Chapter 379: Chapter 128: As You Know, It’s Not That I’m Unwilling

"My Lord Viscount! My Lord, you’re finally here!"

Just as the crowd was abuzz with discussion, a voice tinged with pleasant surprise suddenly called out from a distance.

The assembled nobles immediately turned to look in the direction of the voice.

"Elton! You finally came out!"

"What in the world is going on with those Beastmen?"

"Elton! We need an explanation!"

If Robson’s arrival on a dragon had caused a commotion, this newcomer’s appearance was utterly earth-shattering to the nobles of Vidom County!

However, unlike the admiration and awe they held for Robson, the nobles of Vidom City verbally assailed this newcomer, stopping just short of giving him a public demonstration of Frankish Combat!

The reason was simple: the arriving noble was none other than the man they had been waiting day and night for, Viscount Elton.

As nobles of Vidom County, when their territories were besieged by Beastmen, their first thought, naturally, was to rush to Vidom City and find the County Governor.

But unexpectedly, after they arrived in Vidom City, a rumor of unknown origin began to spread: a human governor, for his own benefit, had driven the Beastmen toward his neighbor. Later, when the neighbor drove the Beastmen back, this human governor found himself completely unable to handle them.

After this news got out, Elton performed a grand vanishing act and did not appear for several days.

That’s right. When Viscount Elton discovered the situation, his first reaction was not to salvage it, nor was it to control public opinion. It was to hide.

There was nothing he could do. If the rumors had been false, Viscount Elton would have at least stood up and made some noise. The problem was that, to the last detail, the rumors were basically all true.

And that had led to the current situation.

They didn’t even care that an outsider like Robson was present; they just started cursing Elton out directly.

Listening to the ugly voices all around him, Viscount Elton’s expression darkened.

Although he knew he was the source of the problem, no one likes being cursed at.

"Everyone, haha, it seems I’ve come at a rather inconvenient time," Robson said with a laugh, looking around.

An embarrassed Viscount Elton stepped forward.

"My apologies for this embarrassing display, Viscount Robertson... As you know, things in Vidom County have been rather... unpeaceful lately..." Viscount Elton said to Robson with a bitter smile.

"Of course. I’m well aware of the situation. In fact, I’ve come precisely because of this matter in Vidom County," Robson said with a smile, looking at Viscount Elton.

Viscount Elton looked up at Robson in surprise.

In the world of human nobility, reputation was paramount. Though Robson had employed many gray-area tactics on his path, on the surface, Lord Robson was a trustworthy noble known for keeping his word and had a sterling reputation.

Now that Robson had said this in front of everyone, it was almost certain he would follow through.

"See! I told you! Lord Robson is a generous nobleman!"

"To think there’s a noble in this world who can actually put aside prejudice..."

The nobles of Vidom County heard Robson’s words clearly, and they were deeply moved.

"You all flatter me. All Frankish Nobles are one family, so why worry about such divisions!" Robson continued humbly.

The idea that Frankish Nobles were one big family was, of course, a joke. If that were truly the case, how could he, Robson, have gotten engaged to Valentino as a mere Baron?

Everything was for profit. The nobles beyond the pass were a complex mix. To unify this group, one could only downplay their differences and emphasize what they had in common.

And what they had in common was being Frankish Nobles.

"My Lord Viscount is truly filled with the spirit of a Knight, something we cannot compare to," even Viscount Elton couldn’t help but remark with emotion.

"I wonder, when will my Lord Viscount’s army arrive to help us annihilate the Beastmen?

Once you deploy your troops, my Lord, the nobles of Vidom County will certainly give you our full support!" Viscount Elton said with a smile, looking at Robson.

At this moment, the shallow roots of the military merit faction were once again on full display. Even a man like Viscount Elton could serve as a County Governor.

Viscount Elton’s "full support" basically meant offering every kind of support except actual support.

’Since you, Lord Robson, are so brilliant and magnificent, why not go all the way and just let us leech off you for free? Wouldn’t that be better?’

Robson saw through Viscount Elton’s thoughts but merely sneered inwardly.

’It doesn’t matter if Viscount Elton wants a free ride. After all, I, Lord Robson, have no intention of actually helping right now anyway.’

"Deploying troops... Viscount Elton, forgive my bluntness, but is this a good place to talk?" Robson asked, looking at Viscount Elton with a hint of temptation.

Although Robson’s intention was to get Viscount Elton to speak somewhere else, he made no effort to hide his meaning, and his voice was loud enough for the surrounding nobles to hear.

This was, of course, to cut off Viscount Elton’s retreat and prevent him from taking the conversation private.

