225: Chapter 133, Coal Mine_2 225: Chapter 133, Coal Mine_2 We all know well the depth of the grudges between us and the Nobles of the South.

This kind of hatred certainly cannot be resolved overnight.

I believe we’ve all had dealings with the Native nobles, and we’re all aware of the outcomes of those interactions.

If the southern nobles were willing to accept us, the situation would certainly not have developed to this point.

Even if there are traitors, they must have defected to the Dalton Family.

Even though the Mountain Domain is slightly more powerful among us barons, it isn’t powerful enough for us all to feel the need to defect there.”

Said Baron Carvo with a chuckle.

As his ally, he must present himself at times like this.

If Baron Katelai is out of the game, the fragile balance will be broken.

As a minority group that was already at a disadvantage, their influence within the Alliance will dwindle even more.

“Baron Carvo makes a valid point.

Although the title of the Mountain Baron holds weight, his origins are ultimately too low.

Among those seated here, whose family backing is not stronger than the Koslow Family?

As dispirited adult children of minor noble clans, Hudson has reached the limit of his tormenting.

Though he’s touted by the outside world as the most likely candidate for Prefectural Governor, we all know he stands no chance.

Even if Hudson has a thousand virtues, it’s no match for nobody in the capital!

We all understand Baron Katelai’s character well.

How can he possibly choose to throw in his lot with a drained baron like that?”

The blatant innuendo in Baron Lino’s words seems to leave out Baron West.

Yet each word is a direct jab at him.

While criticizing Hudson on the surface, he’s launching a vicious attack on Baron West.

As the son of a Grand Duke, he can hardly suppress a Baron’s son.

The situation itself is a joke.

Though Baron Lino does sneak in some disparagement of everyone else, no one cares.

Deep down, everyone has their own reasoning – they respect the Felix Family, and don’t want to cause trouble for their clans, that’s why they’re being oppressed by Baron West.

Amid the ridicule, only Baron Lino himself knows the bitterness of it.

‘No one in the capital’, though seemingly referring to Hudson, turns out to be about himself, too.

Ever since he found out that the position of Prefectural Governor had been predetermined, Baron Lino became depressed.

Now being dragged down by his ally, he’s simply had a full-blown meltdown.

“Enough!

If you all want to make a fuss, then go ahead and make a fuss!

Whoever causes the trouble should take responsibility for it.

There better not be any thoughts of dragging the Alliance into it if things go wrong.

We can’t bear the brunt of such a scandal, nor are we obligated to do so for certain ambitious individuals!”

After he finished speaking, Baron West left abruptly, seemingly upset to the point of disregarding his status as a leader.

However, the faint hint of amusement in his words exposes his real thoughts.

The outcome is not decided until the very end.

The only certainty now is that the trouble has seriously escalated.

It’s just a matter of time before the Governor’s Mansion intervenes.

To settle the situation smoothly, someone must be made accountable.

As the leader among the Northern Nobles, if things go by the book, Baron West would undoubtedly bear the blame.

Unwilling to take the fall for his subordinates, he is bound to take action.

Even without this lit fuse, other excuses would have arisen.

…

In the Mountain Domain, Hudson felt nothing but disappointment upon hearing about the internal split among the northern nobles, rather than any delight.

Though it seems the schism greatly impacts Baron West, even tremendous damage is better than carrying the can for allies.

The charge of ‘robbing merchants’ isn’t huge; as long as one is careful not to offend the wrong people, it’s not much of a concern for nobles.

As long as you don’t care about your reputation, even if you are caught, you can just pay a sum of money to settle the matter.

It won’t cost a noble his life.

But for Baron West, who’s competing for the post of Prefectural Governor, this stain could pull him off his horse.

The king will never appoint someone with a previous offense of robbing merchants to rule a prefecture.

Even being the son of a Grand Duke won’t help.

The Alpha Kingdom can’t afford to lose face.

The regrettable thing is that Baron West acted too swiftly.

By the time Hudson paid attention to him, he had already given up the game, leaving no time to catch the man red-handed.

If it were an ordinary person, one could search for evidence.

Yet, when it involves the son of a Grand Duke, bringing it up might end up being buried without any consequences.

If a fatal blow doesn’t succeed, then the only option is to settle for the next best thing.

If not for Hudson joining forces with the native nobles, a few big merchants wouldn’t have been able to suppress the grand news of the ‘Merchant Looters.’

The suppression of the news might seem like covering up the truth for the Northern nobles, but it’s actually laying a trap, waiting for them to make bigger mistakes.

According to the plan, at an unexpected moment, they would coincidentally loot something they shouldn’t, and face a thunderous blow.

It’s a shame that the biggest fish in the net swam away before the trap was fully set, leaving behind only small fish and shrimps.

Hudson has never been interested in nabbing small fish.

With West slipping away, the entire plan feels like eating chicken ribs for him – a shame to waste but not worthy enough to eat.

Having no time to waste on these “chicken ribs”, Hudson’s attention turned back to his domain development.

The tasks for the second half of the year were extremely heavy, as progress delayed by the locust plague needed to be compensated.

The hill region’s development was in no way different from before.

To attain the better lives promised in the “pie in the sky”, the domain people are working with all their might.

The most advanced farming equipment, plenty of livestock, and an adequate supply of goods all ensure the success of the land development efforts.