Chapter 326 - 324: The Sinister Baron Torre

Chapter 326: Chapter 324: The Sinister Baron Torre

Candlelight flickered. In his study, the bald Baron Torre Courtney was meeting with his subordinate, Sir Sean Collins.

As a man approaching sixty, Torre’s vigor was completely different from that of an ordinary old man.

He looked hale and hearty, without a single wrinkle on his face.

However, his years of a tyrannical lifestyle, combined with old battlefield injuries, gave him an unconsciously sinister air, especially in his eyes.

In the last six months, however, far fewer servants had been beaten to death by him.

This was because the Courtney Clan now had an heir, and the land would not be reclaimed by Viscount Freddy.

Sir Sean had followed Baron Torre for slightly longer than Brison. Although his strength was not low—he was an Earth Tier Warrior—he was getting old.

Compared to Brison, who was already a Human Tier Warrior before the age of twenty-five, Sean’s standing was clearly lower.

Sir Sean said solemnly:

"Baron, what I just said may be speculation, but you must take it seriously! If there is indeed foul play, it will harm your reputation and the legacy of the Courtney Clan!"

Just moments ago, he had listed a series of suspicious points concerning Selena and Brison.

For instance, the two of them had gone to Black Forest Island together, and Willard’s nose bore a slight resemblance to Brison’s.

He was trying to convince the Baron of his claims and bring judgment down upon Brison.

Baron Torre’s gaze grew sharper, but his expression remained impassive.

"I understand you’re looking out for me, but you’re simply overthinking this."

Torre gave a dry laugh. "Before I took the Magic Potion and consummated the marriage with Selena, I checked her. Her body was empty; she was not with child. And at that time, do you know what Brison was doing?"

Sir Sean’s expression changed slightly. He hadn’t expected the Baron to be so meticulous as to check for a pregnancy beforehand.

"At that time, Brison was being flogged, his flesh was torn and festering, and he was lying on his bed, unable to even turn over."

He frowned. ’Under these circumstances, how could Brison possibly have had an affair with Selena?’

’Could it be that I really was overthinking things?’

In truth, Baron Torre had also begun to have his doubts recently. After all, he felt the child didn’t look much like him.

But no matter how suspicious he was, it was his own family matter. Allowing an outsider to comment on it was, without a doubt, a deeply humiliating act.

He had only mentioned something as personal as consummating the marriage purely to dispel any outsider’s suspicions.

In his view, even if it were proven that Willard was not his own flesh and blood, he still needed the boy to inherit the Courtney Clan’s Territory and assets.

As for Selena and Brison, he would find an opportunity to have them secretly executed and announce their deaths as accidents.

He could discard a wife and a follower with great potential, but he had to leave behind an heir.

Therefore, he could never admit to having such suspicions in front of an outsider.

"I know Brison’s sudden rise and his acquisition of a good piece of land have made you unhappy, but there’s no need to make a mountain out of a molehill and attack him over it."

Torre was still relatively polite and restrained with the subordinates who followed him.

"You misunderstand me. I am only considering your reputation. I have no other ulterior motives."

"That’s enough, Sean. I understand your concerns."

Torre laughed, rubbing his bald head, and his expression suddenly turned serious.

"Let this matter end here. In the future, Willard will inherit my title, and you will swear fealty to him. Too many rumors are not a good thing."

Sean was taken aback, then stood and gave Baron Torre a standard knight’s salute.

"I understand, my Lord!"

Baron Torre watched the Knight leave, his eyes turning sinister.

The atmosphere in the study gradually grew heavy.

After a long moment, the Baron asked in a low voice, "Phoebe, do you think Sean’s words are credible?"

The maid standing to the side nearly had her heart stop. Her panicked body trembled, and she lowered her head.

"My Lord, I... I don’t know!"

"Heh heh!"

Baron Torre stood up and walked straight to the maid. "No matter. I’ll just have to verify it on you."

He suddenly swept the maid into his arms and walked toward the bedroom behind him.

The maid immediately shrieked in panic, but Torre’s large hand clamped around her throat.

"Scream again and I’ll kill you!"

