coldly.

"A win is a win, and a loss is a loss. There's no such thing as surrendering and losing half the battle. I'm only leaving you a canal for water because I can't bear to see the people of Huangshi Territory die of thirst, not because I pity you!"

He stared into Baron Yellowstone's eyes and said, enunciating each word clearly, "Since you won't agree, then prepare for war!"

After saying that, he turned his horse around and prepared to return to his own group. The sun was setting, and if he kept dawdling, how long would it take?

Furthermore, only by fighting a fierce battle can we completely sever the idea that the other side considers us "one of their own"!

"etc!"

Baron Yellowstone wanted to talk some more, but just then, the soil beneath the unicorn's feet suddenly changed!

A thick tree root suddenly burst out of the sand, carrying dirt and gravel, and wrapped around Richard and the unicorn!

Richard was shocked!

He reacted instantly, yanked the reins hard, and the unicorn neighed, its front hooves rising high before stomping down heavily!

A powerful, extraordinary life force, imbued with the divine aura unique to mythical beasts, erupted with a thunderous roar!

boom--!

The white holy flames exploded, instantly shattering the tree root into several pieces, sending debris flying everywhere!

We've been ambushed!

Richard was furious!

After the unicorn had charged more than ten meters, it turned its head and looked warily at Baron Yellowstone, its eyes as if it were looking at a dead man.

"You're asking for it! How dare you attack me during negotiations!"

This is a blatant violation of established negotiation rules and will be condemned and resisted by the entire aristocratic circle.

How dare he!?

However, upon witnessing this scene, Baron Yellowstone's expression also changed drastically!

There was no sinister glint in his eyes, only genuine terror. He shouted towards the direction of the protruding tree roots, "Stop!"

It's a pity it's useless.

Two more figures sprang out of the mud, moving with incredible speed and wielding sharp blades, charging towards Richard!

The two had long, thin ears, dark green hair, and fair skin with faint tree-like patterns.

It was an elven assassin!

Lan Yue level!