Chapter 217: You understand what I mean, right?

Disconnecting from the Elder Council's projection meeting, Duke Yorok returned to reality.Recalling the Grand Elder's meaningful gaze, his expression shifted, and he couldn't help but curse.

"These old foxes... every single one of them!"

Afterward, he paced around the room before sighing and taking out a smaller communication crystal.

The crystal glowed, and a shadowy figure appeared within it.

The figure, clad in a mage's robe, was thin and standing before a magical workstation filled with various bottles and devices. He was busy with some magical research.

Sensing the summons, the shadowy figure in the crystal hesitated for a moment.

Quickly regaining his composure, he put down his work, approached the crystal, and respectfully bowed to Duke Yorok.

"My lord, have you finished the Elder Council meeting?"

Seeing the bottles and devices projected from the crystal, Duke Yorok's face darkened with anger.

"Yurst! I should have told you that, as the direct manager of the Returning Star Plan, you need to be more attentive and stop fiddling with these bottles and gadgets!"

"The failure of the Lilac War is partly due to people like you who neglect their duties and tinker with nonsense all day! We don't even clearly understand the betrayal by Red Lilac!"

The shadow projected in the crystal was Count Yurst.

However, at this moment, the Bloodborne Count lacked any of the authority and presence he had in the Nez clan's remote meetings, looking instead like a mage obsessed with research.

He tried to hide his magical workstation, laughed awkwardly, and coughed.

"Uh, my lord, you know, with our long lifespans, boredom is inevitable. Finding hobbies is our way to pass time, just like you enjoy playing chess with the Elf Queen..."

Seeing Duke Yorok's face darken further with his explanation, Yurst quickly stopped and changed the subject.

"Um, my lord, we've stopped infiltrating Castell. Was your meeting successful? Is there something specific you need me to do?"

Duke Yorok took a deep breath and said.

"The Grand Elder has ordered that all items related to the thorny rose pattern must be disposed of immediately. However, Castell is a crucial part of the Returning Star Plan and cannot be abandoned."

Yurst's eyes widened.

"Dispose of items related to the thorny rose pattern? Does that mean there's truly a God behind Castell?"

"Wait, the Grand Elder said we can't abandon Castell? Does that mean we should continue infiltrating Castell? But... isn't there a resurrected God behind Castell? We can't report to the Holy Court about an Evil God's resurrection, can we?"

Duke Yorok frowned.

"What's the point of reporting? Not to mention whether reporting will be effective against a God who has been dormant under the Holy Court's nose for centuries, attracting the Holy Court's attention now would surely lead to the Returning Star Plan's failure."

Yurst respectfully asked.

"Then, what do you propose?"

Duke Yorok thought for a moment and said.

"The Grand Elder stated that Castell is crucial and cannot be abandoned..."

"For us, we need Castell to support us during the execution of the Returning Star Plan, to be our ally."

"Securing support doesn't always mean integrating them into our power. Negotiating and forming alliances is also an option!"

Yurst's interest was piqued.

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"My lord, are you suggesting we make friendly relation with Castell?"

Duke Yorok nodded.

"I have that thought. However, it depends on the exact situation in Castell."

Yurst's expression became serious.

"I understand. I will send word to accelerate the background investigation on the Countess of Castell..."

"That's not enough..."

Duke Yorok shook his head and said.

"Halting the infiltration has already significantly delayed our plan. Since we've decided to change our approach, we need to act quickly."

"You mean...?"

"I'm considering sending a delegation to Castell, representing our Nez clan, to directly negotiate with the Castell family."

Duke Yorok said quietly.

Yurst's eyes widened.

"Send a delegation? Direct negotiation?"

"But... it's said that the Countess of Castell is currently investigating the bloodborne in the north, targeting our Nez clan. Sending a delegation now could be..."

Duke Yorok interrupted him.

"I know there's a risk, but it also shows our sincerity."

Yurst's eyes lit up and he said.

"I understand. I will arrange for a delegation to go and negotiate with the Castell family."

Duke Yorok shook his head.

"A standard delegation is not enough. To show our sincerity, a count must lead this effort."

"Although human counts and our counts are different, sending a count as our representative also shows our respect and sincerity!"

Hearing this, Yurst instinctively looked at Duke Yorok, who also looked at him.

"Yurst, you are the direct manager of the Returning Star Plan. No one understands its details better than you."

"I think you understand what I mean, right?"

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The traces of the Blood Demon Cult added an element of uncertainty to Charlotte's investigation plan.

However, apart from the attack on Sebastian, no more Blood Demon cultists appeared in Castell in the following period.

Even the black dragon seemed to have vanished.

Viscount Leon-Castell's investigation in the southern part of the Castell County also proceeded smoothly. Despite inevitable opposition from local nobles, the strong support of the Castell family left the small and medium nobles with no choice but to comply.

Staying in the capital Northport, Charlotte received almost daily reports on the progress from the old viscount. To her surprise, the Nez clan had indeed completely withdrawn.

The old viscount's success was partly due to this withdrawal. The abandonment by the bloodborne left those scheming nobles with no choice but to accept the new lord's scrutiny.

Meanwhile, a Carrack ship from the Starfall Kingdom, carrying a delegation led by the Nez' Count Yurst, sailed into Northport's harbor.