All the way back to the residence.
Colin asked Vera to wash and change clothes first, and invited Consul Sebastian to sit in the living room.
"Your Excellency, what's the matter with you?"
Sebastian's attitude at this time can be said to have taken a 180-degree turn. It is not at all the arrogance of the previous meeting. Instead, it seems to be flattering Colin.
Of course, Ke Lin understood that the other party must have heard the wind and learned about the reform plan proposed by the Prime Minister of the Empire regarding the election of the consuls of the Senate, so he panicked.
It is impossible for him not to panic.
Based on Sebastian's many years of experience as a consul, he knew that this reform proposal would definitely be passed.
The rules of the game in the Senate will also be completely rewritten.
Originally, with the detached status of the consul, Sebas didn't even have to deliberately please Vera, the Duke of the North.
After all, the consul is for life, even if Vera doesn't like Sebastian, she can't replace him.
As for the candidate for the next consul, Sebas is not in a hurry, he is still in good health, and there is no problem in living another 20 or 30 years. By then, who knows what the situation in the northern border will have become.
Even if Vera is still the Duke of the North, Sebastian can still make some compromises and exchanges a year or two before his death, so that his favorite heir can become the candidate for the consul recommended by the St. Hilde family.
But it's different now.
The consuls are elected every three years, and every elder is eligible to stand for the election!
In order to keep his position, Sebastian had to compromise immediately.
Moreover, he has already noticed an undercurrent surging among a series of elders in the northern border. Obviously, the St. Hilde family has already begun to act.
Sebas knew that if he didn't take measures, it might be too late.
"Viscount Angelet, I'm actually here to apologize to you."
"Apologize? Your Excellency the Consul, I don't remember you ever offending me!"
"I want to apologize to you for Weber."
"Weber?" Colin thought for a while before realizing that Sebastian was talking about his grandson.
The last time Colin and Vera went to visit Sebastian, they met the provocative knight who was beaten up by Colin.
"Yes, Lord Viscount, Weber's behavior last time was really inappropriate, so I want to sincerely apologize to you on his behalf!"
Colin rolled his eyes and said to himself, sincerity! That kid didn't even come, so he's still sincere
"Your Excellency the Consul, you are too polite. We were just exchanging martial arts that time, and there was nothing wrong with Knight Weber's behavior."
"You are so kind!" Sebastian's old face turned into a chrysanthemum with a smile, and he pretended to be kind and said, "Now Vera has been canonized as the Duke of the Northern Territory, and even you have obtained the authority of the Guardian of the Northern Territory , is really gratifying!
I just don't know when you are going to return to the North? "
"We're going to leave tomorrow."
"So fast?"
"Yes, after all, the northern border has just stabilized, and there are still a lot of things that need to be dealt with urgently. We have stayed in Yulong City for a long enough time this time, and we can't delay any longer."
Sebastian hurriedly extended a warm invitation: "Then I will hold a banquet at the manor to see him off tonight, and I hope you and the Duke can come to attend."
"There's no need for a farewell banquet. Vera and I have already made arrangements tonight." Colin waved his hand, rejecting the other party's kindness somewhat abruptly.
Sebastian suffocated slightly, but then sent out another invitation: "How about today's noon?"
"Luncheon?" Colin glanced at the other party with a smile, "In such a short time, will you have time to prepare?"
Sebastian said solemnly: "As long as you and the Duke are willing to visit, I will let them arrange everything in the shortest possible time!"
"Don't bother." Colin waved his hand and refused again.
Seeing that Sebastian didn't seem to give up, Colin directly said what the other party really cared about: "You came to me today because of the election of the consul, right?"
Sebas was stunned, as if he didn't expect Colin to be so direct, but he quickly realized, nodded and said:
"Yes. Presumably you should have heard of the Prime Minister's proposal on the reform of the Senate.
Oh, what nonsense!
That old fellow Heidegger has no idea what he's doing!
In my opinion, he is simply touching the most important pillar of maintaining the political balance of the empire!
If this proposal is passed, he will be completely nailed to the pillar of shame in history and cast aside by all generations... "
Colin smiled and watched the impotent and furious Sebastian cursing the Prime Minister of the Empire crazily, picking up the coffee on the table and quietly sipping it.
When the other party finally calmed down, he said again: "You are worried about the next consul election, whether you can be elected?"
"Ahem... I'm a little worried." Sebastian looked embarrassed.
"Actually, my opinion with Vera is to replace you."
"What?" Sebastian was frightened by Colin's honesty, his mouth was opened wide, like a fish out of water, "You...why did you do this..."
Colin glanced at the other party lightly, disdainful in his heart, but he comforted him:
"We also thought, after all, you must be very tired after serving as the consul for so many years, so it's better to find another person to help you share..."
