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Chapter 40 Meeting(2)

"The moment these bombs are discovered," he warned, "you and your families will become targets of relentless pursuit. The Kingdom will not hesitate to make an example of you, sending a chilling message that such acts of defiance will not be tolerated."

The leader continued, "It\'s pointless trying to use force or threats as that would only make the Royals deal with us to avoid their authority being questioned." He paused, letting his words sink in. "The only way forward is to get the support of someone who can change the royals\' decision."

One of the attendees raised a hand. "And how do we find someone like that? And even if we find them, how can we convince them to support us? They\'ll have too much to lose by doing so as they\'ll openly defy the royals. That\'s good for no one. Even high nobles wouldn\'t do such a thing easily."

Another attendee nodded in agreement. "No one would be foolish enough to do that. They might even end up being executed with us."

The leader shook his head. "Not necessarily. High nobles can\'t be so easily executed."

"Yes, but how can we get a high noble to side with us? Those nobles wouldn\'t even help royals. So why would they care about us?"

The leader leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a predatory intensity. "You are all right. Our only hope is to find a strong supporter. And only high nobles or royals themselves are \'strong\' enough to cancel our coming execution." He paused again, savoring the dramatic effect of his words. "As for how to convince them," he added with an ugly smile, "everyone has a price."

The room fell silent as the attendees contemplated the implications of the leader\'s words. They knew that he was right, that their survival depended on finding someone powerful enough to defy the royals. But the thought of bribing a high noble or even a royal was daunting. What price would be high enough to convince someone to risk their own position and reputation?

The leader, sensing their hesitation, spoke again. "I know what you\'re thinking," he said. "The price will be high. But our lives are at stake. We have no choice but to pay whatever it takes."

With a scrutinizing gaze that swept across the room, he met the eyes of each attendee, his voice echoing through the silent chamber. "Anyone disagrees?"

A collective hesitation filled the room, each noble shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Although they held the esteemed title of nobility, their positions were far from the pinnacle of power. They were well aware of the insatiable hunger and domineering nature that often characterized their highborn counterparts.

If they, as high nobles, were approached by distressed low nobles seeking aid, they would exploit their vulnerability, stripping them of their possessions before even considering their pleas. Even worse, they might offer empty promises of assistance, fleecing the low nobles without ever fulfilling their obligations. The power imbalance was stark, leaving the low nobles powerless to enforce any binding contracts. They were the ones desperately seeking help, and the high nobles would never agree to such terms, fearing the repercussions if the contract was exposed.

Aware of the inherent dangers, the nobles remained hesitant to agree with their leader\'s words. While not seeking aid would likely lead to their demise, approaching a high noble would guarantee both death and poverty.

Noticing the uncertainty in his peers\' eyes, Balin, the leader, remained composed, concealing a subtle smirk behind a neutral expression. As he prepared to speak, Ariel raised his hand, interrupting the flow of the conversation.

Normally, Ariel would have immediately voiced his thoughts, but he recognized the need for caution due to his earlier remarks.

Noticing the interruption, Balin felt a flicker of annoyance, but he recognized that an open display of authority could alienate the others. Despite being their nominal leader due to his superior rank, he understood the pride and independence of his fellow nobles. Fortunately, the interruption came from Ariel, a perceived simpleton unlikely to pose a significant threat to his plans.

"Yes" With a forced smile, he acknowledged Ariel\'s question.

"Perhaps we should consider seeking assistance from mid-ranking nobles instead of high-ranking ones," Ariel suggested, his tone laced with a hint of naivety.

Balin couldn\'t help but suppress a chuckle as he recognized the simplicity of Ariel\'s proposal. \'As I expected,\' he thought, amused by Ariel\'s apparent lack of understanding of the political dynamics at play.

With a feigned seriousness, Balin addressed Ariel\'s question. "While mid-ranking nobles may possess influence within their own territories, they lack the sway necessary to influence the decisions of the royal court. Their power is simply not substantial enough to overturn the directives of the higher-ranking nobility."

Undeterred by Balin\'s dismissive response, Ariel persisted, "Actually, I know of a mid-ranking noble who might be able to help us."

