Chapter 103: Question and Answer

Ronin had just settled down to rest for a bit and wait for dinner when, unexpectedly, the old butler sent someone with a summons from Lurans.

His main reason for coming to Wushan Castle this time was to see Lurans, so he went to the rear courtyard without delay.

"Mr. Mosite, it’s been a while."

At the entrance to the rear courtyard, Ronin saw the old butler standing there as if waiting for his arrival and went up to greet him warmly.

"It has been a while, Young Master Ronin. You seem to have grown a bit taller since you last left, and you’ve become much more mature!"

He praised him with a chuckle, "The master is very impressed with your conquest of the Wilderness Tribes!"

Ronin’s heart skipped a beat. After his contact with Hook from the Silva Magic Energy Chamber of Commerce, he knew word of his conquest of the Wilderness Tribes would spread, but he hadn’t expected it to reach Wushan Castle so quickly.

"The Wilderness Tribes have been ravaged by time and have long since lost the ability to put up a direct fight. I just happened to find the precise location of their camps."

Ronin tried to downplay the difficulty of the matter: "I believe any noble with two or three Knights could conquer them."

"You’re too modest."

Mosite made an inviting gesture. "The master is on the rear mountain. Allow me to lead you there."

’The rear mountain?’

A look of surprise appeared on Ronin’s face.

The rear mountain of Wushan Castle was quite large, and its environment was indeed tranquil, but few people usually went there. Even Wiggin wouldn’t set foot there lightly.

This was because Lurans’s mount, a Fifth-level Magical Beast, the Thunderbolt Wind Chasing Beast, lived on the rear mountain.

Although it was a Contracted Magical Beast and wouldn’t easily attack people from the castle, the Thunderbolt Wind Chasing Beast would show hostility toward those who trespassed on its territory when it was in a bad mood, which was frightening.

Ronin hadn’t expected Lurans to arrange their meeting on the rear mountain.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you to lead the way."

One walking behind the other, the two followed a bluestone path up the rear mountain.

Although his predecessor had lived here for over a decade, he hadn’t come to the rear mountain many times. Ronin took in the sights as he walked, as if strolling through a forest park.

Halfway up the mountain stood a luxurious house. This was where the Thunderbolt Wind Chasing Beast resided.

As Ronin drew closer, he observed the house carefully. It had relief carvings, gleaming agate and gems, and even a Magic Crystal Lamp hanging from it.

’So the house I’m living in at Mountain Forest Town can’t even compare to a Magical Beast’s residence.’

"You’re here."

Lurans was sitting on a long bench outside the house, leaning on a cane with his back to the foot of the mountain. He didn’t turn his head.

Mosite bowed slightly, then turned and walked back down the mountain.

Ronin walked over quickly, bowed, and said, "Grandfather, it’s been a long time."

Lurans nodded slightly while looking Ronin up and down. "Compared to last time, you’ve grown quite a bit taller and matured a lot."

"Mosite just said the same thing about me."

Ronin said with a smile, "It seems I really have changed a little then."

It wasn’t a little change, but a huge one. Lurans had almost failed to recognize him.

It wasn’t his appearance, but his speech and demeanor.

The old Ronin, even at seventeen, was still like a child. He would only obey his discipline verbally and to his face, then forget all about it the moment he turned around, which was exasperating.

He didn’t know if it was just his imagination, but he felt that the current Ronin was reassuring to look at.

"I heard you conquered three Wilderness Tribes."

Lurans pointed to the long bench opposite him, motioning for Ronin to sit. "Come, tell me about how you conquered them."

Ronin naturally didn’t mind recounting the tale; it was a good way to get closer to the Old Marquis.

However, he concealed a few things in his telling.

First, he definitely couldn’t mention things like sericulture and ceramics, as those two plots of land had not yet truly become his property.

Second, he was vague about his own strength. After all, going from an ordinary person to a Dual-Profession Advanced Level Transcendent in just two short months was too incredible to be believed.

So, Ronin had to push as much of the credit as possible onto Macken, claiming he was an Advanced Level Knight with immense combat power.

As for Commander Ridder, Ronin kept him completely hidden and didn’t mention him at all.

"Macken?"

Lurans was surprised. "Is that the Knight who briefly clashed with Wiggin when you brought back the traitor? I thought he was just a Basic Level Knight."

"Macken has great aptitude, he just lacked the opportunity to show it."

Ronin explained, "He had a breakthrough shortly after arriving in Mountain Forest Town."

Lurans nodded silently. "Although you didn’t contribute much to the fighting, I can see that you have good insight when it comes to command. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to take down three tribes in less than a month."

’Command requires the ability to gather intelligence, analyze it, and assign combat tasks. In these three aspects, it seems Ronin is much stronger than Wiggin.’

Lurans sighed inwardly. If he had known his grandson possessed this command ability, he would have sent him to train with the Knight Order instead of having him study at the Wushan Extraordinary Academy all this time.

"Grandfather, you praise me too much."

