Chapter 86: Extracting Intelligence
"Uncle Broo, where are you taking me to play today?"
Ryo asked curiously as he walked beside Broo.
He was new to Black Forest Island and had no playmates. Recently, he had taken to following Broo around to all sorts of places.
Despite their large age gap, they still had fun together.
Broo chuckled. "It’s already noon. Let’s go to my place for lunch first. And I have good news—we got a bottle of fine wine from the Baron. Want me to let you have a taste?"
At the mention of wine, Ryo’s eyes lit up.
His father, Yanger, would always have a few drinks before he started forging.
His older brother, Taine, had picked up the habit, and Ryo was eager to do the same.
But his mother always stopped him, using the excuse that he was too young. His only option was to sneak drinks in secret.
"Yes, yes! The Baron’s wine! I’ve been wanting to try it for ages."
In reality, Duane had never gifted any wine to Monbodt. It was just a story Broo had made up.
When the boy agreed, Broo was ecstatic.
He’d been trying to get Ryo drunk for some time, but the boy had always refused. He hadn’t expected him to agree so readily today.
"Let’s go!"
When Ryo arrived at Broo’s home, Broo’s wife had already prepared a meal with wine.
The two of them sat down and began to eat and drink.
Broo immediately poured Ryo three large glasses. Then, at the urging of Broo’s young son, Ryo drank several more. Soon, he looked completely dazed.
Seeing that the time was ripe, Broo began to steer the conversation.
"I heard the Baron led everyone to wipe out more than a hundred Frog Fish Monsters today. With him around, Black Forest Island will be much more peaceful from now on!"
As he spoke, he lifted the wine jug and poured another drink. "They say the Baron’s father is a powerful Celestial Tier Warrior. The Baron himself will probably be just as strong one day!"
Ryo slapped his forehead, looking even more muddled. He shook his head. "Hah! Lord Carter died a long time ago!"
"What?"
Broo was so shocked that he spilled the wine he was pouring.
"How is that possible? He’s a Celestial Tier Warrior!"
Ryo downed another cup. "Yeah, Lord Carter was strong, but not strong enough to withstand a sneak attack from a Level 6 Demon Beast!"
It was as if a floodgate had opened. He spilled everything: what happened to Carter, how the Brian Clan was driven out of Lakefront Castle, and how they were forced to come to Black Forest Island.
He finished by adding, "The Baron told us not to tell anyone. But since you’ve been so good to me, I’m telling you in secret. You can’t tell anyone else, okay? Or I’ll be in deep trouble!"
Still reeling from the shock, Broo gave a hollow, absent-minded laugh. "Of course. Don’t worry, how could I possibly spread this around? Here, have another drink!"
His mind was reeling.
’Kaelon isn’t an Earth Tier Warrior at all, and Raymond is just an Advanced Warrior.’
’And out of the Baron’s thirty-odd guards, only two or three are Basic-level Warriors.’
’And that lie Jack told the other day about being ranked in the twenties...’
’It’s all fake! Everything is just a bluff by the Baron!’
Soon, Broo had Ryo completely drunk. He called over two servants to carry the boy back to the Blacksmith Shop, while he himself went to find Monbodt.
"Father, I finally know the truth!"
He found Monbodt outside the Baron’s villa, his voice filled with excitement.
Monbodt’s brow was furrowed. "Keep your voice down! What are you shouting about out here?"
The fact that the Baron had joined forces with the Broken Wave Gang to capture all of the Holy Hand Association’s members was something he was still trying to process.
Just a moment ago, his personal guard, John, had not only been beaten but also locked up for failing to keep an eye on Simone.
Monbodt certainly didn’t dare lose his composure in front of a Baron who, despite his youth, was utterly ruthless.
"Father, come here!"
Broo pulled Monbodt aside and, in a hushed, animated voice, poured out all the intelligence he had just gathered.
Monbodt was stunned speechless for a long moment, but the more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Concealing his true strength, dealing with the Broken Wave Gang and the Holy Hand Association through sheer gambles... it sounded absurd, but it was exactly the kind of thing the Baron might do.
After all, Monbodt found the young Baron’s methods completely unpredictable.
"Father, what should we do?" Broo whispered.
