Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

Count Arthur gave Liu Jianguo a meaningful look, downed his drink in one gulp, and continued:

"That depends on whose education he received from childhood, whose spirit influenced him, and ultimately... whose will he will act for."

I believe that Cavendish's glory and wisdom, combined with the legacy of his biological father, will shape a sufficiently excellent successor.

As long as this heir exists, ensuring the future of the Cavendish family and the stability of our cooperation, nothing else matters.

His words were presented in a grand and dignified manner, accepting Liu Jianguo's bottom line while also hinting that the "struggle" and "influence" over the succession would continue in the future.

But at least on the surface, he readily accepted the premise that "the child is first and foremost a member of the Liu family."

For the shrewd and calculating Earl, as long as the child nominally belongs to Cavendish, the bond of blood and potential influence has been established, and the future can be planned slowly.

The key is to reach a cooperation agreement and secure a ticket to the event.

James, who was standing to the side, was still reeling from the shock of his uncle joining the Eight-Party Alliance, and then he was stunned by the conversation between the two about the child's surname, inheritance rights and the "Liu family".

Only now did he seem to be suddenly turned like a rusty gear, clicking and connecting all the clues.

Cousin Isabel's mysterious confidence, her uncle's dramatic change in attitude, the implicit tacit acceptance of the "Eight-Party Alliance" in their conversation, and Liu Jianguo's consistently calm and composed demeanor, as if everything was under control...

"Wait, wait a minute!"

James sat bolt upright in his chair, nearly dropping his cigar.

He stared wide-eyed at Liu Jianguo in disbelief, his face a mixture of "I see" and "I'm such a fool," his voice trembling with excitement and realization as he said:

"Sister...brother-in-law?!"

So... so that "Eight Directions Alliance"... was really your doing?!

God!

"I was telling you all this in the car about how powerful and mysterious the Eight Directions Alliance is... I, I..."

He recalled how excitedly he had described it back then, and suddenly felt his face burning up, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

This is as absurd as showing off your ability to pray in front of God!

Seeing James's comical expression of shock and frustration, Liu Jianguo finally showed a genuine smile.

Although it was faint, it dispelled some of the chill of the night.

He picked up another cigar, slowly and deliberately handling it, his tone carrying a rare hint of teasing as he said:

"Back then, I don't think I denied what you said, did I?"

He lit a cigar, took a puff, and through the billowing smoke, looked at young James with a hint of mockery in his eyes, continuing:

"Besides, you were just sharing your observations with great interest."

If I suddenly interrupt you and say, "I did that," wouldn't that be a downer?

It would also make me seem overly arrogant. Besides…”

He paused, then his smile deepened as he said:

You didn't ask me directly.

"Mr. Liu, is the Eight Directions Alliance yours?"

I naturally don't need to explain this specifically.

James was rendered speechless by this "reasonable and well-founded" argument. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only scratch his blond hair in frustration, looking both amused and exasperated.

He was internally screaming, "How can you blame me?"

Who would ask such a shocking question to an Asian man who looks like he "kidnapped his cousin" on their first meeting?

"Hey brother-in-law, I heard there's this really popular 'Eight Directions Alliance' lately, did you organize it?"

—That doesn't sound like something a normal person would ask, does it?

What's the difference between that and being mentally disabled?

He could only gulp down a large mouthful of brandy in silence, the burning sensation traveling from his throat all the way to his stomach, partly to calm his nerves and partly to cover up his embarrassment.

At the same time, his awe and curiosity towards this mysterious brother-in-law reached their peak instantly.

Once the core conditions for the negotiations were agreed upon, the atmosphere eased.

But Liu Jianguo's thoughts did not stop.

With the Cavendish family involved, if he could secure a promise of "territory" in Britain, some of his original plans would need to be adjusted.

He holds a crucial trump card—

That "portal" connecting the small world to reality, originally intended as a strategic foothold in the Americas.

Since the prospects for cooperation from the UK have become so bright, and the Cavendish family's value far exceeds expectations,

Therefore, prioritizing the deployment of portals in the UK to establish a solid European bridgehead is clearly a better option.

But the ensuing question is, who will be in charge in Britain?

To oversee this emerging base that combines the overt power of the Cavendish family with the covert power of the "Eight-Way Alliance"?

This person must be absolutely loyal, capable, and have a "legitimate" place in the room to wield power.

Isabelle was the first choice, but she was six months pregnant, and the position of Hong Kong Police Commissioner was sensitive. Her long stay in the UK or her sudden takeover of a new force would easily arouse suspicion.

Emily…her loyalty and abilities have been tested, and her connection to the Small World is deep enough.

But as Isabel's sister and the youngest daughter of the Cavendish family, her sudden rise to power requires a convincing reason, and her deep connection to herself cannot be directly exposed.

How to make Emily take over "naturally" without arousing excessive speculation about the Cavendish family's internal affairs and her relationship with them is a process that requires careful planning.

In the blink of an eye, Liu Jianguo had already formed a preliminary idea.

He stubbed out his cigar, sat up straight, and his demeanor shifted from relaxed to formal, discussing cooperation.

He looked at Earl Arthur, his gaze frank and direct, and said:

"Your Excellency, now that we have reached an agreement on the basic principles, I may as well speak frankly about some specific plans."

The Cavendish family's involvement is of great significance.

To ensure this cooperation is implemented effectively and to maximize its impact, I need a relatively independent space, one that allows me to fully utilize my abilities, in the UK.

I will be sending a... well, what you'd call my 'business team' and 'security force' to establish a new, legitimate business entity and operations center.

He paused briefly, observed the count's reaction, and continued:

"As for the public head of this new entity in the UK, I think Emily is a more suitable candidate, given Isabel's current health condition and position."

She is young, energetic, familiar with the Cavendish family, and... trustworthy.

Of course, I will be responsible for all the start-up capital, personnel, and subsequent business resources.

What the Cavendish family needed to provide was space, necessary local connections, and…appropriate favors within British high society.

He packaged his "power" as a "business team" and "security," pushing Emily to the forefront.

This not only solved the problem of choosing a candidate, but also gave the Cavendish family a seemingly reasonable reason to intervene—to support the youngest daughter's "career".