Janetâs smile remained unchanged as she asked full of doubt.
"Uncle Joao, what do you mean by that?"
"Why say Janet is acting?"
As she spoke, Janetâs body moved slightly, her waist swaying like a water snake, and the rounded curve swayed gently.
The eye-catching movement was displayed perfectly in Joao Frankâs eyes.
Joao glanced at it and continued, "Eduardo was arranged by you to intercept on the way to Kakasong City!"
Janetâs movements stopped instantly.
The smile on her face gradually disappeared.
Janet stared directly at Joao, her words calm, "Uncle Joao, do you have evidence for what you say?"
"If not, then it is slander!"
Noting the change in Janetâs tone, Joaoâs expression remained unchanged as he continued.
"The Iron Blood Brotherhood Bandit Corps has been away for too long."
"So long that there is no information about them at all."
"Even if they werenât exterminated by the Sword and Shield Corps of the Ducas Clan that came to Morgan Town."
"Itâs highly possible they were annihilated by the mysterious armed forces that attacked Morrison Manor."
"Therefore, it was impossible for Eduardo to be intercepted by members of the Iron Blood Brotherhood Bandit Corps!"
"Moreover, would a bandit corps hidden for months show up just for a caravan?"
"Even allowing a guard to escape and return to the Frank Clan to report?"
Joaoâs gaze once again swept past Janet.
"The only possibility is allowing that guard to return to the Frank Manor Castle to report!"
"If we find that guard and interrogate him, it will surely be known that the guard was not Eduardoâs escort."
"Oh, no, even if we find that guard, he would only be a corpse by now, right?"
Janet frowned slightly, asking, "Uncle, whatâs it got to do with me?"
"Iâm just an orphan girl living in the Manor Castle relying on my grandfatherâs support."
"If it werenât for my grandfather still being alive, Iâd have been devoured by the predators in this Manor."
Joao nodded in agreement, "Indeed so."
"Both the dead Eduardo and the living Krueger."
"As for Old Jonas still being alive, the day he dies, youâll have no protection!"
"And thatâs exactly why you want to remove Jonasâs descendants in Frank Manor."
Janet fell silent.
Joao continued, "You want to eliminate all factors in the Manor that are detrimental to you and become... the new Manor Lord of Frank!"
Upon hearing this.
Janetâs body tensed instantly, and her right hand moved unintentionally behind her.
She stared straight at Joao and asked, "Uncle Joao, what is your idea now?"
"Tie me up and take me to grandfatherâs room for them to deal with?"
"Uncle Joao, Janet just wants to survive!"
Joao didnât speak, his eyes full of calm as he looked at Janet.
Janetâs words softened a bit.
"When I was a few years old, my parents died, and until now, I donât know the real cause of death."
"Grandfather just said they were killed in a bandit attack."
"Even though I live in the Manor, uncle, do you know the hardships of a young girl?"
"Therefore, to survive, I can only give it my all."
"I strive to eat nutritious foods and keep my figure and face beautiful."
"Just so others see me as no threat at all."
As she said this, Janetâs voice became gnashing with resentment.
"To survive, to keep the others under control with grandfatherâs influence, I have to strike first to gain the upper hand!"
Looking at Janetâs now ferocious face, Joao spoke calmly.
"Take out the weapon in your hand, you canât kill me."
Janet, hearing this, did not refute.
The right hand behind her slowly lowered.
In her right hand, she was holding a small and exquisite dagger.
Joao asked, "Does Old Jonas know what youâve done?"
Janet didnât speak, thought for a few seconds, then shook her head.
Joao sighed, "Do as you wish."
Janetâs eyes widened, she could hardly believe it, "Uncle, you mean...?"
Joaoâs gaze looked into the distance.
"The Frank Manor is like a fruit tree, with decent roots, but the branches have grown twisted and deformed."
"Even if it absorbs more nutrients, it canât bear bountiful fruit."
"To let the Frank Manor grow into a towering tree, it must be pruned!"
"Even if it means cutting off the main trunk to start anew, it must be done."
Janetâs eyes widened even more.
Joao continued, "Starting tomorrow, the territoryâs guards and soldiers will patrol the domain and wonât return to the Manor for a while!"
After speaking.
Joao stepped past Janet, heading into the Manor.
In the open courtyard.
Only Janet remained standing under the night sky, letting the night wind blow through her hair and long dress.
...
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
After breakfast, Lynn left the castle, walked through the town, and arrived at the school.
The three days were entirely enough for the six scholars brought by Tate to become familiar with the entire domain.
Seeing Lynn approaching, Tate arranged for the students to first write and study on their own.