"Now it's time to deal with Viscount Kilton."
"Even though I claimed it was an act of self-defense, the truth is that I was the one who initiated the attack on Keystone Town."
Feeling a bit lightheaded, Aven rubbed his temples and ordered the knights to bring Viscount Kilton and the town's senior officials.
The Viscount looked equally dazed, still recovering from the effects of Sleep Powder. As soon as he woke up, he was brought straight to the Guild headquarters.
When he saw this all-too-familiar place, Viscount Kilton shivered violently, finally realizing the gravity of his situation. His eyes darted around warily.
At the same time, the town officials were also brought in—but their mouths had been stuffed with cloth, leaving them only able to stare wide-eyed and grunt helplessly.
"Viscount Kilton, I believe it's time we had a proper conversation," Aven said cheerfully, sitting at a desk.
Viscount Kilton looked up—first at the towering Rhydon beside Aven, then at the Petilil and Ralts seated casually on the desk. He gave a faint nod.
Although his life had been spared, he knew this conversation would be crucial—likely about the fate of his territory. He had to proceed carefully.
"Speak. Why did you target Fruitvale Village?"
Even though he had mentally prepared himself, Viscount Kilton was still stunned by Aven's direct question.
He frowned and said, "Earl Aven, please remember—I am also a Viscount."
"Yes, Viscount Kilton, I'm well aware," Aven replied.
"But right now, you're just my prisoner. If you want to be treated like a noble, then bring something to the table to make us equals."
Aven gave him a playful smile. "Besides, you've only barely managed to keep your life. You know it would be easy for me to kill you."
This time, Viscount Kilton's expression changed completely. He blurted out, "You want to kill me? Aren't you afraid of judgment from the Court of Public Order?"
"The Court of Public Order?"
"Of course I'm afraid," Aven said with a chuckle. "Which is why I need to figure out a way to avoid their judgment."
"So, Viscount, what do you think I should do to avoid being judged by the Court of Public Order?"
Hearing this, Kilton's mouth opened in shock. He had initially planned to say, "Just let me go," but he quickly realized that Aven was speaking with hidden meaning.
Now that Aven had taken control of Keystone Town, judgment by the Court of Public Order was inevitable. But what Aven was implying was clear—
—Since he'd be judged whether or not he killed Kilton, the Court wasn't a reason to spare his life.
"What… What do you want?" Kilton asked, his expression shifting repeatedly before finally clenching his teeth.
Even though the officials didn't understand the conversation, Kilton clearly heard the threat in Aven's words.
"Tell me again—why did you target Fruitvale Village?"
Aven leaned back in his chair and repeated the question.
"It was… It was because the eastern branch of the guild wanted revenge."
"Revenge… For the public execution of those hunters in Fruitvale Village."
Viscount Kilton finally opened his mouth and spoke with clear exhaustion. After saying this, a wave of helplessness overcame him.
He closed his eyes, and though he didn't look back, he could already imagine the expressions on the officials' faces behind him.
Although Earl Aven hadn't said a single word of threat, he had completely shattered Kilton's mental defenses.
Faced with death, he was forced to make a choice.
Sure enough, when the officials heard his confession, their faces were full of disbelief—they had never imagined that it was Keystone Town who had started the conflict!
So… was Fruitvale Village truly acting in self-defense, just like they had claimed?
"Ralts~"
Ralts closed her eyes and used her telepathy to convey the results to Aven.
Clearly, Viscount Kilton had lied. This wasn't just the work of the merchant guild—there were likely others behind it.
Aven gently patted Ralts on the head. "So, this was all just the Merchant Guild's doing? Nothing to do with you?"
Upon hearing this, Kilton froze again.
His heart sank—he suddenly understood Aven's plan.
He intended to push all the blame onto the Gilded Fang Merchant Guild. That way, Keystone Town could be spared, and the attack by Fruitvale Village could be framed as an operation against the Guild.
Realizing this, Viscount Kilton fell silent, not giving an immediate response.
If everything was blamed on the Guild and both lords stuck to the same story, then the matter would likely be settled.
But afterward, he would surely be questioned by Ironblood Fortress.
And in front of Marquis Hormay, a mere Viscount like him was powerless.
Without the support of the fortress and the Guild, his territory's development would come to a grinding halt—it would be a devastating blow.
