LIGHT NOVEL Chapter 135: Earl Evan
Dark clouds loomed over Silver Moon City, and rumbling thunder echoed intermittently across the sky.
It's going to rain.
Pedestrians hurried along the streets, eager to reach their homes before the downpour began.
Meanwhile, a tavern in the eastern part of the city welcomed two new guests.
As soon as the waiter saw their attire and demeanor, he immediately recognized them as nobles. Bowing respectfully, he led them to a quiet window seat.
The guests were a man and a woman.
The man appeared to be in his early twenties, with bright blond hair and striking ocean-blue eyes. Those eyes, deep and penetrating, gave the unsettling impression of seeing through anyone who met their gaze.
The woman, slightly younger, had a delicate yet resolute face and an air of heroism. She was petite, her movements agile, but what caught everyone's attention was the enormous broadsword strapped to her back.
The sword was almost as tall as she was, with dual edges and a blade ten inches wide, engraved with intricate, arcane patterns. Sparks of lightning flickered along its surface, faintly dissipating into the air.
The contrast between the petite woman and her massive weapon was striking, leaving a strong visual impact.
At the top of the sword's hilt, a carving of a winged horse poised for flight stood proudly.
Anyone familiar with the noble emblems of the Azov Kingdom would recognize it at once. The pure white horse was the insignia of the Pros family, dukes of the empire's eastern territories.
"Bang!"
The woman casually leaned the broadsword against the wall after taking her seat. Judging by the deep puncture left in the wooden floor and the loud thud from the impact, the sword was undoubtedly heavy.
"Brother," she began, a hint of irritation in her voice, "why have you been spending your days sampling fine wines? Have you forgotten we're in Silver Moon City for a mission?"
The man smiled faintly but didn't respond right away. Instead, he poured wine into their glasses, raised his own, and gestured for her to drink.
"What's the rush? Try the wine here first," he said.
With a sigh of resignation, the woman clinked her glass against her brother's.
The broadsword's emblem made their identities unmistakable.
The Pros family, rulers of the East, had only one earl—Evan Pros.
Earl Evan, the second son of Duke Pros, carried the title of earl despite his youth. To outsiders, it seemed a mark of great favor.
But those who understood the intricacies of noble politics knew better.
Bestowing an earldom on his second son was Duke Pros' way of saying:
This earldom and territory are yours, but don't even think about my dukedom.
The intent was clear.
Earl Evan took a sip of his wine, savoring it with closed eyes. When he opened them again, his sister was staring at him with an unwavering, determined gaze.
Earl Evan smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, alright, Anna. Do you know why I'm in no rush to find someone from the half-elf royal family?"
"Why?"
"Because this mission is doomed to fail," Earl Evan replied, pouring himself another glass of wine. "So, instead of wasting time, I might as well sample all the fine wines in Silvermoon City. At least then, this trip won't feel like a complete waste."
Anna frowned, confusion flickering in her eyes. "Why do you think this mission is destined to fail?"
Earl Evan closed his eyes, savoring the rich flavor of the wine, and replied calmly, "Father sent us here to stop the Half-Elf Kingdom from falling completely under Duke Dressrosa's influence. But that's almost impossible. Duke Dressrosa has a sure-fire way to secure victory."
"Sure-fire way?" Anna echoed in disbelief. "What could possibly guarantee that the North will take control of the Half-Elf Kingdom?
Even if Vera marries Prince Tupe successfully, it doesn't mean they'll gain control over Silvermoon City. Prince Tupe is only second in line to the throne, after all. Besides, didn't you say the Half-Elf King is a master of balancing powers and wouldn't easily align with any one side?"
"Haha, the Half-Elf King is a cunning old fox, but Duke Dressrosa is a lion." Earl Evan opened his eyes, a sneer curling at the corner of his lips. "Do you want to know what this sure-fire way is?"
"What is it?"
Earl Evan downed another glass of wine before responding in a cold tone:
"Kill Vera."
"Boom!" A flash of lightning illuminated the sky outside the window, followed by a deafening clap of thunder.
Anna's eyes widened in shock as she stared at her brother, speechless. After a long pause, she finally asked in disbelief, "Are you saying that if Duke Dressrosa kills his own daughter, he'll gain control of the Half-Elf Kingdom?"
"Exactly," Earl Evan replied, his eyes gleaming with a chilling bloodlust. "If Vera dies in Silvermoon City, the North will have the perfect excuse to deploy their army.
