This time, Seraphina had indeed made impeccable preparations.
The preliminary reconnaissance, the infiltration route, the escape route, the guard posts... she had flawlessly handled all the necessary prerequisites for infiltration, almost as if she was a natural.
Then she realized — what the heck, this isn't much at all, I was so nervous for nothing!
Ultimately, this meeting was not a secret. Or rather, the Count of Stoneheart, the convener of the meeting, was well aware that if Lord Hydral had the intention to eavesdrop, no amount of secrecy would help, so he did not bother with any confidentiality measures.
Under this "openness", the Count of Stoneheart was making a gamble that would determine the rest of his life.
Those who could sit in this spacious council hall were all nobles whose names were well-known in the Red Frost territory.
The decor of the council hall was starkly different from the style of the Count of Red Frost. The elements of luxury were only hinted at, with more emphasis on a kind of restrained tranquility. Meanwhile, the wine cabinet placed in the council hall was rather unique.
There was no chaotic scene in the council hall as when the Count of Red Frost hosted a banquet. Each noble only had a glass of wine in front of them, with four servants standing in the corner, waiting for orders, and that was it.
With the ticking of the pocket watch, the Count of Stoneheart raised his head, looking at all the nobles present, and said unhurriedly, "Thank you all for coming. I believe you all understand the significance of this meeting for us..."
His fingers interlocked and laid flat on the table, he got straight to the point:
"I do not intend to implement Lord Hydral's decree."
The council hall fell silent.
After a long while, a noble of high status according to the seating arrangement spoke:
"Your Excellency, we all trust your prestige and ability in the Red Frost territory, but this matter... the risk is too great."
There were opponents, and naturally, there were supporters, "But that lord's policies are indeed a bit... excessive. Although I don't care about the small amount of agricultural tax, the commoners should know their place. Why should they have an easy life? Moreover, even if they have it easy, they won't thank us."
Once someone started, the council hall became noisy. The Count of Stoneheart did not stop them. If there was no exchange, why would he hold a meeting? He did not have the power of Hydral to command respect and submission with a single word.
The argument lasted for about ten minutes. When the noise gradually subsided, the Count of Stoneheart slowly spoke, "It seems that you all understand that arguing like this will lead nowhere. If some of us comply, some oppose, and some are hypocritical... I don't think that's a good thing."
"If we are divided... we are truly easy to be crushed by Lord Hydral, aren't we?"
This statement hit the nobles' sore spot. They, who liked to band together, were always afraid of being the one left out.
Under the respectful gaze of everyone, the Count of Stoneheart slowly said, "So, I am here to give you a reason that can convince you all."
"Firstly."
He stood up and looked at every noble, "I think you all should be very clear about one thing - Lord Ansel is a special Hydral, and I believe no one disagrees with this."
Hiding in the roof layer — during the last assassination attempt, Ansel had used a hand cannon to kill an assassin hiding here, which led Seraphina to find this perfect hiding spot.
In any case, Seraphina sneered disdainfully. Everyone around her described Hydral as if he was some kind of super monster. If she hadn't been close to him yesterday, she might have believed it.
It's just... just his chest and abs, a bit firm.
The nobles, listening to the words of Count Stoneheart, nodded in agreement. Ansel of Hydral was indeed unique, perhaps excessively so.
"He does not act like his ancestors, who would wield the butcher's knife at the slightest provocation. He prefers to engage us in dialogue, negotiation, and the ancient art that we all study - the art of verbal sparring and strategizing to achieve his desires."
Count Stoneheart pointed to his own head, "He abhors killing, for he believes that to deprive a person of life is a waste. Only those who are absolutely worthless, or those who truly infuriate him, will face his punishment. I hope you all remember this."
After imprinting the notion that "Hydral will not kill indiscriminately" in the minds of the nobles present, he continued, "On this basis, you should all understand... what exactly does Lord Hydral want?"
"Money? Transcendental elements? Or to interfere with the power struggle between the two grand dukes? No... none of these. Although it may seem absurd and hard to comprehend, from what we can see at present, Lord Hydral cares about only one thing."
Count Stoneheart raised his index finger, "His reputation in the Red Frost territory."
"Perhaps the mysterious Miss Marlowe could be considered half a factor, but overall, his attention and all his actions are aimed at enhancing his reputation in the Red Frost territory."
Many of the nobles understood this clearly. Their staff were not idle, after all. Ansel's policy of self-sacrifice, apart from reputation... yielded no other gains.
"So, the matter becomes simple."
Count Stoneheart began to smile calmly, "Since Lord Hydral wants reputation, we give it to him. As long as he gets what he wants, how could Hydral, who dislikes killing, easily wield the butcher's knife against us?"
"Count Stoneheart, isn't this just going back to the beginning?" A nobleman voiced his dissatisfaction, "How can we enhance his reputation without implementing his policies?"
The leader of the council chuckled, a confident and joyful laugh.
"Gentlemen, do you remember the night when Lord Hydral discussed the policies with us?"
The nobles looked miserable, it seemed that no one could forget that terrible night.
