Chapter 120: 120 Angry Baron Leysen

Chapter 120: Baron Raisen’s Fury

The great hall of Baron Raisen’s castle, in the domain of Sain.

*Thud!*

Raisen slammed the letter onto the table, his face flushed with rage.

“How goes it, my lord?” Knight Filiton ventured cautiously.

They had only recently heard word from Pasture City of Ronin’s defeat of three barbarian tribes. When Raisen first learned of it, he had shattered a crystal goblet in fury.

“Read it yourself!”

Raisen’s face darkened. His greatest regret now was not having seized those three barbarian settlements outright in one bold stroke—then Ronin would never have had the chance.

The matter had unfolded too swiftly. He had never anticipated that Wushan Castle would appoint Ronin as Lord of Woodland Town, nor that Ronin would move with such terrifying speed.

Wasn’t this man supposed to be a useless fool?

Filiton snatched the letter and scanned it rapidly, his brow furrowing. “I didn’t expect Ronin to act so swiftly—after conquering the tribes, he rushed straight to Wushan Castle and secured the rights to all three territories.”

His gaze lingered on the parchment, which also mentioned Ronin had earned three thousand gold coins from the curved-plow.

“My lord, Ronin’s actions have utterly defied our expectations,” Filiton whispered. “He slew Prinster, seized Woodland Town, conquered the barbarian tribes, then claimed the rights and amassed vast wealth… This is no fool’s conduct. Do you fear he may become our greatest threat in the future?”

Raisen said nothing. But the grim set of his face betrayed that he, too, was weighing the question.

In their plan, Sain Domain was to control the northern lands of Wushan, grow strong, and eventually trap Pasture City between themselves and Count Hyde’s territory.

Everyone knew that Marwen Ironhoof, the young Viscount of Pasture City, had once been close to Gremms—and even a disciple of Rulans. He was loyal to the Rulans faction of Wushan Castle, and for years had shown nothing but hostility toward the Hyde family.

To prevent unforeseen complications, Sain Domain was to serve as the forward bastion against Pasture City.

But now, suddenly, Ronin stood in the north.

Raisen had never taken Ronin seriously. He had assumed the man was lucky to survive in Woodland Town at all. He never imagined Ronin would turn into such a thorn.

“What shall we do, my lord?” Filiton asked.

Raisen fell into thought for a long while, then spoke: “Ronin himself is no concern. His rapid conquest of the three tribes was due entirely to his subordinate—the knight named Macken mentioned in this letter. But even he is merely a high-rank pinnacle knight.”

He turned his gaze to Filiton. “We have three high-rank knights here—not counting me, a Bronze-tier.”

Filiton nodded. “In raw knightly strength, Ronin cannot match us. But Woodland Town and the barbarian lands now belong to him—we have no legitimate grounds to strike.”

“Wushan Castle never drew boundaries for the Ash Soil Tribe or the Black Collar Tribe.”

Raisen narrowed his eyes. “Even if we extend Black Collar’s borders right up to Ash Soil’s gates, no one can accuse us of trespassing on another noble’s territory.”

Filiton’s eyes lit up.

“Send word to Fenris and Joffrey. Expand toward Ash Soil Tribe. If they dare resist or provoke us, teach them a lesson!”

The land of the Black Collar Tribe was vastly superior to the marshlands here. Raisen intended to claim it.

No—beyond Black Collar, he coveted the entire unclaimed northern expanse.

Wushan Domain lacked a viscount in the north. That was Raisen’s ambition.

Filiton nodded. “I understand, my lord.”

As a knight who had served Raisen for years, he knew the intent behind these orders.

It was a provocation against Ash Soil Tribe—a deliberate spark to ignite bloodshed, to demonstrate Sain Domain’s power.

They could not directly attack Ash Soil, but no one knew the true extent of its territory. As long as Fenris and the others didn’t breach the tribal enclosures, they were safe.

A cruel smile curled on Baron Raisen’s lips. “Ronin made three thousand gold at Wushan Castle. He took six hundred from me before. The brat is flush with coin. If we don’t show him our teeth, he’ll think I’m under his thumb!”

From the beginning, Raisen had underestimated Ronin. He could not believe a man of no learning could change so drastically in three months.

Even the curved-plow—likely stolen from some carpenter in Woodland Town.

“I wonder how long old Rulans will cling to life?”

Raisen seethed inwardly. If the old marquis would only die sooner, many things could be done without restraint…

…

Midnight. Woodland Castle.

Why do some people prefer to stay awake through the night?

Because only when lying in bed does time truly belong to them.

Ronin was just such a man.

Since returning to his domain, he had not rested a moment—slaying beasts, learning beast-taming, managing governance, checking on Elron’s progress with spell scrolls…

Only now, after soaking in the bath and sinking into bed, did he find a sliver of peace.

He opened his status panel.

First, he glanced at the advancement quest for the King of Slaughter:

【King of Slaughter】: Kill any fifth-tier supernatural entity. Reward: +300 attribute points, +600 Energy Essences.

Fifth-tier entities—fifth-tier beasts, Silver Knights, or Chief Mages. All formidable foes.

Ronin’s slaying of the fourth-tier Storm Wolf had been pure luck. Had the wolf been at full strength, he might not have survived.

“When will I ever complete this quest?”

He glanced at the quest panel, then shifted focus to his attributes.

He now had 201 attribute points and 1,027 Energy Essences.

Looking at that number, he felt the giddy joy of a child who’d just found ten gold coins.

One thousand and twenty-seven! Far more than he’d dared hope.

“How many Energy Essences does it take to ascend from Bronze to Silver?”

He longed to know. But he’d have to break through first.

With a thought, Ronin poured every single attribute point into himself.

His mental clarity and physical vigor surged dramatically. Instantly, his fatigue vanished, replaced by invigorated vitality.

【Level】: 3—High-Rank Knight (119/300); 3—High-Rank Mage (400/400)

Soon. Just 181 more points, and he would break through.

“Today is November 4th. Each month’s check-in grants 139 attribute points. By year’s end, when I go to Wushan Castle to pay respects, I will be dual-class Level Four.”

There were many Level Four Bronze Knights. Some Level Four Grand Mages, too. But a single individual who was both? Rare as phoenix feathers.

“To advance faster, I must complete quests.”

His next most attainable goal was likely 【Population Flourishes】—requiring five thousand souls in his domain. He still lacked seventeen hundred.

“Buying slaves is expensive and slow. Conquest is faster.”

The barbarian tribes around Woodland Town were gone. The only lingering feud was with Sain Domain.

(End of Chapter)