Chapter 336 Firm Backing Xinlan ushered in a new day. At the Grand Duke's Palace, after getting up early in the morning, Grand Duke Stuart looked gloomy when he received the latest reply from Green Day from his secretary. After a week, any fool could see that Green Day had not really found the person they wanted to find. They have been searching these days, right under their noses! However, although Grand Duke Stuart felt a little uncomfortable about this, as if a group of outsiders came to his house and dug sweet potatoes from his own field to trade with him, and he would be at a disadvantage anyway, he still planned to accept it if the other party could really dig out the sweet potatoes. The key to the problem now lies with the two old immortals who escaped. In the beginning, they didn't kill them because they thought that these two greedy idiots would just eat and wait for death at most, and keeping them alive could still be of some other use. Otherwise, they would have been killed long ago and all the secrets would have been completely buried. As long as Green Day can really send people over, what's wrong with him joining them? As long as there are appropriate interests, there is actually no difference between the Western District Alliance and Green Japan.
"Where's the Green kid? Did he go out and do anything last night?" Archduke Stuart asked as he ate his breakfast. The secretary at the side answered in a low voice. "Our people have been watching his residence all night. He hasn't come out since he went back, and it seems that he hasn't made any other moves." The Grand Duke nodded and took the napkin to wipe the remaining sauce from the corners of his mouth. "I hope the information you found this time is real and useful. Don't tell me that the person has really been captured by them like Green Day did last time." The secretary bent even lower. "I promise that mistakes like this won't happen again." Just as the sumptuous breakfast was over and Archduke Stuart was about to go to his study to start the day's work, Sherlock Green's request for a meeting was placed on his desk. This made him frown. His words last night were just delaying. He wanted to keep this presumptuous young man in suspense for a few days, and then decide on his subsequent attitude towards him after Green Day had definite news. If Green Day really knew about that matter, then there is naturally nothing to say. He will directly reject the recruitment of the Western Conference Alliance. And if Green Day is making no progress at all and is just threatening him with rumors without any actual evidence, then he will certainly reaffirm his political inclinations. However, only one night had passed, and the young man sent by the alliance, who said he was not here to recruit him but to disgust him, could no longer sit still. The Grand Duke thought for a moment. Although he disliked Shylock very much, he still wanted to listen. Such a short time had passed. What else could Shylock say to persuade him, or what advice could he give him? Not long after, Sherlock was brought to this luxurious study. Compared to the safe house built by the Stuart family in the fortress, this room, where the fair man stayed the longest during the day, did not have furniture and decoration that was so high-profile. But that did not mean that the things in this room were less valuable than those in the safe house. Books placed on the bookshelf, framed with special techniques and auctioned as works of art, large floor clocks handmade by top masters and carved by famous sculptors, various furniture made of rare wood that is more precious than gold per gram, and exquisite tea sets produced by the famous porcelain city in Dongda District every year, which are used as tribute to the royal family. These things may seem insignificant on the surface, but those who really know their stuff can understand that the things in this study alone are worth about half a year's worth of agricultural taxes in a small town! Sherlock has no pursuit for these luxury goods, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have the vision to recognize the value of these things. When he first walked into the room, his expression involuntarily became serious, but he still maintained basic etiquette. He bowed to the grand duke sitting behind the desk, greeted him as a junior, and then sat down opposite him.
Sherlock's performance was naturally noticed by Grand Duke Stuart. There was no change in his expression. He just tapped the desk lightly with his fingers. In his other hand, he held a proposal on the reform of New Zealand's industrial tax this year and asked casually. "Did you not sleep well last night? It doesn't matter. Your father and I are old acquaintances. Since you call me uncle, I should take care of you regardless of whether you like me or not. I see that you didn't bring anyone to Xinlan to serve and take care of you, so let me arrange it. The Julian sisters from Hongmei Hall are the stars of Xinlan and are also very good at taking care of people." Sherlock simply folded his hands on his knees and spoke calmly. "I have a fiancée, uncle, and I love her very much." This made Grand Duke Stuart raise his eyebrows. "Oh? Whose daughter is she?" "She's not a noble. She's just a worker's daughter. I made a promise with her before I even recognized my father. I won't have any other women in my life." A sneer appeared on the Grand Duke's face. "If the daughter of a worker can really become your wife, either your father is crazy or the entire Green family is stupid." "You have no right to refuse Sister Julian's matter. This is something given to you by your elders. You have no choice but to accept it." He said this in a domineering and unquestionable manner, without even looking at Sherlock. Grand Duke Stuart did this on purpose. He did not like this young man who strictly adhered to etiquette and so-called morality, nor did he believe that there were really ethical superiors in this world. The bottom line he showed was only because the temptation he encountered was not big enough and the benefits were not great enough. Everyone should have a price tag, whether physically or mentally. Today he wanted Sherlock to cross his bottom line. Whether he was really tempted or forced, it would prove that his persistence and beliefs were not pure. There was no anger or annoyance on Sherlock's face. He just looked quietly at Archduke Stuart, who had never looked at him except when he first came in, and suddenly spoke. "This time when I came to Xinlan, my father asked me to meet my uncle and explain the pros and cons of some things to you. In addition, he also arranged something else for me to do. I wonder if you are interested in listening?" The Grand Duke still didn't raise his head. He picked up a grape and put it in his mouth, and answered nonchalantly, "Is