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Further outward from the noble district is the commercial district, where wealthy merchants gather. Although the location is not bad, and the buildings may not necessarily be poorer in appearance than the noble district, no noble would choose to live here. After all, no matter how wealthy a merchant may be, they still belong to the class of commoners, fundamentally different from the nobles.

However, there is one exceptional family—the Howell Family.

The Howells living outside the noble district of White Dew City is not a result of their destitution or low nobility. On the contrary, the Howell Family is famously affluent in the East Territory, and they are a legitimate hereditary count family of the Empire.

They live in the commercial district because their ancestors were merchants.

Nobility is not something that can be purchased with money, but when you have enough cash, it can buy a noblewoman with pure noble blood and a precious opportunity for baptism, especially precious to commoners.

That way, the Howell Family obtained their nobility ticket.

As for how they gradually climbed from a knight’s family to the count of the Empire, we have to thank the mages of Yevir.

If it wasn’t for them executing the Forbidden Spell that destroyed the original White Dew City, leading to a break in the ancestry of many Eastern families, and hence an abundance of empty noble positions, the Howell Family wouldn’t have been able to rise.

Moreover, during the most trying and dangerous period in the East, the Howell Family ambitiously invested heavily, helping the St. Prowse Family rebuild White Dew City, before formally entering the noble class of the Empire.

Moreover, the descendants of the Howell family also perform quite well. Although they stem from merchants, they are full of military virtues, and have, again and again, achieved military merits, gradually lifting the Howell ranks to count, and making them one of the most influential houses in the Eastern Territory.

But in terms of martial arts strength, knight rank, and family members, the Howell family was indeed a bit inferior. After all, their ancestors were commoners with mixed bloodlines. Even if they continually improved their lineage through marriages, they still couldn’t quickly compare to those noble families that have been around for a thousand years.

However, the ancestors of the Howell Family were clear-headed and knew when to make use of their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. Every member of the family who joined the army, without exception, entered the navy and never the army.

The reason is simple: compared to the no-nonsense head-on collision of the army on land, naval warfare relies more on warships and teamwork, requiring much less individual strength.

Moreover, with the naval strength of the East, there is no worthy adversary on the Angry River.

Count Howell is in his fifties this year, tall and burly with a ton of hair, his skin a healthy bronze, exhibiting a rough feel from bearing the brunt of the elements. It’s a clear departure from the typical pampered Eastern nobles.

His facial features are deep, grey-brown eyes bright, with a broad forehead bound by a shiny, oily reindeer skin band. His golden hair and beard are braided into small braids with fishbone hairpins.

At present, Count Howell is entertaining a lavishly-dressed guest in his living room.

Unlike the rugged Count Howell, their guest is a typical Eastern noble: fair-skinned, handsome, and his every movement exudes an overwhelming aura of authority and elegance.

The same count ceremonial dress on him and on Count Howell presents two completely different concepts.

This guest is Count Brugen, a veteran Eastern nobleman.

These two Eastern counts with completely different styles share one thing in common—they are both supporters of Marquis Vincent.

Especially Count Howell, who even betrothed his beloved legitimate daughter to Marquis Vincent.

Now with Marquis Vincent trapped in Silver Moon City, the two counts are naturally anxious.

“Count Brugen, what news have you got? Why are you in such a hurry to see me?” Count Howell’s booming voice echoes in the living room.

Count Brugen pointed at his ear with a look of disgust and said, “This isn’t your warship, lower your voice, my ears can’t bear it.”

Count Howell snorted lightly, clearly disdainful of Count Brugen’s affectation, but nevertheless, he slightly lowered his voice.

In truth, Count Brugen deeply despised this low-born, fishy smelling Count Howell. If it weren’t for the dire state of affairs forcing the Brugen family to align with the Howell family, he would never have willingly set foot in this mansion located in the commercial district.

“Viscount Fein is on his way back, with time accounted for, he should reach White Dew City by tomorrow.”

“Oh? What news does the kid bring back? What ransom have the Northerners proposed?”

“The Northerners do not agree to our proposal of trading cities for Marquis Vincent, they are insisting on warships… ”

“Dream on!” The booming voice of Count Howell cut off Count Brugen mid-sentence, reverberating so strongly that the crystal chandelier on the ceiling began to wobble incessantly.

Count Brugen felt as if he was being hit head-on by a powerful wave. Hastily, he held his breath, furrowed his brows, and motioned with his hands repeatedly for silence, saying,

“Alright, alright, I know those warships are your precious treasures, but if you could really trade the warships for Marquis Vincent, wouldn’t you agree?”

Count Howell gasped for air, but said nothing for a long while, clearly conceding.

But then he realized that something was amiss in Count Brugen’s words and asked doubtfully, “What do you mean by ‘even if we use warships, we still can’t bring back Marquis Vincent’?”

Only then did Count Brugen let out a sigh and said, “I received news that Marquis Vincent may have encountered an accident….”

“What? !” Count Howell sprang to his feet, his eyes as large as bronze bells, he gazed unblinkingly at Count Brugen, “What do you mean, accident?”

Count Howell’s shocking response left Count Brugen frustrated. He more and more felt that this idiotic Count standing in front of him could hardly be his ally.

“After being captured, Marquis Vincent was subjected to an assassination attempt. Although the Northerners have continuously claimed that the Marquis is fine, it is said that Viscount Fein has found out that the Marquis has indeed been assassinated…”

Bang!

With a slap, Count Howell shattered the armrest of his chair, bellowing:

“You actually believe what that Fein kid says? He’s Evan’s man, he would be more than glad to see Marquis Vincent die in Silver Moon City!

I can guarantee that he is deliberately concocting such falsehoods because he doesn’t want Marquis Vincent to return safely to the East Territory!”

Count Brugen rarely agreed with Count Howell’s pinion, but this time he nodded in agreement, “That’s what I’m thinking too. Tomorrow, when Viscount Fein arrives at White Dew City, let’s meet Duke St. Prowse together. We can’t let Viscount Fein misguide the Duke’s judgment.”

“Okay!”

“Also, Earl Evan has already left North Territory. Do you have any news of his current whereabouts?”

“No. That kid is too slippery and is clearly trying to hide his tracks. It’s hard for me to find him for now.”

Count Brugen knitted his brows, asking deeply, “Why do you think Earl Evan is deliberately hiding?”

“How would I know?” Count Howell grumbled, “He’s always been like this, all secretive, I never know what tricks he’s up to.”

Seeing that he could no longer get anything valuable out of this conversation with the blockhead, Count Brugen sighed discretely, made arrangements with Count Howell to meet Duke St. Prowse the next day, and then stood up to depart.