"I'm not tired!" Sebastian was anxious, "Master Viscount, after all, I have been a consul for more than 40 years, and I have rich experience. I know how to fight for the best interests of the northern border in the Senate. You can't..."
"Really?" Colin interrupted the other party coldly, and his tone became harsh, "Then why did you object to the vote on Vera's inheritance last time?"
Sebastian sighed and said sincerely: "Master Viscount, I admit that I had some prejudices against the Duke and you before, but I assure you that I will change my ways from now on! On any issue, I will They will all keep pace with the Duke!"
"Why prejudice?"
"Because... after all, the Duke was a mage..."
"Your Excellency Sebastian," Colin interrupted coldly, "If you don't want to tell the truth, then there's no need for us to continue talking."
Sebastian struggled, but under Colin's indifferent eyes, he still told the truth:
"Master Viscount, the reason why I was a little hostile to you before was because of the peace agreement you reached with the troll empire."
"A peace agreement?" Colin looked puzzled, unable to understand why this agreement caused Sebastian's hostility towards him.
Sebastian coughed twice, and explained: "I have some personal relationships with the presidents of several chambers of commerce in the northern border, and they have some... opinions on the tax exemption clause in this agreement."
Colin thought for a moment, and finally understood where Sebastian's hostility came from.
There was a tax-free clause in the peace agreement he forced the troll empire to sign. However, this tax-free quota is not for all merchants in the north. Only merchants in the Viscount of Colin can enjoy tax when they enter the troll empire. discounted offers.
Obviously, this made other businessmen in the northern border jealous, so they approached Sebas the Consul.
Based on the extravagant scenes that Colin saw at the consul's house before, I am afraid that the "funding" of these northern businessmen to Sebas is definitely not a small amount. It is no wonder that Sebas has been targeting Vera and Colin.
Moreover, Ke Lin knew that he had done another thing that would definitely make the major chambers of commerce in the north hate him to the bone.
In order to disturb the northern border and cause a famine, Mr. Xi asked the Tulip Chamber of Commerce controlled by the Uman family to take the lead in hoarding food. This move was quickly responded by many northern merchants.
These profit-seeking merchants completely disregarded the life and death of the northerners in order to raise the price of grain. Fortunately, Colin bought a large amount of grain from the half-elven kingdom, which relieved the famine in the northern border, but at the same time it also hindered the merchants in the northern border. Make a fortune.
Later, after Vera took control of Cold Winter City, she began to forcibly stabilize the price of grain and ordered the merchants to open warehouses to release grain, which further intensified the conflict with the merchants.
Ke Lin didn't pay attention to these businessmen at all. After all, this era is no different from his predecessor's. The status of businessmen is not high, so it doesn't matter if they are offended.
But unexpectedly, these businessmen still found a way to exert their influence, which added a lot of trouble to Vera.
Colin rubbed his chin and began to reflect—was he being too kind to these businessmen before
At this time, he also realized that the crux of the problem was not Sebastian, but the merchant forces in the northern border.
I didn't care about them before, but now it seems that the influence of these businessmen cannot be completely ignored.
It seems that after going back this time, we need to rectify this group.
Sebastian looked at the silent Colin, feeling uneasy, and tentatively said after a while: "Master Viscount, please rest assured, I will definitely draw a line with these businessmen in the future!"
Colin came back to his senses, and showed Sebas a smile again: "Your Excellency Sebas, it's great that you can change your mind. I believe that the Duke will also be willing to give you a chance to reform. After all, how can you change your mind? It is said that he is also the elder of the St. Hilde family."
Sebastian's eyes lit up, his face flushed with excitement, and he quickly expressed his loyalty: "Thank you for your trust! Please rest assured, and please rest assured, the Duke! From now on, I will only follow the Lord Duke and you!"
Colin nodded, seemingly satisfied with Sebastian's statement, but said lightly: "By the way, the Duke will return to the north tomorrow, so there is no need for a farewell banquet, but I hope you can send some more The guards are escorting the Duke."
"Of course no problem!" Sebastian said immediately, "My manor guard team has more than 700 elite soldiers, and I will leave them all to you!"
"You don't want to stay any longer, because you are not afraid of some thieves sneaking into the house?"
"I still have confidence in the guarding power of Yulong City, how can any thief dare to act wild here!"
"That's good." Colin was not polite, and nodded in response, but then he said casually, "By the way, the Knight Weber who exchanged martial skills with me last time, he should also be in the guards ?”
Sebastian was stunned for a moment, and only then did he understand Colin's plan—this is to let his grandson go to Winter City as a hostage!
After struggling for a moment, Sebastian still became cruel, nodded and said: "Of course! Weber has always admired your martial arts very much. If he has the opportunity to learn from you, he will definitely not miss it!"
"That's the best!" Colin stood up with a smile, shook hands with Sebastian cordially, and said:
"Don't worry, I will definitely take good care of Knight Weber."
(end of this chapter)