Chapter 127 - 126: Negotiation

In the wilderness outside Grey Soil Village, two parties faced off against each other.

Confident in his superior skill, Baron Reisen rode forward alone. "Ronin, if you have the courage, come forward alone and speak with me."

"My Lord, you..."

Macken, Ridder, and the others looked worried, fearing it was a trap for their Lord to go forward.

"It’s fine."

After all, Ronin was now an Advanced Level Peak Mage and an Advanced Level Middle Knight. Although the Bronze Level was powerful, his opponent wasn’t so strong that he could take Ronin down in an instant.

However, just in case, Ronin instructed in a low voice, "Elron, be ready."

"I understand!" Elron said solemnly.

Ronin tugged the reins, and his Cloud Stepper moved forward with steady steps. "Baron Reisen, you’ve brought the Knight Squad of Sain Territory here today. Could it be that you wish to declare war on me?"

Reisen’s eyes narrowed slightly. He hadn’t expected Ronin to actually dare come forward alone. This was completely different from the useless heir he remembered. ’Could it be that he’s really had a change of heart, just as Lady Dianey said?’

But this only surprised him; it didn’t change his disdain—

’A Lord who doesn’t know his own limits and recklessly rushes forward is just a fool.’

For a fleeting moment, Reisen wanted to leap over and snap Ronin’s neck, but in the end, he restrained himself.

’Just a little longer.’

"Ronning Baron, you jest. Although you and I are equals and I have no need to swear fealty to you, you are, after all, a Count’s son. I’m not foolish enough to declare war over a minor dispute."

"But you captured my men without cause. You must give me an explanation for this!"

The Cloud Stepper came to a halt, the heads of the two horses less than two meters apart.

Ronin sized up his opponent’s warhorse. ’Even if it doesn’t have a Magical Beast bloodline, it must be a warhorse of exceptional quality.’

’Since he’s not here to fight, he must have come to threaten and warn me.’

’As long as we don’t trade blows, I have nothing to fear.’

"Reisen, that’s where you’re wrong."

Ronin said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, "You’ve already built a watchtower in my home, and you still claim I captured your men without reason?"

"I won’t waste any more words with you. Give me One Hundred Gold Coins, and I’ll return everyone to you, including Finris Knight."

"Bah!"

Reisen had never been a good-tempered man, and he flew into a rage at those words. His Fighting Qi erupted from his body, stirring up a gale and filling the air with a murderous aura.

"Ronin, do you really think I don’t dare to strike you?"

He threatened, "With the handful of men you have, I could wipe you all out with a single breath! While it might be inconvenient for me to kill you, I can take you to Wushan Castle and hand you over to the Marquis and the other nobles for judgment. We’ll see who’s in the right about you deliberately capturing my men!"

"Now I’ll give you a choice. Release my men immediately and promise that from this day forward, your people will not cross this mountain ridge. Do that, and I will graciously pretend this offense of yours never happened!"

Ronin scoffed inwardly.

’If I were still just a Basic Level Knight, I might have been nervous or even intimidated by his aura. But now, honestly, it feels like nothing more than a warm breeze.’

He glanced back at Ridder and Macken, signaling for them not to be nervous.

Then he calmly turned back to look Reisen in the eye. "Reisen, I know your goal. It’s nothing more than to box me in. But this land in the north is vast, big enough for both of us to operate normally."

"But if you really think I’m a pushover, then at worst, I’ll just report this matter to Wushan Castle and have my grandfather send people to officially draw the borders for these villages converted from Wilderness Tribes."

His tone turned somewhat playful. "At that point, forget expanding in my direction. If you try to expand east or south, the moment you cross the line even slightly, I’ll report it to Wushan Castle. You’ll face fines, and they might even confiscate your right to manage the Black-collar Tribe!"

Reisen’s expression darkened. Whether he admitted it or not, what Ronin said was correct, and it was indeed a sickeningly effective tactic.

He found himself thinking how wonderful it would be if he were the only noble in the north. He could do whatever he pleased.

This only deepened his hatred for Ronin.

