Being a knight is not easy

Chapter 267 Traitor
Bob knew the Marquis of Sonata well. He looked at the Marquis of Sonata, smiled, and extended his hand. That hand seemed to carry a mysterious power, as if the Marquis of Sonata would be drawn into a huge vortex if he grasped it.

Bob said slowly, "I've come here today hoping you'll join forces with me."

His gaze was fixed firmly on the Marquis Sonata, awaiting his response, like a hunter waiting for his prey to walk into his trap.

Marquis Sonata had a tent set up temporarily, and soon a simple tent that could still provide shelter from the wind and rain was erected.

The two sat facing each other, the atmosphere inside the tent was somewhat dull and oppressive, as if the air itself had solidified.

"Tell me what you want to collaborate on!" Marquis Sonata cut straight to the point; he didn't want to waste too much time on these roundabout matters.

Especially after that unpleasant negotiation at Wilkesburg, he now just wanted to figure out Bob's intentions.

The Marquis of Sonata's bluntness forced Bob to swallow back many of the groundwork he had planned.

Then, Bob said coldly, "The Viscount of Wilke is growing stronger and stronger, which has seriously threatened the stability of the West."

His eyes held a hint of coldness, as if the power of Viscount Wilke's domain was an unforgivable sin.

Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Sonata immediately revealed a mocking smile on his face.

That smile was like a sharp knife, mercilessly piercing Bob. "That's a matter for our Western Territory. It's precisely because of Viscount Wilke's strength that your westward expansion into the Middle Kingdom has been blocked."

His tone carried a sense of pride. Although he had many conflicts with Viscount Wilke in Wilkeburg, when facing the people of Middle-earth, the interests of the Westerlands made him instinctively stand on Viscount Wilke's side.

After all, the strength of Viscount Wilke's territory did indeed, to some extent, deter a possible invasion from Middle-earth.

“What if the Marquis of Wilke were to take control?” Bob asked meaningfully. His eyes were fixed on the Marquis of Sonata, trying to catch a hint of interest or hesitation in the other’s expression.

Marquis Sonata sneered inwardly; just as Robin had predicted.

He silently admired Robin's foresight, but deliberately showed a hint of interest on his face, pretending to think. After a while, he slowly said, "Marquis Bob, your words are a bit far-fetched. Viscount Wilke is currently at the height of his power. His territory is heavily fortified, and he has many legendary knights under his command. He is not so easy to control."

Bob smiled dismissively, leaned forward slightly, and said in a low voice, "My lord, there's nothing we can't do if we cooperate."

I know your negotiations at Wilkburg didn't go smoothly; Viscount Wilk and his henchman Robin didn't give you much face. If we join forces, not only can you gain control of Wilkburg, but your prestige in the Westerlands will also be unmatched.

Marquis Sonata sighed softly, seemingly wavering: "But the risks are too great. Viscount Wilke is not easy to deal with. If things are exposed, I will have no place to stand in the Western Territory."

Seeing that Marquis Sonata did not directly refuse, Bob pressed his advantage, saying, "Your Excellency, fortune favors the bold. We can start by undermining them from within. Aren't there people in Wilke's territory who covet power and wealth?"

"We just need to find those people, offer them huge rewards, and let them create chaos. Then we can attack from the outside, and Wilke Territory will inevitably fall into chaos, allowing us to reap the benefits."

Marquis Sonata frowned, as if he were struggling to weigh the pros and cons, and then said, "Marquis Bob, this matter requires careful consideration. I need some time to think about it, and I also need you to come up with a more detailed plan. After all, this is not a trivial matter, and the consequences of failure would be unimaginable."

Bob nodded in satisfaction. "Of course, Your Excellency. I will produce a detailed plan as soon as possible. However, please give me an answer as soon as possible, Your Excellency, as time waits for no one." Marquis Sonata stood up, looking towards the direction of Wilke Territory in the distance. A complex look flashed in his eyes as he silently considered how to pass this message on to Viscount Wilke, so that he could gain a greater advantage in this complex game.

Even if he were tempted, he would never cooperate with them.

It is precisely because of Wilk's strength that Middle-earth is so wary of it. If he were to actually take Wilk, without the Knights of Order and enough Legends to guard it, he would not be able to defend it.

Bob repeatedly stated that he would never seek revenge against Wilker afterward, but he only represented the Wolford family, not the entire Middle-earth.

"Summon Count Levan to see me!" Marquis Sonata decided to have Count Levan deliver this message to Robin.

Count Levan was once his retainer, and later he was the one who supported him to become a count; he was his staunch confidant.

Upon receiving the Marquis Sonata's summons, Count Levan immediately rode to the scene. He stood respectfully before the Marquis, puzzled as to why the Marquis had summoned him so urgently, but his years of loyalty prevented him from asking further questions; he simply awaited orders.

Marquis Sonata looked at Earl Levan with trust in his eyes and said in a low voice, "Levan, I have an important task for you. You must deliver a message to Wilke territory as soon as possible and give it to Robin personally."

Earl Levan was startled, but quickly replied, "Yes, Your Excellency. What news is it?"

Marquis Sonata then recounted his meeting with Bob and Bob's conspiracy in detail to Earl Levan, concluding with the admonition: "This matter is extremely important, concerning the safety of the entire Western Territory. You must be very careful and not let anyone discover your whereabouts."

Earl Levan nodded solemnly: "Rest assured, Your Excellency, I will certainly not fail in my mission."

After disguising himself, Count Levan set off for Wilke territory.

Along the way, he avoided the main roads and chose to travel on secluded paths.

Meanwhile, in Wilke territory, Robin chatted with Viscount Wilke about the matter.

Marquis Sonata's failed negotiations at Wilkeburg were actually a staged performance to put on a show and to expose the traitor within his territory.

Just as Robin had predicted, the traitor was none other than Rake, the Viscountess's dowry knight.

This news exploded like a bombshell in Wilke, and although only a few people knew about it, it still caused quite a stir.

"Aren't we going to arrest Rick?" Viscount Wilke asked, his eyes filled with anger.

After all, what Rek betrayed was the entire territory and the dowry knight of his closest person, an act of betrayal that he could not tolerate.

Robin shook his head. "Keeping them is still useful; they might even have value for reuse."

Robin's eyes revealed shrewdness and calculation.

(End of this chapter)