Chapter 367: Powerful Backing

The Marquisate's revenues were far from meager; the massive iron mine alone yielded substantial profits annually, not to mention taxes from various regions.

Though earnings were plentiful, so were expenditures.

Beyond maintaining five knightly orders and paying numerous officials and servants across the realm, Rulans spent vast sums each year purchasing pain-relief magical elixirs from the Silva Arcane Guild.

For this alone, over one hundred thousand gold coins were required annually.

The hundred thousand gold coins Rongning mentioned were precisely what Rulans had planned to pay Miloslav for next year's elixirs.

Yet he hadn't anticipated that the Soul-Devouring Surge would be completely cured by Elron, saving this massive expenditure.

"One hundred thousand gold coins? No problem!"

Lord Rulans waved grandly. "I'll have Moster bring those chests to your room tonight."

Without a moment's hesitation.

To him, compared to regaining health and escaping torment, the hundred thousand gold coins meant nothing.

Moreover, this was not merely gratitude toward his grandson, but also assistance.

Rongning thanked his generous grandfather profusely, and they discussed the Soul-Devouring Surge in detail.

Rongning wanted to know who had administered the "poison."

Yet the matter held considerable unpredictability; Rulans couldn't fathom where the black scroll had been obtained.

He speculated that, like the binding contract scroll he'd once found, the black scroll might have been acquired by chance.

As they spoke, the topic gradually returned to the two griffins at Shore City.

Rongning didn't conceal anything; now that Rulans had recovered, the old marquis needed to know the geopolitical situation around Ushan Domain.

So he directly recounted how Ramsey had infiltrated the castle to assassinate him, only to be killed in return.

"Wait!"

Lord Rulans raised a hand to stop Rongning. "You killed Ramsey? He was a Meteor Knight—so are you?"

The old man's eyes widened. "And your retainer, Rydal, is also a Meteor Knight?"

Rongning nodded slightly. "Yes, precisely. I'm not just a Meteor Knight, but also an Archmage."

With Rulans, there was no need to conceal.

As Rongning's strength grew, the necessity to hide it diminished.

"Hiss!"

Understanding Rongning's power, Lord Rulans drew in a sharp breath. Dual-classed at seventh rank—how was that possible?

In a daze, he recalled Rongning's earlier words: "Consider it as if a divine artifact resides within me."

Rulans had thought Rongning was evasive, but now it seemed the truth.

He turned to Elron, sitting quietly with ash-gray short hair—this man was an eighth-rank mage!

A count's domain possessing three such powerhouses was utterly astonishing.

"I've never heard of anyone possessing such strength at your age. If Hesus learned Ramsey died from his own folly, he'd likely spit blood on the spot."

Rongning didn't know if he'd spit blood, but given the man's temperament, he'd certainly be enraged.

Lord Rulans frowned slightly. "Based on my knowledge of Hesus, he wouldn't pretend ignorance. Even without war, he'd contact you privately to see if ransom could save Ramsey—and test if he was truly dead."

He paused, then continued: "Such silence is uncharacteristic of Hesus."

Rongning nodded; he too felt something was amiss.

Regardless of Ramsey being a Meteor Knight, he was Hesus's son-in-law; as Lord of Moonlight Valley, Hesus should have inquired.

"How do you plan to deal with Moonlight Valley?" Lord Rulans suddenly asked.

Rongning pondered. "I have no immediate plans to confront Moonlight Valley."

He shrugged. "The domain must develop; it can't withstand large-scale mobilization and expenditure. Besides, while Rydal commands the Fifth Knightly Order of Ushan Castle, Hesus has four orders—no advantage. And attacking Moonlight Valley under the pretext of assassination would likely draw King Bruno's mediation."

Rongning had killed and seized griffins; with royal dignity at stake, the matter would be smoothed over.

"Using assassination as a pretext for war is acceptable; even with the king involved, we needn't fear his partiality toward Hesus."

The king preferred his vassals clashing and stirring trouble rather than quietly developing.

Lord Rulans said: "But you're right—Ushan Castle and your northern domain have sufficient elite forces, but too few knightly orders."

Though Ushan Castle had five orders, none could be fully mobilized against Moonlight Valley; at least half must remain for defense.

As for high-tier combatants: one Silver Moon Knight, one mage, plus Rongning, Rydal, and Melonika.

Such a display would inevitably draw suspicion from other factions.

Not to mention Veria Duchy or Scream Island; even the king might grow wary.

Lord Rulans had suffered before; his eldest son had been targeted for his excellence.

Now he didn't want Rongning to repeat the mistake.

At the thought of the past, hatred flickered in the old man's eyes.

"For years, Moonlight Valley, Veria Duchy, and Scream Island have eyed Ushan Domain as prey, scheming to take a bite. But my illness spared them then; now they have no chance."

"What are your plans?" Rongning asked.

"First, wait until I'm fully healed, perhaps even reaching Silver Moon rank, then announce my recovery."

Rulans intended to feign weakness to avoid stirring trouble.

"Second, form more knightly orders."

In past years, high costs had limited the number of knightly orders.

Now, with over one hundred thousand gold coins saved, those funds could be redirected to the military.

At least three more could be raised.

Ushan Castle would then have eight knightly orders.

Though eight might not suffice for two-front warfare, once the northern domain developed and allied with Rongning and other nobles, Ushan Domain's strength would surge.

At this thought, Rulans chuckled with relief.

Not only had his strength returned, but he now had a chance to avenge past humiliations; today was full of surprises.

"First develop, then seek revenge when the time comes—that's my plan too," Rongning said with a smile.

"Haha, after all, we're grandfather and grandson," Rulans said, looking at Rongning with increasing approval.

"I trust Ushan Domain to you in the future," he said.

Rongning shook his head. "With your strength, you could live seventy or eighty more years. By then, I'd likely be a Sun Sovereign."

Seventy or eighty years was a conservative estimate; perhaps he'd become a legend.

Rulans stared at Rongning, stunned.

Blazing Sun Knight, Grand Archmage – these are the ones who stir the very winds and clouds of the continent.

If one day his grandson truly becomes a power of this caliber, not to mention claiming kingship, surely securing a dukedom would be no trouble, right?

At this moment, he seemed to understand why the other had little interest in the marquis title.

So his ambitions lay elsewhere.

Rulans couldn't help but raise his thumb: "You are the pride of the Wushan family, child. No matter what decision you make in the future, Grandpa will be your steadfast supporter!" (End of Chapter)