Aldric continued, his tone cold and certain.
"Because they will die," he said flatly.
"With the Baroness's emotional state after losing her child, she won't hesitate to wipe them out."
Boran remained silent.
Aldric glanced at him from the side.
"Do you think no one will die in the duel later?" he asked again.
Boran was quiet for a moment, then let out a short breath.
"Ah… no," he answered at last. "I just feel this is… unnecessary."
Aldric stopped, then burst out laughing.
"Hahaha—unnecessary?" He slapped his thigh. "This is exactly what's necessary."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering but filled with conviction.
"After that bandit attack, I can submit a request to declare the Voss territory an emergency area," he explained.
"That way, extracting profit from the Young Voss's farmland becomes much easier."
His smile widened.
"Taxes will be suspended temporarily. All the returns—go straight into our hands."
Boran swallowed.
His chest felt heavy.
