Be crowned king

Chapter 0006: Trap

After saying goodbye to Foster, an invitation soon arrived at the door. Downing accepted the invitation and the next day set off in a carriage to the great estate of Earl Carver.

As the richest and most powerful man in the area, Carver's estate was not small. There was a huge horse farm, a lake big enough to hold a fleet of ships and a huge Romanesque fortress. It took the carriage thirty minutes to travel from the entrance to the fortress.

When they arrived at the castle, Downing got out of the carriage and gave the driver a tip. The butler of the Carver estate was already waiting at the side.

As the butler entered the fortress, Downing saw the luxurious hall with some precious gems inlaid into the walls. The poor people only needed to take a few gems from the wall and they would have enough food and clothing for the rest of their lives. This was only a thousandth of Uncle Anubarak's wealth, Downing thought.

The fortress had three levels. When they reached the third floor, outside a suite, the butler opened the door to the suite. 'Sir, please come in.

As they entered the suite, the familiar old man, Count Carver, greeted them warmly and said, "Look who's here, my dear guest. I can't wait to raise a glass with you.

Downing removed his hat and bowed. "Dear Count Carver, I'm honoured to have received your invitation, and I'm really proud of it.

After a moment of small talk, the two sat down and Count Carver lit a cigar. Mr Downing, I invited you here to share some good news with you,' he said.

he said, picking up a suitcase from the side and pushing it over to Downing. He opened the case and turned it towards Downing.

The gold inside was so dazzling that anyone who had seen so much of it would have been unable to contain their excitement and would have praised the old man before them.

Tonning did not. He wanted much more, many times more. Carver said with a smug smile, "Mr Tonning, if you are willing to testify that the rumours that have been giving me headaches lately are all fiction, I am willing to give you this gold.

Tonning touched the gold and closed the box. Mr Carver, I think you have misunderstood. This is not what I want.

If this young man took the gold and did as he said, it would be the best situation for Carver. He could even send someone to make this young man disappear forever and then take the gold back. This would show that the young man's family were not very powerful and could be bought off with such a small amount of gold. So even if this young man died, there would be no need to worry about revenge from his family.

But the other party did not take it, and the worst situation Carver thought would happen did happen. Then he would have to pay even more and put the box away.

Carver became even more polite. 'Dear Mr Downing, say yes and perhaps I can satisfy you.

Downing leaned forward, his voice very low. 'Count Carver, I want to know what kind of a deal it is for the land in the slums that would make you go to such lengths as to build spacious and bright houses for these pariahs, and also to get the land.

After a moment's hesitation, Downing continued: 'Don't tell me it's because of your compassion. I think only God has that.

The lines on Carver's face twitched. 'Well, since you already know, I think I should also show some sincerity in cooperation.

He stood up, picked up some kraft paper from a nearby table and handed it to her. Kraft paper, a luxury item that only nobles or the government could afford, was obviously some kind of very important document.

Mr Downing, take a look at this. Although there is no gold underground, this land will become a gold mine in the future,' Carver said, reluctantly handing over the kraft paper.

On the kraft paper was a government notice that the land would in future be expropriated by the government and turned into an official railway yard. The government would pay a huge price for the land, and the compensation the government would receive would, of course, be much more than the cost of building spacious and bright houses for the poor, a hundred times more.

The huge return tempted Carver, and there must have been some government officials involved in the matter, otherwise Carver would not have been able to obtain such confidential documents. Carver was in the same boat as those high-ranking officials in Shanjin Town.

This is really a big deal that is impossible to refuse. It seems that my efforts will yield some good returns. Downing handed the document back to Carver.

The muscles in Carver's face twitched even faster. It was not a good feeling to see someone take a big chunk out of the meat you were about to eat.

But he had to remain calm. All right, I admit you've won, Mr Downing, but if you want to be part of this deal, you have to show your sincerity.

The so-called sincerity was nothing but money. It was needed to build spacious and light houses for the poor. Now that the benefits were to be shared, the capital would naturally have to be divided equally.

Downing rubbed his hands together, his face aglow with excitement. 'I'm sorry, Mr Carver, but I only ventured out on my own and did not bring such a large fortune with me, so I must consult my family and get their support in this matter.

Carver hoped that his family would refuse to cooperate, but it was impossible. No one would be foolish enough to abandon such a venture over the issue of capital.

'Yes, I'd like to wait for your news.

Downing stood and then sat down again, his face a study in embarrassment. 'Mr Carver, as you know, families like mine are not confident about leaving a large sum of money in the hands of a young man of my age. They would never trust me to do anything big with it. So I need you to write a letter for me, telling my family that this business is real, and finally seal it with your crest. That way I think I can get the investment from my family more easily.

Carver cursed the young man before him. You will go to hell for what you did today, and your family will be disgraced by your actions. As he cursed viciously from the bottom of his heart, he smiled sincerely. Of course, I will give you a handwritten letter.

He wrote a letter of recommendation and, at Downing's request, had it signed by all the executives involved in the project. As Downing had suspected, the heads of the town and sheriff's departments, as well as the district attorney, were all involved. Finally, Carver affixed his own badge to the letter, allowed it to dry and then slipped it into his breast pocket.

Mr Downing, may I see your family crest? Just to be on the safe side, please forgive me. Carver was curious to know what kind of family this despicable fellow came from.

'A reasonable request. Downing handed him the crest with the three swords engraved on it.

Seeing the crest with the three swords, Carver's expression was most wonderful and his fingers trembled. "This is...

The Stewart family, is there a problem?" Downing interjected. He had been expecting Carver's expression for a long time. How could Carver not recognise his Uncle Anubarak's family crest from all those years ago?

Carver stuttered a little. 'No... nothing.

As he watched the young man leave the fortress, Carver looked a little confused. How could he not recognise the crest? He had seen it countless times. Was its appearance here now a coincidence, or was it meant to be?

After thinking about it, Carver felt much more relaxed. No way, this person is dead and so is this family. It's not real, it's just a coincidence. The Stewart family use almost the same crest as that family, that must be it.

And he came to talk about cooperation. At that time, that person's family would not have talked to him about cooperation. It's all just a coincidence. Calvo calmed down and raised his glass of red wine. Losing half our business is better than destroying everything we have now.