"Although Lord Hydral put tremendous pressure on us, commanding us to do as he said, but gentlemen... please think back carefully—"
Count Stoneheart tapped his own head, "That night, did he ask you to announce to your own vassals and citizens that the Red Frost territory would welcome new policies?"
"After that day, did he, like his speech to the commoners before the execution of the Count of Red Frost, publicize that he would issue new policies beneficial to the commoners?"
"No!"
His voice suddenly rose, "He could have done so. After the death of the Count of Red Frost, he could have immediately announced that he would improve the treatment of the commoners, which would undoubtedly greatly enhance his reputation in the Red Frost territory. But he did not do so. Up to now... Lord Hydral has only made the most basic improvements. Although the effects are remarkable, aren't the news about his radical new policies just rumors?"
At this moment, some nobles understood the meaning of Count Stoneheart. One of them stood up excitedly, "You mean, since Lord Hydral has never officially announced what he is going to do—"
"Then for him, there is no such thing as 'breaking his word'."
Count Stoneheart nodded in satisfaction, "So even if we do not follow his policies, as long as we do not publicize the council that day, do not publicize the policies arranged by Lord Hydral, even if Lord Hydral does not trouble us, even if he does not care about us at all, his reputation will not suffer any loss—after all, this situation has been going on in the Red Frost territory for hundreds of years, hasn't it?"
He smiled calmly, "And Lord Hydral is making efforts to improve, how could he be accused of hypocrisy and breaking his word?"
In the roof layer, Seraphina, holding the image crystal, was dumbfounded.
"So... that's how it is!" She murmured to herself, then her eyes became extremely fierce, "Hydral... that guy really didn't plan to take things seriously from the beginning! He had calculated everything!"
The nobility was stirred into a frenzy, cheering for the path they had found to preserve their interests. However, among them, a few more rational individuals urgently stood up and asked, "But Count, I believe this is insufficient. Your plan merely ensures that Lord Hydral suffers no losses, but he originally intended to gain more reputation from this."
"Baron Blackpeak, you are overly anxious," Count Stoneheart replied with a chuckle.
"Since Lord Hydral has remained silent, he naturally defaults the right to spread the news to us. He wants a reputation? That's simple. We can refer to his policies, but alter the amounts within them. These mere changes will be enough to make the commoners grateful. And then, what should we say?"
"We should not mention anything about the policies. The news we should spread is that Lord Hydral wishes for the commoners to live better lives, and thus he has put immense pressure on us. It was he who forced us to change our policies, not that he has issued policies and watched us not implement them."
The man spoke confidently, "Link this with the previous assassination attempts on Lord Hydral, and the commoners will make their own connections. And we, we only lose a bit of our interests, an insignificant bit."
"See... Isn't this the reputation that Lord Hydral wanted?"
The council hall fell into a prolonged silence.
Then, after the first person stood up and applauded, thunderous applause echoed throughout the hall.
"You are a genius, Count!" the nobles exclaimed, "Perfect! Such a perfect solution, that fool Count Red Frost would never think of it!"
"No, no, no..." Count Stoneheart modestly shook his head, "We should thank Lord Hydral. Do you think this is just a coincidence, a loophole that I found?"
He expressed his admiration with utmost sincerity, "That is his mercy towards us, gentlemen. He is not tyrannical, nor completely uncompromising. He bestows his mercy on those who can seize the opportunity. As I said... negotiation, game, in his every word and deed, it is a perfect and convincing art."
The nobles fell silent, but each of them thought the same as Count Stoneheart.
"He is the noble among nobles," someone said with great admiration, "I saw his performance at the grand princess's birthday party. To speak disrespectfully, the radiance he exuded as a young man could rival the mature and powerful grand princess."
"Yes, I heard that Lord Hydral is also an honorary master of the Banqueters Association. He passed the most difficult test when he was thirteen."
"He is also a top pianist and violinist! His music can shake the soul! If you have the chance, you must go to the capital to listen to Lord Hydral's concert!"
Seraphina watched all this in a daze, watching them start to praise Hydral.
Praise what? Praise everything that has nothing to do with her life, with the lives of all ordinary people, praise his superb skills in deceiving the public, praise his ability to play tricks and call it art?!
When did this world become so absurd? Lies are beautiful, even great? Deception is wonderful, an unparalleled ancient art?
All the commoners struggling at the poverty line, fighting a life-and-death battle with the cold wind, are they just unworthy insects in the eyes of these people?
The anger that had been silent in Seraphina's heart for a long time swept over her in an instant, almost condensing into a tangible fire in her dark red eyes.
The raging flames burned the young wolf's reason, making her selectively forget that Count Stoneheart had mentioned "Hydral is improving Red Frost", and she did not see... the cold eyes of Count Stoneheart looking at the other nobles, disdainful of being with them.
Marlina, is this the right you speak of?
"Hydral, you said you wouldn't oppose me if I opposed you."
Seraphina clenched her fist and spat out pure hatred from her throat:
"Then watch... watch how I destroy your reputation built on lies and malice!"