Chapter 471: Ference's Persuasion

In the Golden Feather Palace's vast training grounds, only Gareth was sweating profusely.

Electricity surged around his body, radiating a fierce aura, mirroring his unsettled emotions of recent days.

In yesterday's duel, though they were disadvantaged, each person's mood was different.

For Ferrens and Andrea, they were relatively willing to accept such a situation because they knew the Sun-level wasn't invincible.

But for Gareth, two consecutive defeats wounded his pride.

Bang!

A punch unleashed a roaring tiger of lightning charging forward, as if he were shouting.

Gareth stopped. After half an hour of venting, his breath was somewhat labored, his body soaked in sweat.

"The enhancement potion Roning brought truly works. Just a small bottle not only loosened my long-stagnant level but even allowed some improvement!"

His eyes gleamed sharply, "No wonder Roning's progress is so fast!"

Gareth pulled out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, clenched it slightly in his fist, crushed it, then loosened his hand, letting the fragments slowly fall to the ground.

"Roning wouldn't naively sell the best potions; he definitely still has more effective ones."

His thinking indeed had some logic, as keeping the best for oneself was common sense.

However, the reality was that Roning truly didn't hoard secrets and had no need to.

The auxiliary enhancement potions were effective for knights up to the Silver Moon level, each different grade corresponding to a different price.

Among them, the potion suitable for Silver Moon knights cost thirty thousand gold coins per bottle; he had no reason not to earn money.

Unfortunately, such high-grade ones couldn't be mass-produced, and the number of bottles was very limited. Apart from giving two to Maken, Roning only brought three bottles to the Golden Feather Palace.

These three bottles were now all in Gareth's hands.

"The medicinal power inside my body has basically been refined, but for better effect, I'll absorb the second bottle after a few days."

"After taking these three bottles, I should reach the late Silver Moon level. By the end of the year, Roning will send a few more bottles; perhaps there's a chance to elevate my strength to Silver Moon peak."

Now he deeply desired breaking through to the Sun level.

As he pondered, soft footsteps approached. Gareth turned to see his uncle Ferrens had entered his training grounds unnoticed, followed by a helpless guard officer.

Clearly, Germain hadn't stopped Ferrens, allowing him to intrude.

"What are you doing here?" Gareth waved displeasedly, dismissing Germain.

Ferrens wore a smile, "Ha, my dear nephew, not wanting to reminisce with your uncle? Remember, chances for us to meet many times like this year are rare."

Reminisce?

Gareth found this amusing. Besides blood ties, he and Ferrens had little connection.

Moreover, Ferrens now changed his surname to "Gregor," effectively separating from Auduin.

"Speak, what do you want from me?"

Ferrens feigned helplessness and sorrow. After a long sigh, he straightened his expression, "I know you're surely very displeased with Roning now. I also sense you oppose the king appointing him as kingdom guardian knight and Moonlight Valley Marquis."

He paused, intently watching Gareth's expression, clearly noticing a flicker of agreement.

"Unfortunately, your father, my brother, the honorable Auduin V, is always decisive. His decisions can't be changed, not even by me as his brother or you as the heir."

Gareth frowned, "What exactly do you want to say?"

Ferrens smiled slightly, looking up at the sky with a nostalgic expression, "Perhaps you know, earlier targeting Rulans and his son Grems, our royal family participated. Given Rulans's nature, such things absolutely intolerable—you can see from his attitude toward Andrea. He doesn't challenge the king because it's not yet time."

Gareth remained noncommittal; he indeed knew this, "This was done by my grandfather; it's unrelated to my father."

"The family is united; your defense seems weak."

Ferrens continued, "These years, Rulans suffered illness; the Black Mountain Territory lost top strength. So I suspect he long discovered Roning's rare, extreme talent. To avoid outside scrutiny and suppression, he deliberately made Roning an unproductive marquis heir, even willing to invalidate Roning's inheritance."

Gareth looked grave; he'd speculated this possibility.

After all, even with auxiliary enhancement potions, it couldn't make someone under twenty reach Sun level.

"In this process, Rulans persuaded your father to marry Blanchy to Roning. Consider: why invest effort in an unproductive grandson? Moreover, only after the marriage was nearly settled did Roning truly enter public view."

"Moving to Swamp Fort Baron Leisen, clearing the Polant thief group, conquering Rapid Island, killing Baron Ossen, and now eliminating the alien races..."

Gareth examined Ferrens, slightly lowering his voice, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Ferrens shrugged, spreading his hands, "Simple. Rulans hasn't forgotten this grudge and executed a meticulous plan."

"If your father or you face mishaps in the future, the Auduin Kingdom lacks a direct heir. Roning would claim the throne using his and Blanchy's child's name—this is Rulans's real reason for pairing Roning and Blanchy!"

Gareth felt startled. Though he showed no opinion, inwardly he somewhat agreed with this explanation.

"Hah, what mishaps could my father and I face? Does Roning intend to assassinate me?"

Ferrens naturally said, "Why not? Even if he lacks strength now, what about after ten or twenty years?"

"He became Sun at twenty; could he become Legend at thirty? When he reaches heights like Orlant's Emperor, do you think anything he can't accomplish?"

Gareth stayed silent; he even began thinking these words likely revealed the Black Mountain family's true intent.

He felt alarmed. A family could lie dormant thirty years—what immense endurance!

And Roning, so adept at acting at young age, also terrifying!

Such a family, such an enemy, truly frightening!

"So, you want to deal with Black Mountain Territory, eliminate Roning?"

"Yes!"

Ferrens admitted without hesitation, "Yesterday's duel you saw; though we lost, we still have chances against him. But if he breaks through further, even with numbers, we'd helpless!"

He firmly stated, "To defeat him, must act before he grows strong. Black Mountain Territory and Moonlight Valley combined area isn't small but encircled by us; if we unite, we can crush them!"

Gareth also considered this possibility, but after a while shook his head.

"My father decided to bind Roning to Auduin with honor, power, status. Changing his mind to attack Black Mountain Territory and Moonlight Valley is impossible!"

"Hah!"

Ferrens sneered, "My eldest brother sometimes meticulous, sometimes naive like a child. Imagine: a globally invincible powerhouse attracted by marquis, duke positions? Bound by honor? Remember, history favors the strong."

"So what good method do you have?"

For Gareth, eliminating Roning suited Auduin family interests; he could also seize better enhancement potions, making himself stronger.

This was a valuable matter.

"Simple, I hope you can command all nobles instead of your father, using Turisha Kingdom's turmoil period to solve Roning's great danger!"

Ferrens's gaze suddenly sharpened, his aura violently fluctuated, even Silver Moon knight's might involuntarily radiated, stirring surrounding air into disorder. (This chapter ends.)