Monbodt was anxious. The time had come to make a choice, but he didn’t know what the best move was.
’Should I pretend I don’t know about the Baron’s "act," or should I inform Bard?’
"Father, what are you hesitating for?"
Broo grew impatient. "Are you really willing to lose those hundreds of acres of land? And what about those dozen or so horses? If you ask me, we should inform Bard immediately. He’ll be furious that he was deceived. Once the Baron is dealt with, this island will be ours again!"
Monbodt listened to his son, pacing back and forth for a long time before finally making a decision.
’Duane has now completely offended the Holy Hand Association. If the Broken Wave Gang turns on him, and his true strength is exposed, he’ll be attacked from all sides!’
"Go to Forest Village right now and tell Bard everything!"
"Right!"
This was exactly what Broo had been waiting to hear.
A wide, delighted grin spread across his face. He broke into a run, sprinting away from the villa and toward Forest Village.
By the time he arrived, Gaius had already recounted everything that had happened at noon.
"The Baron is waiting for your reply so he can decide when to move against Daniels."
Bard stretched his arms. In his current state, he still needed more time to recover.
However, Simone was injured too. If Bard rested for another ten days and then pushed through his injuries to launch a forced attack, it seemed just barely possible.
It was just a bit risky.
After all, Daniels would help Simone heal, so he would recover quickly.
"Sir, Broo is here!" a guard reported.
Everyone was surprised. Bard frowned slightly. "What’s he doing here? Bring him in."
Broo strode into the hall, shouting excitedly, "Sir! Good news! Great news!"
Bard’s expression was mocking. "Don’t tell me you’re here to announce that the Baron has captured Kalina and her people."
Broo froze for a second. "You have a strange sense of humor, Sir. Why would I be foolish enough to report that?"
He took two steps forward and lowered his voice. "The Baron’s so-called Celestial Tier Warrior father... is dead."
"Hmm?"
Bard froze, then shot bolt upright in his chair. "What?"
"We’ve all been fooled by the Baron’s act!"
Broo continued, "That Kaelon isn’t an Earth Tier Warrior at all, and Raymond is only an Advanced Warrior. The Baron only has three or four Basic-level Warriors under his command, and not a single Middle Level one!"
"That’s impossible!"
Gaius immediately refuted him. "Leaving aside everything else, the Baron himself is a Middle Level Warrior. I saw him use a Fighting Qi Slash just this morning."
Bard’s brow furrowed. "What about the others? Did you see anyone else use a Fighting Qi Slash?"
Gaius could only shake his head. "No... I can’t say that I have."
Bard stared intently at Broo. "Speak. How did you get this intelligence?"
Broo then recounted how he had spent all this time getting close to Ryo and how he had plied the boy with drink to loosen his tongue.
When Broo finished, Bard leaned back in his chair. "What this Ryo kid said... it’s very likely true."
He thought back on his encounters with the Baron and realized he had never actually crossed blades with any of the Baron’s men.
Moreover, the ten-match duel he and the Holy Hand Association had proposed was deliberately condensed to just three by the Baron. That was suspicious too.
In the three duels, Kaelon’s win was a fluke, for one.
Raymond, however, had conceded defeat without a real fight, which was even more suspicious.
SLAM!
He slammed his palm down on the armrest of his chair. "That damned Baron! He actually dared to trick me!"
Gaius couldn’t help but marvel with a sigh. ’This Baron’s nerve is unbelievable. Is this what it means to be Nobility? You couldn’t even tell he was acting.’
"So what’s our next move?"
He asked, "Do we continue with the plan to wipe out the Holy Hand Association with the Baron and then pledge fealty to him, or..."
In the hall, Hardy pricked up his ears, listening intently.
’To be honest, he was just as shocked as everyone else by Broo’s revelations.’
’But he was in too deep now. If he tried to jump ship and Bard found out he’d betrayed him, he’d be a dead man.’
The hall fell silent for a time.
But Bard’s gaze grew increasingly cold, glinting with murderous intent.
After a long moment of thought, he said to Kubatu, "Go and inform the Baron that I have recovered sixty to seventy percent of my combat strength and can assist him in attacking Daniels’s castle!"
"Broo, you can go back as well."
Bard gave him a rare smile. "You did well. You’ll be handsomely rewarded!"