it about letting you manage the Xinlan branch?" "It has nothing to do with business. This is about you, uncle. The Stuart family and the Green family have had a good relationship for generations. We are willing to believe that the glory of the former royal family will continue, and the royal bloodline is willing to believe that we will be their most resolute backing." From Sherlock's words, Archduke Stuart finally heard something unusual. He narrowed his eyes, with a dangerous gleam in his eyes. Finally, he stopped looking down and focusing on the document in his hand, and instead raised his head to look into Sherlock's eyes, which were always looking at him. "What do you want to say?" Sherlock was not frightened by such a look. When the Grand Duke raised his eyes, he just looked into his eyes. "Uncle has always been concerned about the safety of your missing parents. Two months ago, my father received a specially encrypted distress email from the Stuart family. The sender claimed to be your parents, but some of the things they said in the email seemed to be different from what you claimed to the public." The moment the words fell, Sherlock could feel that the wooden floor under his feet had undergone some kind of change, and began to become sticky like a wetland swamp! The liquid-like wood stuck to the uppers of his shoes, with an unquestionable force that could pull him into it at any time. Sherlock did not lower his head to see what was happening below his feet, and from beginning to end he did not take his eyes away from the Grand Duke's eyes. "Like you said, my father doesn't like me. He chose me only because my last name is Green and I have enough talent. Even if you kill me, it won't change the outcome. People who should know will know about it. And the heir of the Green family in the future will at most become one of my many sisters who can find a husband who can change his last name to Green. That will have no impact on the Green family's rule in Iris." "But if what happened to you gets out, it will be a completely different matter." Grand Duke Stuart stared at Sherlock and didn't speak for a long time.
The silence lasted for three or four minutes before Archduke Stuart spoke again. "Do you have information about my parents' location?" Sherlock said without comment. "They said a lot of things in the email. One of the reasons why my father sent me to Xinlan was to let me verify these things. Last night, I have confirmed some things. Now it depends on your attitude, uncle." Grand Duke Stuart raised his eyes, and it can be seen that he was trying hard to suppress some emotions in his heart. "My attitude? You claim to be the strongest supporter of the Stuart family, so shouldn't this matter be determined by your own attitude?" His voice had become gloomy and cold, as if the hostility between them had been confirmed when Sherlock expressed his position. Unlike Green Day's gang of unscrupulous terrorists, the Western District Alliance or the Green family has always shown great support for the Stuart family's royal status. Sometimes they need a status to resist the central government's transfer orders, and the royal status of the Stuart family can give them such a status. Moreover, they have also been trying to help the Stuart family find a place to settle down and steal the fruits of victory in the merger of the north, south, east and west in the new century, and overturn the decision of the High Tower to determine who is the only royal family, so as to promote the rise of the new central government and royal family centered on the Western District. It was for this reason that the Western District Education Foundation was established at the central level in the name of the entire Western District. Therefore, Grand Duke Stuart had reason to suspect that after learning the truth about some things, the so-called alliance might really want to do something to him for the purity of the royal bloodline. In particular, the character of the young man they sent was so straightforward that it seemed to provide further proof of his attitude. However, a smile appeared on Sherlock's face and he shook his head. "I think you misunderstood, uncle. The Green family will always be the most resolute backer of the Stuart family. Whoever is under the name of the Stuart family is not important to everyone, right? As long as the truth is never revealed, there is no such thing as true or false. As long as there is no evidence, the Stuart family has never changed, and the bloodline has never been cut off. Am I right?" Hearing this answer, the Grand Duke was silent for a few seconds, and then suddenly revealed a sneer. "I thought you had your own boundaries, Sherlock." Sherlock said seriously. "This is my bottom line, uncle. If the Stuart family really upholds the kindness and tolerance of the royal family, then I will support it from the bottom of my heart. But this so-called royal family has never really brought any benefits to its people, right? In this case, its existence is dispensable. If its inner self changes, then maybe it will develop in a good direction?" The entire study fell into silence for a long time, but as time passed, the smile on Grand Duke Stuart's face gradually changed, from cold to warm and kind. "You're right. I've thought seriously about what you said to me yesterday. Previously, it was difficult to carry out reforms because of too much resistance and too many problems within Xinlan. But as long as some things can be resolved and no longer become obstacles, I believe this city will definitely get better and better." "It would be great if you really think so." Sherlock nodded slightly. But the Duke of Stuart continued to stare at him. "So, I've made my statement, what's your attitude?" "Then please wait for two more days. There are some minor accidents. I will be able to give you a satisfactory result soon." "A small accident? Do you need my help with anything?" the Grand Duke asked immediately. "Don't be so polite, uncle. Don't worry, it's just a minor accident. I have other things to do today, so I'll take my leave for now." After witnessing Sherlock turning and leaving, Archduke Stuart's kind smile became increasingly gloomy and darker!
Finally, he punched the desk, which was so expensive that a farmer's family could not afford it even if they worked hard all their lives, and smashed it to pieces! Then he took out the communicator from his arms and dialed a number with gritted teeth. "Throw all those useless people who were in charge of keeping an eye on the Green family yesterday into the underground river! The secretary needs to be replaced as well! From now on, keep a close eye on the actions of Green Day and the Green family! There's a good chance they'll run into us, so be prepared to snatch people from both families!" (End of this chapter)
