Chapter 019: Evan’s Arrival (Part 1)

“Someone!”
Du Fan frowned slightly and called out loudly again.
A servant in the corner of the hall hurried over and bowed, asking, “What orders do you have, young master?”
Du Fan sneered and asked, “How many guards are there in the mansion right now?”
The servant took a moment to count before answering, “Young master, if I remember correctly, there should be about two hundred left.”
Du Fan nodded and said, “Good. Have these guards put aside whatever they’re doing. All those on duty except for those in essential positions—call them here immediately. Have them get fully armed and wait outside the hall. At my command, they must go in and turn that guy into meat paste.”
The servant was slightly stunned but quickly nodded, “Yes, I’ll go handle it right away.”
With that, he quickly retreated.
Du Fan stared at the front door of the hall and sneered coldly, “Well, Evan, you still dare to come see me now… Do you really think I, Du Fan, am a fool?”
“Someone! Bring tea!”
As he slowly sipped his black tea, Du Fan’s gaze kept drifting toward the front of the hall.
Although it wouldn’t take long to get from the Duke of Green’s mansion to here, given Du Fan’s instructions, Evan probably couldn’t arrive so easily…
But why, at this critical moment, had Evan appeared before him?
Though Du Fan had been furious earlier, he had now calmed down. Evan had previously put him at a slight disadvantage, and he certainly wouldn’t let it go. But if he didn’t figure out Evan’s purpose here first, even killing him might not be done properly.
Du Fan sighed inwardly. He didn’t know when he had become so cautious.
Being cautious was often a good thing, but in many cases, it could also lead to mistakes. He just wasn’t sure if this would be a good thing or a mistake this time.
Finally, a series of rapid footsteps came from outside the hall, followed soon by a loud voice: “Third young master! Your guest has arrived!”
Du Fan took a deep breath to calm himself further before calmly saying, “Bring him in.”
Evan was dressed in an extremely luxurious evening suit, holding a large and exquisite wooden box. Such attire didn’t suit his fat, pig-like figure at all, giving him a somewhat ridiculous appearance.

He quickly ran from in front of the front door to Du Fan’s side, then bowed deeply and said loudly, “Lord Du Fan… Evan pays his respects…”
It was only then that Du Fan noticed a few footprints on Evan’s luxurious clothes—probably the result of those servants being “polite” with him.
Du Fan pretended not to see anything. He glanced at Evan from head to toe before saying calmly, “Lord Viscount Evan, you’re too kind… You’re a viscount of the empire, while I’m just an ordinary person. I certainly don’t deserve such great courtesy from you… So I think it would be better if you stood up.”
Evan wore a sycophantic smile. He casually placed the box in his hand on a table nearby, rubbed his hands together, and said, “This… Lord Du Fan, are you joking with me? Who in the capital doesn’t know that Lord Du Fan is about to be made a duke? In front of Lord Du Fan, how could a mere viscount like me not bow?”
Du Fan smiled slightly, but his gaze was fixed intently on Evan’s face. Both his complexion and expression seemed completely normal. With his rich experience, Du Fan could easily tell whether someone’s eyes were pretending, but at this moment, Evan’s expression seemed genuinely sincere as he came to congratulate Du Fan.
There were some things that couldn’t be said outright in such a situation. So Du Fan smiled faintly and said, “Very well, let’s not waste time with nonsense… Lord Viscount Evan, why have you come to see me in the middle of the night? I don’t think our relationship is close enough to warrant a long talk all night.”
Evan glanced at Du Fan before slowly saying, “Ever since I first met you in the North Country, I’ve longed for you deeply… I happened to be in the capital recently and heard about Young Master Du Fan, so I couldn’t help but come to pay a visit. I’m sure Lord Du Fan won’t turn me away, right?”
Du Fan sneered and said, “I doubt it’s that simple.”
But Evan seemed not to notice the coldness in Du Fan’s words. He continued smiling and said, “Of course not… I remember promising you something back in the North Country, and you haven’t sent anyone to collect it yet. So I’ve come to deliver it to you…”
With that, Evan took out a small bamboo token from his bosom and placed it on the table in front of Du Fan, then continued, “This token is the symbol of my worthless business. As long as Lord Du Fan takes this to my business, as agreed, someone will bring you what you need.”

