"I am telling you, the bandits are going after the upper-class. Now they are going to come after our children."

Atticus's father tried to warn everybody, but no one took him seriously. And why would they, they were earning such a good amount through the bandits. Why would anyone want to let them go?

"I understand that you have lost your son, Will, but that does not mean that you should discourage us." A lady said 

"Yes, Will, and I suggest not to step back from this business. Bandits bring us leaves and we sell those slaves and valuable things stolen from their villages. It's a business with huge profits," Another lord said.

Nobody listened to him, and no one wanted to fight with him to give his child justice. Atticus's father has never felt so helpless in his life before.

And at the same time, the news that the duke of north Yibo was also attacked by the bandits had spread in the empire.

People were shocked to hear that.

While Callum could not understand what the hell was Yibo trying to do why was he spreading the news about bandits and not going to court? maybe because he knows that it was no use because the queen will not support him. Or perhaps Yibo actually thinks that Bandits attacked him

No of course not he was poisoned.

Callum was so anxious that he deiced he was going to meet Yibo on his own.

Meanwhile, the Yibo and Zhan carried on their plan.

"NO, NO, NO PLEASE DON'T KILL ME PLEASE...." The heir of another wealthy merchant yelled with terror before he was beheaded.

Another person tried his best to run and hide but he was also caught and killed.

Little by little everybody thought that William was right, the bandits were really going after their children.

The merchants went to the nobles to tell their complaints but no one listened to them in fact the nobles just laughed at them.

"Are you serious? just because a few people died you want us to think that the bandits are targeting the upper class?"

"A few people? Those few people were our children our heir, their lives hold no value in your eyes?"

"Oh come on, you are alive, right? you can always create another heir."

The merchants were in disbelief after they heard that, after supporting these people for so long how dare they say something like this.

William who can't ake any longer spoke, "I will not support you anymore."

Seeing the wealthiest merchant speaking the others also gained confidence and spoke, "We will also not support anymore."

"Yes, yes, we will not support you anymore."

"Hey come on." Count Philips spoke, "You guys can't be serious?"

"Yes," another noble Claudia spoke, "yes it's not like you weren't earning any profits from it. what's the use of crying now?"

"And not for a moment think that just because you have withdrawn we will be affected please you all hold no value."

The merchants who felt humiliated left the place feeling angry.

"We should have never supported them." Merchant said.

"We should have supported the duke of the north." Maybe he can do something for us.

"What can he do? we have to tell him that we were also investing in those bandits... and helped the nobles to sell and train salves and other valuable items."

The merchants felt helpless.

~~~
"WHAT'S GOING ON? JASPER!" Callum yelled at the leader of the bandits.

"HWY AM I HEARING YOUR BANDITS KILLING THE CHILDREN OF THE UPPER CLASS!"

Jasper was on his knees in front of Callum, "My lord please trust me it really wasn't my men, who are doing this."

"THEN WHO IT IS? THE MERCHANTS HAVE WITHDRAWN THE FUNDING!"

"MY LORD PLEASE TRUST ME IT ISNT MY MEN" Jasper pleaded for his family for the bandits the closest thing to family he had.

"THEN GO AND LOOK WHO IT IS? OR ELSE I WILL ANNIHILATE YOUR GROUP."

Jasper's eyes widened with horror, "Mercy, my lord please mercy I will do something."

Jasper said and walked out determined to find out who it is framing them.

Callum however was close to biting his nails off what the hell is happening.

~~~~

"The merchants are done," Yibo said, "Let's move on to the nobles, and let's go after the lowest one... Count Ralf Huxley."

Zhan spoke, "For this cause, I have another idea."

"Speak."

Zhan spoke, "Darian bring them in."

He said and Darian bought two people inside one man and one woman.

"Who are they?" Yanli asked and Cheng replied.

 "Meet, Xander the son of Ralf's sister, Ralf's sister the real heir, he killed and her family but Xander survived it took quite some time find him but Ralf was hiding him, we will kill Ralf and his heir Fabian both and appoint Xander who has sworn loyalty to us."

Zhan added, "And meet Sage, illegitimate Daughter of Marchioness Claudia. We are going to make her the head of the house after we kill her mother and brother."

Hoaxuan spoke, "And duke I have sent the spies everywhere, and they have bought pleasant news the merchants and nobilities are no longer on good terms and... The daughter of Marquis Desmond Eastwoods, Alice I have assigned my spies after her as well...to see if she shares the same ideals as us it not.

