Chapter 39: 39 Second Meeting with the Subjects

Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Second Meeting with the Subjects

The morning air on the mountain path was thick with moisture as two swift horses galloped along the trail.

The robust guards on horseback were chosen by Ronin to deliver a message; they were heading to Lakeside Town to seek assistance from the Greene family.

If Baron Germain agreed to lend them messenger birds, these two guards would return immediately. Otherwise, they would continue along the same route back to Fort Black Mountain to deliver the letter.

By now, they had already traveled dozens of miles, and within two hours, they would exit the mountainous region.

But just then, two fast horses approached from the opposite direction.

“It’s that knight from yesterday!”

“From Saine territory—what’s he doing here again?”

The two messengers felt a sudden pang of anxiety, instinctively pulling on their reins to stop and clear the path for the approaching riders.

The approaching rider was indeed Saine territory’s knight captain, Felton Henry, who hadn’t expected to encounter people from Mountain Forest Town here.

Felton also halted and asked, “Where are you headed?”

The aura of a high-level knight made the two guards tense, but remembering that their master was Mountain Forest Town’s lord Baron Ronin, the messengers managed to stay composed.

Though ordinary people had no chance against a knight, if Felton killed them arbitrarily, he would face severe consequences once discovered, including paying a hefty sum of money.

“Honorable knight sir, we are delivering a letter for Lord Ronin,” one messenger replied.

Felton’s heart skipped a beat—could it be a letter to Fort Black Mountain? And perhaps concerning matters between Saine territory and Mountain Forest Town?

“What is the letter Lord Ronin sending? Do you know its contents?” he quickly inquired.

“Apologies, knight sir, we do not know the contents of the letter.”

Felton frowned slightly. He had come today precisely to resolve Saine territory’s troubles. If Ronin’s letter indeed addressed this issue and he allowed the messengers to deliver it, complications would arise.

“Hold off on delivering your letter for now,” Felton stated.

Upon hearing this, the two messengers were startled, their hearts racing. Would this knight sir truly cause trouble for them?

“Apologies, this task was specifically assigned by our lord. Without Lord Ronin’s approval, we must deliver the letter. Sir Felton, you won’t hinder us, will you?”

The two messengers were nervous yet firm.

Having experienced yesterday’s events and receiving Ronin’s instructions before departure, they had to maintain sufficient composure.

“Hah, don’t be nervous.”

Felton softened his tone. “I am currently heading to meet your lord Baron Ronin. The matters we’ll discuss might relate to the contents of the letter you carry. If you deliver it, it could cause your lord to lose hundreds of gold coins!”

He knew how to emphasize key points. “If Lord Ronin learns that you disregarded my advice and caused him such losses, do you think he would blame you?”

“This…”

The two messengers exchanged glances, unsure now.

Seizing the opportunity, Felton continued, “Alright, come back with me to see your lord. I’ll explain to him that I asked you to return. He likely won’t blame you.”

“Moreover, if you need to send a letter later, I can lend you Saine territory’s messenger birds—much faster than riding horses.”

The messengers hesitated briefly, but considering this might affect their lord’s financial plans, they eventually acquiesced.

“Haha, good! Let’s go then. Later, I’ll need you to help announce my arrival!”

Felton laughed heartily, tugging the reins to continue the journey.

“By the way, yesterday Lord Ronin mentioned one of you is a high-level peak professional knight—the massive, mountain-like fellow?”

As they turned their horses around, the two messengers chatted casually.

“That’s Lord Macken!”

“Lord Macken is incredibly powerful! It’s said that even if two or three high-level peak knights attack him simultaneously, he remains unbeatable!”

A serious glint flashed in Felton’s eyes. Macken was a formidable opponent; he would need to be cautious in future dealings.

Unbeknownst to him, the messengers spoke this way because Ronin had specifically instructed them during morning training.

Whether questioned by Mountain Forest Town residents or others, regarding the guardian’s strength, this was the response to give.

Meanwhile, Ronin, accompanied by Macken, Zahar, and others, headed toward the western pasture of the town.

Last night, David and Tom had notified the subjects about the lord’s meeting, scheduled for ten o’clock this morning at the western pasture.

Currently, Ronin had few personnel around him. Ten injured guards were recuperating, two were dispatched as messengers, five remained stationed at the castle, leaving only twelve guards accompanying him.

Ordinary guards lacked significant combat strength against supernatural beings; Ronin brought them purely for ceremonial purposes.

