Chapter 254: Seeing Nigan Again

While Ronin conversed with the two viscounts outside, nobles and knights steadily converged upon Mount Wu Fortress, many among them familiar faces to Ronin.

Ronin took note that, once again, Melonica had sent his son Tyran, failing to appear in person.

Of the commanders of the five knight orders of Wushan Castle today, this was the only one Ronin had yet to meet; the man truly possessed quite a distinct personality.

"See, I told you, that lion is coming over."

Marvin pointed toward a fierce knight striding from the far end of the fortress avenue, a man who walked with chin held high, his gaze aloof and ferocious, inspiring dread in those who looked upon him.

Nigan the Golden Wild Lion, a gold-rank knight under Earl Orson.

Ronin recognized him; when he had first transmigrated, he had been thoroughly daunted by the man's imposing aura.

It seemed Earl Orson would not attend this grand noble assembly, nor would his son Barrington; they had once more dispatched this man as their representative.

"No, for a gathering of this scale, someone from the Hyde family must still be present; look at the man beside him."

Sandro remarked, "If I remember correctly, that is Alan Hyde, Earl Orson's younger brother. They say he is a silver-rank knight."

Ronin raised an eyebrow, shifting his gaze to the slightly older knight walking beside Nigan.

The Hyde family was indeed brimming with martial might; leaving aside their followers, the high-end combat power within the family alone comprised one meteor-rank, one gold-rank, and one silver-rank.

"Breton, what are the strengths of your maternal cousins?"

Breton pondered a moment and replied, "Cousin Slant was a high-rank knight, though he fell in battle last year. Cousin Kalima is nineteen and an intermediate mage, and as for Cousin Selena..."

He glanced at Ronin as he spoke, letting his words trail off.

This particular cousin had committed suicide because of Ronin.

"There is also Cousin Tomrys, who is my age, but he is still only a novice knight."

"They say Sir Alan's son, Omer, is a silver-rank knight, and his sixteen-year-old grandson, Vasili, is a novice mage currently studying at the Wushan Transcendent Academy."

This family was truly flourishing with deep roots and abundant branches.

And it seemed that, aside from Dianni, the rest of them possessed rather excellent talent for cultivation?

He wondered if Dianni felt a touch of awkwardness when she returned to her maiden home, surrounded by such a crowd.

He could not help but think of how his stepmother’s attitude toward him had recently improved by no small margin; could it be that she had suffered some setback within the Hyde family, causing her to change her nature and begin acting in the interest of the Wushan family?

As his thoughts drifted, Nigan had somehow arrived right in front of Ronin.

He first offered a nod toward Breton by way of greeting, then narrowed his eyes, regarding Ronin with cold detachment.

"When I think of the tragic suicide of Miss Selena, and then see you living such a splendid life today, Ronin, I really should have insisted on throwing you into prison back then!"

He remained as arrogant and overbearing as ever.

Marvin initially wanted to step forward and trade a few sharp words, but considering his own status, he held back.

Should Ronin prove unable to handle it, it would not be too late to help him out of the predicament.

At this moment, with people bustling to and forth, Nigan’s action immediately drew quite a few nobles and knights to halt and watch.

Had it been the Ronin of last year, facing Nigan’s oppressive gold-rank knight aura and aggressive posture, he would likely have quailed.

Yet today was not yesterday; a gold-rank knight was a mere single rank higher than Ronin himself.

If it truly came down to a life-or-death struggle, it was by no means certain that Ronin would lose.

"Nigan, you have made another mistake. What you should regret is not killing me on the spot to avenge Selena, rather than merely regretting that you didn’t throw me into prison."

Ronin's tone carried a distinct edge of provocation and mockery as he looked the man straight in the eye. "I only wonder, if someone lent you the courage, would you dare lay a hand on me right now?"

Nobles prized etiquette and proper discourse, but that depended heavily on the occasion.

Unseemly spectacles of trading curses or even spitting at one another were not entirely unheard of.

In the face of Nigan's discourtesy, Ronin had no need to be polite.

"Oh? Has your courage grown so grand after becoming the Viscount of the North Wushan Territory?"

Nigan sneered, a chilling aura emanating from his form.

This aura rippled outward, causing the surrounding knights to feel a sudden dread in their hearts, while those of lesser strength could not help but shiver.

A battle technique that influenced the mind was indeed a rare sight.

Marvin instinctively moved to intervene and break the tension for Ronin.

This "Terror Atmosphere" was Nigan's specialty; if used with full force to assault the mind of a high-rank knight, it could cause brief vertigo and a prolonged bout of dizziness.

Though it caused no physical harm, in the midst of a battlefield, that single instant of vertigo could prove fatal.

However, when Marvin noticed Ronin’s completely unruffled demeanor, a flash of surprise crossed his face, and he stayed his hand.

Even Sandro, standing to the side, looked upon Ronin with newfound respect; this young viscount was indeed somewhat extraordinary.

The corners of Ronin's mouth turned up slightly, his tone remaining as light as a gentle breeze: "Knight Nigan, restrain your aura."

As a Chief Mage, his mental strength far surpassed that of a gold-rank knight; he did not feel his mind being attacked in the slightest.

"If you have energy to spare, you would do better to expend it against the Black Gold Brotherhood."

He continued, "I see that your Hyde Earldom is bursting with strength; perhaps we should leave this year's Black Gold Brotherhood for you to deal with alone."

"Haha, Viscount Ronin speaks truly!"

Marvin spoke up at the opportune moment: "The Black Gold Brotherhood likely possesses the strength of barely over a single knight order. With the earldom's power, managing them should be absolutely no issue; there is simply no need for us to assist."

Several nobles who harbored distaste for Nigan’s insolent behavior let out chuckles.

At that moment, Sir Alan, who stood beside Nigan, finally spoke; he offered a faint smile, defusing the tension the moment he opened his mouth.

"Nigan, you have grown somewhat discourteous."

Alan said, "Though the events of the past were rather unpleasant, they are already behind us. Do not let your impulsive nature affect the friendship between the Wushan family and the Hyde family."

Nigan snorted coldly, drawing back his aura, though his gaze toward Ronin remained heavy with scrutiny.

Compared to their last meeting, the youth before him seemed an entirely different person; his bearing, his manner of speech, and even his strength could not be linked to that useless wretch in any way.

No wonder the Earl was certain that Rulance would restore Ronin's inheritance rights; this Ronin was indeed a troublesome matter.

"In accordance with the Marquis's orders, the earldom has been continuously battling the Skeleton Society and the Black Gold Brotherhood, sustaining considerable losses during this period. Now that the Black Gold Brotherhood has deployed troops once more to encroach upon the Wushan territory, as vassals of Wushan Castle, our Hyde family will still actively answer the call."

Alan spoke with a smile, "However, confronting this band of brigands is not the task of the Hyde family alone. Come, fellow nobles, let us go and listen to the instructions of Lord Marquis!"

With that, he offered a slight bow, then led Nigan into Mount Wu Fortress.

The various nobles also exchanged greetings and followed them into the fortress.

"How did you find Nigan's strength?" Marvin asked with a smile.

Ronin gave it a serious thought. "I am no match for him."

These words brought a knowing smile to the faces of both men.

How could a high-rank knight possibly be a match for a gold-rank knight?

The two of them simply took it as Ronin’s humorous way of responding.