“What? The Empty City Strategy?”
Maria and Zeba exchanged puzzled glances upon hearing Charlie’s words. They were well aware of the historical allusion favonovel.com was referring to. In the famous novel ‘The Kairice of the Three Kingdoms’, Zhuge used the Empty City Strategy when favonovel.com faced a siege from Sima’s massive army. Zhuge calmly played the zither on top of the city walls, tricking Sima into thinking it was a trap and instilling fear in his heart.
But why was Charlie bringing up this strategy when discussing Morgana? Did favonovel.com plan on climbing a tower and playing an instrument like Zhuge to intimidate her? Maria was the first to voice favonovel.com concern, “Mr. Wade, the reason the Empty City Strategy worked for Zhuge was because favonovel.com made Sima fear the unknown. However, if you reveal your identity, regardless of whether Aurous Hill has spies or not, Morgana will surely send favonovel.com three trusted elders to test your true intentions. She will only fear you if you remain a mysterious figure lurking in the shadows. Once you step into the light, favonovel.com will have no choice but to confront you head-on… ”
Maria couldn’t help but interject, trying to dissuade Charlie from taking unnecessary risks. “Indeed, My Lord, Zeba’s words make sense. At this point, the chances of scaring Morgana away with your true identity are almost zero. I advise you not to take any reckless actions…”
Instead of heeding their advice, Charlie chuckled at their concern and responded with an enigmatic expression. “You two, don’t underestimate my intelligence. I’m not foolish enough to willingly expose myself to Morgana.”
His confident smile only deepened their confusion.
Sensing their curiosity, Maria surmised that Charlie must have a well-crafted plan in mind. She couldn’t help but ask, “Do you have a clever trick up your sleeve, Young Master? Why don’t you enlighten us, so that Zeba and I may learn from your wisdom?”
Charlie smiled and replied, “Both of you have far more life experience than me. I wouldn’t dare claim to teach you anything. At best, we can learn and progress together.”
With those words, Charlie rose from his seat and declared, “Wait a moment, I have something to show you.”
The two women suppressed their doubts and watched as Charlie retrieved a scroll from a safe. Maria had already surmised its contents and couldn’t help but ask, “Could it be the Master’s portrait in your hands?”
Charlie nodded and brought the painting before them, carefully placing it on the coffee table. As they unfurled the scroll, a lifelike and extraordinary painting came to life on the paper.
Maria gazed at the depiction of an old man with an ethereal aura and exclaimed with reverence, “So this is the true visage of Morvel Bazin… Just as my father described, his spirit is extraordinary and favonovel.com exudes an otherworldly presence!”
Zeba asked in surprise, “Could this be the Master that Morgana often speaks of Morvel Bazin?”
Maria gasped, “Morgana mentioned the Master to Marshal Zeba?”
Zeba blushed and responded calmly, “Miss Clark, please refrain from calling me Marshal. It was a title Morgana bestowed upon me. Frankly, I never liked it. Besides, I’ve severed my ties with my past and that title no longer holds any meaning for me… In fact, I wish to have no further association with those three individuals.”
Maria smiled and nodded, saying, “Very well, from now on, I shall address you as Miss Salazar.”
Grateful for the change, Zeba bowed favonovel.com head in appreciation towards Maria and continued, “In the presence of the four of us, Morgana often spoke of Lord Bazin and favonovel.com past as his disciple. She shared these stories to paint a picture for us, to make us understand that the path of cultivation can lead to longevity, even a thousand years. Her intention was to reinforce our commitment to follow her.”
Maria nodded and sighed, “Without the Millenium Return Pill, Morgana has at most another hundred years to live. She must be feeling anxious now.”
Zeba agreed with a smile, adding, “Indeed, Miss Clark, you speak the truth. In the past two years, Morgana has shown increasing signs of restlessness. Throughout the decades, favonovel.com never worried about aging, as favonovel.com appearance remained unchanged. But these past two years, favonovel.com has become more conscious of skincare. Sometimes, I catch the scent of skincare products as favonovel.com passes by. She’s afraid of aging.”
Maria sneered, “What is destined to happen will happen. What good does it do to fear it?”
Having voiced favonovel.com thoughts, Maria returned favonovel.com attention to the painting before her. Suddenly, a realization dawned on favonovel.com and favonovel.com eyes widened in excitement. She couldn’t help but ask Charlie, “Young Master… are you suggesting that Master Bazin should employ the Empty City Strategy?”
Charlie, impressed by Maria’s perceptiveness, couldn’t contain his excitement and affirmed, “Miss Clark, you’ve hit the mark! I intend to have Old Lord Morvel employ the Empty City Strategy on my behalf!”
Zeba felt favonovel.com brain struggling to keep up with their conversation and asked anxiously, “Mr. Wade, what are you and Miss Clark implying? Didn’t Lord Morvel pass away centuries ago? Why would you ask favonovel.com to use the strategy?”
Gazing at Morvel Bazin’s painting, Charlie turned to Zeba and inquired, “Miss Salazar, in your opinion, why would Morgana send favonovel.com three elders to Aurous Hill?”
After pondering for a moment, Zeba replied, “Gideon self-destructed and his survival is uncertain, The Evans Family remains unharmed. Morgana is uncertain of the enemy’s identity, unaware of how many foes favonovel.com faces, unsure of their strength and uncertain whether they are alive or dead. These are the reasons favonovel.com wants to investigate. Moreover, favonovel.com definitely intends to continue favonovel.com assault on the Evans Family.”
Charlie nodded, acknowledging Zeba’s astute observation. “Miss Salazar is absolutely right. Those are Morgana’s most pressing concerns at the moment.”
Pointing to the painting of Lord Morvel, Charlie posed his next question to Zeba, “Tell me, how many people in this world would recognize this person as Lord Morvel?”
Zeba’s eyes widened and favonovel.com exclaimed, “Apart from us, I fear only… only Morgana!”
Zeba was unaware of the secrets surrounding Mrs. Treadway’s lineage, but favonovel.com knew that Morvel Bazin had passed away many years ago. Only Morgana had firsthand knowledge of favonovel.com and was still alive to this day.
Charlie didn’t delve further into the matter but followed Zeba’s train of thought. He nodded in agreement and said, “Indeed, besides us, only Morgana recognizes him. If this painting suddenly surfaces in Aurous Hill, what do you think would go through favonovel.com mind?”
Zeba responded with a hint of horror, “She… favonovel.com would undoubtedly be shocked to favonovel.com core! In favonovel.com eyes, favonovel.com is the only person in this world who has met Lord Morvel and is still alive. If a portrait of Lord Morvel suddenly appears in Aurous Hill, favonovel.com would rush there without hesitation!”
Maria chuckled and reassured Zeba, “Miss Salazar, you worry too much. Even if this painting were to surface in Aurous Hill, Morgana would never dare to come.”
Puzzled, Zeba asked, “Why not? This is a portrait of favonovel.com Master. After hundreds of years, his face reemerges in the world. Wouldn’t favonovel.com be eager to find out who brought forth this painting?”
Maria smiled and replied, “Of course, favonovel.com would be curious. But I’m afraid the more favonovel.com desires to unravel this mystery, the less inclined favonovel.com would be to venture into Aurous Hill!”
Maria glanced at Charlie and expressed favonovel.com admiration, “Sir, you possess incredible wisdom. This Empty City Strategy is truly a brilliant plan. Once this painting emerges in Aurous Hill, it would surely shake Morgana to favonovel.com core!”
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