Chapter 54: Hydra’s Art

This time, Hitana had truly made thorough preparations.

Preliminary reconnaissance, infiltration routes, escape routes, guard posts… she had almost instinctively perfected every prerequisite for sneaking in.

Then she realized—what’s the big deal? This isn’t even that hard.

I got so worked up for nothing.

In the end, this meeting wasn’t some secret.

Or rather, the meeting’s organizer, Count Ironstone, knew full well that if Lord Hydra wanted to eavesdrop, no amount of secrecy would help.

So, he hadn’t bothered with any confidentiality measures.

Under this “openness,” Count Ironstone was making a gamble that would determine the rest of his life.

Those seated in the spacious council hall were all prominent nobles of Chishuang Territory.

The hall’s decor starkly contrasted with Chishuang Manor’s style.

Extravagance was kept minimal, emphasizing a restrained calmness.

A wine cabinet in the council hall stood out as uniquely distinctive.

Unlike the chaotic revelry of Count Chishuang’s banquets, there was no frenzy here.

Each noble had only a single glass of wine before them, with four attendants standing in the corners, awaiting orders, and nothing more.

As the second hand of a pocket watch ticked, Count Ironstone looked up, scanning the assembled nobles, and said unhurriedly:

“Thank you all for coming. I believe you all understand the significance of this meeting for us.”

He interlaced his fingers, resting them on the table, and got straight to the point:

“I have no intention of implementing Lord Hydra’s decrees.”

The council hall fell silent.

After a long pause, a noble of considerable rank spoke:

“Lord Count, we all trust your prestige and capability in Chishuang Territory, but this matter… the risk is too great.”

Where there were opponents, there were supporters: “But that lord’s policies are indeed… excessive. I don’t care about that bit of agricultural tax, but commoners should act like commoners. Why let them live comfortably? Besides, even if their lives improve, they won’t thank us.”

Once someone started, the hall erupted in clamor.

Count Ironstone didn’t intervene.

If there was no discussion, why hold a meeting?

He lacked Hydra’s ability to command awe and submission with a single word or gesture.

The debate lasted about ten minutes until the voices quieted.

Count Ironstone then spoke slowly: “It seems you all realize that arguing like this leads nowhere. If some of us comply, some resist and some pretend to obey while acting otherwise… I don’t think that’s wise.”

“Divided… we’d be easily crushed by Lord Hydra, wouldn’t we?”

This struck a nerve with the nobles, who always feared being isolated in their alliances.

Under the respectful gazes of all, Count Ironstone continued: “So, I will provide reasons to convince you.”

“First.”

He stood, looking at each noble: “I trust you all understand one thing—Lord Anselm is a unique Hydra. There should be no disagreement on this.”

Hiding in the ceiling compartment—where Anselm had once killed an assassin with a hand cannon, giving Hitana the perfect hiding spot—she scoffed disdainfully.

Everyone around her treated Hydra like some super monster.

If she hadn’t been so close to him yesterday, she might’ve believed it.

He’s just… just got slightly firm pecs and abs.

The nobles listening to Count Ironstone nodded.

Anselm was, of course, unique—perhaps excessively so.

“He doesn’t act like his ancestors, who would swing the butcher’s knife at any excuse. He prefers dialogue, negotiation, practicing the ancient art we all study—outmaneuvering in verbal sparring and strategy to get what he wants.”

Count Ironstone tapped his head: “He dislikes killing, as he sees taking a life as wasteful. Only those utterly worthless or who truly anger him face his judgment. I hope you all remember this.”

Having imprinted the idea that “Hydra doesn’t kill lightly,” he continued: “On this basis, you must understand what Lord Hydra… truly wants.”

“Money? Extraordinary materials? Or to meddle in the two Grand Dukes’ games? No… none of those. It may sound absurd and hard to grasp, but from what we see, that lord cares about only one thing.”

Count Ironstone raised a finger: “His reputation in Chishuang Territory.”

“Perhaps that mysterious Miss Lansmarlos counts for half but overall, his focus and actions are all aimed at boosting his reputation in Chishuang Territory.”

Many nobles knew this.

Their advisors weren’t idle.

After all, Anselm’s policies, which cost him personally, yielded little beyond reputation.

“Then, it’s simple.”

Count Ironstone smiled confidently: “Since Lord Hydra wants reputation, we give it to him. Once he gets what he wants, this non-violent Hydra—why would he easily swing the butcher’s knife at us?”

“Lord Count, doesn’t that bring us back to square one?” a noble grumbled. “How do we boost his reputation without implementing his decrees?”

The meeting’s leader chuckled, pleased and self-assured.

“Lords, do you remember the night Lord Hydra discussed the decrees with us?”

The nobles’ expressions soured. No one could forget that wretched night.