I suspect their forces are already prepared. Within ten days, they could march straight to Silvermoon City.
Now tell me, when that happens, will the Silvermoon Guard of the Half-Elf Kingdom dare to defend the city?
And will Father risk sending troops to face Duke Dressrosa in a decisive battle?"
Anna fell silent. Whether she was horrified by her brother's twisted logic or daunted by the grim reality of his questions was unclear.
If the northern knights reached Silvermoon City, she knew all too well the Half-Elves' "glorious tradition" of surrendering without a fight.
And as for their father, Duke Pros?
Would he dare to deploy forces to the Half-Elf Kingdom to face Duke Dressrosa's army head-on?
The answer was grim.
Even though the North had just endured a major war and suffered significant losses, their fearsome army remained an undeniable threat. No one dared to underestimate them.
Moreover, the Eastern Territory had been at peace for centuries. While its forces were numerous, their combat readiness was deeply questionable. Stay updated through empire
A strong army is forged only through the trials of blood and fire.
Without the Huge River serving as a natural barrier, the northern forces could have already swept through the eastern territories, crushing any opposition.
Anna let out a long breath and shook her head. "This is just your guess. Would Duke Dressrosa really sacrifice his own daughter for the Half-Elf Kingdom?"
"He can," Earl Evan corrected. "And why not? For someone like Duke Dressrosa, is there anything he wouldn't sacrifice if it serves his ambitions?"
"Jupiter Jr. died at Vera's coming-of-age ceremony. I suspect the Duke orchestrated that. Next, it will be Marquis Jupiter himself."
Anna stared into her brother's eyes, her tone serious. "If you were Duke Dressrosa, would you do something like this?"
"Yes," Earl Evan replied without hesitation.
"I don't believe you," Anna said firmly, shaking her head. "Even though Father and our elder brother don't like you, they think you're ruthless, unprincipled, and lack chivalry. But I know you're not that kind of person."
Earl Evan laughed. "How can you be so sure what kind of person I am?"
"Intuition," Anna replied matter-of-factly.
Earl Evan was momentarily stunned. He lowered his head, and for a brief moment, a trace of warmth flickered in his eyes. Then, he sneered. "My silly sister! If you keep relying on intuition, someone's going to deceive you sooner or later."
Anna snorted, clearly dismissing his warning. Instead, she asked again, "Isn't there any way for us to stop Dressrosa?"
Earl Evan poured himself another glass of wine, took a sip, and shook his head. "Actually, there is."
Anna leaned forward quickly. "What's the solution?"
Outside, the sky was blanketed by thick, dark clouds, and the occasional rumble of thunder seemed like a distant warning. Pedestrians hurried along the streets, seeking shelter from the impending rainstorm.
Inside the dimly lit tavern, Earl Evan glanced at his sister's anxious expression and answered leisurely: "The solution is—you step into the realm of the 4th stage immediately!"
"Hmph!" Anna raised her eyebrows, glaring at her brother. She immediately realized he was toying with her.
"I'm only at the 2nd stage! I've got a long way to go before I reach the 4th stage!"
"It's not that far," Earl Evan teased. "You're already a 2nd-stage knight at nineteen. You're easily the most promising person to become a 4th-stage knight in this generation of Pros."
"That's just hope," Anna said with a sigh. "But according to you, Duke Dressrosa already has a guaranteed victory. If he takes control of the Half-Elf Kingdom, won't the North's Iron Cavalry come for us next? What should we do then?"
Earl Evan chuckled. "Alright, I'll stop joking. In truth, the only way to stop Dressrosa is to seek help from the Azov family."
"The royal family?" Anna asked, her brow furrowing in thought.
"Exactly. We can't stop Duke Dressrosa on our own. Our only chance is to involve the royal family."
"But... do you think the Azov family will help us?"
"Of course they will," Earl Evan said confidently. "If a civil war breaks out, the Azov family would lose control of their own territories. Dressrosa's actions would be the spark, but the kingdom would be engulfed in flames."
"But... what about the Caged Continent Agreement? Would Dressrosa really dare to violate it?"
Earl Evan sneered. "Caged Continent Agreement? What good is it? That agreement is worthless. How many dukes and lesser nobles have been wiped out despite it?
When the Sealed Knights wake and find their families destroyed, what do you think will happen then?"
Anna fell silent. The weight of her brother's words pressed down on her. She wasn't used to contemplating such dark and ruthless schemes.