In the distant Duke''s Mansion, they were oblivious to the terror that gripped Williams from afar.


    Yet today, a strange wind blew from nowhere, mingling with the snowkes, lifting the indifferent Olivia''s hair, her strands brushing against her cold, stunning cheeks. Her paleplexion and clothes almost blended her into the beautiful scenery of the day.


    However, Michael, the Duke during this Competent period, felt an unusual chill in today''s air.


    Olivia before him held no beauty in his eyes; he even dared not meet her gaze directly. Every nce at Olivia caused his eyes to ache, as if a needle made of ice stood before him!


    "Family jokes aside."


    It was the first time Michael had initiated calling someone from the ckwood family "inws," "What chess yer, what knife wielder?"


    ...


    Now, in front of the screen.


    Ethan, watching the conversation inside Duke''s Mansion, his hand trembling on the mouse, his eyes bloodshot, only felt this extreme excitement when he was utterly thrilled, and it had been a long time since he had felt this way.


    It was like being in an internationalpetition, where, just when the opponent was sure of winning, he turned the tablespletely, causing a thrilling upset!


    Very early on, he had sensed something unsettlingly quiet about Cloudview County.


    He spected, investigated, and prepared to face any iing foes with caution.


    Fortunately, not only was he on guard, so was Olivia.


    He admitted, he was not as smart as Olivia; he was just a teenager, while Olivia was nearly a hundred years old, but still, it was effective. If it came to intelligence, Olivia + Julian = Olivia, then he + Olivia, at least equaled 1.2 Olivias!


    They...


    Hadpletely jumped out of the chessboard!


    In the scene.


    Olivia, looking up at the snowy sky, let the snowkes fall on her, "It''s evident that the Duke has always adored his daughter, but you, Duke, must admit you''re a man of decisions, unlike your outward appearance."


    "To outsiders, you love your people like children, and hearing of the Psychic causing trouble makes you itch with anger. But let me tell you, my old man is that kind of person; when he''s really angry, he''d carry a coffin to smash someone."


    "You''re different; you appear angry but remain unmoved."


    "Sky Sect and ck Tortoise have been at war for years, Tranquil County has suffered a drought for twenty years, and you''ve ignored it. My ckwood has in over two million enemies, and you even..."


    Seeing Michael still frowning, appearing angry.


    Olivia said, "Hand over your daughter to my ckwood."


    With these words.


    Michael finally mmed the table in anger, "Olivia, you may specte about me as you wish, but hand over my precious daughter to your ckwood? Are you even worthy?"


    Olivia was unfazed by Michael''s authority.


    "The Duke is right, ckwood isn''t worthy. But if it could be the Duke''s de to clear all major forces in Cloudview County, letting you, Johnson,pletely control Cloudview County, harsh as it may sound, it''s just a daughter, then it''s truly trivial. As I said before, the Duke is a man of decisions."


    "Otherwise, how could your daughter Betty, so noble, in this vast Duke''s Mansion, hear of my ckwood so often, to the point of admiration? How could she have your consent to go to ces like Tranquil County? Aren''t you afraid that my ckwood might start another great war, risking Betty''s life?"


    "And your Developing Skill expert, truly useless, allowed Betty and my Edward a coincidental meeting, and that disgraceful affair. I''m confident, my ckwood''s younger generation may be reckless, but this has happened before, almost reaching the pce, and since then, our younger generation has been instructed not to act without permission."


    "My family''s wild one, with a beauty by his side, yet able to resist temptation. If such an immature one can do this, what more the older, more mature Edward?"


    She paused, her smile distinctly different, "You drugged her, didn''t you?"


    No reply, just a long breath, said it all.


    Olivia continued, her voiceced with a mix of curiosity and strategy, "You''re waiting, waiting inadvertently for my ckwood to learn of this. Duke Michael, you must be quite familiar with my family by now. You know that once such news breaks, my ckwood would inevitably seek an alliance through marriage."


    She paused, her curiosity piqued, "Duke Michael, we''vee this far, why not satisfy my curiosity? If my ckwood had remained unaware of Joseph''s birth, how long would you have waited to let us know without seeming too deliberate? To keep it under wraps, unnoticed by gods and ghosts alike?"


    Michael clenched his teeth, his eyes shut tight.


    "I understand now," Olivia deduced, "you would have waited until Joseph was grown, perhaps even orchestrating a scenario for him to seek out his kin. Given the nature of my ckwood people, we would still have sought an alliance through marriage."


    "Whether it''s due to family teachings or the benefits of aligning with Duke''s Mansion, such an alliance would certainly improve our standing."


    "So... my ckwood would ultimately be your de."


    "All the powers would know of our alliance, just like now, under the Azure Cloud Martial Pavilion, where my family''s Edward won the martial contest. You even brought Edward back to Duke''s Mansion specifically to let all the powers know of our union."


    "Moreover, your years of distancing yourself from these powers will make them desperate to eliminate my ckwood, fearing that Duke''s Mansion might protect us and eradicate them."


    Olivia''s expression was yful, "Duke Michael, after your first step in the n seeded, are you excited?"


    At this moment.


    Duke Michael''s expression changed; he was smiling, a smile more gentle than any Olivia had seen at Duke''s Mansion when dealing with the ckwood people, as gentle as Olivia''s now!


    "I am pleased."


    Michael reached out for his cup, which no longer contained tea but had merged with the snowkes around, turning into water, which he drank in one gulp, "My father, on his deathbed, kept saying that my Duke''s Mansion could never truly dominate this barbaric southernnd."


    "But I, seeing an opportunity through your ckwood, took it!"


    "You are too interesting, rising from the ruralnds, daring tomit acts of great audacity. People of Cloudview County say that your family is like the wild beasts of the Silver Iron Forest, daring to offend the Azure Cloud Pavilion for a demon king."


    "You even killed a Competent from Emerald Phoenix Peak for me."


    Hisughter grew, "You are perfect, antagonizing the entire Cloudview County, disregarding any power. You also uniquely sought to ally with sects. Do you know how thrilled I was the day you came to my Duke''s Mansion, having Sky Sect and ck Tortoise support your cause?"


    "At that moment, I knew that with your ckwood and these two sects, all I needed to do was stir the pot a bit, and you and the major forces of Cloudview County would at least both suffer great losses! Even that very night, I made sure all the major sects knew about it, and they spent a sleepless night!"


    As he spoke, his expression turned somber.


    "And yet, I too am troubled."


    "Oh?" Olivia expressed her confusion, intrigued by hisst remark.