“Though Lord Hydra pressured us greatly, ordering us to comply, think carefully—”

Count Ironstone tapped his head: “That night, did he tell you to announce to your vassals and subjects that Chishuang Territory would see new decrees?”

“After that day, did he, like in his speech to the commoners before killing Count Chishuang, proclaim he’d issue new, beneficial decrees for them?”

“No!”

His voice rose sharply: “He could’ve done so. Announcing better treatment for commoners right after Count Chishuang’s death would’ve massively boosted his reputation in Chishuang Territory. But he didn’t. So far… Lord Hydra has only made basic improvements. Though effective, news of his radical new decrees remains mere rumors, doesn’t it?”

Some nobles caught on.

One stood excitedly: “You mean, since Lord Hydra never formally announced his plans—”

“There’s no such thing as ‘breaking his word’ for him.”

Count Ironstone nodded approvingly: “So even if we don’t follow his decrees, as long as we don’t publicize that night’s council or Lord Hydra’s decrees, he won’t trouble us or care. His reputation won’t suffer—after all, this has been the state of Chishuang Territory for centuries, hasn’t it?”

He smiled calmly: “And Lord Hydra is working to improve it. How could he be accused of hypocrisy or breaking promises?”

In the ceiling, clutching the Shadow Crystal, Hitana was stunned.

“So… that’s how it is!” she muttered, her eyes turning ferocious. “Hydra… that guy never planned to do anything seriously from the start! He had it all calculated!”

The nobles erupted in cheers, thrilled to have found a way to protect their interests.

But the more rational few stood urgently, asking: “Lord Count, I think this isn’t enough. Your plan only ensures Lord Hydra ‘loses nothing,’ but he originally aimed to gain more reputation.”

“Baron Blackpeak, you’re overthinking.”

Count Ironstone shook his head with a smile: “Since Lord Hydra hasn’t spoken up, he’s tacitly given us the right to spread the narrative. He wants a simple reputation. We can reference his decrees but adjust the figures. Those minor changes will make the commoners weep with gratitude. And then, what do we say?”

“We don’t mention the decrees at all. We spread that Lord Hydra, wanting better lives for the commoners, pressured us to change policies—not that he issued decrees and stood by as we ignored them.”

The man spoke confidently: “Link it vaguely to the prior assassination attempts on Lord Hydra, and the commoners will fill in the blanks themselves. We lose only a tiny bit of profit—negligible.”

“Look… isn’t that the reputation Lord Hydra wants?”

The council hall fell silent for a long time.

Then, as the first noble stood to applaud, thunderous clapping filled the hall.

“You’re a genius, Lord Count!” the nobles exclaimed. “Perfect! Such a flawless solution—Count Chishuang, that fool, could never have thought of this!”

“No, no…”

Count Ironstone shook his head humbly: “We should thank Lord Hydra. Do you think this is mere coincidence, a loophole I found?”

He spoke with utmost sincerity: “It’s his mercy, lords. He isn’t tyrannical or unapproachable. He grants his mercy to those who seize the opportunity—just as I said… negotiation, strategy, in his every word and action, it’s an impeccable, awe-inspiring art.”

The nobles fell silent, but their thoughts aligned with Count Ironstone’s.

“He’s the noble among nobles,” someone said with deep admiration. “I saw him at the Grand Princess’s twentieth birthday banquet. Dare I say, his brilliance rivals hers.”

“Indeed, I heard Lord Hydra is an honorary master of the Revelers’ Association. He passed their toughest test at thirteen.”

“He’s also a top pianist and violinist! His music stirs the soul! If you get the chance, you must hear Lord Hydra’s concert in the capital!”

Hitana watched all this in a daze, watching them begin to praise Hydra.

Praise what?

Praise things irrelevant to her life, to the lives of all ordinary people?

Praise his masterful deception of the masses, his skill at trickery, calling it art?!

When did the world become so absurd?

Lies are beautiful, even great?

Deception is marvelous, an unparalleled ancient art?

The commoners struggling at the edge of survival, fighting the bitter cold for their lives—were they, in these people’s eyes, just bugs unworthy of a better life?

The long-dormant anger in Hitana’s heart surged, nearly coalescing into tangible flames in her dark red eyes.

The raging blaze consumed the young wolf’s reason, making her selectively forget Count Ironstone’s mention of “Hydra improving Chishuang Territory” and blinding her to… the cold, disdainful look in Count Ironstone’s eyes as he glanced at the other nobles.

Marina, is this what you call justice?

“Hydra, you said you’d never oppose me standing against you.”

Hitana clenched her fists, spitting pure hatred from her throat:

“Then watch closely… watch closely, as I destroy that reputation of yours built on lies and malice!”

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