In the afternoon, gentle sunlight filtered through sparse clouds, scattering across the lawn of a magnificent and luxurious manor.
A light breeze gently stirred, carrying a hint of freshness and the fragrant scent of distant flower fields, making one feel refreshed and relaxed.
In this peaceful and beautiful atmosphere, Joseph lay on an elaborately carved antique-style recliner, his eyes slightly closed, leisurely enjoying this pleasant and relaxing time.
More than a week ago, news of the Pure Water Association's failed assassination attempt on Yide arrived.
He immediately locked himself in the study's secret room, isolating himself from the outside world, as if only in this way could he feel safe.
It was not until Tywin personally came to "investigate" that he was relieved.
Bathing in the sunlight again, Joseph felt an unprecedented sense of ease and relief.
He decided not to get involved in this matter again, after all, not every failure is as fortunate as this one.
Just as he picked up a glass of fragrant red wine, preparing to savor it in the afternoon sun, a steady and powerful footstep suddenly entered his ears.
The sound of footsteps was rhythmic, like drumbeats.
Joseph's heart tightened, and he subconsciously turned his head to look.
This look immediately terrified him, and the blood in his body seemed to freeze at that moment.
He saw Yide, dressed in a black uniform, his face, which was always calm, now wearing an ambiguous sneer, walking towards him step by step.
Behind him, several members of the West Factory stood expressionlessly with long swords at their waists, like a group of messengers from hell.
"Clang!" The wine glass in Joseph's hand slipped and fell straight to the ground, the sound of glass shattering crisp and harsh, seeming particularly abrupt in this originally quiet afternoon.
"Duke Joseph, long time no see." Yide finally spoke, his tone very gentle, even polite.
But to Joseph, this gentle voice was like a cold wind from the Nine Nether Hell, making him feel a chill from head to toe.
Joseph woke up as if from a dream and quickly jumped up from the recliner, standing straight, looking at Yide, who was approaching him, with a flustered expression: "Baron Yide, is there anything I can do for you? I will do my best to help."
Yide did not answer immediately, but reached out and gently placed his hand on Joseph's shoulder.
"Relax, Duke Joseph, I'm not here to make trouble for you." His voice was still gentle, "However, I recently heard some rumors that you have done some… unwise things."
Joseph was immediately terrified, his back chilled, his legs shaking, and he said in a trembling voice: "Baron Yide, I have been very quiet recently and have really not done anything I shouldn't have done."
"Oh? Is that so?" Yide raised his eyebrows slightly, looking at Joseph with a smile that was not a smile, "The people from the Marechaussee Phantom did come here a few days ago to conduct a so-called 'investigation'.
But, you and I both know that their investigations are not always so reliable. So, I don't plan to completely believe their results."
Speaking of this, he paused deliberately, staring at Joseph's eyes with piercing eyes, "What do you think I should do?"
Joseph's mind was racing.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he remembered that he had exchanged his shares in the Steambird newspaper for leniency.
So, he tentatively asked: "Baron Yide, I am willing to donate a portion of my family property to the West Factory to express my sincerity and repentance. What do you think?"
He carefully observed Yide's expression, hoping to glean a hint of a clue from the other party's reaction.
However, Yide frowned and said coldly: "Duke Joseph, do you take our West Factory as robbers?"
Joseph quickly waved his hand, explaining in a panic: "Baron Yide, you misunderstood, I definitely don't have that idea.
I just hope to make some compensation for my previous mistakes to express my sincerity."
He felt desperate. If Yide didn't take the money, then his ending would be particularly miserable.
He didn't have the perseverance to endure the West Factory's "tea drinking" interrogation.
Just then, Yide suddenly spoke, "Recently, our great goddess Furina is preparing to establish a foundation that will be dedicated to funding those who have lost their livelihoods due to the construction of the Fontaine canals."
Joseph's heart moved, and he immediately understood what Yide meant.
He said without hesitation: "I am willing to donate 100 million Mora to this foundation free of charge to do my part."
Yide stared straight into Joseph's eyes without expression.
After a moment, he said coldly: "It seems that you still want to go to the West Factory for tea!"
Joseph's heart tightened, realizing that his donation amount had obviously not met Yide's expectations.
He gritted his teeth and said fiercely: "500 million Mora! This is all I can come up with!"
His voice was tinged with a sob, and his heart ached as if it were bleeding.
But, to his surprise, Yide did not show a satisfied expression after hearing this amount.
He turned around directly and coldly dropped a sentence: "Let's go, Duke Joseph, the West Factory recently received a batch of Liyue black tea, you should like it."
Joseph's heart was filled with an indescribable fear when he heard the words "black tea."
He seemed to see himself locked in a dark prison, being forced to drink cup after cup of hot black tea until he painfully spat out all the secrets.
This extreme fear made Joseph lose his mind instantly.
He scrambled to Yide's feet, grabbed the other party's trouser legs tightly, and shouted hoarsely: "1 billion Mora, I'll give it, I'll give it! This is really all my family property, please let me go!"
His voice was trembling and desperate, and tears kept streaming down his cheeks.
Yide looked down at this nobleman who was usually infinitely glorious but was now kneeling at his feet, and a contemptuous smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
He slowly squatted down, looked at Joseph at eye level, and said in a gentle but cold voice: "Duke Joseph, you just like to do good deeds.
Since you are so generous, then I will accept your donation on behalf of Lady Furina."
Saying that, he stood up and straightened the trouser legs that Joseph had wrinkled.
"I will send someone to bring you the Liyue black tea to taste. As for the West Factory, you don't need to go there anymore."
Yide left a sentence and left the manor with his men without looking back.
Joseph collapsed on the ground in relief, staring at the backs of Yide and others as they walked away, until they completely disappeared from sight.
His tense nerves were finally relaxed, and he let out a long breath of turbid air.
At this moment, he realized that his back was already soaked with cold sweat, and the wet clothes were tightly attached to his skin, bringing bursts of chill.
A gentle breeze blew, and he felt a cool and sticky touch.
He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the fear and anxiety in his heart.
Although he paid a heavy price and lost most of his family property, at least he saved his life.
This thought flashed through his mind, making him feel a trace of luck.
Recalling Yide's indifferent and deep eyes, he couldn't help but shudder.
If he was taken to the West Factory by that killing god, he had no doubt that he would end up in a fate worse than death.