After ending the communication with the King of Molten Iron, Earl Mills abruptly pushed open the oak window.
The blinding afternoon sunlight from outside the window flooded into the study, causing him to instinctively squint his eyes.
He took a few deep breaths of air scented with the fragrance of garden roses, his chest heaving as he tried to dispel the irritability and humiliation brought about by the negotiation.
Slowly, his emotions settled, and he regained his usual composure.
"Perhaps... I should have redeemed Charles."
As his mood gradually calmed and he reviewed the negotiation with the Evil Dragon just now, a sense of regret gripped him.
Earl Mills realized that the decision he made at the last moment was swayed by emotion and was not rational.
The Flower Knight had indeed become a cripple, losing his past value.
But given the profound Foundation of the Albert Family, taking care of one more cripple was by no means a difficult task.
More importantly.
This action could serve as an excellent example to show all other adventurers—look, serving the Albert Family, even if one unfortunately ends up crippled and miserable, the Family will mercifully take responsibility to the end and will never abandon them.
Once such a reputation spread, the Albert Family would surely gain more gratitude and support from adventurers, making those simple, hot-blooded fools even more willing to risk their lives for the Family.
Setting aside so-called old ties and morality, purely from the perspective of Family interests, redeeming Charles was clearly the better choice.
However.
During the long, drawn-out negotiation with that greedy, cunning, and outrageously petty Red-Iron Dragon.
Under the humiliating torment of being repeatedly reminded by the opponent of the Family's failure, the forced cession of trade routes, and the payment of astronomical indemnities.
Earl Mills' patience was worn down bit by bit, and the accumulated irritability, like scalding magma, constantly battered the embankments of his reason.
In the end.
The accumulated negative emotions completely overwhelmed his calm thinking, leading him to make that impulsive decision, lacking careful consideration and aimed only at temporary emotional catharsis.
Of course, this decision was not entirely without a sliver of comfort.
Giving up on Charles at least prevented that hateful Evil Dragon from getting its wish and squeezing one more gold coin out of his hands!
Thinking of the disappointment or anger the dragon might show because of this, a trace of satisfaction arose in Earl Mills' heart, making him feel slightly better.
"Should I contact that Evil Dragon again, renegotiate, and redeem Charles?"
He hesitated, his gaze falling back to the crystal communication device on the desk that had just gone silent.
However, after thinking for only a few seconds, he shook his head slightly and abandoned the thought.
"Forget it, he is not an important person who affects the overall situation after all."
"Redeeming him would at most be icing on the cake for the Family's reputation. Moreover, changing my mind now to renegotiate would inevitably be an opportunity for that cunning Evil Dragon to ruthlessly extort another sum."
The pride and dignity belonging to a noble also made Earl Mills unwilling to easily go back on his word or bow his head and show weakness in front of the enemy.
Earl Mills paced slowly in the study, which was covered with a thick carpet.
The lingering annoyance in his eyes was gradually replaced by cold sharpness.
Having suffered such a huge loss and allowing the Family to suffer unprecedented humiliation and damage, he, Mills Albert, would absolutely not let this rest.
Otherwise.
The face of the Albert Family would be completely dragged through the mud in noble circles, becoming a laughingstock.
"The top priority is to ensure that the transaction with the Molten Iron Tribe proceeds smoothly, stabilize them, and first redeem core pillars like Rhode and Sienna safely."
"As long as these pillars of the Family are still here, the Foundation remains unshaken."
After calming down, Earl Mills' train of thought was very clear.
"After that... is the moment for true reckoning."
As for why he must fight to the death with the Molten Iron Tribe, which is far away in the wilderness and occupies a strategic advantage?
The reason is simple.
First, a noble's face is more important than gold.
Either swallow the bitter fruit of humiliation and endure the endless ridicule and kicking while down from other nobles.
Or go all out, fight to the bitter end, wash away the humiliation with the enemy's blood, and rebuild the Family's dignity.
Second, and a more realistic reason.
In this matter, the Albert Family has already invested a large amount of resources, and the sunk costs are huge.
