Chapter 322 - 319: Generous Gift

Although they were reluctant to accept His Majesty the King’s invitation, everyone except the injured Cross steeled themselves and attended.

However, they made their exits quickly.

Before long, only Bruno, Blanche, and Ronin remained in the vast dining hall.

Bruno took the towel a servant handed him and elegantly wiped his mouth. "I thought you would continue to demand compensation from them even after I delivered their punishment."

Ronin smiled. "Your Majesty has already made arrangements for me, so of course I won’t pursue them for it."

"Oh? Does that mean you’re confident you can win the tournament championship?"

"I will do my best, Your Majesty!"

Once word spread of how Bruno handled the matter today, the rumors about Ronin were largely discredited.

Once the tournament begins and Ronin defeats the finest talents of Golden Feather City, his newfound fame will completely overshadow the scandals of his past.

Blanche encouraged him from the side, "Ronin, I hope you win the championship and present the victor’s wreath to me."

After winning a championship, a Knight presents the victor’s wreath to a lady in attendance. It is both a way to celebrate victory and a means of expressing respect or admiration.

Of course, accepting the wreath signifies an acknowledgment of the Knight’s respect or admiration and can also be a symbol of the lady’s own charm, but it does not mean she will become the Knight’s lover or marry him.

It was just a custom. Many young ladies from noble families had received such wreaths, but Blanche never had. She felt a little sad about it, so much so that she often chose not to attend tournaments at all.

"I will, Her Highness Princess!" Ronin promised.

"Don’t underestimate the geniuses of Golden Feather City. You will face worthy opponents."

Bruno chuckled, then changed the subject. "However, if you do win the championship, I will give you another gift."

Ronin was curious. "What kind of gift?"

’A gift from His Majesty the King is bound to be something extraordinary.’

Bruno clapped his hands. An attendant official entered respectfully, presented a scroll, and then withdrew.

Ronin hurried over to help unroll the scroll, which was about two meters long and one meter wide. It wasn’t a painting, but a fairly complete map of the Orland Continent.

It marked not only the territories of the various nobles within the Kingdom, large and small, but also islands at sea and even whirlpools far from the coast.

"To the northwest in the Screaming Sea, near Amethyst County, there is a lone island."

Bruno pointed to the island’s location on the map. "Rapids Island."

Ronin looked closer.

Although the island was said to be near Amethyst County, it was already close to the centerline of the northern Screaming Sea. So while it was near Amethyst County, it wasn’t far from the Wubei Territory either.

"The island isn’t large, just a bit bigger than a Viscount’s Domain. It has always been a place where we imprison criminals. Since the founding of the Oduin Kingdom, the number of criminals and their descendants on the island has grown to an estimated tens of thousands. They’ve even established several factions there."

Ronin raised an eyebrow. ’The place sounds like a complete mess.’

Bruno continued, "The personnel in charge of guarding the island report that the factions there have been getting restless lately, showing signs of breaking away from our control. If you win this tournament, I will task you with subjugating these factions. Along the way, you will also eliminate the bases of the White Whale Pirate Gang."

Ronin knew the Kingdom would deal with the White Whale Pirate Gang for assassinating a noble, but he hadn’t expected to be the one leading the charge.

Still, he was more curious about Rapids Island.

"Your Majesty, is there anything special about this island?"

Bruno smiled. "It has some specialty fruits, a shipment of which is sent to the Golden Feather Palace every year. Aside from that, Rapids Island is rich in timber resources. It’s excellent for making furniture or building ships."

"Though its resources are limited and there’s nothing particularly special about it, it is still the Kingdom’s territory. I do not want it to slip from our grasp and fall into disorder."

At this, His Majesty the King looked at Ronin. "Once you have successfully eliminated the pirate gang’s bases and restored order to Rapids Island, I will announce your marriage alliance with Blanche. At the same time, to recognize your honor and achievements, I will name you the Viscount of Rapids Island."

Ronin’s heart surged. Becoming a Viscount of the Kingdom would be a solid step toward his goal of becoming a Marquis.

’This father-in-law of mine is really something,’ he thought. ’The gifts just keep getting better and better.’

Moreover, Ronin noticed something.

His Majesty the King never gave gifts without a pretext.

For instance, letting him choose two Combat Skill or Magic Books from the Library was done under the pretext of adding Ronin’s *Blast Flame Slash* to the collection.

The Fifty Thousand Gold Coins for damages to his reputation and for his recovery were being routed through the tournament championship prize;

And now, his ennoblement would be granted based on the merits of wiping out the White Whale Pirate Gang, pacifying Rapids Island, and his marriage alliance with Blanche.

’Every step has a plausible justification.’

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty!" he said, filled with gratitude.

He looked at Rapids Island. The island’s location was quite strategic.

’Once the port in the Wubei Territory is built, my warships can bypass the North Sea to enter the Screaming Sea and close in on the Earl of Scream Island.’

’If I had Rapids Island in the future, it would be much more convenient for me and the Dennis Clan to launch a pincer attack on Screaming Island.’

Ronin could even use Rapids Island as an aircraft carrier.

"Rapids Island isn’t far from your Wubei Territory. When Blanche marries, I’ll gift you a few Griffins to make travel between the two locations more convenient."

Ronin couldn’t stop smiling.

’Griffins... The mount so many people dream of having.’

Back in Shore City, Ronin had even considered trying to acquire the Griffin Knights under Jesus’s command, but he had given up on the idea.

He never thought His Majesty the King would now be willing to gift them to him.

’It seems the benefits of a marriage alliance with the Royal Family are truly endless.’

Ronin knelt on one knee. "Thank you for Your Majesty’s favor. It is my honor to marry Her Highness Princess!"

Blanche laughed at his side and teased, "Am I being sold too cheaply? Father has paid quite a price to marry me off!"

’He really is giving a lot,’ Ronin thought.

However, Ronin didn’t believe Bruno was doing all this purely out of a father’s love for his daughter.

Ronin wanted to contain the Earl of Scream Island, and it was likely that Bruno did as well.

Based on his observations, Bruno was no fatuous, hedonistic king.

On the contrary, the way he handled these matters showed that he was a meticulous man.

Therefore, Ronin had reason to believe that Bruno felt at least some concern upon seeing the marriage alliances forming between Ferrensburg, Villa, Screaming Island, and Moonlight Valley.

Gifting Rapids Island to Ronin was, in fact, a way of borrowing the strength of the Wushan Clan.

This Marquisate, being a neighbor to the Villa Duchy, Moonlight Valley, and Screaming Island, could effectively alleviate the pressure on the King if it were to grow strong.

’They weren’t close relatives, after all. There’s no such thing as unmerited favor.’