Chapter 449 - 422: Hand Over the Person

Although the residents of Shore City were used to the sight of Griffins, this was the first time they had ever seen ten of them fly into the city and hover over Shore Fort all at once.

Ten unfamiliar Griffins landed uninvited inside the castle, immediately arousing the suspicion of the Guards, who swarmed in and surrounded Garrett and his men.

However, they didn’t dare to attack recklessly.

Griffins were not mounts that ordinary people could possess.

The captain of the Guards, an Advanced Level Knight, summoned his courage and demanded, "Who are you? Do you have a calling card?"

Garrett shot them a contemptuous glance and didn’t respond.

His Guard Officer, Geman, barked, "This is the Crown Prince! Hurry and inform your master to come out and greet him!"

The Guards looked at one another, unsure of what to do.

The title of Crown Prince was quite intimidating.

SWOOSH~

Just then, a strong gust of wind swept by. Ridder, who had been training in the practice yard next to the castle, strode through the air and landed before the crowd.

Garrett’s eyes narrowed, and his heart sank.

He had never seen this red-haired man before, but the man had walked on air, which clearly indicated he possessed the power of the Silver Moon Level.

’Besides Ronin and Lurans, Wushan Territory has another Silver Moon Knight I didn’t know about?’

Broel also looked astonished. He had met Ridder in Black Python City and had assumed he was merely a Meteor Knight. He never expected him to be a Silver Moon Knight.

’Wushan Territory... no, Ronin... seems to have some hidden depths.’

The captain of the Guards looked relieved. Someone who could make decisions had finally arrived, saving them from their difficult position.

"Vice Leader, they forced their way into the castle! They also claim this man is the Crown Prince!"

Ridder waved his hand, signaling the Guards to stand down. Only then did he turn to Garrett. "You have no invitation from my Lord, nor have you sent a calling card. What do you call this, openly barging into a nobleman’s castle?"

There was a saying: "My vassal’s vassal is not my vassal." Still, for Ridder to face ten men alone with such composure was surprising to everyone.

"What nerve!"

Garrett sneered. "What, Wushan Territory can openly attack the lands of other nobles, but we can’t land in your castle?"

Ridder was about to say something when he was interrupted by the sound of footsteps, followed by Ronin’s voice.

"Since when has Wushan Territory openly attacked the lands of other nobles?"

Ronin had been in the rear courtyard with Sophia, learning how to use Earth Core Fire to forge resilient steel, but the ten Griffins had unexpectedly interrupted his studies.

He stepped forward. "Crown Prince, you should choose your words more carefully. To make such a statement without any evidence—am I to understand that you are openly slandering Wushan Territory?"

Garrett glanced at Ronin, then at Ridder, and finally let his gaze fall on Sophia, who stood behind Ronin. He felt a surge of pressure.

Before him stood two Silver Moon Knights and a Magic Master. Such combat strength had to be treated with caution, no matter the circumstances.

But Garrett wasn’t afraid. After all, the power on his side was not to be underestimated either.

Besides himself, two of his subordinates, Broel and Jesus, were Meteor Knights, and there were four others at the Golden Level.

’If a real fight breaks out, the Mage’s effectiveness will be limited. We’ll only need to deal with Ronin and Ridder.’

"Tars Town was bombarded by the magic ’Flame God’s Roar,’ causing countless casualties. Looking around this area, who else besides Lady Sophia behind you has that kind of power?"

Sophia’s brow furrowed slightly. She hadn’t expected her magic to attract such a major problem in the form of Crown Prince Garrett. ’If I had known, I would have used a spell that couldn’t be so easily identified,’ she thought.

’But to pin the blame on me based on a single spell is too far-fetched.’

Her red lips parted as she asked coolly, "Am I the only Magic Master on the Orland Continent?"

Ronin took over. "Everything requires evidence. If guilt can be decided by mere speculation, doesn’t that make the Kingdom’s laws a joke?"

