Chapter 527 - 500: Multi-Party Coordination

Chapter 527: Chapter 500: Multi-Party Coordination

The assassination of the King was a momentous event, but fortunately, the only ones privy to the truth were members of the Royal Knight Order.

After the Crown Prince issued a gag order, Broel gathered all the knights present and confined them under the guise of secret training.

However, when Bruno failed to ennoble the surrendered Imperial Nobles as scheduled the next day, it aroused the suspicions of the Ministers of the Kingdom and the visiting nobility.

Garrett had no choice but to have his mother, the Queen of Windsor, announce that Bruno had overexerted himself while cultivating Combat Skills. The official story was that his Fighting Qi had run wild and injured him, necessitating a period of rest. This was merely an excuse to buy a few more days.

He then informed Ference of the successful assassination and began to execute the next phase of their plan.

In truth, under normal circumstances, Garrett could have simply announced that Bruno had died in the assassination and smoothly inherited the throne.

The reason he was keeping the death a secret was primarily to target Ronin.

「Wubei Territory.」

After bringing Blanche to live in Wubei Territory, Ronin had remained there. He spent his time accompanying his pregnant wife, studying Legendary Level Magic and Combat Skills, and overseeing the railway’s construction. His days were leisurely but far from boring.

One day, as he was discussing the route for the second railway with Simon, the cry of a Griffin echoed from the distant sky.

Ronin looked over. With his Spiritual Power and keen Eye Power, he could see the Griffin was wearing armor forged in Chishan Town.

"It’s Tom. Why is he back?"

Ronin put down the route map. ’Could there be some urgent matter in Mist City?’

Soon, the Griffin landed before Ronin.

Having been tempered by several wars and numerous duties, Tom had become quite capable. In the future, once his strength increased, he was certain to become one of Ronin’s top commanders.

"My lord, I just went to the Magic Academy to look for you. My lady said you were here, so I rushed over."

Tom jumped off the Griffin, offered a polite greeting, and then got straight to the point. "There’s a situation in Mo’er City!"

Ronin’s brow furrowed. He asked in disbelief, "Don’t tell me they’ve taken the offensive?"

Less than a week had passed since the New Year’s festival, and the celebratory atmosphere had not yet fully dissipated. Moreover, it was the crucial season for spring planting. ’The losing side is actually launching an attack now?’

"Yes, my lord!"

Tom said gravely, "Commander Ridder doesn’t know why they’re attacking either. But based on our current scouting, Mo’er City has dispatched at least three Knight Orders! Though they aren’t marching quickly, they can still reach the outskirts of Mist City in five days."

’It’s only three Knight Orders. Mist City won’t need reinforcements from other nobles; it can handle them with its own forces.’

’The only fear is that someone like Aluba is hidden among these three Knight Orders.’

Mist City was now Ronin’s territory. If the battle took place there, it would undoubtedly cause damage to his land, his people, and his property.

If he were to carelessly lose Mist City, he, the newly-promoted Duke, would lose all face. It would even affect the steady stream of people who were flocking to his banner.

Ronin thought for a moment, then said, "Simon, I’m leaving the survey for the second line to you. I haven’t spoken to my grandfather yet, but I’m sure there will be no problem building a railway that crosses Wushan Territory."

"Alright, Duke. Go do what you must."

Simon put away the route maps he had recently drafted for the line to Swamp Town. "I can’t help you on the front lines, but you can entrust this massive railway project to me."

Ronin nodded and said to Tom, "Take a day off. Go to Sanfang Town and see your mother."

"Thank you, my lord!" Tom said gratefully.

Ronin nodded and flew toward the Magic Academy. He needed to tell Blanche first, so she wouldn’t worry.

"My lord doesn’t even need to use Magic to fly now!" Tom exclaimed in amazement.

Simon chuckled. "You’re so green. Ronin is a Legendary now. Flying is instinct for him; of course he doesn’t need Magic."

"Huh?"

