Chapter 228: Vagabond Knight Kudore

Wilson had served as the town officer of Mountainwood since his initial appointment, rising to become the chief of civil affairs for the North Crow Territory today.

Though his tenure had been brief, he had handled matters ranging from fierce disputes between commoners to the trivial disappearance of a family's poultry.

While some administrative matters had not been handled perfectly, he had managed to meet the Lord’s expectations well enough.

Through his service as an officer, he had come to be regarded as a figure of some repute within the North Crow Territory.

Yet, never before today had he found himself in such a helpless predicament.

This newly arrived flock of freemen had actually protested his arrangements, going so far as to strike his assistant and embroil both Simm and Juwitt when they rushed over to maintain order.

Faced with this defiant protest, they had no choice but to request the presence of the Lord himself.

Thanks to the grace of the Seven Gods, the Lord happened to return to Mountainwood today; otherwise, Wilson would not have known how to handle the situation before him.

Roning arrived at the Western Square with a furrowed brow, guided by his guards.

He recalled meeting his people here when he first arrived in Mountainwood, back when the area was nothing but a grassy pasture.

Later, as McCain and Rydal began training the guards, the space was cleared and leveled into a proper square.

It was here that Wilson distributed assignments and arrangements to the commoners who came to seek refuge in Mountainwood.

At this moment, a crowd had formed a tight ring, trapping Wilson, Simm, and Juwitt in the center, while the original residents of Mountainwood stood on tiptoe outside the circle, peering over and gesturing.

Upon seeing Roning approach, they bowed in respect, filled with anticipation as to how the Lord would handle this matter.

The crowd forming the inner circle noticed Roning as well, instinctively parting to form a path, though their eyes averted nervously the moment they met the Lord’s gaze.

"My Lord, you have finally arrived!"

Wilson ran forward, his face masked with deep self-reproach: "I am truly sorry that this matter required your personal presence!"

"What happened?"

Roning walked slowly into the crowd with a frown, and only then did he spot Simm lying wounded on the ground and Juwitt covered in bruises.

In addition, another man lay on the earth drenched in blood, with two others nearby using linen cloths to stanch the wounds on his arms.

"Greetings, My Lord Viscount!"

A middle-aged knight opposite Roning offered a formal knightly salute; if he guessed correctly, this man was the wandering knight named Kudore.

Roning glanced at him briefly, then turned to walk toward Juwitt and Simm.

"How does it feel to be beaten on your own territory?"

Juwitt managed to pull himself up with difficulty, but Simm’s leg was injured, leaving him unable to stand; their faces bore expressions of pain, mixed with an even greater sense of self-reproach for bringing shame upon the Lord.

"Remember this feeling, and never allow yourself to taste it again."

As he spoke, Roning drew a scroll of healing magic and applied it to Wilson's assistant, helping the man staunch his bleeding.

On the other side, Rogner demanded in a harsh voice: "Kudore, what do you think you are doing!"

He had assumed it was merely a minor friction, never imagining the scene would turn this bloody and violent.

He had escorted this group all the way to Mountainwood without noticing any recklessness in Kudore, so how could such an uproar occur so soon after arriving at the territory?

"Mr. Rogner, my friends and I were merely offering some suggestions, but they completely ignored us and claimed we were inciting trouble."

Kudore spread his hands, adopting an air of sheer helplessness: "During the argument, that man raised his hand against me, and I was forced to defend myself. Then those two knights came over and attacked me without asking questions, leaving me no choice but to fight back."

"You are full of lies!"

"It was clearly you who insulted us first and struck first, and now you dare to falsely accuse us!"

Wilson shook with rage, for the man being slandered was his own assistant.

If he could not stand up for his subordinate in this matter, how could he continue to serve as the chief of civil affairs in the future?

"Everyone here can bear witness that it was your man who struck first!"

Kudore looked entirely innocent: "We traveled across rivers and mountains from Baron Konar's lands out of sheer admiration for Lord Roning, yet we never expected to receive such treatment upon arrival!"

"If word of your actions spreads, it will tarnish the reputation of the Viscount of North Crow Territory! People outside who wish to join the territory will hesitate because of you!"

"You!"

Wilson had never encountered such brazenness, but as an ordinary man without the martial strength to contest him, he could only fume where he stood instead of charging forward.

"Kudore, that is enough!" Rogner barked coldly.

He shared no close bond with this wandering knight; truth be told, they were hardly even ordinary friends.

