Chapter 171: 171 Identification

Chapter 171: Accusation

Ronin’s words immediately ignited fierce debate among the nobles, with the most vehement reaction coming from his father, Viggins.

No one who had not endured an assassination attempt that cost him a leg could possibly comprehend the depth of Viggins’ hatred for the Skull Society.

Just recently, he had even opposed Rulans’ decision to send Auson to attack the Black Gold Brotherhood.

He believed only the Knight Order of Wushan Castle, launching a full-scale assault on the Black Gold Brotherhood, could quench his fury and loathing.

“Ronin, explain clearly what happened during your assassination!”

Viggins shouted. “What does this have to do with Raison?”

“Yes, Father.”

And so Ronin recounted the entire ordeal—the shadow assassin’s attack on him in Mountainkeep Castle—emphasizing the killer’s affiliation with the Skull Society and his own capture of the assassin.

At last, he pulled forth the written testimony from his chest, and beneath the glow of the magical crystal lamp, the parchment blazed with unnatural brilliance.

“This is the confession of the shadow assassin,”

Ronin declared. “He was to receive a thousand gold coins from Baron Raison upon successfully killing me. And as for Baron Germain—”

Germain, standing on the terrace, was stunned to hear his name called out so suddenly. His heart clenched—he had nothing to do with these assassinations.

Yet he instantly recalled the gift Ronin had once mentioned to him. Could it be?

With a sudden leap, Germain descended from the terrace and strode swiftly to Ronin’s side, snatching the parchment and scanning it rapidly.

He trusted the evidence in Ronin’s hands was genuine—otherwise, why would he make such a public accusation before so many nobles?

More importantly, the Marquis had said not a single word since the beginning—silence, in itself, was a declaration.

“Raison—it was you all along!”

He thrust the evidence back into Ronin’s hands, his aura surging violently as he swung a fist straight at Raison’s face. “I challenge you to duel!”

Boom. Boom. Boom!

Germain and Raison clashed immediately—the collision of their bronze-tier auras far more violent than any knightly tournament.

Though Germain had lost an arm, his fighting style remained brutal and unyielding.

“This is slander! Pure slander!”

Raison, rattled by guilt, fumbled desperately, quickly falling on the defensive.

He cried out, “We have no feud! Why would I kill your son and daughter?”

“No feud?”

Germain’s fist-blast shattered Raison’s aura armor.

“Thirty years ago, during the Battle of Mist City, my father carried the gravely wounded Greymes back at the cost of his own life—and you claimed it as your own glory. You’ve nursed that grudge ever since.”

Germain had once believed the feud between the two families would fade with the passing of the previous barons. Indeed, over the years, there had been no open conflict.

But now he saw how naive he had been. Raison still harbored hatred for the Greymes family—and he had already acted.

“Yes, Raison,” said Lord Marvin coldly. “If you had a grievance over battlefield honors, you could have challenged Germain to a duel. Why resort to such despicable assassination?”

He bowed to Rulans. “My Lord Marquis, I urge you to strip this noble of his title and lands immediately and imprison him.”

As Marvin dragged Rulans into the fray, the murmurs among the nobles fell silent. All waited, breath held, for the Marquis’ response.

“Not yet,”

Rulans said slowly. “Germain, control your rage. Let Ronin finish.”

He glanced at Raison. “And you need not fear—Wushan Castle will not wrongfully condemn any noble.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Germain bowed respectfully to Rulans on the terrace, then stepped aside.

Ronin handed the parchment to Breton. “Take it up to Grandfather and the other nobles.”

“Of course.”

Breton accepted the parchment solemnly, walking slowly as he read, his heart pounding.

He thought of how recently he had helped Raison petition Ronin for control of the Wilder tribes. Had Raison ordered the assassination because he was denied it?

It was unthinkable. Assassinating a noble? And worse—the grandson of his liege lord? How dare he?

“The assassin is still imprisoned in Mountainkeep Town,”

Ronin’s voice rang out. “I will transfer him to Wushan Castle. Raison has long seen me as a thorn in his side, a splinter in his flesh. His desire to kill me has been no secret.”

He snapped his fingers.

Tom, standing at the periphery, stepped forward.

“Tom. Remove your mask.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Tom’s voice trembled. To unveil himself before such a gathering—his nerves quivered, yet his spirit soared.

Raison narrowed his eyes, face grim, silent. His position was perilous.

But still, no proof had been confirmed. The killer remained in Mountainkeep. Transfer would take at least ten days, perhaps more.

There was still time. Still hope.

Then, as Tom lifted his mask—

Raison’s pupils contracted sharply.

“Raison. Do you recognize this man?”

Raison vaguely recalled him—someone from Mountainkeep Town. But the name escaped him.

“Perhaps you wonder,”

Ronin raised his voice, “why I’ve brought forth such a lowly knight.”

“When I first arrived in Mountainkeep Town, the magistrate Prinst and Baron Raison ambushed me on the road. And this man—Tom—was serving under Prinst at the time.”

Tom knelt on one knee, hand over his heart.

“My lords, I was once a knight who strayed from the path. I believed Prinst and Raison’s lies, and drew my blade against the true lord of Mountainkeep.”

His gaze locked onto Raison, unwavering.

“Now, by the honor of knighthood and the names of the Seven Gods, I accuse—Baron Raison has, for years, openly seized countless grain stores and resources from Mountainkeep Town, and sought to murder Lord Ronin, so that he might become its true master!”

Multiple assassinations of nobles. Years of plundering Wushan Castle’s resources. Raison could not escape these charges. His face turned ashen.

At that moment, Toru, the First Knight of Wushan Castle, burst into the square from outside, breathless.

Like Tom, he dropped to one knee.

“My Lord Marquis, we found this garment in the chamber of the gold-tier assassin named Mondo.”

Toru unfurled the garment.

On its left breast, unmistakably embroidered, was a golden skull.

(End of Chapter)