King
Chapter 168 - 168 114 Foe or Friend in an Instant_2

168: Chapter 114, Foe or Friend in an Instant_2 168: Chapter 114, Foe or Friend in an Instant_2 Profound family heritage and extraordinary knowledge do not necessarily translate into a competitive edge in real-world practices.

“Your analysis is quite commendable.

It seems that your days in the Capital were not wasted, and you have picked up some wisdom from those old foxes.

As a major noble, our situation is different from that of lesser nobles.

They are limited in resources and have no choice but to continually strive, fight, and venture.

Even if they have succeeded countless times before, as long as their foundation is shaky, a single failure can revert everything they have gained back to zero.

You are well-read in history, countless geniuses throughout ages have fallen midway, while some less intelligent ones managed to make it until the end.

The main reason is that they are too clever.

What’s gained through calculations too easily will gradually lead one to lose oneself, with the misconception of being able to calculate everything.

The present situation in both counties is the same way.

Those who seem powerful for their schemes are in fact destined to be eliminated, such as Baron Ezekiel.

His organizational capacity and the ability to control human hearts are strong.

In a different time and place, he might have been able to stir up a storm, but unfortunately, he has the misfortune to encounter a group of power-worshipping nobles of the North.

He has gained a bunch of fame, but the question is whether you can tolerate his rise, or would the Mountain Baron leave any opportunity for him?

The fierce competitors block the way forward.

Fame is just that—fame.

Fame that cannot be converted into real strength is in fact worthless.

And then there is Baron Katelai, whose records if traced back, you would find him more formidable than them all.

His notorious name even appears on the wanted list of the Orc Empire.

But what’s the final result?

He ran into an opponent with just dumb luck.

Every single one of his calculations is laying a smooth path for others.

Of course, what we see may not necessarily be true; it could also be what they want us to see.

All seem to showcase their capabilities, but they all lean to one side.

Even when pursuing interests, they cleverly grab just a handful and then disappear.

All leaning to one side, aren’t there any balanced ones?

A single coincidence may be just that, but a collection of coincidences implies a conspiracy behind the scenes.

Temporary success or failure does not define everything.

Many things that seem simple to us might also involve countless calculations behind the scenes.

At least, I don’t believe that young Hudson’s rise relies solely on luck.

If it’s truly luck, Katelai would have only been fooled a couple of times, not keep delivering himself to be manipulated.

Perhaps he himself was unaware of being manipulated.

After all, one doesn’t need to target the person directly, achieving the purpose by starting with those close to him works equally well.

It’s hard to fool a smart person, but fooling a bunch of fools is quite simple.

It happens that these lesser and middle-ranked nobles always have a group of fools following them.

Unlike those noble children from the North, whose armies are truly elite, those elite teachers under our divine archery knight were hyped up in the beginning.

What surprises me is, after everyone hyped it for a long period, those mobs under his command truly became elite.

Once the second Thousand-man Infantry Corps is formed and trained, the military strength of the Mountain Domain will surpass Dardiel City, instantly becoming the most militarily powerful noble of the two counties.

The other nobles can only envy.

Even if they wish to exhaust their soldiers and wars, none of their territories could afford two infantry corps.

This cannot be achieved solely relying on good fortune.

If it were not that the Koslow family is too weak to provide him with much support, Baron West would have collapsed early.”

Earl Piers said coldly.

Those that are involved get confused while spectators see it clearly.

From Earl Piers’ position, many things no longer require evidence, just doing a reverse reasoning based on the outcome would get the answer.

No matter how you try to hide it, the final result can’t be covered up.

“Given that, why didn’t uncle take action to stop it?

Just a single obstruction from you would prevent the Mountain Domain from developing.

Or even just by releasing a hint, his creditors would give him a hard time.”

Caryo asked doubtfully.

“No, you’re wrong!

It’s not that I didn’t want to obstruct him, but that I couldn’t.

Even though I don’t like the lucky lad, the Dalton family currently needs a strong Mountain Baron.

However powerful Hudson is, he is still just the son of a Baron.

He could only rely on himself, having struggled to this point, the support from the clan is already negligible.

Relying solely on his strength, the Salam Mountain Range is plenty to preoccupy him for many years, and it poses no threat to us whatsoever.

But Baron West has a Grand Duke as a father.

Even a tiny bit of resource leakage would enable him to secure a foothold in Layton County.

The strength of the Felix family is far greater than ours.

Having this thorn in our backyard keeps me restless night and day.

Things are more complicated than you see.

The seemingly fiercely contested position of Governor of Layton County has actually been decided early on in the Capital.

The governorship of Layton County has been designated to Baron West.

Regardless of how hard Hudson strives, the final outcome has already been determined.

Not making it public is simply because Grand Duke Cavadia wants to forge his son, and deliberately let them fight.

If there is no one to contain him, and Layton County falls into the hands of the Felix family, what if the situation changes in the future and the Dalton family is thwarted?

Who could assure that they wouldn’t turn the tables and seize our ancestral properties?”