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Chapter 464 – Moth to a Flame
Claire silently nodded after she looked at Lin Xiao. Right, she already decided to trust him, so what was she worried about? No matter what he did, it was surely in order to help her, so the right thing to do was to continue to support him.
Whether it was was or peace, life or death, it’s up to you to decide, I trust you!
“Lin Xiao, you can’t joke around about things like this! 
 Did you ask the princess or not!?”
Barrett still couldn’t believe it and was just blurting something out so he tried to get the answer from Claire, but she just shook her head and raised a hand to point at Lin Xiao, like she was saying his words were her words.
“That’s
”
Barrett was shaken after getting Claire’s response and sat back down into his chair in a daze.
The princess agreed to a war?
Impossible!
Barrett was one hundred percent sure!
Don’t forget, Claire even almost cried in order to deny the counterattack plans! So why would she suddenly change her mind?
There can only be one conclusion, agreeing was Lin Xiao’s opinion and Claire was just going along with it.
“
 Lin Xiao, who are you?”
Barrett was utterly confused. He heard from a subordinate that Lin Xiao was just a normal investigator and went on a mission with Claire once. He could easily find a bunch of people in the city like Lin Xiao, the only thing that Barrett cared about was his extraordinary temperament. Lin Xiao was completely unaffected by his own atmosphere, which meant that Lin Xiao was someone strong, but that wasn’t enough!
Barrett has met many gifted youths, although Lin Xiao was probably the youngest and most unfathomable, but Barrett never feared him and just treated him like an opponent. But now
 Barrett was a bit panicked because he realized that Claire was listening to and obeying Lin Xiao!
Where did this kid come from?
Even the Leopard Queen Claire was acting like an obedient puppy and following the orders of someone two years her junior, even on something this important
 h-how is that possible?
Barrett clearly remembers how Claire was stubborn ever since she was young, even much more than many men, she often didn’t even listen to her father’s orders and teachings.
So why is such a stubborn and rebellious girl acting so docile with a stranger and even handing over such an important decision? Could it be that in her heart Lin Xiao’s position already surpassed her own father?
“That can’t be, right
”
He was clear that there was only one answer for a man who would be in a higher position than her father.
A lover.
To a girl in love, her lover was her sky, her everything and more important than anyone else! So if it was her lover’s opinion, Claire would disregard everything and be drawn in like a moth to a flame and follow him!
Lin Xiao, I don’t know if you’re worthy of the princess or not, but if you dare let her down, then I’ll rip you to shreds!
Barrett threatened him silently and was afraid Claire was being tricked so he glared at Lin Xiao and released killing intent trying to pressure him.
And it was still like before, Barrett’s killing intent may have made it hard for others to breathe but it was nothing to Lin Xiao, he didn’t feel any of it.
“Grand Marshall Barrett, can you please stop staring at me so intently, it’s disgusting, I’m not interested in men.”
His atmosphere may not affect him, but his gaze could still affect him
 and Lin Xiao complained as he shivered uncomfortably.
“Uh
 stinking brat, you dare play with me?”
Barrett bitterly smiled and shook his head then stopped.
It’s been a long time since anyone has ever said anything like that to his face, it was like a breath of fresh air and he became even more curious about Lin Xiao and wanted to know what other tricks he had up his sleeves!
“Cough
 since the princess agrees with my plan, then this meeting is over, right!”
If the meeting just ended like this, then Lin Xiao would have any more chance to overturn it, so he had to use whatever else he was saving!
“Grand Marshall Barrett, please wait!” As expected, Lin Xiao immediately stopped him.
“Do you have something else you want to say?”
“Although I
, although the princess agreed to your plan, the specific implementation is still debatable, so please wait for a bit.”
“Oh?”
He knew that Lin Xiao wouldn’t just leave the matter at that!
Okay, I want to see what else you can do since you already agreed to my plan!
“Okay, then say what you have to say, I’m listening!”
Out of absolute confidence in himself, Barrett sat casually and waited for Lin Xiao.
“Grand Marshall, the country’s economy is in a dire state, even if the princess agreed, but we can’t fully cover the rations and supplies.”
“That’s fine, I already knew that we couldn’t get all of it, but we should at least get some! If we can’t get all of it, then half should be fine, right.”
“Sorry, we can’t do half, the country’s treasury is already completely empty, there’s not that much money.”
“I know that it’s difficult, if not fifty percent, then how about thirty? As long as you can supply some rations and weapons, then I can deal with those bastards!”
Lin Xiao almost laughed out loud when he saw him bargaining like a merchant.
“Thirty? I can’t do that either, we still have to deal with the plague at this time and don’t have the extra manpower for weapons and armor.”
“Hah? You can’t even do thirty? Okay, okay, then I don’t need any equipment, we’ll just snatch it from the rebel army
 just give me twenty and just give me some rations to feed the soldiers, that should be fine, right!?”
“Sorry to disappoint you
 the most we can give is ten percent of supplies and half of the rations. How
”
“Bullshit! If you only give ten percent of supplies and half of the rations, what am I going to fight with? Damn brat, do you think my soldiers are those living dead who don’t need to eat?”
Ten percent of supplies and half of the rations
 Lin Xiao was just chasing a beggar away! No matter how good Barrett was, he can’t lead hungry soldiers to win against the rebels!
“Lin Xiao, you’re clearly purposely making things difficult and being insincere! You clearly agreed yet you’re playing these games
 I’m not doing it!”
“Sigh, Grand Marshall, take it easy, since I said we’ll reinforce the front lines, then we’ll definitely do it.”
“If that’s the case, then say what ideas you have!”
“It’s simple, I guarantee you’ll feel my sincerity!”
Lin Xiao smiled and then turned to look at Hardy and Taike.
“Barrett, in order to support you, I plan on getting general Hardy to lead a portion of the imperial guards and support you as the deputy marshall! As for the remaining capital
 we’ll deduct it from Taike and the other official’s wages!”
“Damn brat, what did you say!?”