Ronin shook his head. "Actually, the Wilderness Tribes’ defensive capabilities are just too weak. They don’t even have watchtowers. They were completely vulnerable."

"Haha, you’re certainly much more humble than you used to be."

After the laughter, a brief silence fell between the grandfather and grandson. It had been a long time since they had sat down and communicated like this.

"What do you plan to do with those three tribes?"

’Here it comes. The topic has finally shifted to territory.’

Ronin had just been wondering how to bring up the subject, but to his surprise, Lurans mentioned it first.

He thought for a moment and decided to be bold.

"Grandfather, I have taken in all 1,051 people from these three Wilderness Tribes. The Transcendent who defied me has been killed, and the remaining Transcendents have chosen to swear allegiance to me. The rest are working for me as slaves."

Lurans’s eyes flickered. Ronin had said it casually, but he could hear the latter’s attitude toward his enemies. At least he hadn’t executed everyone on a whim. Knowing how to absorb and grow stronger was sometimes a good thing.

"Although I could move all these captives to live in Mountain Forest Town, the Wilderness Tribes have cultivated a lot of farmland over the years, which I don’t want to give up."

Ronin paused, looked Lurans straight in the eye, and stated his purpose: "So, I hope that you, Grandfather, can grant me the territory where these three tribes are located and incorporate it into the domain of Mountain Forest Town."

He added, "Oh, right. I also discovered a large tribe that poses a threat to Mountain Forest Town. It’s called the ’Black-collar Tribe.’ After I conquer it, I hope to incorporate it into my territory as well."

From the very beginning of this conversation, Ronin had gathered a lot of information.

’First, the location of the talk. Then, his questions about how I conquered the Wilderness Tribes, and finally, his assessment... All of it indicates that my previous conjecture was very likely correct—’

’I still hold a certain place in Lurans’s heart.’

That’s why Ronin had made such an audacious request. Even if it wasn’t granted, it didn’t matter.

In any case, it was just him and Lurans on this mountain. No one would spread word of his ambition.

Lurans looked at his grandson seriously, a smile growing more and more obvious at the corners of his mouth.

"All nobles love to expand their territory. I didn’t expect that less than three months after becoming the Baron of Mountain Forest Town, you would pick up this hobby so quickly."

But here he shook his head. "However, the merit you’ve earned from just conquering the Wilderness Tribes is not enough to have all this territory granted to you."

He said, "In the war back in August, we recaptured seven castles and repelled the Black Gold Brotherhood. But due to your father’s command failures, and the mistake you made, five of those castles were given to the Hyde Clan as compensation, for them to appoint lords. The remaining two were enfeoffed to Knights loyal to our family."

Ronin’s heart sank. He hadn’t expected that incident to result in the Hyde Clan taking five castles. The loss was huge.

"There are many Knights with greater military achievements than you, but they haven’t received fiefs."

Lurans explained seriously, "When you were made the Baron of Mountain Forest Town, it was because the place is remote, secluded, has little development value, and is fraught with danger. That’s why no one raised any objections. If I were to let you expand your territory again, it would be difficult to justify to others."

Although great nobles were powerful, they couldn’t just do whatever they pleased. It wouldn’t be good if the loyal Knights and lesser nobles under them began to have grievances, especially since Wushan Castle was not in a good position right now.

Ronin understood this principle.

However, he also had a backup plan. "In that case, Grandfather, I wonder if I could manage these four Wilderness Tribes on your behalf for the time being?"

’If I can’t incorporate it, then managing it for him isn’t a bad alternative.’

"You may!"

Lurans laughed; this had been his intention all along. "As the manager, you will need to pay a certain amount of Gold Coins to Wushan Castle each year."

"Huh?"

Ronin’s face turned bitter. "You know I’m poor. I can barely afford to support the Transcendents in my territory!"

"Hahaha~"

Lurans shook his head with a laugh. "Don’t lie to me. You can make so many Magic Scrolls in a month. Selling them would earn you hundreds of Gold Coins. Paying a small management fee is nothing to you."

He held up one finger. "10 Gold Coins per tribe, for a total of 30 Gold Coins a year. I’m not bullying you, am I, Grandson?"

Ronin finally breathed a sigh of relief. He thought the old man would ask for much more. This price was clearly a "friends and family" discount.

"No, Grandfather, it’s 40 Gold Coins!"

He emphasized, "There’s still the Black-collar Tribe! I plan to take it down around the time of the spring planting next year!"

But Lurans shook his head. "I’m afraid you won’t get the chance."

’Hm?’

The smile on Ronin’s face vanished, replaced by a look of suspicion. "Why do you say that?"

"Baron Reisen of Sain Territory had his son, Tobredon, deliver a letter. It says that after a fierce battle a month ago, during which they lost over a hundred soldiers and several Professional Knights, Sain Territory finally conquered the Black-collar Tribe, the most powerful wilderness tribe in the Wubei Forest Land."

Lurans took a sheet of parchment from his coat and tossed it lightly, letting it fall into Ronin’s hands.

"Just like you, Baron Reisen wants to incorporate the Black-collar Tribe’s land into his territory."