Balin\'s brow furrowed as curiosity piqued his interest. "And who might that be?" he inquired, concealing his growing apprehension.

Ariel\'s eyes twinkled with newfound confidence as he revealed the name, "Count Everglen. While he may not wield the same political influence as the high nobles, his economic clout is unparalleled, making him one of the most influential figures in the kingdom, second only to the royals themselves."

Balin\'s initial skepticism gave way to a sense of unease as Ariel elaborated on his proposal. "Given the economic significance of our southern region, we could propose a mutually beneficial arrangement. In exchange for his assistance in securing our safety, we would grant him exclusive trading rights in all our cities. To ensure the integrity of this agreement, we could sign binding contracts, guaranteeing adherence to our commitments should we survive this ordeal."

Ariel\'s words painted a compelling picture, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the impending doom. The prospect of Count Everglen\'s support ignited a spark of optimism within the group.

While acknowledging the potential financial losses and reputational damage associated with Ariel\'s proposal, the nobles recognized the urgency of securing Count Everglen\'s support to ensure their survival. Despite their reservations about signing binding contracts, they understood the necessity to convince the powerful noble.

Balin, inwardly fuming at Ariel\'s interference, forced a neutral expression as he grappled with the threat to his own plans. He acknowledged the merits of Ariel\'s suggestion but raised a crucial concern

Determined to regain control of the discussion and steer it back towards his desired outcome, Balin feigned concern and raised a problem: "While Ariel\'s suggestion holds promise, we face a significant challenge: how do we establish contact with Count Everglen?"

The nobles\' smiles faded as they realized the daunting task of reaching out to Count Everglen. They understood that he occupied a different sphere, far removed from their world. Approaching him directly was out of the question; any attempt to seek an audience through his staff would result in a lengthy delay, a luxury they did not have.

The possibility of contacting him via phone also presented a hurdle. They lacked access to his personal number, and even if they did, discussing such a sensitive matter through a phone call was impractical.

In a moment of desperation, Balin interjected, "I may have a way to acquire Count Everglen\'s contact information."

His words were met with an expectant silence, the nobles\' emotions oscillating between hope and despair. They momentarily overlooked the impracticality of discussing such a sensitive matter over the phone, their focus solely on the glimmer of hope Balin\'s words offered.

"How?" Ariel inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Balin, however, remained tight-lipped, merely stating, "I\'ve made some connections."

The nobles, desperate for any lifeline, accepted his cryptic explanation without further questioning, their eagerness to secure Count Everglen\'s assistance overriding any doubts or concerns.

With a determined expression, Balin excused himself and stepped away from the group. He retrieved his phone and carefully composed a message to an unregistered contact, ensuring to maintain a tone of utmost respect.

"I hope this message finds you well," he began, carefully crafting his words to avoid revealing his true intentions. "I trust you\'ve been monitoring the situation here, and I humbly seek your assistance in acquiring Count Everglen\'s contact information."

Almost immediately, he received a response, a testament to the sender\'s vigilance. "Indeed, I am aware of the events," the message read. "Enclosed herewith is Count Everglen\'s contact information. I trust you to conduct your interaction with utmost prudence and tact."

A subtle smile graced Balin\'s lips as he received the contact details. His primary intention was not to seek the Count\'s aid but rather to provide his companions with tangible proof of his communication with the influential figure. He knew that without such evidence, they would relentlessly pursue him, even going so far as to travel to his residence in the capital.

However, he also recognized the need to maintain subtlety, crafting a message that would not pique the Count\'s interest while still conveying the necessary respect. The cryptic message from the sender, with its emphasis on discretion, further reinforced this need.

After a moment of contemplation, Balin sent a message, anticipating that the Count would dismiss such a brazen request from an unknown number. His confidence was proven correct when, within a matter of seconds, a notification appeared on his screen: [You have been blocked from contacting this user.]

He wasn\'t surprised because it wasn\'t unexpected, but when he read his message again, he saw [Greetings, Cunt. I am in urgent need of a service. I can offer you something I\'m sure you\'ll like], he couldn\'t help but shout.

\'Damn autocorrect!\'

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Edited by Moonsterdark