"Ronin, don’t forget, if you do that, you won’t be able to expand either!"

Ronin spread his hands. "I don’t mind. Mountain Forest Town is enough for my development, not to mention the three villages of Cyan Bamboo, Purple Fruit, and Grey Soil. I’m quite content."

"Heh heh!"

Reisen sneered through gritted teeth. "I didn’t realize. It’s only been a few months, and the former heir of Wushan Castle, scorned by all, has changed so much!"

He questioned in a low voice, "Mountain Forest Town only has two or three thousand people, yet your appetite is this big, Ronin. Aren’t you afraid of choking on it?"

"That’s none of your business."

Ronin stated his proposal directly. "So I suggest we use the line midway between Grey Soil Village and the Black-collar Tribe as our border and agree to a pact of mutual non-aggression. How about it?"

Reisen didn’t answer immediately.

The conversation and Ronin’s attitude had left a sour taste in his mouth. He needed to vent, to display his power and intimidate this junior, to make him learn his place.

"Territorial disputes are never settled with words."

Reisen placed a hand on the Longsword at his waist. "The ownership of land has always been determined by strength."

"Come, let’s duel!"

He drew his Longsword and pointed it at Ronin, his killing intent deepening the winter chill. "We will each send out three fighters. If you have more wins, I will pay you the Hundred Gold Coins and retreat fifteen li. If I have more wins, you will release my men unconditionally, and from this day on, you and your people are forbidden from crossing this line!"

Simply put, it was a best-two-out-of-three match. The loser would agree to the victor’s proposal.

"Then I’m curious," Ronin asked, "as a Bronze Knight, will you be fighting personally?"

"Of course!"

Reisen had no intention of standing on the sidelines. On the contrary, he wanted to vent his anger toward Ronin.

His sword tip shifted, pointing toward Ridder in the ranks. "He will be my opponent. Those who offend Sain Territory must pay the price!"

Hearing this, Ridder couldn’t help but place his hand on the hilt of his sword, readying himself for battle.

Ronin’s mind raced.

He wasn’t sure of Ridder’s limits, but Macken could hold his own against the Bronze Level Galier, even if at a disadvantage. Ridder should be even stronger.

After all, as a Knight with Proud Sun Talent, it was entirely possible for him to challenge and defeat someone of a higher level.

However, he had no idea of Reisen’s true strength. If Ridder lost, Ronin would have to guarantee victory in the next two matches.

Macken would fight the second match. Whether he faced Philton or Joffrey, the Black-collar Tribe Leader, Ronin was confident in Macken.

The key was the third match. Who would fight in it?

Looking at his squad, the only remaining Advanced Level Professionals were Ronin and Elron.

As for Elron’s damage output, even if he had mastered the "Punishment Skill" he brought from Wushan Castle, it was still very limited.

Clearly, Ronin was the more suitable choice.

But if Ronin were to fight, it would mean exposing his true strength.

And he didn’t want to do that just yet.

"What’s the matter, Ronning Baron? Are you afraid?"

Seeing Ronin hesitate, Reisen assumed the boy was already cowed, and a brilliant smile bloomed on his face.

"It’s not easy to recruit an Advanced Level Knight. If you’re afraid of him getting injured or even killed by me, you just need to obediently release my men and abide by our agreement."

"Fine!"

Ronin’s eyes narrowed. ’Since coming to this world, I’ve never made a gamble like this. Fine. Today, I’ll bet on Ridder to win.’

"But I want to add one condition. If you, a Bronze Level, lose to my Advanced Level Knight, Ridder, then the remaining matches are unnecessary. Sain Territory will admit defeat directly."

"Ha, hahaha!"

Reisen laughed as if he’d just heard the most hilarious joke. "What are you talking about, child? You think an Advanced Level Knight can defeat me?"

Ronin didn’t crack a smile, asking seriously in return, "But what if he does?"

Ronin’s expression made Reisen’s smile vanish, his face turning grim. This was clearly a sign of contempt, a veiled insult.

"Fine. I agree!"