Looking at Viscount Barber’s face, with expressions flickering unpredictably, Annan couldn’t help but laugh.
He felt a genuine sense of pleasure from within.
—Indeed, he had bet correctly.
From the very beginning, Annan had suspected that Viscount Barber might recognize "Tan Juan Geraint." After all, the old man had lived too long; it wasn’t only Tan Juan he might recognize but also, very possibly, Annan himself.
Even if there was a minuscule chance that he truly had never met Tan Juan or seen his portrait, at the very least, he would have been acquainted with Tan Juan’s grandfather.
The Viscount never would have imagined that by inviting Annan in alone, he was actually doing him a favor...
This was essentially helping Annan conceal his identity.
Otherwise, today the guise of "Tan Juan Geraint" would have been lost.
"You, you are not Tan Juan Geraint at all! You are, from the Winter family... Annan!?"
Alvin Barber’s lips trembled, his voice even breaking, "Is it, is it you?"
Seeing the old Viscount’s ghostly expression, Annan started to wonder if he might have almost scared the old man to death just now...
Yet, Annan’s face bore only a gentle smile: "Right, it’s me.
"As for Tan Juan’s whereabouts... I believe you know in your heart."
"...I see, I see. That explains it, that explains it..."
Old Alvin murmured to himself, leaning back in his chair, his eyes still showing fear and panic, but it seemed as if he gradually started to understand something.
Annan maintained his gentle smile, watching him quickly regain his composure.
Viscount Barber fell silent for a moment before asking.
"...That young man Tan Juan, has he really gone to feed the fish?"
The old man’s voice was still somewhat hoarse. This might have been due to the emotional excitement he had just experienced.
Annan just smiled and didn’t respond.
Being this quietly passive... was also part of the interrogation.
The saying goes, it’s important to tailor your approach to the person.
In dealing with old Alvin, one couldn’t be like when coaxing Salvatore, actively leading his thoughts.
With his suspicious nature and extensive experience, another strategy had to be employed...
"Was it the Third Prince who sought you out, or did you approach the Third Prince?"
The Viscount fell into a silent contemplation again before slowly continuing to ask.
Annan sneered inwardly.
No matter how Annan answered, it would directly reveal something—that they had apparently cooperated with the Third Prince; and if Annan had not cooperated with the Third Prince, there would surely be an issue exposed in his answer.
It seemed like a multiple-choice question, but it was actually an application question.
At that moment, Annan deliberately hesitated, not answering directly. He turned to look at the muscular bald man.
In such cold weather, he was wearing only a thin shirt. His muscles were so well-defined that they almost made the shirt bulge out prominently, creating visible lines as if he were an underground boxer.
Annan shifted the topic, deliberately asking, "Your... butler?"
"My name is Justin Knecht, your esteemed Excellency."
Without waiting for the old Viscount to reply, Justin had already risen from his chair, bowing respectfully to Annan: "Grandmother loves all her family."
"And may Grandmother love you too, dear brother."
Annan replied sweetly.
He immediately turned back to the old Viscount and greeted, "And you as well, Grandfather Barber."
This was a greeting Annan had specifically looked up beforehand, often used in Winter Principality—
Just as in the Kingdom of Noah, where belief in the Silver Baron is common, they would mention the Silver Baron or silver coins in their greetings.
The greetings in the Winter Principality often involve a familial touch. Phrases like "Grandmother loves you, brother" and "May Grandmother bless Uncle with a smooth day today" are common.
However, those of lower status, when greeting someone of higher status who they are not very familiar with, can only offer a broad blessing. At this time, if one directly addresses the other as a family member, it would seem like they are trying to curry favor or be sycophantic... Of course, if one is shameless enough, it’s not impossible to do so.
And if the other party also responds in a broad and distant manner, it signifies detachment; while if they are willing to address you in a more intimate way, it indicates that they too bear goodwill towards you.
Only the elderly are an exception.
In the Winter Principality, elders are revered, and their status is very high. They do not need to greet or pay respects to even the lords, but rather it is the lords who must greet the elders... If the elders are old enough, the local lords must even give them money and food each year.
Based on such customs, Annan, even with his gentle demeanor and readiness to reply to any question, would not arouse suspicion of being overly eager. And following Annan’s previous misdirection, the old Viscount would only believe, after uncovering the "Tan Juan Geraint" nesting doll, that this was the whole truth.
—Do you think I am Tan Juan? A member of the Geraint family?
—You are mistaken; in fact, I am Annan Winter.
—Do you think I am a person from the Winter Principality?
—You are wrong again; in fact, I am a transmigrator.
The old Viscount slowly nodded, his demeanor becoming somewhat more amicable.
"This is my new butler, who is also the head of my guards. A fine young man."
He gave Annan a brief introduction to Justin, then turned to the bald man and said sternly, "Go ask the kitchen if there is any dinner left.
"Since you’ve called me grandfather, stay and have dinner tonight."
But the true purpose of the old Viscount was to temporarily send Justin away.
Annan specifically mentioned Justin before answering the question to silently inquire of Viscount Barber whether it was possible for Justin to know.
Old Alvin also made his own reply.
Justin evidently understood Alvin Barber’s meaning. He didn’t say much but nodded and left the room.
He didn’t think that the old Viscount would come to any harm.
Although one was old and the other young, both were noblemen. Noblemen do not flip tables rashly.
And there were no conflicts of interest between them.
Old Alvin’s enemy was Tan Juan of the Crow family. But Annan was not Tan Juan at all, so they were not enemies; rather, they were temporary allies with the same adversary.
Moreover, as the son of a Grand Duke, Annan’s status was immeasurably loftier than Old Alvin’s. By infiltrating Frostwater Harbor personally, what he was plotting could naturally not be the life of a mere Viscount... He likewise needed the support of Alvin, a native of the land.
Meanwhile, Annan’s coming here disguised as Tan Juan Geraint, who had supposedly been killed by the third Prince’s people, suggested that the third Prince might have dealings with the Winter Principality.
No matter how Justin saw it, he didn’t think there was any chance of them coming to blows.
Instead, if he knew too much, he might be the one in danger...
He was very grateful to Annan in his heart.
Figuring that he was not a retainer of the Viscount, Annan had kindly persuaded him to leave before discussing the secret...
"He really is a good person."
On the other hand, the old Viscount had already collapsed wearily into his seat.
Annan exhaled softly, the dim grey light in his eyes fading gradually.
Then, he reached into his bag and took out a hammer and a meat cleaver.
Annan felt grateful for Justin’s obedience in leaving.
The big man, faced with such a big secret, had managed to refrain from eavesdropping at the door...
One could say he was exceptionally intelligent.
—Unfortunately, he had never seen a tactic called "changing houses."