Chapter 472: Coercion
"Actually... there's a piece of news that the Merlin Family has kept sealed. If it spreads in Auckland, it could cause quite a stir. Last night, our Merlin Family members in the Coldwind Plane clashed with people from the Charlotte Family..." As Hoffland spoke, his smile faded completely. It was strange—ever since Thornton Merlin emerged three hundred years ago and crushed the young prodigies of the Charlotte Family, then divided up their resource planes, the Charlotte Family had fallen into decline. In Auckland, they've kept a low profile ever since, except for that incident with Hanson Charlotte. In recent years, the Charlotte Family has hardly made any big moves.
But just recently, the Charlotte Family managed to swiftly conquer the Frostleaf Plane. Hoffland found this almost unbelievable—even for the Merlin Family, taking the Frostleaf Plane in such a short time would be no easy feat.
Yet the Charlotte Family pulled it off...
Not only did they conquer the Frostleaf Plane and claim it as their private domain, but now they're directly threatening the Merlin Family's Coldwind Plane. Last night there was even a clash. After hearing the news, Hoffland didn't sleep well at all.
After finishing, Hoffland glanced at Lin Yun, only to find the young man showed no sign of emotion. Hoffland couldn't help but feel disappointed. Such an outstanding youth—yet he felt no sense of belonging to the Merlin Family. What a shame. But thinking back to what happened three months ago, Hoffland understood. The moment Mafa Merlin stepped into the Merlin Family Manor, those elders couldn't wait to snatch away his Gilded Rose. Although they failed, and a few even lost their lives, it was inevitable that Mafa Merlin would feel estranged from the family.
If Hoffland were in his shoes, he'd probably feel the same way...
With a quiet sigh, Hoffland said, "I sent word to the Charlotte Family not long ago to negotiate. I expect their patriarch, Wallace Charlotte, will arrive soon..."
"This matter may not be as simple as it seems..." Lin Yun smiled, his face still calm. He was almost certain the whole affair was orchestrated by the Soul Requiem, but he had no intention of revealing its secret. That would only bring more trouble to himself.
Either way, the Soul Requiem and the Charlotte Family—he'd deal with them sooner or later...
After meditating for over half an hour to recover his energy, news finally arrived—the long-delayed Charlotte Family was on their way, escorted by the manor's guards.
"Hoffland, sorry I'm late..."
A terrifying magical fluctuation accompanied the voice from outside the door. Although the words sounded apologetic, the tone betrayed no hint of remorse. The door was shoved open roughly, and an elderly man of average build, looking to be in his sixties, walked in. His gaze swept the study with blatant disregard, barely pausing on Leon before settling on Hoffland. Narrowing his eyes for a moment, he finally said coldly, "I hear you wanted to see me, Hoffland?"
Hoffland recognized him instantly—the man speaking was none other than Wallace Charlotte, patriarch of the Charlotte Family.
"There's something I'd like to discuss with Patriarch Wallace..."
Hoffland's gaze grew cold. From the moment Wallace entered, Hoffland knew this negotiation was probably pointless. In the past, Wallace would respectfully call him 'Patriarch Hoffland' or 'Lord Hoffland'—never would he dare address him so directly.
Since Wallace became patriarch of the Charlotte Family, he's been smooth and diplomatic in Auckland, rarely offending anyone and always showing Hoffland the utmost respect.
But now, things seemed different...
Wallace's attitude was unusually forceful...
"Whatever it is, get to the point..." Wallace said impatiently, sitting down opposite Hoffland. "Don't waste my time. I've got things to say myself..."
In an instant, Hoffland's expression darkened, his face sinking completely as rage boiled inside him. Wallace was being outrageously arrogant, treating the Merlin Family as if they didn't matter. Hoffland had already swallowed his pride several times, but Wallace still refused to back down. Did he really think the Merlin Family feared the Charlotte Family?
"I'm in no rush. Patriarch Wallace, why don't you go first—you're the guest, after all..."
But thinking of the Merlin Family's current predicament, Hoffland had no choice but to swallow his anger, forcing a smile.
"Heh, Hoffland, you're too polite..."
