Chapter 015: Defeating Arrogance

“My Lord Marquis, something terrible has happened.” It was still in the hall of Lord Mengdesha’s residence. Marquis Fernando, who had just sat down, hadn’t even taken a sip of his tea when he saw Supervisor Bernis rushing in in a panic.
“What’s the big deal?” Marquis Fernando asked angrily, setting down his untouched teacup.
Bernis had served Marquis Fernando for decades, and even on the battlefield, Marquis Fernando had never seen him so panicked. Yet Bernis’s outburst completely ruined Marquis Fernando’s already fair mood.
“Th-those shops in the commercial district were bought by Duke Du Fan, the new ruler of Siluo Province,” Bernis stammered, wiping sweat from his forehead and breathing heavily.
“What?” Marquis Fernando stood up in shock, slamming the table so hard he didn’t even notice his freshly brewed tea falling to the ground.
“And…they’ve declared that if those commoners can move those shops to Doha City, the shops will belong to them.” Looking at Marquis Fernando in terror, Bernis quickly relayed all the news he had received.
As a ruler of a province and someone who stood out among the nobles, Marquis Fernando was by no means naive. Upon hearing Bernis’s news, he immediately understood Duke Du Fan’s intentions and the consequences that would follow.
“Sigh!” Marquis Fernando let out a long sigh. “It seems I underestimated Duke Du Fan. This time, we’re likely to be constrained by him. Go prepare a carriage immediately; I’ll go meet this southern envoy in person. Also, have the city guards come in to maintain order. Don’t let these commoners cause chaos, and strictly seal off any news. Those commoners in the city should not be allowed to return to the sub-city for now.”
“Yes!” Bernis didn’t dare delay and rushed out of the hall.
Soon, a luxurious carriage pulled by eight warhorses drove out of the lord’s residence. Everyone in Mengdesha City recognized it—it was the ride of their vampire lord. Under normal circumstances, the appearance of this carriage would always draw the attention of the commoners, as it was extremely extravagant. Even the magically carved beasts on its shafts were things most commoners had never seen before.

Yet this time, the luxurious carriage’s arrival did not cause much sensation. In less than half an hour, ordinary people from across the city flocked to the commercial streets. Compared to the bustling commercial streets, other areas were almost deserted.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the largest inn in the city. By then, aside from the old innkeeper, all the staff had already disappeared.

“My lord,” the old innkeeper rushed out in panic when he saw the carriage stop in front of his door. He knelt down with a thud and began to tremble uncontrollably. He didn’t know what he had done to offend this vampire lord, but from past experience, whenever the lord appeared and rode in his eight royal-like carriages, something serious must have happened.

Getting out of the carriage, Marquis Fernando didn’t even glance at the old innkeeper. With Bernice’s assistance, he strode quickly toward the inn.

“My lord, this is the courtyard reserved by Duke Duvan,” Bernice said hurriedly as he led Marquis Fernando to a separate courtyard. This place had already been investigated by him. After all, if the city lord of Mendesa didn’t even know a duke’s whereabouts, he would have died a horrible death long ago.

Nodding, Marquis Fernando didn’t even need Bernice. He walked forward on his own to show his sincerity.

But Duvan had anticipated his arrival. As soon as Marquis Fernando stepped forward, Old Mark turned around and came out through the moon gate in the courtyard. Seeing Marquis Fernando and Bernice, he immediately stepped forward with a smile and said, “I’m sorry, my lord has returned to Siluo Province. There’s a lot of work going on there right now.”

“Move aside,” Bernice said. He didn’t believe Old Mark’s words at all. He stepped forward, ready to push Old Mark aside, thinking it would be a loss of face to talk to such an ordinary-looking servant.

With a slight smile, Old Mark seemed to have taken root. Even though Bernice tried to push him once and then used some combat energy, he still couldn’t move Old Mark an inch.

But Old Mark wasn’t angry. He knew Duvan would surely restore his dignity. He was very confident about that.

Snap!