Du Fan glanced at the bamboo card with a half-smile. He was well aware that Evan would never dare deceive him at this moment, so if he said the bamboo card could be used to obtain what was agreed upon that day from the merchant house, then it surely could.

Yet he didn’t change his opinion of Evan. Instead, he smiled slightly and said, “It seems my men… went to find you but were captured by you, right? My dear Viscount Evan… Do you think I’m stupid? Or do you think I’d be kind enough to let you go, which is why you dare to show up here so boldly?”

Evan continued to act foolish. “Is that so? Why hasn’t anyone come to the North to look for me? Lord Du Fan… Could you be mistaken?”

“Bold!”

With a snap, Du Fan threw his teacup to the ground. The boiling tea splashed onto Evan’s face, but he didn’t dare to dodge.

Du Fan slowly stood up, walked around Evan twice, then sneered and said, “Good for you, Evan… You not only captured my men but also associated with the remnants of the Bauhinia Dynasty. I guess you were also involved in the coup plan back then, right, Viscount Evan? Even most of the weapons and equipment of those remnants were provided by you, weren’t they? Evan… You’ve received great favors from the empire, yet you betray it at such a time. I wonder if Prince Fisher will exterminate your entire family once he finds out about this?”

Evan’s expression changed several times before he finally knelt down with a thud and said, “Lord Du Fan… I… I was possessed by demons… that’s why I did such a thing… Please, I beg you…”

Du Fan narrowed his eyes and stared at Evan before saying, “What do you want me to do?”

Evan whispered, “Please, Lord Du Fan, conceal this for me… I will repay you someday!”

“Repay me?” Du Fan sneered at Evan and said, “Why should I help you? Give me a reason!”

Realizing what Du Fan meant, Evan hurriedly said, “Lord Du Fan, in this world, there are no eternal enemies or allies… only eternal interests… So, if you’re willing to help me, I’ll cover all the weapons and equipment of your private army in your fiefdom in the future!”

“Is that all?”

Evan fumbled in his bosom for a while before nervously taking out two crystal cards and placing them on the table. He whispered, “This is two million gold coins. Please accept them, Lord Du Fan…”

Du Fan casually took it, glanced at it a few times, and without hesitation put it back into his storage ring. Then he smiled slightly and said, “Lord Evan, you’re too kind… I’ll take these gold coins… As for those military supplies… it seems I probably won’t have the chance to get them… So…”

At that point, Du Fan clapped his hands and said, “Someone! Behead Evan and send his head to Prince Fischer in the imperial mausoleum. Tell them it was the mastermind behind the coup who tried to assassinate Prince Fischer, but I intercepted him first!”

“Yes!”

A loud shout came, and immediately hundreds of guards rushed out from outside the hall.

Seeing this, Evan’s face turned deathly pale. He looked at Du Fan and simply said, “Lord… why? Why… You’ve already taken my money; you can’t do this!”

“Nonsense!” Du Fan sneered. “Just because I’ve taken your money does it mean I can’t kill you? After promising me something, you still conspired with others to attack my men… I’m someone who always avenges his enemies. Even if you hadn’t come to me, I would have found you. But since you’ve come here to seek your death, how can I be polite to you? Don’t worry, I’ll throw your body outside the city to feed the dogs… I guarantee you’ll die with dignity and purpose!”

By then, hundreds of guards had surrounded Evan, their swords almost all pointed at his neck.

Evan was drenched in cold sweat, but he still shouted loudly, “Lord Du Fan! Sir Du Fan… If you’re going to kill me, I have nothing to say… But since I’ve come here myself, please give me a chance to finish speaking!”