Wallace glanced at Hoffland, a faint smile on his lips as if he thought this was only natural. His withered hand pulled a few yellowed sheets of paper from his pocket and tossed them carelessly onto the table in front of Hoffland. "Take a look at these, Hoffland. I'm here to reclaim a territory in the northern part of the kingdom—one that originally belonged to the Charlotte Family. I trust there shouldn't be any problem with us taking it back?"
"No! Absolutely not... Wallace, I'm telling you—the Charlotte Family can forget about that land!" Hoffland picked up the papers and glanced at them. His face immediately changed. He didn't even hesitate before refusing. Good lord, had Wallace lost his mind to make such a demand?
Strictly speaking, those papers were land deeds. The disputed territory lay in the far north of Andalusia, bordering the Caucasus, and generated as much wealth as a private plane each year. Even with a knife to his throat, Hoffland would never agree—and decisions like this always required a council of elders anyway.
If you traced back a few centuries, that land did originally belong to the Charlotte Family—but things were complicated...
Three hundred years ago, the Merlin Family was on the brink of collapse, suppressed by both the Charlotte and Watson Families. Many territories and resource planes were divided between the two, and the family was nearly destroyed. But with the rise of Thornton Merlin, everything changed. The family quickly turned the tide and claimed dominance...
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The struggle between factions was always this blatant. Back then, to prevent the Charlotte Family from rising again, every possible method was used to weaken their power. That resource-rich territory in the north was ceded by the Charlotte Family in those days.
It's true—the land was fertile. Over centuries of development, the Merlin Family poured in vast resources and capital, and it became one of their main sources of income.
And now Wallace shows up with land deeds, thinking he can just take it back? That's pure wishful thinking...
"Wallace, you know perfectly well the history of that territory. Over two hundred years ago, your ancestor from the Charlotte Family willingly gave it up—and even begged us to accept it. Now you want it back? You really have some nerve..." Hoffland had been holding back his anger ever since Wallace walked in, but after hearing such an outrageous demand, he couldn't help but mock him.
And it's not like he was making things up. That really was how it happened...
"Hmph!"
Mentioning such humiliating history made Wallace's face turn ashen, his gaze toward Hoffland tinged with murderous intent. But a moment later, he smiled, pulled out a Crystal Bank Card, and tossed it onto the table. Coldly, he said, "No matter what, the Merlin Family must hand over that territory today. It rightfully belongs to the Charlotte Family. What gives you the right to keep it? Do you really think the Merlin Family can do whatever it wants in Auckland? I know you've invested heavily in that land, and we're not unreasonable. There's several thousand gold coins on that card—consider it compensation..."
Thinking back on the past centuries, Wallace couldn't help but grit his teeth. It had been an era of humiliation, all thanks to that damned Thornton Merlin—the one who doomed the Charlotte Family to decline, their resources and wealth carved up by the Merlin and Watson Families.
But that was all in the past...
The Charlotte Family now wasn't one anyone could just push around!
It wouldn't be long before all those old enemies met their end—starting with the Merlin Family...
The Soul Requiem, dormant for nearly a thousand years within the family, had finally agreed to fully support the Charlotte Family. This support was a massive boon—within just two days, they conquered the Frostleaf Plane! And that was only the beginning. Once they'd recuperated, they planned to target the neighboring Coldwind Plane, gradually eroding the Merlin Family's strength.
When the time was right, they'd crush the Merlin Family in one decisive blow, grinding that detestable clan beneath their heel...
He could hardly wait for that day to come...
This time, he came with the land deeds for the kingdom's northernmost territory. The stakes were high—he couldn't afford to fail. It wasn't just about the land; if he succeeded, it would be a declaration to all of Auckland: the Charlotte Family was back!
And they would surpass even their former glory...
"Wallace, you—you... What is the meaning of this!" Hoffland didn't bother hiding his anger. Damn the Charlotte Family, did they really think a few thousand gold coins could buy back that land? Hoffland snorted coldly: "You Charlotte Family are delusional... Ha, Wallace, you're not welcome here. Leave."
The Charlotte Family's demand was a blatant provocation to the Merlin Family's dignity. Hoffland had no intention of negotiating peacefully anymore. Did they really think the Merlin Family feared the Charlotte Family?
"Leave? That's not happening... Let me tell you, Hoffland, today the Merlin Family must hand over that territory, or else... hmph!" Wallace wasn't angry; instead, he looked amused. As he finished, a terrifying magical fluctuation radiated from him.
"What..."