Marquis Fernando went up and slapped Bernis. He really didn’t know whether Bernis was stupid or truly failed to realize that Du Fan could have this old man block his path, which clearly showed that the old man’s status in Du Fan’s eyes was no lower than that of a supervisor or manager. Moreover, with such strength, he surely wasn’t an ordinary servant.

In fact, Bernis had also been panicked just moments ago. Marquis Fernando’s slap immediately snapped him out of it. He quickly bent down and said with a smile, “Sir, I’m truly sorry for my offense. I was just in too much haste. Here is some money as compensation. I hope you’ll forgive me.” With that, Bernis quietly handed over a bulging money bag.

Shaking the money bag in his hand, he saw that it contained hundreds of gold coins. Old Mark smiled as he put them in his bosom and said, “Our lord has indeed returned to his territory, leaving me here to wait for those shops before heading back together.”

Huh!

Bernis was stunned. Having taken the gold coins, he still wouldn’t let him pass. It was obvious he was dissatisfied with the small amount given. Bernis hadn’t expected this seemingly ordinary servant to have such high demands.

After hesitating for a moment, Bernis handed over another bag of gold coins. Shaking it again, Old Mark still put the coins in his bosom but still showed no sign of moving.

In truth, Old Mark was already overjoyed. The method Du Fan had told him not only provided him with income but also allowed him to avenge the humiliation he had suffered at Bernis’s hands. Unconsciously, Old Mark had reevaluated his young master, even beginning to see a hint of the evil heart beneath Du Fan’s seemingly holy exterior.

“Idiot, can’t you show even a little respect for an old man?” Marquis Fernando glared at Bernis. He could sense that the old man was targeting Bernis, but he no longer had much time. He didn’t know how many people Duke Du Fan had sent to deliver messages. If only the commoners in the city knew about it, it would still be manageable. But once the news reached the secondary city and large numbers of commoners poured in, even with his hundred thousand private troops, he might not be able to control the situation immediately—after all, he couldn’t kill all of them.

He glared viciously at Old Mark, but Bernis quickly switched to a smiling expression. He respectfully approached Old Mark, knelt on one knee, and paid him the highest form of respect, then handed over another money bag.

This time, Old Mark took action. He walked over to Bernice with a smile, picked up the money bag with one hand, and patted Bernice’s head with the other, scolding, “In the future, you must show respect to the elderly—only then are you a good child.” After saying that, Old Mark, carrying three money bags, slowly walked inside, leading Marquis Fernando into the courtyard.

“My lord, the lord of Els Province, Marquis Fernando, requests an audience with you,” Old Mark called out loudly at the door of the house.

Marquis Fernando’s expression darkened instantly, but he was cunning enough to quickly put on a smile again.

“I’m talking with Bati. Tell him to come back in half an hour,” Du Fan’s voice came from inside the house.

“Yes, my lord,” Old Mark replied respectfully, then turned around with a smile, looking at Marquis Fernando. He extended his hand and said politely, “I’m sorry, My Lord. Our duke is currently receiving guests. Please come with me to the side room and wait. After all, as a special envoy from the South, he has many responsibilities and can’t help it.”

Staring fiercely at the still-closed door, Marquis Fernando felt a blazing anger rise within him.

“Du Fan, don’t be so arrogant. Just by being able to come here today, I’m already showing you respect. What more do you want?” Marquis Fernando was on the verge of exploding. Since becoming this lord, no one had ever dared treat him like this. Even the older nobles were very respectful to him, let alone Du Fan, a newly appointed duke.

In the South, Marquis Fernando had the Lionheart family as his backing, so he didn’t care at all about the Green family’s northern army, let alone Du Fan, who was just a scion of the Green family—a typical charlatan.

Bang!

The door to the main house suddenly flew open as Du Fan stepped out, furious.

“Marquis Fernando,” Du Fan said coldly, with a sinister smile, “In terms of rank, I’m a duke, and you’re just a marquis. In terms of position, I’m a special envoy from the South, while you’re just a lord. I came to your castle voluntarily, only to be turned away at the door. I think I need to not only regain my dignity but also ask Duke Wade if all his dogs are this unruly.”