"Viscount Robertson, you’re being too formal. Everyone here is a noble of Vidom County. Didn’t you say it yourself? Frankish Nobles are all one family; there’s no need for secrecy." Glancing at the murderous looks from the surrounding Vidom Nobles, Viscount Elton naturally did not dare to agree to Robson’s request.

"Very well. I’m sure my Lord Viscount can see that I’ve run into a little trouble myself," Robson said with a feigned, bitter smile, looking at Viscount Elton.

"Frankly, if I could, I would have already brought my army here. How could I let those Beastmen continue to run rampant on the lands of us Franks?

But... you may not know this, the army under my command is currently part of our trans-border Military Commission. I cannot mobilize it lightly.

Besides, Auric Province still has someone else protecting it. If I were to reach my hand over here... haha. Of course, I’m sure that lord wouldn’t mind, but I wouldn’t dare to pluck the tiger’s whiskers," Robson said with a smile, looking at Viscount Elton.

With these words, Robson masterfully deflected the blame.

He, Lord Robson, was a model Frankish Noble, always incorruptible and wholeheartedly devoted to the nation, willing to dedicate himself to the great cause of fighting the Beastmen for the kingdom.

Unfortunately, there were bad apples in the bunch, someone was obstructing Lord Robson from leading everyone toward progress.

Robson wouldn’t say who this person was. Whoever came to their minds, that was who it was.

Without a doubt, under Robson’s skillful guidance, the first person everyone thought of was Count Sriphine.

In the past, if Robson had said such a thing, someone would have surely voiced a different opinion.

Count Sriphine had always cultivated the image of a "nice guy" within the military merit faction and was quite popular.

But in the current situation, there was nothing they could really say.

Such a major disaster had befallen Vidom County, yet the first to arrive and offer support wasn’t Count Sriphine, but Viscount Robertson from neighboring Ehrlichland.

This was deeply ironic.

As the topic shifted to Count Sriphine, Viscount Elton opened his mouth but found it difficult to say anything.

"Of course, I can explain things on Count Sriphine’s end. The main issue is an internal matter of the Military Commission.

You are also a County Governor. I’m sure you understand that we cannot go against the will of the members."

"So, what my Lord Viscount means is?" Viscount Elton asked, looking at Robson.

"If... everyone here is willing to join the Military Commission, I can dispatch troops immediately to help you all wipe out this Beastman scourge," Robson said decisively.

"Just joining is enough? Then what are we waiting for..."

"Elton wouldn’t refuse, would he..."

The military merit faction had been established for a little over a decade, at most. Most of its noble members had joined midway.

Their sense of belonging to the faction couldn’t be said to be non-existent, but it was close enough.

At least, it hadn’t reached the level of sensitivity seen in the Northern and Southern factions.

Hearing Robson mention the Military Commission, many people didn’t stop to think about the deeper meaning behind it.

Of course, they might not have had time to think. Their homes were being overrun; what was there to think about?

Just because the ordinary nobles of the military merit faction didn’t care about these things didn’t mean Viscount Elton didn’t.

Viscount Elton was over fifty. In his youth, he had been a member of the Northern faction, so he naturally understood the meaning behind Robson’s words.

’Join me, and I’ll help you. Don’t join me, and you’re on your own.’

Tyrannical and unreasonable, but there was nothing to be done. Who could argue when the other man was now the boss beyond the pass?

"This matter is too important. Please allow me a moment to consider, my Lord," Elton said apprehensively, looking at Robson.

Viscount Elton was different from those Baron Knights. Although he had also joined the military merit faction midway and had no deep feelings for it...

...his power was deeply tied to it. Switching patrons on such short notice was not an easy matter.

Robson just smiled at Viscount Elton’s refusal.

He hadn’t planned on winning over these Vidom County nobles all at once anyway. ’People don’t learn their lesson until they’ve been truly hurt.’

"In that case, I won’t say any more.

If Viscount Elton changes his mind in the future, you can find me at Feiying Pass. Just follow the Ancient Trade Route. I’ll be stationed there for some time," Robson said with a smile, looking at Viscount Elton.

Seeing that Robson wasn’t angry and showed no other signs of agitation, Viscount Elton breathed a small sigh of relief.

Viscount Elton might have sighed in relief, but the nobles of Vidom County felt as if the breath had been knocked out of them, unable to get it back.

Everyone had heard the conversation between the two men loud and clear.

Watching Viscount Robertson, who had flown in so suddenly only to fly away again, the nobles of Vidom County were on the verge of a complete breakdown.

It’s not hopelessness that people fear most. It’s seeing a glimmer of hope, only to have it slip away right before their eyes.

Elton made a quick exit, leaving the Vidom Nobles behind to curse his ancestors.

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