Chapter 7: Kason's Stratagem of Discord
"Ha... It seems you've admitted it after all!" Kason spat out a mouthful of blood; his internal organs were genuinely shaken, causing a dull ache that lingered. His gaze towards Lundy shifted, acknowledging the man's swift reaction to silence him before he could reveal too much.
Supported by the little lass, Angelina, he took a few slow steps and then eased into a seat. "Actually, from the first time I heard you two talk, I was confused. If you supposedly can't stand each other, why would you rush to the same place to lend aid, and even live in the same residence?"
Recollections of their initial conversation stirred in his mind; it had seemed odd at the time, but now it all made a strange kind of sense. After the women had left, Kason, holed up in the pit, had heard many things about Dark Moon City from Angelina.
The more he heard, the more astonished and impressed he became with the Duke. Now, reflecting on it, he felt a sudden clarity. So, in a moment of urgency, he had blurted out his thoughts.
Now, not only could he deduce from their words, but just by looking at the two beautiful women, he knew he had guessed correctly. For the first time, he truly saw them for who they were.
One had a cold, stunning beauty, while the other... her face was so enchantingly seductive it was almost uncanny. The Duke's delicate willow brows were tightly knitted, her eyes like dancers in the night sky, quietly flickering with visible intelligence.
Her pointed oval face made one yearn to tenderly caress it, and her porcelain skin created a sense of distant untouchability. Standing before you, she seemed forever alone.
Princess Eileen, with her delicate features, even a slight frown added a unique charm. Her small mouth seemed to hold infinite allure. One wondered what kind of person could ever taste those lips.
Taking a deep breath to suppress the inexplicable fire within, Kason continued, "Honestly, if I were the Grand Duke, I'd have at least three ways to make someone you dislike leave Dark Moon City!"
"And you... though you act as if you dislike Princess Eileen, you've not taken real action. So... it seems your enmity is feigned!"
Perhaps due to a tragic childhood or years of independence, Kason had grown particularly attuned to his feelings, often sensing vague hostility or a hazy something.
But this time, he felt it clearly. Years of growing cold to the world's人心 had made him more sensitive.
Duke Hsia and Princess Eileen exchanged glances, a flicker of panic in their eyes. If a young man they'd only just met could see through them, what about others?
Lundy, listening, was astounded. In just a few words, Kason had exposed the ruse the Duke and Princess had maintained for three years. He looked at the young man with newfound respect, as if seeing how handsome he truly was.
"At least three ways, then do tell us these ways! If you can't, woo…" Eileen seemed defiant, her cold hum causing a twitch at the corner of Kason's mouth, which he barely restrained.
"First, you could drive her out of the Duke's mansion. Once the palace is devoid of the Princess, spread rumors. This city belongs to the Duke, and her benevolence is known in the surrounding cities. So... who would people believe, the Duke or you? They'd think you must have offended the Duke. So... not to mention other things, just the usual gossip might be too much for you to bear!"
Eileen, looking at the confident Kason, itched to argue. Honestly, if that were the case, it would be strange to still be able to live in this city under such difficulties.
"What if Eileen still chooses to stay?" Hsia frowned, her eyes flashing with a cold light as she questioned Kason.
"If she still chooses to stay, then... it would prove she has an unusually thick skin. Then... more underhanded tricks would be needed! You control this city, so it should be relatively easy, right? Take thisWarcraft outbreak, for example. You could directly blame it on her. Among many lies, add some convenient tricks of your own. I believe you can manage such a thing. Then, you'd have a reason to expel her. So... as the Duke, such a trivial matter doesn't need me to say more, does it?"
The more Kason spoke, the more confident he became, chuckling in a way that almost made Eileen want to strike him down. However, upon reflection, she nearly broke into a cold sweat. These methods, simple as they were, were indeed practical.
"What if she finds evidence to prove it's not her fault?" Duke Hsia pressed on, seemingly unwilling to stop until she had the bottom of things.
"The remaining method would be even easier. In the demon world, strength rules. The whole city is yours; even if she can't infiltrate with her own people, there's no need for her to be here, right?"
His simple statement left the Duke and Princess looking at each other. It was, indeed, such a simple matter.
"But what if he manages to insert his own people due to certain connections? You can't just remove them without reason, can you?" Lundy pondered, his thick eyebrows furrowed.
It seemed there might be some truth to that. At this point, the Duke and Princess turned their attention back to Kason.
With a faint smile, he thought to himself, "Do I really need to teach this? How dense!" Then, after a cough, he said, "It's simple. The abyss is a place that seems to need someone to explore. While you send him out, also send your own people to intercept and kill. Can he protect his subordinates step by step without leaving his post?"
Kason's eyes widened in surprise. In that instant, he noticed that both the Duke and Princess's hands were clenched tightly together. It was unclear whether it was due to excitement at his ideas or something else.
"But what if he's very powerful, with half the people in Dark Moon City under his control? Moreover, he generally has a say in the whole city and manages its economy. Then what?"
Eileen seemed to grit her teeth as she spoke, staring intently at Kason.
Little Angelina looked at Kason, wondering to herself: How had she never noticed such wisdom in this guy before?
"Well... In that case, it would require a combination of the three strategies. First, create a rival for him. Surely, someone like him couldn't have grown so large in Dark Moon City without competition, right? The Duke wouldn't stand for it, as a single dominant force isn't so easily subdued! So, among his allies, we can use the stratagem of discord. Ah... this stratagem of discord means to divide their common interests. Make them wary of each other!" Noting their confusion about the term, Kason quickly added an explanation.
"Once allies are divided, then... hehe... it seems you can take advantage, using more significant means to gradually encroach on their power! Then... it seems there's no need for me to say more!"
After a long exhale, Kason smiled.
"Lundy, take them down and arrange a room for him to recover!" The Duke waved his hand, and Lundy immediately led Kason and Angelina out of the room. At that moment, Eileen looked at Nadas, her cold gaze like that of looking at a dead man.
Nadas was now drenched in cold sweat. Having heard the biggest secret of the two leaders, would they... kill to keep it quiet! And the questions they just asked were about the city's official, Jace, right? If that was the case... today was... uh-oh...
For a moment, Nadas really felt like cursing the Dark Demon God. What kind of luck had he been having these days? Had he offended someone? First, the warcraft weren't held back, and now this...
"Nadas... since you've heard what happened today, then... you should know what I mean!" Eileen suddenly said seductively, her aura flaring up again.
With a smack, Nadas was pressed to the carpet by her momentum. The fiery red carpet beneath him was soaked through.
"If... you can keep the secret and swear eternal loyalty to us... then... perhaps we might spare your life. Of course, don't slip up in the future. Otherwise..."
The Duke spoke, his voice equally cold and oppressive.
But to Nadas, it sounded like heavenly music. He immediately and fervently kowtowed, swearing eternal loyalty to them. Only then was he allowed to leave the room, his legs turning to jelly at the threshold!
In the now-empty living room, the Duke sighed and shook his head. "What do you think? This man managed to escape from that warcraft army and is so resourceful. Do you think..."
"Sister, in my opinion, let's observe him for a while. After all, we still don't know much about him. Hehe... We didn't even ask his name."
"There's no need to ask now, giving him more reason to be fearful. It might make him slip up more!"
"But, sister, in that situation just now, he could sleep. Do you think it's useful?" Eileen couldn't help but laugh.
The Duke, rarely, also let out a light chuckle. Eileen was taken aback—how long had it been? She didn't know when she had last seen her sister's smile. It seemed to only exist in memories...