At the western pasture, crowds gathered early, awaiting the lord’s arrival.

The scene of the new lord entering the town yesterday had spread among the subjects. Though Plinst was a traitor, this lord had killed so many people at once, clearly a fierce individual.

Who dared let such a lord wait here?

All subjects had arrived, even those gravely ill and unable to walk were carried here by their families.

When Ronin reached the pasture outskirts, the scene startled him.

His first impression was: Wow, so many people?

His second feeling was delight.

More people were good—it significantly lowered the difficulty of achieving the 【Population Prosperity】 accomplishment.

As Ronin appeared, the bustling crowd instantly quieted. Everyone focused their gaze on Ronin, fearing any noise might displeasure the lord.

Ronine was first time being stared at by so many people; feeling no tension was impossible.

But now, as the lord, he couldn’t lose face before his subjects.

He took a deep breath and strode toward higher ground—no specially built platform, merely a small raised mound on the pasture.

Well, this meeting lacked any ceremonial grandeur.

But there was no alternative; arrangements were rushed, and Ronin lacked an administrative officer.

Thinking of this, Ronin indeed felt headache.

Administrative officers weren’t like servants, easily recruited.

To serve as an administrative officer, one needed literacy at least.

Ronin surveyed his subordinates: thirty guards, including David, were unsuitable. Besides them, only Macken, Elron, Zahar, and Tom remained.

Zahar was the castle steward; others were supernatural beings—none fit to serve as administrative officers.

After a brief wandering of thoughts, Ronin’s attention returned to the present. He glanced at Elron beside him, who understood immediately and stepped forward, proclaiming loudly:

“Subjects of Mountain Forest Town, the noble lineage of the Black Mountain family, Lord Baron Ronin of Mountain Forest Town, stands before you now! Regardless of your status, now, bow to the lord, pledge your loyalty!”

Elron had read many books recently, including two knight novels with such dialogue; he adapted it aptly.

As his words concluded, everyone began bowing.

Subjects of serf status knelt on the ground, while free subjects bowed deeply in reverence.

Ronin observed: those kneeling constituted the majority.

Regardless of who they were, they all shouted loudly, "We greet the Lord!"

The simultaneous shouts of over a thousand people merged into a powerful torrent of sound, stirring one's emotions with excitement.

Ronin looked at these subjects, feeling profoundly moved; this was his foundation.

"I accept your loyalty, subjects!"

He responded loudly, "From today onward, we shall clearly define our respective rights and obligations."

Ronin didn’t need to say much for the occasion, especially facing his own subjects.

"As my subjects, loyalty to Mountain Forest Town and to me, Ronin Firestorm, is your foremost principle! You must strive to work for me, to work for the construction of Mountain Forest Town!"

"As your lord, I will exercise my rights and also fulfill my obligations. I will provide you with strong protection, stable order, and increasingly better lives!"

After saying these words, Ronin glanced at Elron.

The other understood and immediately said, "The light from the Lord will forever protect you all!"

As he spoke, he slowly raised his hands, shining with a bright radiance.

This scene directly stunned the people below.

At that moment, a beam of light shot from Elron's hand, heading straight toward a wounded person in the crowd whose arm was bandaged.

Everyone followed the direction of the light, gazing at this wounded person.

The wounded person froze momentarily, then exclaimed with surprise, "My injury is healed!"

With excitement, he tore off the bandage on his arm, and people joyfully discovered that the wound on the blood-stained arm had already closed.

"Seven Gods above, what miraculous ability is this!" The man looked up at Elron, his eyes filled with awe.

At that moment, Elron used the flash spell on Ronin.

Simultaneously, he loudly proclaimed, "This is the radiance from Lord Ronin; he permits me to grant this light to you, to protect you!"

Ronin, glowing all over, now rose as an infinite mysterious figure in the hearts of these serfs and freemen. They opened their mouths wide, widened their eyes, and seemed as if they were seeing a deity.

MacKen drew his sword, his fighting spirit surging, a beam of light soaring into the sky, imposing and majestic.

"Let us shout loudly, long live Lord Ronin!"

The subjects hesitated momentarily, then many caught on and followed the shout.

The shouts initially scattered, not very unified, but as more and more people shouted, the calls grew louder and more unified.

"Long live Lord Ronin!"

"Long live Lord Ronin!"

"Long live Lord Ronin!"

(This chapter concludes.)