Edge of the Apocalypse
Chapter 552: Trust

It would be several days before he returned to Ark Harbor. Sitting in the carriage, Alan lifted the curtains and looked out. This time, there were no welcoming processions, no flying colored flags, and no welcoming people. All Alan saw was a faint sadness hidden in a corner, deep in the expressions of the people, or in the dim sunlight. Even the people walking on the streets seemed to be walking lighter than usual, as if they were afraid of disturbing someone.

"Looks like the Count's situation isn't optimistic."

Sitting on the other side of Alan, Lucy withdrew her gaze from the window. Then he looked at Alan and said, "What are you going to do?"

"Keep my promise." Alan said without thinking.

Next to Lucy, Adele said disapprovingly, "Do you really think of Ouban as a friend? Don't forget our identities. The situation is very favorable for us. You should control his eldest son. Take over Ouban's inheritance and territory from behind the scenes. With Daniel's territory, we'll have a better start."

'"I know my ident. I.ty very well, and I know the situation now. But sometimes, Adele, there are some things that cannot always be done first. Since I have promised Orban, I will not go back on my word. This is the minimum moral obligation to a dying man." Alan lowered his eyes and his gaze fell on his knees.

Adele shrugged her shoulders and said, "Well, morality. I have a suggestion for what you men always say. You are the head, of course you decide what you do."

"After meeting Ou Ban, we will go back to Storm City and probably return to Earth once more. Right now, this place has basically stabilized. Next, we need to consolidate and develop. Only then will we have the strength to continue northward and further expand our territory. I would like to take this opportunity to return and make preparations for the exchange of goods between the two places. A regular route protected by the Federation must be confirmed. There are also some business partners. Perhaps Leon can help with that, "said Alan with a smile."

Adele rolled her eyes and said, "I hope that fellow doesn't lose his life in the surface war."

"I won't." Alan was confident in Leon.

At this moment, the carriage entered White Castle and stopped in front of the square. Alan tidied up his mood, tidied up his clothes, and got out of the carriage. Lucy and Adele followed behind him, and Mace, the butler who had been waiting for a long time, hurriedly greeted him, "Lord Allen, you are finally here."

Alan nodded and asked in a deep voice, "How is the count?"

Mace smiled bitterly, "It's getting worse. Ah, we've already called the best doctors, including the master you sent. But the count's condition is still not improving, and it's getting worse every day. The count is in his bedroom, and today he wants to make his will official. I've specially invited a few witnesses, and you're the only one missing."

"Please lead the way."

Lucy and the guards were taken to rest in the other rooms of the castle, while Alan and Mace walked quickly through the corridors of the inner castle, which was enveloped in layers of gloomy clouds, and even the sunlight shining through the windows on the carpet was so pale. In the corridor outside the count's bedroom, a few chairs were set up temporarily for the visiting guests to rest. When Alan arrived, there were already several people sitting outside the corridor.

Among them were the eldest son of the count, Gills, the viscount, the wife of the count, and Jorah's relatives. Seeing Alan, Jorah welcomed him first. She had an unconcealable look of exhaustion on her face. Her hair was not as bright as before, and her eyes were full of red lines. It seemed that all the hard work he had done to look after the count had been written on his face these past few days. Ruo La nodded and said, "Here you are. Big brother is waiting for you."

Alan nodded. Mace had already entered the bedroom to report. A moment later, he walked out and whispered, "Lord Allen, the count invites you in."

Hearing this, the expressions of the people in the corridor were different. Grar lowered his head to conceal the resentment in his eyes. Gills looked a little anxious, but his mother lowered her head and wept. Allen pushed open the bedroom door under a meaningful gaze. A pungent smell of medicine, a faint stench of blood, and other smells of air gushed out. This room was deathly lifeless. The eyes of the god of death had already gazed at this place, and even the air had lost its vitality.

The bedroom was covered with a dark red carpet, which normally looked noble, but now it gave off an undeniable sense of gravity. Introduction is a set of resting sofa sets, decorated with rose patterns for the elegant wallpaper has been extended into the depths of the room. After a group of distinctly oriental partitions, Allen saw a large bed with a bracket plated with luxurious gold. The bed was covered with snow-white trousers, and on both sides were yarns that had been put away. Count Orban was sitting on the bed, crafting a soft pillow on his back. He seemed to be in good spirits today, flipping through a book of poetry with one hand and laying flat on the edge of the bed with the other. Baggins was giving him an injection, and the two maids beside him were acting as nurses, changing the bandages on Oban's chest with water.

