221: Chapter 132: Be Cautious with Investments_1 221: Chapter 132: Be Cautious with Investments_1 Coming out of the Governor’s Mansion, Hudson’s mind was buzzing.

It was hard to determine whether this trade was a win or a loss.

One has to admit that Earl Piers was a seasoned political player, he had attacked Hudson right where he was vulnerable.

Maybe for Hudson personally, there was no substantial difference between a baron and a viscount; merely changing a title didn’t bring substantial benefits.

But for others, the gap between a viscount and a baron was an insurmountable divide, representing a leap in social class.

In the eyes of the world, crossing that divide was seen as entering the threshold of the intermediate aristocracy, after which all that was needed was time to accumulate.

If it weren’t for the dust not having settled yet, and the news not having spread, the Koslow family would have been celebrating in full force.

Presumably, all the branch heads nationwide would come over personally to participate in the festivities.

…

Unaware of the developing trouble, Baron Caryo, who was busying himself with territorial affairs, was summoned to the Governor’s Mansion by the family knight.

Seeing the group of trusted servants kneeling in the grand hall, Baron Caryo was completely dumbfounded.

Before he could react, Earl Piers’ whip was coming for him.

Caryo was lucky enough that his father was already dead, else it would have been a double beating.

It wasn’t until his flesh was torn and he had fallen to the ground howling that Earl Piers managed to suppress his rage.

Caryo knew without needing further explanation that his incompetent subordinates had definitely betrayed him.

What he couldn’t understand was why such a trivial matter would incense his uncle to such an extent.

“You bastard, tell me honestly, how much have you meddled in this situation?”

Faced with Earl Piers’ inquiry, Caryo’s mind was a complete mess.

“Meddled how much”?

What the hell did that mean?

It seemed that apart from dropping a few bottles of Locust Lure Potion in the counties of Layton and Wharton, he hadn’t done anything else recently, had he?

“Still not admitting it, look at what this is?”

In the midst of his speech, an unremarkable little bottle flew from Earl Piers’ hand and landed steadily in front of Baron Caryo.

Looking at the familiar potion in front of him, Baron Caryo felt increasingly irked by the useless servants around him.

The potion meant to trick others had appeared untouched here, wasn’t this a blatant act of betrayal?

No wonder he had been caught without hearing a word of this beforehand, apparently leaked by a mole.

“Uncle, I had also planned to discuss this matter with you.

At that time, you were busy organizing manpower to suppress the locust plague, and I had no opportunity to communicate with you separately, so…”

Before Baron Caryo could finish explaining, Earl Piers became even angrier and, trembling, cursed him:

“You fool, you want to destroy our family!”

Seeing this, Baron Caryo became even more baffled.

How could spreading a few bottles of Locust Lure Potion escalate to the point of harming the family?

If the Dalton Family were so fragile, they would have long been devoured by now, rather than having the brilliance they have today.

“Uncle, this is a misunderstanding!

How would I…”

Before Caryo could explain further, Earl Piers’ whip came flying for him again, and his disappointment in Caryo seemingly turned him into a man-eater.

“Misunderstanding my ass!

Colluding with the clergy and spreading the locust lure potion in the Southeastern Province.

You dare to do such life-threatening crimes.

Is there anything you wouldn’t dare to do?

Today I won’t…”

Once he figured out what transpired, Baron Caryo was choked with emotions.

“Colluding with the clergy” was a crime punishable by death.

Although there was no explicit provision in the kingdom’s law, among the nobles, there was an unwritten rule— not to join forces with the clergy.

Facing such charges, not only would he not be able to continue living in the Alpha Kingdom, but there wouldn’t also be a place for him in more than 90% of the human kingdoms.

Even a powerful force like the Dalton Family, once proven to be colluding with the clergy, would have no place to stand in the kingdom.

“Uncle, I was wronged!

I have no relationship with the clergy!

As per your instructions, I have always been respectful but distant with the members of the clergy.

I have rarely spoken to them, so how could I have colluded with them?

…”

Baron Caryo hurriedly explained.

Now he was really scared.

Just for spreading the Locust Lure Potion in the two counties, he might have been able to handle it with the power of his family, but if this was related to collusion with the clergy, then he was truly doomed.

Upon hearing his nephew’s explanation, Earl Piers, who had initially misunderstood, looked much better, but his anger was still raging.

“Fool!

You can’t even handle this little matter.

You have been in the Capital for so many years but have not improved.

Now that someone has found proof and is at your doorstep, you are still clueless.

How did I not notice what a useless person you are?

…”

Not being discovered while doing evil things was not a crime, but being caught while doing them was a grave sin.

As a noble, one needed to maintain a bright and handsome appearance.

Dark methods should only be used under the table.

Now that Baron Caryo had been caught, even if the crime of collusion with the clergy was not as serious, it was still an indelible mark on his life.

Once it broke out, not only would Baron Caryo be ruined, but the Dalton Family would also be shamed.

In the face of chastisement from his uncle, Caryo was also on the verge of tears.

He had been very careful, and to hide his own identity, he didn’t even send his own people to do it.

Afterward, he had also silenced those unfortunate hired hands.

The plan could be described as perfect, but unfortunately, he still couldn’t prevent this disaster from happening.