Chapter 581: Chapter 581: 579 Discussion (Part 1)_1

“What do you think about the cooperation proposal from the Troll Emperor?”

In the study, Colin remained in his original position, savoring his coffee. However, the person sitting opposite him had changed from Okamoto to Scholar Doan.

Doan finished the coffee in his cup and fell into deep thought, his eyebrows furrowed.

Colin did not rush him and waited patiently.

After a long absence, Colin suddenly noticed that Scholar Doan had notably more silver hair on his temples. His face was much paler and he had deep bags under his eyes – a sure sign of severe sleep deprivation and overwork.

This wasn’t surprising.

Colin had been traveling a lot recently, leaving Doan to be in charge of the administrative affairs of the North Territory, so it was inevitable that he would be under a lot of strain.

Despite this, Doan dutifully worked hard without a word of complaint and seemed to even enjoy the challenge.

However, Colin was considering calling Emon and Quincy from Ice Rock City to help Doan share some of the administrative tasks.

Although it was a matter of sharing tasks, it was also a matter of decentralizing power.

After all, Doan was originally from the Crimson Flame Territory. Although he had always abided by his oath and helped Colin immensely from the perspective of the North Territory, Colin still believed that prevention was better than cure.

Many times, a person’s ambitions would change with their power.

Initially, Cao Cao just wanted to be a loyal official who would revitalise the Han Dynasty. However, once he had united the north, his expanding power made it impossible for him to continue treating the Emperor with due reverence.

Therefore, Colin wanted to prevent something similar from happening to Doan. This was also for Doan’s sake, to prevent him from facing unnecessary temptations.

Colin believed that with Doan’s intelligence, he would understand his reasoning.

“Count, Emperor Okamoto indeed demonstrated considerable sincerity this time,” Doan finally said. “He agreed to let Prince Gwara stay in Winterfell City as hostage, sent an oil painting with strong blasphemous implications as affirmation of his commitment, and even agreed to such generous conditions…”

“So, you think I should accept his cooperation proposal?”

However, Doan shook his head and said, “It’s because the Troll Emperor’s attitude is too sincere and the conditions are so favorable that I suspect something might be wrong.”

“What kind of reasoning is that?” Colin smiled, pointing at Doan with his finger, teasing him. “The more sincere others are, the more suspicious you become?”

Doan also laughed, saying, “Count, since you asked for my opinion, I assume you also have doubts, right?”

Colin laughed out loud, and candidly nodded, saying, “You’re right. I do have my doubts. Initially, I suggested waiving the customs duties and allowing the Glorious Church to preach in Sky Ice Plain. It was a big ask, but to my surprise, Okamoto agreed so readily.”

Doan, looking very much in agreement, said, “Yes. That’s exactly what surprised me. The Troll Empire still hasn’t paid off the war indemnities from the last time, and their domestic economy has already been heavily impacted. With this additional payment of more than a million gold coins, along with the waiver of customs duties, isn’t Okamoto afraid that the Troll Empire’s economy will completely collapse? And allowing the Glorious Church to come and preach… isn’t he afraid of the angry White Wolf Believers starting a riot?”

Colin drummed his fingers on the armrest of his chair and asked, “So, you also believe this to be a trap?”

“Most likely, yes.” Scholar Doan nodded, then asked, “Count, has the Troll Emperor provided a specific plan for the assassination of Squein?”

“He did propose a plan.” Colin took a sip of coffee and continued, “He said he would invite me and Vera to return to the Royal City of Trolls and allow me to bring the Blood Knight Army along. Once the Blood Knight Army successfully enters the Royal City of Trolls, it wouldn’t be difficult to launch a surprise attack and kill Squein.”

After quietly listening, Doan pondered, “It sounds like a feasible plan. After two disastrous defeats, the Troll Empire has exhausted all its resources and can’t muster a respectable army at this time. As long as the Blood Knight Army can successfully infiltrate the Royal City of Trolls, it would be a piece of cake to kill Squein or even completely destroy the political center of the Troll Empire.”

Colin watched as Doan’s eyes sparkled with a bloodthirsty light, and he unconsciously licked his lips.

Exactly, if the Blood Knight Army could truly penetrate the Troll Royal City and wipe out the upper echelons of the trolls, perhaps the Troll Empire would crumble.

So, unless the Troll Clan could be unified again, they could no longer pose a significant threat to the North Territory.

This kind of lure, even though I know it may be a trap, makes Colin unable to resist the impulse to benefit from the calamity.

But soon he forced himself to calm down.

Okamoto may be a coward, but he is not a fool.

How could they deliver such an excellent opportunity to Colin, allowing him to easily overturn the Troll Empire?

Colin took another sip of coffee and asked in a deep voice, “So what do you think is the real danger of this trap?”

Scholar Doan pondered:

“The Troll Empire has no army that can fight the Blood Knight Army, but don’t forget, they still have a Holy Warrior!

So I guess Okamoto intends to use Squein as bait, lure you and the Duke into the Troll Royal City, and then let the Holy Warrior Prince Otto take action…”

Colin nodded expressionlessly, not surprised at all. Perhaps he hesitated to accept the request of the Troll Emperor precisely because he had thought of this.

“So… should I reject Okamoto?” Colin asked.

Scholar Doan didn’t answer immediately.

Because he heard reluctance in Colin’s tone, and he also understood that since Colin had asked him for advice, he must be wondering if there was any way to break this trap.

If it was only to expose the Troll Emperor’s cunning plan, Colin himself had already done so, and there was no need to waste Scholar Doan’s time.

Scholar Doan picked up the silver water bottle on the desk, poured himself a cup of coffee, and then drank it all at once.

The bitter taste stimulated his weary nerves, and Scholar Doan’s brain began to work rapidly again.

Colin remained silent, waiting quietly.

That’s right.

He had indeed known for a long time that Okamoto had evil intentions, but he was not willing to simply reject it outright.

Such a great opportunity, if it could completely resolve the threat from the North, the strategic space of the North Territory would suddenly become much larger.

He wouldn’t need to divide his attention to the North, and he could calmly plan strategies for the East, or even the South.

Moreover, since White Dew City was devastated by Mr. Ji’s “Black Tiger Heart Extraction”, Colin had always been extremely wary of the power of the Holy Field.

He is now a Rank Six Knight, stuck at the threshold of the Holy Field. Despite the saying that no one can beat him below the Holy Field, when he truly faced the Holy Field, Colin found that he had virtually no resistance.

He did not want to repeat what happened at White Dew City.

Therefore, he must become a Holy Knight as soon as possible, or have a Blood Slave who can rival the strong men of the Holy Field.

Holy Warrior Otto Volkin might have considered Colin his prey, but Colin also regarded this troll Holy Warrior as his game.

“Count, perhaps we could think in another way.” Finally, Scholar Doan spoke.

Colin’s spirits lifted, saying:

“Please tell me!”