Chapter 552 The Final Baseline


    "Grandma, Diatoran is currently surrounded and attacked by several countries. Although we have won


    some battles in North Arinds, the future situation isn''t in Diatoran''s favor. Diatoran might fall," Henry


    said.


    "Everyone can see that. I''m asking you if you know of a way we can stay in Soutke City," Marilyn


    said exasperatedly.


    "Diatoran is surrounded by enemies and will eventually be defeated. We might as well seek refuge in


    Vadesia. With that, we don''t need to leave Soutke City, and the businesses under our family won''t


    be affected." Henry told them his opinions.


    Richard had taught him to say these things.


    After everyone heard Henry''s words, their faces darkened. They were all surprised that Henry was


    suggesting that they betray their country.


    Immediately after, Carl scolded him loudly, "Bastard! The Stewart family isn''t a powerful, noble family,


    but we''ve been in Diatoran for generations. We''ll never defect to another country.


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    "The situation on the battlefield isn''t even clear yet, yet you want tomit treason after the slightest


    hint of difficulty?"


    "Uncle Carl, we''ll die if we don''t find a way out. Diatoran is surrounded by enemies, and it''s evident that


    the country cannot defend itself against them. We might as well take this chance to pave our own path


    to survival," Henry said.


    "Things will never end well for those whomit treason. Is Quinton Hans'' death not horrible enough


    for you? I heard that he was beheaded, even. The idea you proposed is going to destroy the family!"


    Carl snapped.


    "You''re too cautious, Uncle Carl. The situation is clear as day. Diatoran won''t seed in defending


    itself against its enemies. So what if we moved to Garthram? We''ll still end up dead once the enemies


    invade the city!" Henry argued.


    "If we betray our country, the family will be met with a terrible ending. When Diatoran wins the war, the


    Stewart family will be wiped out!" Carl frowned.


    "Uncle Carl, Grandma''s the head of the family, so let''s hear what she has to say." Henry was of the


    opinion that Marilyn would surely betray her country for the sake of survival.


    After a long silence, Marilyn spoke. "Henry, your Uncle Carl is right. Although the Stewarts aren''t a


    noble family, we can''t do anything that''s looked down on by the people in our country."


    Marilyn was calcting and snobbish, but she was still the head of the Stewart family. When faced with


    things that were either right or wrong, she had her own principles.


    Henry was surprised that his grandmother, who usually did whatever benefited her most, would have


    such a staunch attitude at a time like this.


    "The situation is really bleak now, Grandma. If we don''t get in touch with Vadesia soon, we''ll be without


    a home when Diatoran is defeated!" Henry said anxiously.


    "That''s enough! Stop talking about that! The Stewart family can never do anything against Diatoran, or


    we''ll have to repent for our sins in the afterlife!" Marilyn said seriously.


    "This is our only chance, Grandma! If we don''t seek refuge in Vadesia now, our properties will go to


    other people when Soutke City falls, and we''ll end up homeless!" Henry had already defected to the


    enemy along with Richard and the others.


    He didn''t want to wait in Soutke City for death to befall him.


    "Have you already defected to another country, you bastard?" Marilyn barked sharply.


    Henry shook his head repeatedly, exining, "No, no. The enemy hasn''t attacked yet, so why would I


    defect to them?"


    "Why are you so panicked, then? Are you lying?" Marilyn asked again.


    "I''m just a bit scared of you, Grandma. You''re the head of the family, too. I wouldn''t dare to take any


    action before you''ve given your approval, would I?" Noticing how firm Marilyn''s attitude was, Henry


    dared not say much.


    He would surely be punished if the olddy were to know that he had already defected along with


    Richard and the others.


    "Defectors will be looked down on by every single person in Diatoran, so never bring this up again.


    People would have misconceptions about us if word ever got out!" Marilyn said.


    "Exactly. Henry, you must be careful under such special circumstances. You should never say things


    like this rashly," Donald quickly advised as well. "I''ll disown you if I hear you talk about this again!"


    Donald was also a calcting man, but he had some degree of power within the family. He didn''t want


    to be known as a traitor to his country, either.


    Henry noticed that both his grandmother and parents were against him. They were reprimanding him,


    too, and that filled him with annoyance and anger. "Why are you all so stubborn? What''s in it for us if


    we''re loyal to Diatoran?


    "If we don''t seek refuge in Vadesia, we''ll have to live under Caspian''s shadow our whole lives! Do you


    want Caspian to lord over us our whole lives?"


    After Henry had said his piece, everyone was stunned. No one had expected Henry to say something


    so unabashedly disrespectful.


    "Bastard! We''re all Diatoranians. Is there any problem with supporting our own country? Diatoran is


    indeed facing a crisis now, but should we defect to another country just because of that? Everyone will


    talk about us behind our backs if we do so!" Marilyn said.


    "Four countries are attacking Diatoran right now, but Diatoran is still guarding its borders with


    determination. As of now, Diatoran hasn''t let its enemies take a step forward toward ournds.


    "Henry, if you insist on saying more things like this, the Stewart family will cut you off!" Carl said with


    righteous indignation.


    "Even if we feel humiliated in front of Caspian, we can''t betray Diatoran! What''s between Caspian and


    us is just a personal grudge and has nothing to do with Diatoran. If we betray our country, the Stewart


    family will be an enemy of Diatoran!" Donald added.


    Henry didn''t expect the day toe when he would be on the opposing side against everyone in his


    family. He just wanted to protect the foundational businesses of the family, yet he was scolded and


    belittled by everyone like he was worthless.


    "You''re all stubborn old farts. We''re in a modern age, yet you''re still stuck in the old ways. If we don''t do


    anything for our own sake, we''ll end up dying.


    "If we defect to Vadesia now, Vadesia will surely support us as we gain our footing in Soutke City in


    the wake of Diatoria''s defeat. Perhaps the Stewart family will be richer and more powerful after


    that!" Henry bit out.


    "I''m pissed at you, you bastardly child!" Marilyn raised her cane and whopped Henry with it. She asked


    in fury, "Be honest with me. Are you in cahoots with anyone from Vadesia?"


    Henry had been treated well by the family ever since he was little. He had never gotten a single beating


    before.


    He couldn''t fathom why the family was so adamantly against his suggestion.


    "You misunderstand, Grandma. I''m just discussing this with you." Henry wasn''t so dumb as to confess


    to it rashly, but he had actually reached an agreement with Richard and the others to defect to Vadesia


    together.


    "Why would you say something so strange, then? Did Vadesia promise you anything?" Marilyn asked


    sharply.


    "If you have defected to the enemy, you can still turn back now—it''s not toote. Otherwise, no one can


    save you.


    "Do you think you can believe your enemy''s words? They just want to use you to create chaos in


    Soutke City.


    "When you no longer have any value to them, your death will be near! Since time immemorial,


    misfortune has befallen every person who has chosen to betray!" Marilyn advised earnestly.