Tom’s eyes widened. "When did that happen? I had no idea!"

Simon paused, surprised. He had assumed everyone knew. He hadn’t realized it was a secret.

"Well, you know now, kid!"

He clapped Tom on the shoulder. "Remember to keep it a secret. Don’t go blabbing."

Tom stood there, somewhat dazed.

’A Legendary... a being I’ve rarely even heard of, and now he’s right here in front of me.’

Ronin told Blanche what had happened. Though she was reluctant to see him leave for Mist City, she didn’t try to stop him.

A rising duchy had many affairs that required Ronin’s attention, especially a war on the border.

Blanche’s only wish was for her husband to return safely.

Ronin then had a message delivered to Elron before flying off toward Mist City.

「Meanwhile, in Wushan Castle.」

Lurans stared at the letter from Carolina, his contact in Golden Feather City, and fell into deep thought.

’His Majesty injured himself cultivating Combat Skills?’

A thousand questions flashed through his mind.

It was true that Knights could suffer internal injuries from mistakes made during Combat Skill cultivation. However, from what he knew of Bruno, His Majesty the King had long since given up on cultivation and no longer put any effort into it.

’And now he’s supposedly injured and needs to recuperate? What’s this all about?’

"My lord, Baron Albert is here to see you."

Lurans put down the letter. "Let him in."

Soon, the Wushan Territory’s Minister of State Affairs—the same man who had dared to single-handedly charge into Golden Feather Palace—walked in briskly.

"Good day, my lord."

He bowed as he spoke. "I bring some rather bad news."

Lurans frowned. It took more than ordinary news to alarm him.

"What is it?"

Albert said, "According to a report from Baron Kabil, a number of unidentified knights have recently appeared near the border between Black Pine Mountain and the Villa Duchy. The activity has been especially noticeable in the days following the New Year’s festival."

Black Pine Mountain was a recently reclaimed territory, now managed by Wiggin’s son-in-law, Baron Kabil.

A sharp glint appeared in Lurans’s eyes.

’The Black Gold Brotherhood was completely wiped out in the last war. Are they trying to make a comeback?’

’Andrea...’

Ever since Ronin became a Proud Sun, the borders of Wushan Territory had enjoyed a peace unseen in over thirty years. Such was the deterrent effect of a supremely powerful expert.

’Now, with Ronin’s power at its zenith, would the Villa Duchy really back some third-rate organization just to throw lives away?’

Lurans glanced down at the letter on the table, and his heart skipped a beat.

’It couldn’t be!’

He shot to his feet and began pacing the room.

Albert didn’t dare make a sound. From the Marquis’s expression, he could tell something major had happened.

"Go! Inform Kabil to mobilize the Black Python Castle Knight Order. Have him coordinate with Knight Petro of Purple Thunder Territory to reinforce our border defenses immediately! Oh, and write to Baron Toru and Viscount Vitorino. Tell them to strengthen the defenses at Dennis Port."

Albert paused, momentarily confused. He understood the order to reinforce Black Pine Mountain and Purple Thunder Territory, but what did the situation on the southeastern border have to do with Sharp Horn City in the Southwest? What enemy could be over there?

As he thought about it, a name suddenly surfaced in his mind: the Fleming Clan.

"Yes, my lord!"

Albert didn’t dare to delay and immediately went to carry out the orders.

After pondering for another moment, Lurans hurried to his study to write a letter to Ronin. In it, he laid out his doubts about Bruno’s supposed injury and his suspicions regarding the strange activity on the Black Pine Mountain border.

Andrea wasn’t a fool. He wouldn’t back an organization and waste his duchy’s resources unless he was certain of success.

’Fortunately, Ronin is in Wubei Territory. The place is surrounded by sea on three sides and lies behind Wushan Territory. It’s perfectly safe.’

Lurans wasn’t particularly worried about Ronin’s safety. He was just uncertain about the future of the Kingdom.

’What on earth happened in the Royal Capital?’