Chapter 192 - 141: Opportunity for Divine Revelation_2

Various emotions were continually spreading.

"Whew!"

After a long while, Tono finally let out a deep breath, giving Thor a deep look.

Words once again filled the air.

"Honestly, Thor, you’re still too crazy."

"Are you sure you want to stay?"

Tono spoke, still showing a hint of hesitation in his expression.

"I’m sure!"

"There’s a future waiting for me here, and even if there’s a slim chance, I’ll stay."

Thor spoke with seriousness.

There were some things he couldn’t explain, and he could only express it this way.

After all, he couldn’t possibly reveal his Golden Finger.

His greatest assurance wasn’t the information, but the Golden Finger.

So far, the Golden Finger hadn’t signaled any danger, which undoubtedly meant he was quite safe.

Just this alone was enough to assure him.

"Understood!"

"Indeed, Thor, you’re right, there’s a future for us here; we can’t just give up easily."

"I’ll stay too."

Tono replied earnestly.

At this moment, he too made up his mind.

Just as Thor had said, there’s a future for them here, and it cannot be given up so easily.

Even if there’s a slim chance, it’s worth trying.

The territory can be abandoned, but what about the future?

Without their territory, even if they retained their titles with ransom, starting over and reaching their current position would take who knows how long, or if the opportunity would ever come again, no one could say for sure.

Since even Thor was willing to take a gamble, why wouldn’t Tono?

"Brother!"

Thor looked at Tono in surprise, not expecting his brother to also be willing to stay.

"Thor, don’t look at me like that. Since you, a newly-appointed Pioneer Knight, have the courage, why shouldn’t I?"

"Besides, I’ve already sent your nephew back to the family earlier, so there’s nothing to worry about."

Tono said with a smile.

Listening to Tono’s words, Thor couldn’t help but smile and shake his head.

His brother certainly wasn’t acting rashly.

Still, Thor wasn’t overly concerned about it.

After all, the threat of the Divine Revelation was very real.

He couldn’t possibly gamble everything.

Tono didn’t have a Golden Finger like him, and couldn’t be sure of the outcome.

With a light chuckle and shake of the head, Thor seemed to think of something.

He spoke with a question.

"Brother, you mentioned before that powerful lords in the West have started to withdraw, is that true?"

His gaze turned once more to Tono.

And hearing Thor’s words, Tono nodded slightly.

"Indeed, they’ve started to withdraw. As far as I understand, both Spencer and Campbell, those two powerful lords, have shown signs of withdrawing, and some other marquis’ descendants also show signs of withdrawal."

Tono nodded, slowly recounting what he had gathered.

Hearing his account, Thor fell into deep thought.

Clearly.

They weren’t the only ones in the Dressrosa Family who noticed something amiss and paid attention to the Sheepskin Scroll.

Other powerful families could more or less do the same.

This way, while the matter of the Divine Revelation might not spread much among the lower-level Pioneer Lords, it was no secret among the upper-level Pioneer Lords and the Noble Lords.

Thor didn’t doubt that the number of lords wanting to withdraw was likely not limited to those mentioned by Tono.

The numbers would only be greater.

The threat of the Divine Revelation was no simple matter.

Even if someone discovered the same patterns as he had, who would dare to gamble on it?

Let alone them, even the Marquis Families might lack the courage to take such a gamble.

Therefore, withdrawal seemed the only choice.

At least it could ensure their strength wouldn’t suffer a devastating blow.

Honestly, even he, Thor, wouldn’t have insisted on coming if it weren’t for the daily intelligence system.

"It seems we’re quite fortunate."

As thoughts flowed, Thor’s expression turned to light laughter.

"Fortunate?"

Tono was slightly startled, puzzled.

"Reine says the Eagle Merchant Association’s expansion has hit a hurdle, right?"

"Most of these obstacles are from those powerful Pioneer Lords, right?"

Thor explained with a chuckle.

"Indeed!"

"Those guys are outrageous, setting up checkpoints in the Northern Province, collecting taxes on goods valued at a hundred Gold Coins, they dared to charge fifty or even seventy to eighty Gold Coins."

Tono nodded, then spoke with a voice filled with indignation.

But as he spoke, Tono suddenly stopped, eyes widening.

He wanted to speak subconsciously.

However, Thor’s voice came ahead of him.

"Currently, those top-tier nobles are probably the only ones aware of the news; it’s likely that only those top-tier nobles are choosing to withdraw, and such top-tier nobles typically act in a low-key manner to avoid drawing too much attention. If they make a big fuss, it might not reduce their losses much."

"Brother, have you noticed the Eagle Merchant Association’s revenue dropping this month?"

Thor spoke leisurely.

His words made Tono’s eyes light up.

He knew the Eagle Merchant Association’s revenue had dropped, but he assumed it was due to those major nobles’ interference.

However, with Thor’s explanation, a flash of insight struck him, and he instantly understood.

"Brother, go and check if those checkpoints are still there."

"Also, check how many Noble Lords are planning to leave."

"This is our opportunity; maybe our Dressrosa Family can become the true rulers among the Pioneer Lords of the Northern Province."

Thor’s eyes gleamed as he spoke slowly.

He had been pondering how to solve this issue.

In his previous considerations, solving it seemed almost impossible.

Or rather, there seemed to be no solution in the short term.

The restrictions formed by the nobles’ union were due to interests, and whether he was willing to share the benefits or not, with the meager gains from the Eagle Territory, these top-tier nobles wouldn’t even consider it at this point.

So it seemed unsolvable.

He hadn’t expected that just as he was feeling sleepy, the heavens would directly offer him a pillow.

The Divine Revelation event resolved his issue before he even figured out a solution.

Now, with the large-scale withdrawal of top-tier nobles,

even if one or two remained, they wouldn’t pose much threat to the Eagle Merchant Association.

His previous concern was the united front of all nobles and the risk of provoking public anger.

But if only a few families were left,

There would be no need for restraint at all.

Objections? In the chaotic Northern Province, with the Divine Revelation looming, devastating one or two more territories, even those owned by powerful nobles, didn’t seem impossible.

"Alright!"

"I’ll head back and investigate immediately!"

"Within three days, I’ll identify which lords are about to take action or already taking action."

Tono nodded, his expression now tinged with excitement.

At this moment, he also saw an opportunity.

If they could seize it, and given the Divine Revelation was as Thor described, their chance was truly at hand.

It was unimaginable not only for them.

It was hard to imagine for Tono.

Not to mention anything else, he could use this opportunity to further expand his territory.

Although they had expanded a few months ago, now, it felt insufficient.