Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 61 Gift
Zachary lowered his head, took a small sip of his drink, and a calculating glint flashed in his eyes.

He sighed, feigning helplessness, "Perhaps. After all, Calvin doesn't seem to know how to respect others. If it were me, I would definitely come to pay my respects to you in person beforehand."

Count Firth frowned, and anger began to show on his face.

The noise at the banquet seemed to be drawn away by these words, and the atmosphere became somewhat heavy.

Count Firth was silent for a moment, then slammed his hand on the table: "This Calvin needs to be taught a lesson. Let him know that the North is not a place without rules."

"For the next operation, I want him to go to the most dangerous places and be at the forefront!" Count Firth thought to himself, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Plan passes.

Zachary chuckled softly, but his heart was filled with a twisted pleasure.

Count Firth's decision was the result of his careful planning.

Ever since Louis embarrassed him at the banquet, Zachary had been harboring a grudge.

In particular, Louis's disdainful look dealt a severe blow to his self-esteem.

"Who do you think you are?" Zachary sneered. "You're nothing but a discarded son of a family, yet you dare to look down on me?"

By taking advantage of Count Firth's ignorance, he could easily put Louis in the most dangerous position.

Louis's arrogance will cost him the most.
Of course, Zachary also knew when to stop.

Once the prejudice was planted in Firth's heart, the rest was left to time to ferment.

So he quickly changed the subject and started talking about his interesting hunting experiences in the south.

The nobles gradually relaxed, and the atmosphere warmed up.

The banquet returned to its usual lively atmosphere, and everything seemed to be heading towards a "memorable evening."

However, just as the banquet was drawing to a close, a servant hurried into the hall and whispered a report to the head of the table.

"Your Excellency, Baron Calvin and Baron Harvey are at the door."

Upon hearing this name, Count Firth frowned immediately.

“Baron Calvin?” he repeated impatiently.

Standing next to him, Zachary had a faint smile on his lips.

I never expected that poor Louis would actually deliver himself to my doorstep like this; it's like heaven is helping me.

He lowered his voice just enough for the Earl to hear: "It is indeed Louis Calvin, a member of the Calvin family."

Count Firth snorted coldly, his eyes showing obvious displeasure.

"Let him in." His tone was icy. "I'd like to ask him what trick he's trying to pull by showing up so late in the banquet."

Before long, the hall door slowly opened, and everyone's eyes turned to the entrance.

Louis and Jon make their grand entrance.

Behind them followed two knights who had removed their armor, each carrying a huge sack on their shoulder, which smelled slightly fishy.

Out of place at a lavish and elegant banquet.

The nobles stared at this unusual scene with either confusion or surprise, their previous lively conversation vanishing instantly.

Count Firth, seated in the main seat, watched this scene unfold, his face gradually darkening.

Seeing those two burlap sacks in particular fueled his anger.

He immediately stood up, a contemptuous smile on his face, and said, "Louis Calvin, you have truly disappointed me."

To be late for such a banquet, and with such a disdainful attitude, don't you even understand the most basic aristocratic etiquette? What do you take the Earl's mansion for?!

His gaze swept over the sacks behind Louis, and his expression grew even more displeased: "Look at these sacks, what are they doing? This is a noble banquet, not a street gathering!"

The atmosphere in the banquet hall suddenly fell silent, and the nobles began to talk in hushed tones.

Some of the southern settlers began to smirk, as if they had been waiting to see Louis make a fool of himself.

Zachary stood aside and continued to whisper provocations: "Count Firth is right. A nobleman's banquet is a reflection of the nobleman's face, and everyone must abide by the rules."

Do you think Earl Firth is unworthy of someone as noble as yourself? Are you deliberately trying to humiliate His Excellency the Earl?

These words only fueled the laughter of the surrounding nobles.

"What an ignorant fellow, thinking he's some big shot."

"This scene is hardly befitting a noble banquet. How can Earl Furth tolerate such an ill-mannered person mingling here?"

"The Calvin family scions are so rude and ill-mannered, they don't even understand the most basic respect, daring to interrupt Earl Firth's banquet like this."

Their voices were full of contempt, as if they had already decided that Louis was an arrogant and rude person.

Zachary watched all this with schadenfreude, knowing that his words had put Louis in an awkward position.

Earl Firth grew even more furious upon hearing these words.

He looked at Louis coldly, seemingly having decided to no longer treat him with any aristocratic courtesy.

I'm going to teach him a lesson and show him what it means to be the master of Xuefeng County.

The laughter of the surrounding nobles became even more unrestrained, and the atmosphere seemed to become even more tense.

However, Louis remained calm, as if he had not been affected at all.

He bowed slightly, performing a noble greeting, and then politely said, "Your Excellency, I was indeed delayed by urgent business. As for the sack, it contains a gift I specially prepared for you."

As he spoke, he gestured to the knight behind him to slowly lower the sack.

Zachary sneered: "Oh? A gift? That's rather unexpected."

But as the son of the Duke of Calvin, shouldn't he be bringing such a crude gift? Is it some kind of wild pheasant or rabbit from your territory?
Why don't you just show us what valuable items are inside that are worth displaying here?

Zachri's every word was mocking, clearly intended to drag Louis into an even deeper quagmire.

Upon hearing Zachary's words, Count Firth's deep prejudice against Louis was already formed, and a hint of contempt flashed in his eyes.

"Since it's a gift, then take a look. After all, we nobles of the North aren't deliberately making things difficult for you."

Count Firth commanded in a low voice, "Open them and see what's inside."

Louis gestured for the knight to open the sack.

The moment the sack was opened, several heads of Snowsworn rolled out, their blood dripping onto the ground.

The banquet hall fell into a deathly silence; all the nobles were stunned.

Count Firth stared blankly at the severed head on the ground.

His chubby face was contorted with fear and anger, and the fat around his eyes trembled slightly.

He seemed to want to shout something, but was caught off guard by the sudden impact.

"What...what is this?!" He finally managed to squeeze out the words, his voice filled with panic.

(End of this chapter)