But if he refused Aven now, the Earl clearly didn't mind taking him down with him.
After all, both sides were at war. If a Viscount "accidentally" died in combat, it could be justified. He'd die for nothing.
Not to mention, Fruitvale Village's strength was undeniable. With Aven's popularity among the knights, who knew how the Court would rule?
So now, the choice was simple—stand with Ironblood Fortress and gamble that Aven wouldn't kill him… or blame everything on the Guild and live to fight another day.
"Viscount Kilton! What are you still hesitating for?"
"This was clearly the Guild's doing! What does it have to do with our Keystone Town?"
"We were already being generous by defending the Guild without knowing the full story. Now that it's all the Guild's fault, are you still planning to protect them?"
Just then, the Treasurer of Keystone Town suddenly shouted loudly. The other Keystone Town officials were momentarily stunned, but soon there were voices of agreement.
"The Gilded Fang Merchant Guild can't drag our Keystone Town down with them!"
"Viscount Kilton, does this matter actually have anything to do with Keystone Town or not?" Aven glanced calmly at the Defense Officer before continuing his questioning.
At this moment, Viscount Kilton felt as if his head was about to explode. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but the loud shouts of the officials behind him suddenly drowned out all those thoughts like a wave.
He turned around helplessly to glance at the officials behind him, then shifted his gaze back to Aven, who was seated at the desk. Suddenly, a chill rose up in his heart, as if he were staring at some terrifying monster.
He shut his eyes in pain. He understood clearly—Aven was forcing him to make a choice. Using his life, using the officials of Keystone Town, using everything that could be leveraged.
Now, it was clear that his officials had already made the choice for him. If he didn't go along with what Aven was suggesting, he would definitely lose their trust.
Worse, if Aven really decided to kill him because of his stance, it was hard to say whose side these officials would take.
At that time, if all the officials declared in unison that the matter had nothing to do with Keystone Town, then his death would be completely in vain. They might even go further and directly say it was the Gilded Fang Merchant Guild that killed him.
The mere thought of it sent a shiver down his spine. After a moment, he nodded with great difficulty. "I didn't know about this in the beginning. It wasn't until the attack on Fruitvale Village that President Reagan informed me."
After saying this, he suddenly felt a wave of relief wash over him, and he could also hear the sound of the officials behind him breathing a collective sigh of relief.
Now, who was responsible for this incident no longer mattered. All they wanted was to protect themselves. As for what might happen afterward—that could be dealt with later.
"I see. So, it seems I misunderstood Keystone Town."
"Thankfully, Keystone Town didn't suffer any casualties. As for the Gilded Fang Merchant Guild—this is exactly what they deserve!"
"Now that I've already helped Viscount Kilton take down the Gilded Fang Merchant Guild, I hope Viscount will carry out a swift trial and give those who attacked Fruitvale Village the punishment they deserve!"
As Aven abruptly stood up and said these words, Viscount Kilton was left utterly dumbfounded.
What had he just heard? He wanted him to judge the Gilded Fang Merchant Guild?!
Wouldn't doing that completely push Keystone Town to the opposite side of the Gilded Fang Merchant Guild? The Ironblood Fortress would definitely come down with brutal vengeance after that!
Even the other officials looked stunned. Clearly, they too knew the consequences of such actions. After all, that was the Ironblood Fortress they'd be going up against!
"Hmm? Are you all worried about retaliation from Ironblood Fortress?"
"Don't worry. As long as you assist Fruitvale Village in carrying out the execution, we'll be allies."
"No matter how powerful Ironblood Fortress is, they're still in the Northern Territory. This is the Eastern Territory—they can't reach their hands in here!"
"Besides, a lord administering justice in their own territory is completely within the laws of Aspiration City. No one can find fault with it!"
"And finally… is Marquis Hormay not afraid of facing judgment from the Court of Public Order?"
The smile on Aven's face, in the eyes of Viscount Kilton, looked just like the grin of a demon—so chilling that it made him tremble all over.
At this moment, regret filled his heart. Why did he ever get involved with a monster like this?!
In fact, his fear of Aven was now no less than that of Marquis Hormay—both were people he absolutely couldn't afford to provoke!
"Oh, that's right. I just remembered—inside the secret chamber of the Gilded Fang Merchant Guild, I happened to find this..."
(End of Chapter)