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The warm glow of the crystal chandeliers illuminated the nave of the church.

Count Falco walked slowly into the hall, his steps muffled by the thick, pale yellow wool carpet beneath his feet.

By now, night had fallen deeply, leaving only one late-duty priest in the church.

“How may I assist you?”

“I’m looking for Archbishop Agani.”

The old priest immediately furrowed his brows, “I apologize, but it’s quite late. The Archbishop has retired for the night. You can come back tomorrow…”

“Count Falco.” The retired Archbishop appeared in the hall, greeting Count Falco, “Please, follow me.”

Count Falco gave an apologetic smile to the old priest and followed the retired Archbishop towards the back of the church.

During his mission to Winterfell City, his father, Marquis Dawson, had asked him to find a way to meet with Archbishop Agani.

Although Wells, that unreliable fellow, often acted foolishly, he did manage to establish a connection with the church’s leader in the North Territory. Now, as negotiations with the Hilde Family are deadlocked, the Dawson family prepared to try their luck with the church, hoping for a pleasant surprise.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

The retired Archbishop gently knocked on the door, and a lazy voice from inside replied, “Come in.”

“Count Falco, please.” The retired Archbishop gestured with a smile.

“Thank you, your Excellency!” Count Falco smiled at the retired Archbishop, then entered the room.

The room appeared to be a lounge for the Archbishop’s exclusive use. While not luxurious, it’s decor was delicate.

Upon entering, Falco saw the silhouette of Archbishop Agani. She stood silently by the window, staring at the distant, pitch-black night sky.

Perhaps because she wasn’t in a public setting, the Archbishop wasn’t in her clerical robes but a purple dress instead. The dark attire against her fair skin only accentuated her ethereal demeanor, like an angel descended to earth.

On the windowsill next to Agani was a crystal vase, half-filled with water and with purple irises that matched her dress.

The evening wind outside rustled the petals of the iris, spreading an intoxicating fragrance in the room.

“Good evening, Count Falco.”

Agani did not turn around, simply fiddled with the petals of the iris.

This mere silhouette alone was enough to quicken Count Falco’s heartbeat and left him parched.

He finally understood why his brother was so infatuated with this woman.

“Good evening, your Excellency! I apologize for coming so late; I hope I did not disturb your rest.”

Agani gestured towards a small round table in the room, softly saying, “Relax, have a seat, and a drink.”

Count Falco thanked her and took a seat at the table. He picked up a teacup and sipped lightly.

The bitter taste refreshed his spirits slightly. He noticed Agani staring out the window, lost in thought, and decided to continue the conversation.

“Your Excellency, I’ve come to see you on behalf of my father. He wanted to thank you for forwarding the information last time. Although Marquis Menam did not fall for the Hilde Family’s scheme, the Dawson Family appreciates your kind warning.”

“Is that so? The relationships between the Menam and Dawson families are indeed surprising.”

Because Agani had her back towards Count Falco, he couldn’t see her expression but nodded, replying:

“Rest assured. We, the Dwarf clan, have united towards our common goal for thousands of years. Simple provocations cannot easily divide our alliance.”

At this moment, faint noises could be heard from outside the window, and Agani’s expression became strikingly interesting.

Although Count Falco found the noises outside curious, it would be impolite to go to the window to satisfy his curiosity. So, he suppressed his curiosity momentarily, and continued, saying:

“Your Excellency, our negotiations with the Hilde Family have broken down. Therefore, I was wondering if you might be able to exert some pressure on the Hilde Family to facilitate the peace talks? In return, the Dawson Family is willing to support all your actions in the North Territory, including, um, the issue of the Northern Duke’s succession.”

Upon hearing this, Agani finally turned around.

Her immaculately carved, porcelain-like face held a faint smile. Her eyes, like shimmering autumnal water, were fixed on Count Falco, a hundred charms budding in her gaze.

Count Falco felt an unknown flame kindling in his belly, leaving him feeling punch-drunk and hardly able to contain himself.

“Count Falco, what do you think my stance might be on the issue of the Northern Duke’s succession?”

Agani’s lazy and slightly husky voice seemed to constantly stir Falco’s restless heart, like a feather tickling it.