And the same goes for... Aval Blackwell, The son of the duke of east Dennis Blackwell. If we can manage to get these two heirs on our side, things will get easier."

"When are we going to Strike them?" Yibo asked, to this Cheng answered, "Ralf and his son love to hunt... just like Callum they gather a certain number of leaves and make them go in woods the highest one wins."

"When is the hunt?" Yanli asked.

"Two weeks later."

Everyone nodded, suddenly a knock on the door caught their attention, "Duke, the duke of the south have come to meet you."

Yibo looked at others before he said, "Alright... tell him to wait, I will come to him."

Zhan smirked, "Looks like he really couldn't take your silence anymore."

Yibo nodded and tied a bandage on his hand, if Callum saw his hand completely healed then surely he will doubt.

Callum was constantly shaking his leg feeling anxious as he sat on the sofa, the servants served him tea and all but he was waiting for Yibo to arrive.

However before Yibo Simon arrived with his nanny, he didn't know that Callum was here so he was quite shocked to see him, and after shock came anger.

While Callum glanced at the kid up and down, so this was Simon, the beloved son of the duke.

Callum smiled, "Oh boy, you are so cute." he said, "please come here."

Simon smirked, "No, thanks, my father told me to stay away from strangers."

Callum's eyes twitched at the ride tone and the smirk of Simon, "I am your father's friend I am not a stranger."

"Sorry, so but you look like a bandit to me."

Callum's fake smile was gone and he glared at Simon while Nanny was horrified, "Lord Simon you cannot speak to the guests like that."

Simon smiled and spoke, "My apologies... let me serve you tea." he said and picked the hot cup of tea as he walked towards Callum.

Callum smirked but his smirk vanished when Simon smirked back, "Oops." Callum didn't understand what was that for but he did when the cup full of hot tea fell on him, and he stood up screaming with agony.

Nancy's eyes were so wide that they could fall out, "Oh my god! servants hurry up servants held the duke."

Callum glared at Simon, "YOU IMBECILE."

He raised his hand but Nancy pulled Simon back defending him, "Please forgive young master sir, he is just a child."

"Then you should be punished on his behalf for not being able to teach him."

He was about to raise his hand on Nancy but Simon took the entire kettle and threw it on his leg making Callum fall down.

"Ow!!"

Nancy was beyond horrified now.

"What's going on here." Yibo came at the same time and saw the state in which Callum, nearly smiled and Callum felt ashamed he was stood up but Simon was fast.

He hugged Yibo and said, "FATHER, FATHER this bad man tried to raise his hand on me and he also tried to slap nanny who was trying to protect me so I threw the kettle on him."

Callum was looking at Simon with disbelief at this spawn of the devil, a demon in disguise, evil motehrfucker how dare he.

While Nancy was also shocked at how manipulating her young master was.

While Yibo was fuming, "how dare you duke of the south? how dre you raise your hand on my son!"

Callum's eyes were comically wide, to think that Yibo actually beloved him while his son was unharmed and his body was burned, "DUKE ARE YOU SERIOUS YOUR SON IS LYING HE IS A LIAR."

"ENOUGH! How dare you call my son a liar in my house, I will never forgive you for that I thought you were here because you were concerned for my health but you attacked my son!"

Callum scoffed and he "Wow... wow."

He looked at Simon who smirked and showed him his tongue

Callum took a deep breath and spoke, "Listen duke I actually came to ask how you were doing and..."

"I think you have seen how I am doing, how about we talk someday else."

"Father, father I am scared." 

Callum was sure that this child was a demon, he was sure as hell.

Yibo picked him up, " Duke pf South I am sorry but I will see you someday else."

"Duke wait..." But Yibo had already left that room with Simon followed by Nancy. Callum however was pissed.

Once they were out Yibo out Simon down and pinched his nose, "You brat... nice acting back there."

Simon was astonished after he heard that, "Father you saw everything?"

"Yes, I did. and you did well."

Simon giggled, "Don't worry father I won't let anyone fool me." again

"Good."

~~~~~
"I have a plan."

Yibo said to Zhan and Cheng  "I would like to take part in the hunt by Ralf and his son Fabian."

Cheng spoke, "Do you have the invitation?"

Haoxaun replied, "Every month Ralf sends an invitation to the duke, but whenever goes guess this time he will."

Yibo smirked, "And I am also going to invite Callum with me."

Zhan smiled, "I think I know where this is going."

Author's note: *Evil Laugh*