"With manpower, you can have grain, meat, vegetables, and even money!"
"Manpower is also what we desire to employ."
"As you said, if the other party is willing to negotiate, willing to swear by God and make an oath never to invade, I, Jonas, am willing to accept!"
"I'm old now, and I no longer wish to fight. I just want to spend my twilight years at home with my grandchildren..."
The three men nodded slightly.
Now, Jonas is already seventy-eight!
At this point,
Jonas's tone changed.
"But what if they are unwilling?"
"They can rely on the might of the army to breach Aiden's manor and plunder everything Aiden has."
"They can equally break into our territory, our manor!"
"And then, they can seize the fruits and achievements we've painstakingly cultivated for generations..."
The three men opposite Jonas fell silent.
Jonas continued speaking, "Therefore, we must take proper precautions!"
"We must form a defense alliance, working together to resist foreign threats."
"What do you think?"
Banaby and Theodore exchanged a glance but did not answer immediately.
Will also remained silent.
Not until half an hour later did the four men step out of the room.
Their expressions varied, with not a single word of farewell.
Descending to the first floor, Jonas watched as Theodore and Banaby got into their respective carriages, escorted by several guards, and headed out of the town.
Retracting his gaze, he looked at Will beside him.
"Why didn't you side with me just now?"
Facing Jonas's questioning, Will's face tightened, hurriedly explaining.
"Master Jonas, you've misunderstood."
"The power of your manor is too strong, and if I overtly align myself with you, it will surely arouse Banaby and Theodore's suspicion."
"Morgan Town needs balance, or else, trouble will ensue..."
Jonas's eyelids narrowed slightly, his words somewhat ambiguous.
"Balance, hmm?"
"So that's how it is."
"I thought it was because you'd forgotten it was I, Jonas, who helped you become the Manor Lord of Arnold Manor!"
"It was I who secretly arranged for someone to eliminate your father and your two brothers!"
"Otherwise, you'd still be clearing wasteland now!"
Listening to Jonas bring up past events once more, Will's body bent over, his head bowed respectfully as he said, "Naturally, I wouldn't forget, Master Jonas."
"You have bestowed upon Will the grace of creation!"
Jonas said nothing, pacing towards the nearby carriage.
Just as Jonas was about to step into the carriage, his calm voice sounded.
"It's good that you remember."
"Lord Will Manor, this grace must be repaid!"
Will's bowed head lowered even further.
Until the sound of horses' hooves and wheels gradually faded.
Only then did Will lift his face.
At this moment, on Will's still fairly handsome young face, it was filled with a ferocious expression.
Even, in those light blue eyes, streaks of blood appeared.
...
Outside Morgan Town.
Escorted by over twenty guards, a four-horse drawn carriage was traveling at a steady pace on the gravel road.
Beside Jonas, a slender young woman with a delicate face sat cross-legged on a silk cushion.
Maybe because of the road's bumps.
The young woman's curvy body was slightly swaying.
Such that the snow-white area in front of her was bobbing like waves.
The young woman looked at Jonas, softly inquiring, "Grandfather, they didn't agree to your request?"
Jonas, who had been looking out the carriage window at the night outside, retracted his gaze.
He glanced at his granddaughter, Janet, and sighed, "Yes, Janet, they said they needed to consider it."
On Janet's delicate face, a hint of coldness appeared.
"They need to consider?"
"Since when did a group of animals, driven by their lower bodies, grow a brain?"
Jonas said nothing.
Janet continued, "Grandfather, didn't you explain to them the disadvantages of not forming a defense line?"
"If that Lord leads his army to invade each of their manor territories, who can withstand it?"
"Even Grandfather's manor, under the guard of so many soldiers, might only barely fend off the attack."
"But what about them?"
"The armed forces in the territories, combined, only number around fifteen to sixteen hundred, right?"
Jonas responded affirmatively.
Janet's gaze shifted slightly, and after a few seconds, she seemed to think of something.
"Grandfather, since we temporarily can't find the owner of that army, I think we can do something ourselves?"
Jonas inquired confusedly, "Do what?"
Janet spoke, "Naturally, to promote the unification of Morgan Town!"
"Grandfather, have you forgotten?"
"It was you who always taught us that to achieve great things, we must be unscrupulous."
"And Morgan Town is just the starting point for the Frank Clan."
"The real goal of the Frank Clan is to replace Marquis Duca and become a Great Lord!"
Jonas quickly nodded, "Janet, I haven't forgotten!"
Hearing Jonas's firm response, Janet showed a smile.
She opened her arms and hugged Jonas's arm, carelessly letting the softness in front of her twist and deform.
Janet said joyfully, "Hehe, I knew it, Grandfather is different from those pig-like Lords."
...
The next morning.