Chapter 265 - 264: An Unsettling Speculation

In this social structure, minor lords were typically the vassals of great lords, their relationship existing in a form similar to a contract.

In exchange for fiefs, power, and protection from a great lord, a minor lord was required to offer their loyalty.

Their relationships were often built upon a complex web of allied interests and power struggles.

Unlike knights, minor lords tended to have more autonomy and independence. Betrayal was not out of the question when it came to complex struggles involving politics, rights, territory, and personal ambition.

Betrayal carried immense risks. If handled poorly, a lord could lose their land, power, and even the lives of their entire family.

But everything came down to self-interest. As long as the potential gains were great enough, taking a desperate risk was always a possibility.

’From passing intelligence to Wushan Castle at the very beginning to lining up our troops on the front lines now, all the information we’ve received came from Coren. If he’s really hiding something, we’d have no way of knowing.’

As the seeds of doubt took root and sprouted, the more Ronin thought about it, the more unreliable Coren seemed. The fall of Chishan Town had been far too sudden.

’If he really did betray us, what for?’

’What does he hope to achieve by luring the Wushan Territory’s Noble Alliance Army here?’

Ronin put himself in the other man’s shoes, imagining himself as the lord of Giant Stone Territory and considering how he would act if he were to betray Wushan Castle.

A clear line of reasoning soon emerged.

If it was a betrayal, then Coren had to be in collusion with the Polante Thief Gang.

Lurans had long said that the Polante Thief Gang had a complex background and that the power behind it was most likely the Count of Moonlight Valley.

If Coren was cooperating with the Polante Thief Gang, then he must be connected to Earl Jesus.

After all, at Lurans’ birthday banquet late last year, Earl Jesus and Ossen Count had been quite close. Plus, the battles on the southeastern and southwestern borders of Wushan Territory had erupted simultaneously.

Thinking about it that way, everything seemed to fall into place.

With the backing of Moonlight Valley and Black Python City, Coren would have the confidence to betray them.

’If I consider all three parties together, what’s the objective of their operation?’

Ronin’s first thought was of himself. ’Could they have joined forces to remove me, the thorn in the side of Bretton’s succession?’

But he quickly dismissed that guess.

Chishan Town had fallen early on, before the Noble Alliance Army even existed. He wasn’t the commander then. Even if war had broken out, how could Coren and the others have been certain that he, Ronin, would even go to the front lines?

So, eliminating him probably wasn’t their goal.

Ronin’s thoughts deepened, his gaze suddenly sharpening. ’It’s the Noble Alliance Army. To be more precise, it’s Wushan Castle’s Knight Squads!’

If the commander had been Toru or Marvin instead of him, they definitely would have been swayed by Coren’s claims that "the advantage is ours" and rashly led their troops to attack Chishan Town.

Once the battle started, Coren’s forces would turn on them, throwing the Noble Alliance Army into absolute chaos.

With the enemy in front and traitors behind, caught in a pincer attack, the Noble Alliance Army wouldn’t stand a chance.

For this Alliance Army, Wushan Castle’s First and Fourth Knight Orders had each sent half of their Knight Squads to Giant Stone Ridge. Combined, that was the equivalent of one full Knight Order. And then there was the Fifth Knight Order, which was already stationed at the border.

If they were all annihilated, Wushan Castle would lose two of its five Knight Orders in one fell swoop. The loss would be catastrophic!

The deaths of powerful Knights and absolute loyalists to Wushan Castle like Toru, Philip, Solstein, and Marvin would be an even more incalculable price to pay!

And that was just the situation on the western front. What was happening on the eastern front?

If a similar situation occurred there, Wushan Castle might be left with only one of its five Knight Orders. Its power as a deterrent would plummet!

A blow that heavy would undoubtedly affect Lurans, hastening the end of the old man’s already short life.

At that point, although Wiggin would still be around, he’d likely be nothing more than a Puppet Marquis. Meanwhile, Coren, having taken part in the betrayal, would surely find a way to redeem his reputation and advance beyond his current station as the Baron of Giant Stone Ridge.

*HISS!*

Ronin sucked in a sharp breath.

He was shocked by his own theory.

’I hope I’m just overthinking things!’

He tried to reassure himself, but the more he did, the harder it was to suppress his suspicion of Coren.