Yet when Roning had questioned him earlier, his responses had made it seem as though he were recommending this knight.

He had no intention of recommending him at all.

Furthermore, regardless of the truth of the matter, a professional knight striking ordinary citizens—and officials under the Lord’s command at that—was entirely unacceptable.

He could not help but look toward Roning, only to see the latter patting the injured assistant on the shoulder: "Take a few days off from Wilson to rest."

"Thank you, My Lord!" the assistant replied weakly.

Only then did Roning stand up to address the situation properly.

"Wilson, tell me what happened."

Wilson suppressed his anger: "My Lord, in accordance with your instructions, we prepared five acres of land for every freeman joining the Black Mountain Territory, but this lot demanded ten. Beyond that, they insisted on more spacious housing and an extension on the low-tax period."

"Jack rejected their unreasonable demands, but the man grew incredibly arrogant and resorted to violence!"

Beside him, the two administrative assistants chimed in, bearing witness for their superior.

"My Lord, he is framing me!"

Kudore argued desperately.

"As a newcomer, how could I possess the audacity to commit such an act? If you do not believe me, you can question the others here; I am certain they will testify that he is the one lying!"

Roning looked casually toward someone in the crowd: "Is that so?"

"Yes... Yes, My Lord!"

Roning scanned the rest of the crowd; most lowered their heads in silence, though a small portion murmured in support of Kudore's claim.

In truth, Roning had already deduced the reality of the situation in his heart.

Wilson followed his orders strictly and possessed a mild temperament; he would never dare weave such a grand lie to Roning's face.

Conversely, Kudore and his companions presented a perfectly unified front.

It was highly likely that after Anthony gathered them and before Rogner escorted them back, Kudore had conspired with this crowd to use their collective numbers to extort greater benefits.

And these freemen were bold indeed, daring to cooperate in such a scheme.

He could not comprehend where they found the courage to believe they could force a lord to capitulate in this manner.

Had they lost their minds?

Roning looked directly at Kudore for the first time: "In the North Crow Territory, whether you are a knight or a mage, you are forbidden from harming commoners without a lawful reason."

"My Lord, please believe me, I was forced into it!"

Roning cast a glance at the injured Juwitt and Simm, shifting the subject: "Are you stronger than my men?"

Kudore kept his face expressionless, though a spark of joy flared in his chest.

It was said that this lord was exceedingly generous, and his territory suffered from a dire shortage of people.

When Anthony had first promoted it, he had declared that anyone who came to the Ubei Domain would be treated with courtesy by the viscount, and granted a good life.

So he felt the risk of such a venture was minimal—if successful, these many people would give him a little grain or coin each year in exchange for his aid;

and even if he failed, the Ubei lord, desperate for people, would hardly punish them harshly—especially since he was a mid-rank knight.

A territory starved of people was even more starved of professional knights.

“My lord, I am at the peak of mid-rank. I may soon become a high-rank knight.”

He knelt on one knee. “I, Kudore, pledge my service to you—from this day forward, I am at your command!”

The free peasants who had come with Kudore also wore expressions of relief.

If Kudore gained high standing in Ubei, then they, strangers in a foreign land, would have a protector—no longer at the mercy of the “locals.”

“Kudore, draw your sword. Let me see your strength.”

Ronin stepped beside Rogner and slowly drew the man’s longsword from its sheath.

“If you can withstand even one of my strikes, the position of Ubei Guard Captain is yours—eleven hundred copper coins daily.”

Rogner sighed. Though Ronin spoke with a gentle tone, he knew the lord’s mood was far from pleasant.

But Wilson and the others grew anxious—why was their lord acting this way?

Not only did he refuse to punish the man, he was offering him the position of Guard Captain?

And wasn’t the Guard Captain already Master Macken? What right did this fellow have to compare himself to Macken?

Yet Kudore was ecstatic. Such a high daily wage made his heart tremble.

One strike—that was all! Even if he was wounded, he must endure it!

He sprang to his feet, drawing his own blade. “My lord, I come!”

Ronin swung Rogner’s sword—it was considerably lighter than his own Flowing Flame. “Come then!”

Whoosh!

Kudore lunged forward, his longsword thrusting straight at Ronin.

“Too many openings. Is this truly your strength?”

Ronin stepped aside, a flash of cold steel—and a head flew into the air.

“How disappointing.” (End of chapter)