The Lord Of Blood Hill

Chapter 610: I Won’t Make You Take the Blame

The bottle of poison Simon gave Howell is actually a false-death potion.In Simon and the others' plan, Howell has two choices.

One is to muster his courage, drink the poison, and kill himself. Then, one day later, he will wake up in the morgue and escape alone.

The other is what happens now. In hysterical retaliation, he uses that bottle of poison to kill Adina, then takes the opportunity to escape the manor.

In that case, Adina can smoothly escape through a false death, and Howell's reputation among his old subordinates in Saltwater Town will also be ruined.

Of course, if Howell chooses the first option, Adina can still escape as well.

Afterward, excessive grief leads to illness, and mother and child die one after another. That excuse is also reasonable enough.

What if Howell is ruthless and uses another poison, or simply kills Adina and her child directly?

Of course, that will not happen. The seemingly ordinary maid beside Adina is actually a Battle Knight rank shadow assassin.

With her there, they cannot kill Adina silently.

In addition, among Howell's loyal guards, there are actually undercover agents. They are still fleeing with Howell now.

This is a complicated and rigorous plan, from the beginning of execution to its temporary conclusion now.

Several groups of people, dozens of professionals, are secretly monitoring how the situation develops.

In the end, the psychological analysts of the Military Intelligence Office successfully judged Howell's actions.

Everything is proceeding exactly according to plan.

At the same time, Henwell, in Rainze City in Peace Haven's southern region, receives a secret report from the Military Intelligence Office.

After reading it, Henwell looks around at the senior commanders.

"Who did this? Did I not say it already? If Howell needs to be killed, then kill him. This is something I promised that girl."

"How did this turn into this mess? No one else is a fool. Everyone knows I am playing tricks. This cannot be hidden from many people."

Chick steps forward. "My lord, I made this decision on my own. Howell being alive is very valuable to us."

"He has great fame inside Ogiro, and he also holds leverage over many Ogiro dignitaries."

"During his years as a petty self-made king, he accumulated a great deal of wealth, and a considerable portion of it was hidden away by him."

"He has already grown used to a life of fine clothes and food. If he were asked to start over in a foreign land, he would absolutely not choose that."

"According to our intelligence, he has already opened one secret treasure cache."

"He is preparing to buy the title of a minor lord, or a knighthood, in Ogiro."

"You should know that Ogiro lost many nobles during this war, and their finances have also fallen into crisis."

"Diversion Bay has already begun selling noble titles. Background checks for this kind of minor title are not thorough."

"Howell has also made preparations, so there is a high chance he can get through."

"Moreover, our people will secretly help improve his new identity."

"We will not let Ogiro's Noble Council, or even Howell himself, notice anything abnormal."

"In addition, Howell truly is not a fool. He prepared a way out long ago."

"He spent a heavy sum preparing an appearance-altering extraordinary potion, and he bought it from us."

"However, this matter was indeed my arbitrary decision. I planned it behind your back, my lord. I am willing to accept punishment for that."

After saying this, Chick draws his longsword and chops toward his own left hand.

Henwell flicks his thumb. The longsword at his waist springs out, and the hilt strikes Chick's wrist, knocking the longsword from his hand.

Then Henwell glares at Chick. "What are you doing? Now that the matter has already been done, the point is not who to punish, but to do it well."

"As for your punishment, we will deal with it afterward. For now, bring me the entire plan. I want to see what you prepared."

Chick has already prepared it. When he presents the documents, he also returns Henwell's sword.

As Henwell reviews the plan, Chick continues explaining.

"After a person like him has tasted power, he will absolutely never again be an ordinary minor noble."

"If he rebels again, the disturbance will definitely be even greater than before."

"After all, he was the King of Justice for several years, and he is also about to break through to Battle Knight."

"He has more than a dozen loyal knights by his side, and he also secretly trained at least two hundred elite warriors in Ogiro."

"Including his hidden wealth and military equipment, his situation is far better than when he first rebelled and fought Ogiro noble private armies with pitchforks."

"His command ability and military training are not worth much on the continent."

"But over the past year or so, he has still learned a little from our people."

"Even if it is only the surface, that is enough to turn those chaotic bandits of his into something that resembles an army."

"Also, my lord, you once said this is an age of worse and worse choices."

"Howell is not a top talent, but his future opponents, those nobles and their private armies, are even more useless."

"As long as Howell is allowed to rise again, he will be much more difficult to deal with than before."

"At a suitable time, he can once again win us an opportunity."

After Henwell finishes reading the plan, he frowns.

"You only arranged candidates who will force him to rebel again at the critical moment. That is clearly not enough."

"Personally select someone with a personality that clashes with his, someone who looks down on his kind of purchased noble title."

"Have that person bully him from time to time, but do not push him into a corner. Let him remain under pressure."

"Only this way, when the critical moment comes and we give him one push, can we use anger to activate the ambition in his heart again."

Chick says that he will handle it immediately. This matter is not too difficult.

Henwell hands the plan back. "Ah. Speaking of it, I broke faith with that girl this time. Make sure to protect her safety."

"After she reaches Peace Haven, first settle her in Blood Hill Manor. I will personally meet her and apologize to her face."

Chick says, "My lord, this was our private decision. It has nothing to do with you. You can simply punish us. There is no need..."

Henwell raises a hand and cuts him off. "No more useless words."

"I own what I do. You are officials under me, and you represent my will."

"Since this matter was done, as the leader, I have the responsibility to bear the scolding."

"I have not fallen so low that I would make you take the blame for me. All right, you do not need to manage this matter anymore."

"Dalton."

"Arrange a Lord Iron Guards squad to go to Tatan City and protect that mother and child."

"After the war settles, escort them safely to Peace Haven."

"Find people who are clever and reliable. Do not send a few blunt instruments over."

Dalton, commander of the Lord Iron Guards, nods and accepts the order, saying that he will arrange it properly.

After the meeting disperses, Henwell sits at his desk and thinks for a long time.

Then he lightly taps the table with a steady rhythm.

A moment later, a figure slowly emerges from a shadowed corner and bows to Henwell.

Henwell speaks. "Kleios, go investigate what exactly happened with Howell."

"In addition, place a set of ears and eyes inside the Military Intelligence Office."

"In the future, major matters like this must be reported to me. This kind of act-first-and-report-afterward situation cannot happen again."

After hearing this, Kleios nods gently, then retreats back into the darkness.