What Ronin needed to do now was find evidence—either to prove Coren’s innocence or to confirm he was a traitor.

’The key is to find a witness or participant from that night and interrogate them thoroughly.’

The witnesses would be the residents of Chishan Town, but they had likely all been dragged off to work in the Chishan Iron Mine.

But then again, they probably didn’t know anything of substance. On such a chaotic night, the most they could have done was hide at home, trembling in fear.

Ronin shifted his focus to the participants.

This meant two groups: members of the Polante Thief Gang, and the five Knight Squads that had been under Coren’s command at the time but were now under Toru.

Ronin’s brow furrowed. ’I wonder if those five Knight Squads have also turned traitor?’

The Knight Squads belonged to Wushan Castle; they weren’t Coren’s personal property. Unlike lords, knights had less motive to betray their allegiance.

But these squads had been under Coren’s leadership for years. It was inevitable that some traitors might have emerged among them.

’Looks like I’ll have to give Toru a discreet warning, tell him to keep a close eye on the leaders of these squads.’

’Also, it would be best to grab someone from the Chishan Town side for interrogation.’

Anyone who knew the inside story of that night wouldn’t be an ordinary person. Ronin needed to find someone of rank.

Carlos circled above Chishan Town. As the dragon observed the terrain, Ronin studied the deployment of the enemy’s Knight Squads.

Most of them were positioned in the north, on the side closer to Giant Stone Territory.

Coren’s claim that they hadn’t had time to set up defensive fortifications here was clearly false.

Arrow towers, trenches, and even simple earthen ramparts had been constructed.

He targeted a few individuals, but they were all surrounded by others. Abducting one by force would certainly draw attention.

After searching for a while, Ronin finally set his sights on a "Supervisor" at the Chishan Iron Mine.

This man had underlings, but they were all spread out across the mine, holding whips and watching the miners to keep them from slacking. He, on the other hand, was sitting comfortably under a sunshade outside the mine, drinking water and eating fruit.

Furthermore, when patrolling cavalry passed by, they would greet and salute him. It was clear this person had some status.

"Carlos, see that man in the sunshade below? Are you able to snatch him away without him noticing?"

Carlos glanced over with his enormous eyes. "A frail human, Master. It should be no problem."

Ronin glanced at the sky. Several hours had passed during his reconnaissance, and it wouldn’t be long before dark.

"We’ll wait until it’s darker to make our move. Pay attention to the timing. I’ll use Magic to support you."

Ronin added a warning, "If he manages to escape, we retreat as fast as we can."

With the cover of dusk, combined with Curved Light and Shadow and the Giant Dragon’s speed, they shouldn’t be able to get a clear look.

At that moment, Warwick, drinking water in the sunshade, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

’Why do I feel so uneasy?’

He put down his cup, walked out from under the sunshade, and paced around a few times before looking up at the sky.

’Hmm, it’s getting late.’

He glanced back at the mine. After being worked day and night, the miners’ output had dropped again today.

But there was nothing to be done. Lashing them a little too hard could kill them. It was better to let them dig what little they could. If things got really bad, he could just beat one or two to death to scare the rest.

"It’s getting dark. I’m done playing with you lot for today."

Warwick stretched lazily. Compared to Kilbat and Lanivisa, who had to lead patrols, he much preferred this job. It was, after all, quite relaxing.

"Huh? He’s leaving?"

From the air, Ronin watched in surprise as his target mounted a horse and rode away from the mine along a mountain path.

"Perfect opportunity, Carlos!" Ronin whispered.

Without a roar, Carlos descended slowly and deliberately. The moment the target’s figure disappeared from the sight of the people at the mine, he suddenly accelerated.

WHOOSH~

Warwick only heard the wind grow louder as alarm bells screamed in his mind. He sensed danger approaching.

As a Silver Knight, he had some degree of alertness.

But before he could turn his head to look around, several cyan tendrils shot out and bound his limbs.

’An attack?’

Before Warwick could even react, Carlos had already opened his massive jaws, clamping down on the horse’s head and snatching the steed into his mouth. Then, his sharp talons seized Warwick, who was bound by Wind’s Touch, and with a powerful flap of his wings, he soared into the air.

In the space of a breath, they were high in the sky.

"Wh-what is this thing!"

Warwick was scared out of his wits, his face deathly pale. He didn’t dare to struggle in the slightest.