Defying the Fate of Beheading-Chapter 493 - 275: I Am Naturally Greedy_2

"Today’s sudden letter must have left you puzzled as well."

"But the recent inexplicable incidents in the Western Plains have prompted the Williams Family to hope for a face-to-face communication with you about this matter."

"If you have the time, I will personally visit your residence tomorrow to provide a detailed explanation."

Olivia curiously asked:

"Do you have any contact with that boy Joseph?"

Louis shook his head and said:

"At least under the identity of Mayer, there’s not much contact, but I did tell him to recommend Mayer to meet him when there’s time."

He pondered briefly.

Obviously, some anomalies had been detected within Tunisia.

The Williams Family, being an established power in Tunisia, was evidently privy to related secretive information from the upper echelons.

However, Louis found it hard to imagine what matter over there would require a merchant like him to resolve?

He thought for a moment, and the bored little swan had already filled his inkwell, handing him the quill pen and saying:

"Are you going to promise him?"

"It’s hard to say, but I have to go and see what their strategy is, right?"

The little swan pondered:

"Tunisia’s intelligence agency is still quite outstanding, leaving a renowned reputation in the past as well."

"Perhaps they have already detected the unrest on the Giant Plain."

Louis was also suspicious that it was related to this matter.

"Just hoping they won’t really see me as a fool over there."

...

Day 2.

Joseph Williams arrived as scheduled.

Louis, wearing a clown mask, entertained him in the reception room.

"Mr. Mayer, I sincerely apologize for this sudden disturbance."

Louis smiled and said:

"Not at all. I am very pleased with this estate, and it was no small task for you to secure the purchase rights from other nobles. I truly appreciate your effort."

Sometimes, money alone cannot buy the desired items.

Having the proper purchase channels is what matters.

Of course, if the price Louis offered was high enough—so high that others couldn’t refuse—that would be another matter.

But he was indeed the Sin of Greed.

How could he easily become a fool for someone else?

Hence, the assistance from the Williams Family played a crucial role.

Joseph Williams sighed and said: 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Thank you for acknowledging our family, but I’m not sure if Mayer Commerce Association has recently received any news from other regions."

"For instance... whether the Giant Demon Tribe is significantly increasing its external grain purchases?"

Louis squinted and said:

"We indeed haven’t made a specific inquiry into this matter."

—This was a lie.

Upon suspecting a disturbance on the Giant Plain, Louis had unhesitatingly mobilized Mayer Commerce Association’s intelligence network to investigate the surrounding logistics and transportation situations.

Although it was impossible to directly probe the convoys sending grain into the Giant Demon Tribe, from the surrounding countries’ average grain price fluctuations, it was evident that nearly all countries around the periphery of the Giant Plain experienced a slight increase in grain prices.

This year was not a disaster year.

In fact, thanks to favorable weather, overall grain production had significantly increased.

A slight price drop would be reasonable.

But collectively rising prices in the surrounding countries did not seem right.

Of course.

Compiling such subtle data takes time.

And requires collaboration from peers.

Although the Tunisian Republic could potentially investigate such data, their influence in the commercial realm was indeed not as strong as that of Mayer Commerce Association.

Joseph Williams hung his head and said:

"Please assist in investigating the related situation. If there’s a perplexing rising trend among the countries today, kindly dispatch someone to inform us immediately."

"I also have other significant information."

Louis slightly curled the corners of his mouth:

"Is it you personally, not the Williams Family, who will be paying the reward?"

Joseph started slightly, then solemnly said:

"That’s correct, because my father and I hold differing opinions."

"There aren’t many I can rely on, and among those with such abilities, only you are left."

Louis put down the teacup in his hand and said:

"Can you tell me, what judgment have you made, and what conclusion are you hoping to draw from my intelligence?"

Joseph pondered for a moment before finally saying:

"Please allow me to introduce my current situation."

"In recent days, I graduated from the Royal Knight Academy and successfully entered the border Knight Order for an internship."

"The Williams Family has never lacked Knights throughout its generations."