As soon as the almost black bandages entered the clear water, they immediately turned into a depressing dark red blood stun, causing Allen's chest to feel uncomfortable as if it was blocked by something. It was quiet in the bedroom. Whether it was Baggins or the maids, their movements were light. Only the count's heavy breathing sounded like a leaking bellows, and it sounded like every breath of the count was so strenuous.

Hearing the commotion, the count raised his head. With a forced smile on his golden face, Ou Ban said in a hoarse voice, "Here you are, friend."

He looked at Baggins and said, "Master, I want to talk to Alan alone."

Baggins nodded, waved his hand and let the two maids carry their things down first, and then whispered to Ellen, "I just gave him an injection to refresh himself. But don't talk too long. The count still has a will to make, and it will consume a lot of his energy."

"I know."

When everyone got down, Alan walked to the bedside and brought a chair to sit down. Orban extended his hand towards him, and the count's palm trembled slightly, as if it were an old man who had been corroded by the wind. Ellen sighed in his heart and reached out to hold the count. Oban smiled and said, "I have always been proud to make friends with the world. I have a wide network of people and cover half of the empire. Although my territory is located to the south, far from the north, which is a prosperous political and commercial area, I believe that one day I will also stand in the Imperial Court. My Radley family will eventually become an influential family of the empire."

At this point, Ou Ban bitterly smiled and said, "But all of this, in the end, disappeared like a bubble in the sun."

Looking at the thin count on the bed, Allen felt slightly sad. Ou Ban did not achieve much in terms of personal strength, but he could be considered ambitious. But now, his ambition could only be depressed under the torment of his illness. It was truly lamentable.

"After I die, the Earls of Rackett and Kent will certainly take advantage of this opportunity to attack. These two fellows were nothing to worry about in the past. However, Giles was still too young. Ruo La's martial arts could be said to be reasonable, but she was still only a girl in the end. Moreover, the Marquis of Iron Spear had already replied, and Huo Yi said that he would finish the marriage as soon as possible. If he left, Giles would not be able to hold on to a single tree. There's also Glar, whom I was going to deal with after Daniel's war. However, he could not do so now. However, keeping him by Gills' side is always a hidden danger. "Oban shook his head and sighed. It wasn't hard to tell the internal and external troubles of the territory from his words.

Originally, Ou Ban had already made arrangements for these problems, but unfortunately, he did not have much time left, and many of his plans could not be implemented in time.

Alan patted the back of his hand and said, "I will do my best to help Earl Gills."

"Sir Allen, I've known who you are since the day you joined me," Oban said with a smile. Long Zeng told me to be on guard against you, because you are an ambitious person. One day when I can no longer accommodate your ambitions here, perhaps I will also become the object of your conquest. So I have some arrangements that I originally left for you. But I didn't expect that you would be the only one I can entrust to you. "

"If you want to take another step forward, Rhine will be an important bridge for you. But you can't trust him too much. My advice is to maintain a proper relationship of interest with Rhine, which is conducive to your career." Oban said seriously, "With your ability, the hereditary count is not a problem. I think the Marquis of the Empire is your real target. If you can step into the Saint realm, then the Empire will probably welcome a fifth Duke."

Mr. Allen declined to comment and just smiled. Orban had overestimated his ambitions, but Orban did not know his identity, so he did not know the blueprint in Allen's heart. The Bailey Empire was only a phased goal.

Ou Ban wanted to prop himself up, but Alan hurriedly helped him up. He smiled and said, "If you can come today, my spirits will be much better. Ellen, can you please go outside and call in the relevant people?"

Moments later, the people designated by Ou Ban entered the bedroom one after another. In addition to the people in the corridor, there was another clerk. Alan naturally gave the bedside seat to the clerk so that he could record it. The Count's wife pounced on the edge of the bed on the other side of Orban, holding the Count's hand and sobbing uncontrollably.

Oban wiped the tears off her face and whispered, "I have invited everyone here today to bear witness to me." I can't do it anymore, so I have to take advantage of the fact that I can still talk and arrange things for the future. Every decision I speak of is thoughtful and is not influenced by other third-party factors. Therefore, after my death, this will must be carried out and enforced. If anyone goes against it, I will entrust Sir Allen with a heavy punishment. Sir Allen will be the witness and defender of this will, and I grant him the right to defend its smooth execution. Force may be used where necessary. This is the first part of the will! "

Everyone looked at Alan in unison. No one expected Ou Ban to trust Alan so much.

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