Chapter 16 Ambiguous Feelings

"There are a total of seven tribes in the vicinity of the mines, and their territories overlap with it." Jeffery handed over a parchment of paper while talking, "The people of the forbidden domain are descendants from war refugees, outlaws, deserters from the Dominion War countless years ago, and every rotten apple you can find out there."

Leonardo took the parchment and observed the hand drawn map, "So they hold the people of the three domains in contempt, you're no exception, especially with your royal background." Leonardo concluded with a light nod.

"Why not use force in your endeavour? I mean, with so much funds, you could raise an army." Leonardo's eyes flashed lightly, but Jeffery was too busy inspecting their surroundings while responding, "Because my Queen is kind and benevolent, she doesn't want to mount her throne on a stash of corpses."

"Oh? How cute. She's one of those." Leonardo nodded in sympathy despite his words, as he couldn't imagine working for a Queen who holds interest in the good of both parties; her side and the opposition.

Jeffery knew Leonardo was biting his words out of respect for Queen Adeline's status, hence he sighed deeply. Leonardo looked at the map once again, asking, "Which of these seven are delegated to you? Which are mine?"

Leonardo didn't know the agreement they came up with after reshuffling their interests, not like he could change the outcome with his pitiful 11% shares anyway. Whichever location each of them chose, the leftovers are his to pick.

Jeffery looked at the map and coughed lightly before saying, "Err, with only 11% shares, you're not qualified to oversee an entire tribe, the minimum threshold is 14%. However! There is a small settlement near the north-west borders of the mines, you can start there."

Leonardo silently stared at the map and the highlighted, inconspicuous dot representing a settlement of former convicts in exile. For some reason, he thought back to his life the Exiled Paradise, which was why he kept silent in deep thoughts.

Jeffery assumed that this silence meant Leonardo accepting his loss, thus he smiled faintly. If Leonardo wanted to lay claim to a tribe now after the distribution, he'd have to either conquer or buy the shares. Nevertheless, he can't aim for Jeffery's tribes, meaning his next option is either Andrew or Mason.

Anyway, while the three of them are entangled in war, Jeffery can focus on excavating the mines and fortifications. Then again, it wouldn't necessarily be Leonardo aiming for Andrew or Mason, it could also be the other way around.

At one point, their greed for the additional 11% would drive them into conflict, much like how their greed for initial funding cost them 5% each. Both Jeffery and Leonardo used the insatiable greed of the two idiots to manipulate them in the shadows.

Leonardo knew all of this, but he didn't say anything and forwarded the documents to Juvia, intending to test her intelligence later.

After handing the documents over, Leonardo then turned to smile faintly at his dear business partner before speaking, "Well, I better get going to check out that settlement of mine, who knows if it's fit enough to shield the wind and rain of the coming seasons." Leonardo patted Jeffery's shoulder lightly.

The fat man chuckled and said, "If you find yourself in a pinch, just send me a message and I'll be right there!" Jeffery handed Leonardo a bracelet with a communication pearl embedded into it, which the latter accepted graciously.

Juvia was diligently observing their interactions, words, expressions, and sorting them out in her mind. She was a clever person, for all the shortcomings she had when it came to combat. If not, she wouldn't have been plotting to escape to the higher realms with her pitiful mortal cultivation.

According to the map, out of the seven tribes, Jeffery has shots on three of them while Andrew and Mason split the remaining four evenly. Jeffery was in a rush to check out his three tribes and find a way to recruit them to his cause.

Soon enough, only Juvia remained by Leonardo's side. She drew closer with her horse and spoke her mind, "Leader, he plotted against you just like that! Why didn't you say anything?"

"Oh? You saw through it already?" Leonardo hadn't expected Juvia to see through the plot so quickly, he assumed she'd cast the blame on all three of them and not solely on Jeffery.

Juvia pouted as she pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. However, Leonardo chuckled lightly and said, "He might be plotting against me, but that's for his own protection."

Leonardo's words puzzled Juvia, thus he explained further, "He just mentioned that Queen Adeline doesn't like unnecessary bloodshed and acts of tyranny. In a world of cultivation, that's pure bullshit, I'm surprised she hadn't been dethroned yet. I suspect she has the least vassals between the three kingdoms, putting her in a position of inconspicuous weakness."

"However, that inconspicuous weakness will transition into a glaring weakness here in the wilderness. Although kindness and benevolence will buy the hearts of people in the long-term, the three kingdoms are in a race against time as we speak. Although Jeffery won't resort to underhanded tactics for the tribes and their unconditional support, who's to say that Andrew and Mason won't? And when they're done…"

Juvia suddenly realised something and blurted out, "Jeffery is a fatter target than us!"

"Exactly!" Leonardo complimented with a faint smile, "You're indeed a clever woman, you'll make for a great secretary."

Juvia blushed lightly as a flashback of her boldly bouncing on Leonardo for a kiss resurfaced in her mind. However, she quickly shook that off and recalled everything that happened to find out where she went wrong with her analysis.

Leonardo simply watched her pensive expression with a faint smile.

A moment later, she cast a gaze full of admiration for Leonardo's way. It was way back when Jeffery was too busy inspecting for danger on the road when Leonardo brought a simple question about forceful occupation.

Jeffery didn't deny that possibility entirely, only that he was restricted against doing so. From that statement, one can assume that Andrew and Mason might very well be plotting an invasion, especially since they have double the fundings allocated to Jeffery.

With one question that Jeffery answered subconsciously based on his understanding of his Queen, he ruined his own plot without even realising it.

"Let's go inspect our settlement, we have a lot of work to do." Leonardo reminded Juvia who had stars in her eyes before launching off into the distance with his horse, and Juvia quickly followed.

One thing Jeffery, Andrew, and Mason failed to account for was… How deep were Leonardo's pockets?

…

The month quickly came to an end with the foursome of Leonardo, Jeffery, Andrew, and Mason each occupied procuring resources and manpower for the upcoming clash of interests. Mercenaries were riled up, walls fortified, and many schemes and secret agreements were afoot.

Back in one of many small inns in Valdmor, a certain petite young lady opened her silver eyes to find herself levitating off the ground. She looked over at her own floating figure, disbelief and joy colouring her eyes.

If Leonardo was in front of her, she might have impulsively kissed him just like Juvia did. She didn't know why, but she suddenly felt in inexplicable soft spot for Leonardo in her heart, a feeling urged to her from the depths of her blood.

Quickly calming down, Pandora's eyes shifted to the bed where a tight fit white garment, a black hair tie, and an exquisite white mask rested in a bundle of other equipment. A long white bow, a pair of snow-white daggers, and a sealed letter nearby on the desk. She could tell that Leonardo left a task for her to accomplish.

Some time later, a white silhouette stepped out from the inn and into the crowded streets. However, the silhouette silently faded into obscurity, and a nearby kid suffered a mental breakdown believing they've witnessed a ghost in broad daylight.