"I agree with what you’ve said."

Garrett nodded. "Therefore, in the interest of legal justice, and to give an account to the deceased of Tars Town and its Lord, Jesus, I demand that Wushan Castle—I demand that you, the Baron of Rapids Island—hand over Sophia to be taken back to the Royal Capital for trial!"

Sophia said coldly, "No one can force me to do anything!"

In that instant, Sophia’s impression of the Royal Family worsened, and she prepared to make a move.

She understood that Ronin, as their Vassal, was in an awkward position to act, as he had not yet broken with them.

But Ronin raised his hand slightly, signaling for Sophia to remain calm.

He looked at Garrett. "Sophia is now my follower. I do not consent to you taking her to Golden Feather City without any evidence."

At this, Jesus gave a cold sneer. "What, you dare to openly defy an order from the Royal Family? Ronin, are you trying to commit treason?"

Ronin narrowed his eyes and said mockingly, "You piece of Witch Soul Race scum, you should be grateful for my mercy. If it weren’t for the Royal Family’s sake, you would have died the moment you stepped into this castle!"

Hearing this, Garrett’s expression darkened. "Faslei Mage has already tested him. Jesus is not a member of the so-called Witch Soul Race. Ronin, you are slandering Oduin!"

"Heh, I think we all know the truth." Ronin gave Garrett no face at all, even though the man was his future brother-in-law.

Since Sophia and her people had chosen to side with Wushan Territory, he, as its Lord, naturally had to take a stand.

’If he was bullied at his own doorstep and just stood by, letting his followers resolve it themselves, it would be a blow to his status. What would his other followers think?’

"So you’re saying you won’t let me take her today?" Garrett said coldly.

Ronin slowly nodded. "I’ve said it before. Unless you have evidence, no one is taking Sophia away. Not even you, Garrett!"

"Insolent!"

Lightning flickered around Garrett’s body. He instantly activated his physical potential and attacked Ronin with extreme speed.

He would see if Wushan Territory and Ronin truly dared to openly defy him—to defy the Royal Family.

CRACKLE~

Purple thunderbolt crackled as Garrett’s fist shot toward Ronin’s face, but Ronin didn’t move.

Just as the fist was less than a meter from Ronin, Ridder appeared at his side. He shot out his left hand and clamped down on Garrett’s wrist, instantly stopping the attack.

"You!"

Garrett’s face turned ugly. ’The immense Power coming from the other’s hand... I can’t even resist it?’

The Crown Prince roared, the lightning around him surging as he switched to attacking Ridder with his left fist.

Ridder met the attack with his own fist.

The light from their fists flared and collided with a deafening BOOM. The force of the impact sent Garrett flying backward, while Ridder only took a slight half-step back.

He did not press his advantage, however. After all, Ronin had not broken with the Royal Family, and their opponents were not yet true enemies.

"Good, good, good!"

Garrett laughed in fury. "Ronin, are you trying to betray the Oduin Kingdom?"

Ronin said coldly, "With all due respect, Crown Prince, you should learn some manners from Blanche on how to communicate with people."

’Just as Blanche said,’ Ronin thought, ’Garrett is not only radical and arrogant, but he’s also not the sharpest tool in the shed.’

"Furthermore, my allegiance is to your father, His Majesty King Bruno, not to you, Crown Prince Garrett. And another thing—you do not represent the Kingdom!"

He didn’t believe the Royal Family would actually break ties with Wushan Territory.

After all, His Majesty the King had just announced a marriage alliance with the Wushan Clan. With their cooperation already underway, suddenly declaring them traitors would be a massive blow to the King’s prestige.

"Alright, alright, everyone just calm down!"

At this moment, Broel stepped forward. "Ronin will soon be Her Highness the Princess’s husband. At the end of the day, we’re all family. Isn’t all this fighting and killing a bit much?"

He walked between the two men. "How about we all sit down and talk this over?"