His vicious glare and the suffocating aura he exuded, like that of a savage tiger, terrified the maid into a stupor.

She could only let the Baron throw her onto the bed, strip her of her clothes, and forcibly take her.

This kind of scene had occurred often before Selena’s arrival, but Baron Torre had never before targeted someone so close to him.

This time, it was purely because Phoebe hadn’t left the study in time and had overheard what Sean said.

That was why Baron Torre was conducting his so-called experiment.

If Phoebe truly became pregnant, it would prove that Willard could possibly be his child.

After Phoebe gave birth, he could just swap her child with Willard and then execute the maid.

If Phoebe did not become pregnant, it would prove that his suspicions and what Sean had just said were true. Selena and Brison would not live.

Of course, Phoebe still wouldn’t live.

Meanwhile, in another room in the castle, Selena was coaxing her baby to sleep. Her eyes were full of adoration, but a hidden worry lurked in their depths.

The situation had been growing more and more precarious lately.

Baron Torre’s suspicion had deepened, and his tone with her was no longer as polite as it had been right after Willard was born.

More importantly, he had sent Brison away from the castle on a mission.

He was sent to a town on the border of the Baron’s Territory, supposedly to suppress some robbers there.

She didn’t know if this was true, but it was a fact that it was now difficult for Brison to enter the castle.

She had no confidants around her and found it difficult to get a message out. For a moment, her mind was a tangled mess.

「Meanwhile, at Flowing Silver Fjord.」

Two cargo ships were crossing the fjord, heading north and approaching Scorching Wind Territory.

On the bow, Heck was quietly explaining to Duane, "That’s the coastline of Scorching Wind Territory over there. Baron Torre’s Territory is to the southwest of the port, guarding a crucial pass."

Duane could see from the map that Torre Courtney was supposed to be the first line of defense against the Nobility from the South.

Speaking of which, Viscount Freddy was able to "settle" in the Starfall Islands because the Regent King of the Akutas Kingdom, Howard, had intentionally arranged it to check the power of Duke Star Sea.

"If I go ashore here and head west, I should reach Baron Torre’s Territory, right?"

Heck nodded hesitantly. "That should be about right. Even if it’s a bit off, the deviation shouldn’t be much."

"Alright, I’ll get off here." With that, Duane put away the map.

"Here?"

Heck looked at the coastline and said with some embarrassment, "My Lord, I haven’t surveyed this area, but we probably can’t dock the ship here."

At first glance, the coast here had no suitable place to moor. If they ran aground, he wouldn’t even be able to find people to help pull the ship free.

"Don’t worry about me. Stay in Scorching Wind Territory for a few extra days this time. If all else fails, just bring the ship here, drop anchor, and wait for a while. I’ll contact you."

"Yes!" Heck replied, though he was puzzled.

’They were at least five or six hundred meters from the shore. How was the Lord planning to get ashore?’

Then he saw Duane begin to use the Fog Condensation Technique.

The area was rich in the Water Element, making the spell relatively quick to cast. Combined with Duane’s high Skill Level, a thick fog was generated out of nowhere in an instant.

"What’s going on?"

"Why did such a thick fog suddenly appear?"

"Damn it, I can’t see which way we’re going!"

The dense fog made the sailors and crew nervous, and they quickly followed emergency procedures to reduce the ship’s speed.

"Quick, stop the ship and drop anchor!" Heck yelled. "Wait for the fog to clear!"

Everyone scrambled into action.

Duane smiled faintly, leaped from the ship, and vanished through the thick fog.

’If I used Fighting Qi to assist the jump, it would probably damage the ship’s hull.’

Therefore, he didn’t use his full strength for this jump and couldn’t fly across such a great distance.

However, just as he was about to fall into the sea mid-flight, he used the Magic, "Water Flow Manipulation," and had the currents carry him toward the shore.

Soon, he landed smoothly and ducked into the jungle.

When the fog dissipated, everyone was baffled, and many cursed the fog for being so strange.

Only Heck stared blankly, his gaze sweeping over the sea and the shore. Where was Duane’s figure now?