Lord of Caldera

Chapter 129

"Cowards," the Count thought bitterly at their silence. Yet, this result wasn't entirely unfavorable. Their silence was practically a neutral stance, which allowed him to spread responsibility across the families. The Count looked at Toby with a self-satisfied expression.

"Seeing as there's no response, perhaps I should take a bit more time to think..."

"We must accept the negotiation!"

The Count's face hardened at once. He turned to see Leon stepping forward.

"Sir Sylas sacrificed himself to save us. How can you hesitate now that there's an opportunity to save him?"

The air froze. The other three noble youths stared at Leon in disbelief.

"Is he crazy?"

They knew Winslow's family was close to Rey and Sylas, but such boldness was reckless. Especially with Count Herning, a lord they would continue serving.

The Count's gaze turned icy. "Is that the position of the Winslow family?"

Though he merely asked the question, it felt like a challenge asking if Leon would dare not regret it. Leon closed his eyes briefly, memories from the previous night replaying in his mind.

On the day Sylas staged the hostage situation to help others escape, Rey had come to find Leon amidst the gloomy atmosphere. Leon greeted her in shock, noticing that despite their lord's capture, Rey was utterly calm.

"Sister? Why are you here..."

"Leon, do you remember your conversation with our lord?"

Her detached tone made Leon flinch; Rey had always been formal with him, but now, she had dropped the formality entirely. This wasn't for family affection but a straightforward warning.

"You said you'd support him no matter what happened."

"Yes, that's correct," Leon replied.

"Even if he goes against Count Valdemar?"

Leon fell silent. It was a hard question. Opposing the other three families wasn't a concern, but going against the Count?

Rey didn't wait for his answer and continued.

"It doesn't matter to me. But if you choose the Count, I'll be taking Mother with me."

"It's Max. Do you remember me?"

"I remember. What brings you here?"

"I'm delivering a note to the one who made the wise choice," Max replied, handing Leon a folded note. Leon, slightly confused, took the note and read its contents. His eyes widened as he finished reading, and Max whispered to him.

"My master said that wise choices are always rewarded."

Leon nodded silently. Once Max departed, Leon crumpled the note and swallowed it whole. He muttered to himself, grateful he had chosen to support Sylas.

The terms presented by the elves for negotiation were simple.

First, both sides would exchange hostages, regardless of the number.

Second, representatives from both sides would meet to find a compromise.

Third, each side's representative was permitted two guards.

Aside from the hostage exchange, it was essentially an agreement to discuss matters in person. While the proposal wasn't particularly elaborate, the elves' overwhelming military strength made it a generous offer. Merely engaging in dialogue could be seen as a gesture of mercy. The Count found the offer unusually lenient.

"This tactic feels familiar," he thought.

It was just like the bait-and-retrieve trick he had used on Sylas—laying down an irresistible lure only to retract it the moment they took it.

"No, no," he assured himself. "This is pre-negotiation. No need to be anxious yet."

If it was a tactic he was familiar with, identifying the traps should be easy. He would only need to stay alert at the negotiation table. With that in mind, the Count prepared for the meeting.

"The only issue is the guards," he mused. "I can only bring two with me."

The Count pondered for a while. If trust was a priority, he would take his knights, but his knights lacked the strength to stand against the elves. With one strike, they could be killed. In the end, the Count reluctantly called for Rey and Toby.

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"Rey, accompany me. Sir Toby, I ask you to serve as my guard as well."

"Yes, Father."

"Gladly," Toby replied.

These were the only two knights capable of facing the elves, so he had no choice. They readily agreed to the Count's proposal.