Only by completely subjugating those dragons—dead or alive, the dragons themselves and their kin can bring immeasurable value, enough to compensate for all the Family's previous losses, and even gain more.
On the other side, in the Serel Wilderness.
"The Evil Dragon successfully turned the righteous knight, and the cunning noble whose hypocritical face was exposed will eventually die by the sword of the knight he once deceived."
"Such a story is far more interesting than those cliché tales of heroes fighting Evil Dragons."
A gleam of pleasure flickered in Garros' eyes as he whispered silently in his heart.
He even pondered with great interest whether he should open a separate chapter in his dragon heritage memories specifically to record this [Art of Managing People].
Often, the first sentence of communication, or even the posture before the other party speaks, is enough to reveal a person's character.
Earl Mills was undoubtedly an extremely calm and calculating opponent.
From the moment he suffered the tragic failure of his army being wiped out, to being forced to face a powerful enemy and engage in humiliating negotiations, he was able to quickly suppress his emotions throughout the entire process and maintain rational, calm negotiations without useless angry threats or out-of-control furious roars... This level of composure was simply incomparable to ordinary nobles.
Precisely because of this.
In this negotiation, Garros abandoned his usual straightforward style.
He chose the most long-winded and grueling method, haggling over every single gold coin, repeatedly emphasizing the failure and powerlessness of the Albert Family, like a dull knife cutting flesh, constantly wearing down Earl Mills' patience, inducing his irritability, and ultimately causing him to lose his consistent calm judgment.
In the end, things developed as Garros had wished.
Earl Mills would pay a painful price far beyond his imagination for that brief loss of composure at the negotiating table.
When pure strength cannot directly solve problems, Garros is often able to display significant wisdom that is completely different from his massive physique and fierce appearance.
Who could have thought.
That this Red-Iron Dragon, which was fierce to the extreme and seemed like the Incarnation of Fury and destruction, could so skillfully manipulate human hearts?
"Using kindness as a gorgeous cloak, using good deeds as a prelude to deception."
"This method is more deadly and harder to guard against than the sharpest sword or the hottest Dragon Breath."
"I have clearly seen the true face beneath Earl Mills' hypocritical mask—greedy, hypocritical, regarding human life as worthless; he is like a devil in human skin, deserving death a thousand times over!"
Beside him, the Flower Knight Charles, his eyes cold, seemed to show signs of turning dark.
Ruthlessly abandoned and betrayed by the person he once respected, trusted, and was willing to fight for, the kindness of the past was now settled.
At this moment, only the resolute thought of exposing the Earl's hypocritical face and practicing true justice with the sword in his hand remained in his heart.
"No need to be anxious; the sword of vengeance needs to wait for the most appropriate moment to be unsheathed."
Garros soothed the surging murderous intent in the knight's heart.
He told the Flower Knight to stay calm and first remain in Ximu Town to recover from his injuries.
Only after the transaction with the Albert Family is completely finished, and the Molten Iron Tribe successfully obtains the trade routes and the full ransom, will it be the moment to launch the final reckoning.
On this point, Garros and Earl Mills' thoughts were surprisingly consistent.
Business is business, and reckoning is reckoning.
The difference is.
No matter how Earl Mills wants to retaliate against Garros in the future, hindered by the dragon's terrifying power and the natural defenses of the Serel Wilderness, it will be difficult to achieve in the short term.
However.
When a Border Walker proficient in the Way of Space harbors murderous intent, guards will be as good as non-existent.
An elderly Earl living in luxury has basically no room to resist before the knight's sword.
Next.
Flower Knight Charles Hines remained in Ximu Town, quietly recovering from his physical and mental wounds under the care of the Molten Iron kin.
Garros returned to the depths of the Coniferous Valley, continuing his day-after-day, non-stop tempering and cultivation.
Time, like the never-ending wind over the Serel Wilderness, passed silently and without a trace; soon, more than a month slipped by quietly.
The Albert Family envoy stepped into the territory of the Serel Wilderness as promised and arrived at Ximu Town.