"My elder sister also serves in the border Knight Order."

"Yet, recently, she discovered that the members of the Giant Demon Tribe invading the border seem to be rotating frequently; it’s been less than a month, and she hasn’t seen any familiar faces anymore."

"This matter intrigues me greatly."

Louis’ lips twitched slightly:

"Your elder sister can distinguish the appearances of the giant demons."

This is just like if you were to line up several Nies, only exposing their faces, there wouldn’t be many that leave an impression upon a quick glance.

Let alone the giant demons; crossing racial boundaries makes it even harder to distinguish appearances.

Joseph coughed and said:

"My brother-in-law once lost an arm fighting the giant demons, so thereafter, my elder sister developed a habit of decapitating the enemy and making trophies."

"Perhaps seeing many trophies, she also learned how to differentiate their appearances."

Louis was momentarily at a loss for words, and finally could only say:

"Your elder sister truly embodies the courage inherited from Tunisia through the ages."

The two exchanged glances and ultimately bowed their heads silently.

It was Louis who broke the subtle atmosphere:

"For border forces, frequent personnel changes are indeed uncommon."

Joseph nodded and said:

"Giant demons are not a race devoid of discipline like the kobolds; they have a strict internal order."

"Though their ecology vastly differs from that of humans, such easy personnel changes surely do not occur."

"Their combat squads consist of fixed members who have cooperated over long periods."

"This rotation implies significant unrest within the Giant Demon Tribe."

"Yet their border troops remain orderly, indicating there is someone with strong control over the tribe internally."

"I also inquired about recent grain price data from various major commerce associations in Tunisia, discovering that grain prices began a slight increase a month ago."

"And there are secret channels through which grain is being sent out of the country."

At this point, Louis didn’t say anything but only asked:

"What can you offer in return?"

Joseph calmly said:

"Everything I can offer at the moment."

Louis, surprised, asked:

"Are you sure? You are the next heir of the Williams Family."

Joseph shook his head and said:

"It has nothing to do with being an heir; I’m a Tunisian. I will not allow my country to be unwarrantedly dragged into war with the giant demons."

Louis laughed and said, "What if the other side insists on starting a war?"

Joseph slightly smirked, "The Giant Demon Tribe has shown no intention of initiating war in recent years. This is what I’ve been researching at the Royal Knight Academy over the years."

"So I just need to eliminate the individual who proposed the idea."

Louis burst out laughing:

"You intend to use the final weapon."

In an IF line from the Diary of Greed, Tunisia, before being trampled by the Giant Demon Tribe, deployed an unknown weapon towards the surrounding countries.

This eventually led to a large regional conflict.

Under relevant contents, a small note was mentioned.

It is said that within several prominent families in the Tunisian Republic, they also hide a one-time small-scale unknown weapon.

Although Louis did not know the specific effects of that weapon, he at least knew one thing: if the few families in Tunisia were ever truly desperate, they were indeed likely to use that high-risk weapon.

But he never expected that Joseph Williams, who was specifically mentioned in that future diary, would be bold enough to play a direct decapitation game.

Without this thing, the Williams Family’s strategic deterrence against other families of the same level in the Empire would decrease significantly.

If it was merely for maintaining family interests, such a choice would undoubtedly be a failure.

But from the perspective of the Tunisian Republic, this would be greatly beneficial.

In recent years, the magic industry has relatively developed, yet they extremely lack civil industry.

Because of cooperation with the Ense Empire, the entire Tunisia has been revitalized.

What they need most now is time; the longer they can drag out time, the more stable the originally turbulent situation becomes.

The final weapon is unlikely to destroy the enemy’s core military force.

But if it’s merely to kill a single giant demon, it’s truly achievable.

—Even if that giant demon is the King of Fury.

Hence, Louis laughed and said:

"I accept your resolve, but I don’t intend to ask for reward, or rather...what I want isn’t something tangible."

He looked at Joseph and said:

"By nature, I am greedy. I prefer the fruits of your growth to mere money."

"Joseph, I want a promise from you."