Chapter 230: Hoarding Troops

The influence of Kudore faded quickly. His corpse lay untouched for days, abandoned by the “companions” who had come with him from Baron Kona’s domain—none dared so much as glance his way, let alone bury him.

In the end, Rogner arranged for a few infantrymen to carry him to the outskirts and dig a shallow grave.

The subsequent division of personnel was handled well by Wilson.

He left over two hundred people in Marshtown, where the population was dense enough that even if they formed factions, they could accomplish little.

Additionally, hundreds were distributed among Hilltown, Three-Party Town, and Blacksoil Town.

News of Ning’s killing of Kudore had spread through the towns, but public opinion was unanimous.

Everyone spoke of Kudore getting what he deserved; even the newcomers were viewed with suspicion—accused of greed, of wanting more than they gave, of refusing to serve their lord.

Not a single soul had spoken ill of the lord.

With that matter settled, Ning’s days grew leisurely.

Each day, he rode his Tachyun steed to wander and observe, spending all other hours honing the Blazing Slash he had received from Riedal.

To think, this martial art was even harder than the fifth-tier spell, Crimson Flame Serpent.

It demanded extreme compression and control of fire-aligned aura, precise circulation of knightly energy, and a substantial reserve of aura—something few could master.

Fortunately, Ning was no ordinary man.

After days of trial and practice, he finally managed to unleash the Blazing Slash.

Though his aura control was still imperfect, its power was undeniable—now his most potent single-target attack.

Five days later, Riedal and his party returned safely to Blacksoil Town.

With this, the patrols and cleansing missions around the territory could be considered concluded.

From now on, only cavalry would be dispatched along the main roads for reconnaissance; hunter squads would be called only if trouble arose.

Yet the end of the sweep did not mean rest.

Ning did not require them to engage in production. Instead, he directed all their energy toward enhancing combat readiness—personal cultivation, sparring, and training cavalry, infantry, and archers.

Slowly, a system took root in the Northern Wu Domain: Riedal and Macken trained the professional knights, who in turn trained the common soldiers.

Chief Mage Elron, meanwhile, remained in Marshkeep, instructing Jenny and Erin in magic, alchemy, and herbology.

The domain’s chief physician even funded the hiring of several assistants to gather, clean, and process common medicinal herbs.

Whether transcendent or common, every soul in Northern Wu now fulfilled their role, entering a quiet, inward phase of peaceful development.

But not all places knew such peace.

Upon a high mountain, two figures stood atop a jutting boulder, gazing toward a distant town.

This mountain belonged to Chishan Town, situated in the southwest of the Northern Wu Domain.

The town they watched was Casir Town—once part of the Wu Mountain Domain, now occupied by the Polant Bandits.

“It seems the intelligence was accurate. Their garrison in Casir Town is growing steadily!”

The speaker was Baron Kriehn Hansen of Granite City, commander of the Fifth Knightly Order of Wu Mountain Domain. He had attended Rulans’s birthday banquet—and been rebuked by the lord himself.

Beside him stood the golden-haired, burly knight Hahn Freeman, his deputy.

Though also Silver-ranked, Hahn was considerably weaker than Kriehn.

Usually, Hahn remained stationed in Chishan Town with most of the order, while Kriehn visited only occasionally, spending most of his time in his own domain.

“These bastards—we agreed to sell them iron ore, and yet they’re amassing troops in Casir Town!”

Hahn growled. “What do they intend? Do they plan to seize Chishan Town?”

Chishan Town housed a small iron mine. Though modest, it had been mined for years without depletion, and remained one of Granite Domain’s primary revenue sources.

For years, the Polant Bandits had seized the coastal city of Shorehaven, then crossed the Altai River to capture Sari Village, Sandflow Town, Calcy Town, and others—plaguing the Fifth Order with constant tension.

To ease tensions and reduce pressure from Wu Mountain Keep, they had secretly struck a deal: selling iron ore to the bandits at reduced prices in exchange for peace.

That arrangement had held for years.

Yet this year, the bandits began amassing troops in Casir Town.

“Perhaps they no longer wish to pay us for iron,” Kriehn murmured, eyes narrowing with hostility. “They’d rather mine it themselves—greater profit.”

Though he was Baron of Granite City, Chishan Town fell under his jurisdiction—and that small mine was his treasure.

“They’ve got an appetite for destruction!”

Hahn sneered, scanning the surrounding peaks.

To reach Chishan Town, one must pass through the valley below.

To deter assault, he had already positioned boulder traps along the slopes. If the bandits dared attack, he would make them pay dearly.

Kriehn pondered. “Increase vigilance. Day and night, ensure two patrols guard both the mountain and the valley.”

“Understood.”

Hahn had no desire to lose this precious land.

Though Kriehn oversaw the mine’s extraction, Hahn held a thirty-percent stake.

“I’ll write another letter to Wu Mountain Keep, detailing the situation,” Kriehn said thoughtfully.

He had written once before. Viggins had merely warned him to stay alert—no mention of reinforcements.

Indeed, sending troops before war even began would be premature.

But as the frontier’s guardian, Kriehn felt it his duty to inform Viggins and Wu Mountain Keep that the border was growing increasingly perilous.

Should disaster strike later, he could not be blamed for failing to report.

And even if Wu Mountain Keep refused to send soldiers, surely they would at least supply grain and horses to the Fifth Order—given the bandits’ encampment in Casir Town?

“I leave this to you.”

Kriehn spoke solemnly. Over the years, he had carefully maintained good relations with his deputy.

Hahn held Kriehn in high regard—he had gained much under his command.

“Rest easy, Commander,” Hahn replied with confidence.

After all, an entire knightly order stood guard here.

Though they had not reclaimed lost lands, they had halted the Polant Bandits’ advance—proof of their strength.

A mere alliance of one large city and a few towns dared to crush a knightly order? Pure fantasy.

Hahn privately suspected the bandits’ true aim: to force them to lower iron ore prices.

If so, why not sit down and negotiate?

Who was truly afraid of whom?

(End of Chapter)