The envoy brought the formal legal cession documents stamped with the Albert Family crest and certified by the Federal Notary Office, as well as magic-reinforced boxes loaded with a heavy, enormous amount of war reparations and prisoner ransom.
Under the solemn witness of a white-robed priest from the Libra Sanctuary, and amidst the gaze of many Ximu Town residents watching the excitement, the representatives of the Albert Family and the Molten Iron Tribe completed the signing of the contract and the handover of prisoners and ransom in the central square of the town.
Throughout the entire process, there were no accidents or twists and turns.
It is worth mentioning that the Libra Sanctuary is a transcendent organization that spans many kingdoms and even exists within the borders of the vast Empire.
They believe in the deity who holds the Law of fairness and justice.
A contract signed under the personal witness of a high-ranking priest of the Libra Sanctuary has a sacred binding force far exceeding ordinary magic contracts. Any party that dares to violate the contract oath will face extremely severe and terrifying punishment under the gaze of the deity.
After successfully redeeming all the captives.
The Albert Family personnel remained highly tense throughout, on guard the entire time, and cautiously retreated from the Serel Wilderness territory.
To their surprise, the return journey was unexpectedly smooth.
Only a few blind Vicious Beasts and low-level monsters launched sporadic attacks, but they were easily slaughtered and cleared by the guards.
Time passed day by day during the tense march.
This group finally stepped onto the relatively safe land in the south without any mishaps.
Subsequently, escorted by the support team sent by the Family, and after traveling for another distance, core figures such as the Rune Knight Rhode, the Alchemist Sienna, and the Protection Mage Sanchez were brought back to the depths of the Albert Family's heavily guarded manor.
In the most core study of the manor, they saw Earl Mills again.
"Lord Earl."
Rhode, known as the Wolf of Albert, knelt on one knee at this moment, his head deeply bowed, revealing an expression of shame and pain like a loyal dog.
"We failed to complete the mission you entrusted to us, and instead caused the Family to suffer huge humiliation and immeasurable losses."
"We... have disappointed you."
Sienna, Sanchez, and others behind him also lowered their proud heads one after another.
"Get up, all of you get up!"
Earl Mills stepped forward quickly, bent down personally, and forcefully helped up the kneeling Rhode, gently patting the dust from the wilderness off his shoulders.
On his face appeared a smile as gentle as the warm spring sun, and his eyes were full of genuine heartache and comfort.
"This is not your fault."
The Earl said: "It was I who severely underestimated the Molten Iron Tribe, underestimated the true power hidden by that Red-Iron Dragon; it was my decision-making error that put you in danger and caused you to suffer so much."
He looked around at these scarred but still loyal subordinates, his gaze warm.
"You have suffered."
"Now, your top priority is to return to your respective rooms, get a good rest, and recover from your injuries with peace of mind."
Earl Mills said earnestly: "Do not think about those useless self-reproaches, and do not think about any revenge or washing away the shame."
"Remember, only by recovering your health and strength as soon as possible can you better serve the Family in the days to come!"
"The future of the Family still needs you!"
More than half an hour later.
Finally having appeased these core pillars who had survived the disaster, Earl Mills dragged his slightly tired body back to his study.
He closed the heavy carved wooden door behind him, isolating the noise from the outside world.
With a long exhale, as if he wanted to breathe out all the turbid air in his chest, he let out a breath, then lay back somewhat tiredly into the soft high-backed chair, lifting his fingers to gently massage his throbbing temples.
"The Molten Iron Tribe, those damned dragons."
He looked at the intricate gilded decorations on the ceiling and muttered to himself.
"They are entrenched in the depths of the Serel Wilderness, occupying an absolute strategic advantage. If I send a large army deep to crusade against them again, I fear the result will only be repeating the same mistakes."
Earl Mills frowned deeply, falling into deep thought.
"With only the power currently available to the Albert Family, wanting to completely resolve the Molten Iron Tribe, this thorn in our side, is too difficult."
"Could it be that the time has come to use those precious favors that the Marquis ancestor accumulated for the Family?"
Thinking of this, Earl Mills felt a sense of thorny irritation.