“I…” Count Falco breathed heavily, his face flushed with embarrassment, and his eyes locked in on Agani. His gaze seemed as if he might subsume her completely.

“You what?” A purple whip suddenly twirled out of Agani’s right wrist, and with a swift motion, was snapped onto Count Falco’s shoulder.

“Ahh!”

Count Falco let out a painful scream.

He didn’t understand why Agani suddenly turned on him, but what struck him even more was that despite being a fourth-tier warrior, he couldn’t dodge an attack from a priest!

Everyone knows that a priest is a supporting profession, not known for battle skills.

Moreover, the whip’s speed wasn’t fast. Under normal circumstances, Falco was sure he could have evaded it.

However, now his legs felt as if they were filled with lead, his entire body burned like he was on fire, and his mind was filled with chaotic thoughts, leaving him unable to stay calm.

“Falco, what is it that you want to say?”

The smile on Agani’s face gradually grew sweeter, her voice as soft as a wife greeting her husband coming home. But simultaneously, she mercilessly swung her whip again, with a sharp smack, knocking Falco to the ground.

The tea must have been drugged!

Falco, at last, realized this, but his consciousness was on the brink of collapsing.

The Agani he saw had transformed from an angel into a devil, even though he didn’t know why she would do so.

The noise from outside the window was getting louder and accompanying it, flashes of fire gradually lit up, scattering the darkness that enveloped the earth.

Agani took one last look at the commotion outside the city, sheathed her whip, and leisurely walked towards the door.

When she reached the door, she placed one hand on the doorknob but turned to look at the writhing Falco on the floor, as if anticipating something.

Moments later, Falco finally lifted his head and let out an inhuman roar.

His eyes had turned completely red as if he had completely lost his sanity. When he saw Agani at the door, he abruptly lunged from the ground and pounced on her.

A smug, cold smirk emerged on Agani’s lips. She instantly tore the sleeve of her long dress to reveal her smooth white arm, swung the door open, rushed out and shrieked:

“Falco, what… what are you doing!”

“Falco, Sir Falco!”

Count Anka pounded on the door for a long time but received no response.

A startled patrol guard passed by and said, “Sir Falco has left.”

“Do you know where he went?”

“I’m sorry, I have no idea.”

Count Anka was feeling restless, uncertain of what to do.

He had been awakened by the noise outside the city. Winterfell City, built on a hill, and Lion Roar Castle at the summit provided a panoramic view of the fire at Dwarf Camp beyond the boundaries of the city.

Count Anka was clueless about what happened but he guessed it was not good news.

Seeing Falco was nowhere to be found, Count Anka headed towards the main fortress alone.

“I’m here to see Miss Vera and Viscount Angler. Are they asleep?”

The guard glanced at Count Anka, then signaled that he could go in.

Count Anka hastily pushed open the hefty door, his eyes immediately falling on Colin and Vera in the hall.

“Count Anka, you can’t sleep either?”

Colin did not seem surprised at Count Anka’s arrival, he turned his head and graciously greeted him.

However, Count Anka’s heart sank as he noticed Colin donning an armor with Vera’s assistance!

“Vis… Viscount Angler, what are you planning?” Count Anka asked shakily.

Colin patted the Blade of Judgment at his waist, and casually said, “Some people outside are being insolent, causing trouble at this ungodly hour. I need to teach them a lesson.”

Cold sweat was breaking out on Count Anka’s forehead. He asked anxiously, “Father, what exactly is going on outside?”

“Why don’t you come with me and check it out, you’d know everything then.”

Colin had now put on his armor. After a gentle kiss on Vera’s forehead, he extended the invitation to Count Anka.

However, an ominous feeling hit Count Anka. He urgently said, “Viscount, are you planning to start a war!”

Colin’s expression hardened, “The war began the moment you decided to lay the siege!”

“I…” Count Anka wanted to argue, but Colin had already strode away.

“Miss Vera! Does the St. Hilde family really intend to fight to the death with the dwarf clan?” Count Anka desperately called out to Vera.

However, Vera completely ignored him. She hooked her arm around Colin’s and together, they walked out.

Count Anka stood still for a moment, his face abruptly changing colors, before he gritted his teeth and followed them.