Chapter 6: 6 Lurking Crisis

Chapter 6: Hidden Crisis

"Is this what my father has given me?"

Under the torchlight, Ronin looked at the several wagons parked outside the manor's outer fort, his tone tinged with disappointment.

Before him stood a single warhorse, plus six wagons loaded with grain and ten servants standing beside them.

Seven horses, six wagons, ten servants.

Hallward stood nearby, explaining, "Young master, this is a warhorse of excellent quality, worth up to 100 gold coins on the market! And although these six horses aren't warhorses, they are still fine steeds, each costing at least twenty gold coins."

"The wagons carry two thousand pounds of barley, five hundred pounds of wheat, five hundred pounds of flour, two hundred pounds of dried meat, fifty pounds of coarse salt, and ten pounds of fine salt. These provisions will last you, your nine elite soldiers, and your manservant for a year."

"In addition, there are pots, utensils, cups, and other daily necessities. Though not plentiful, they are enough for your everyday needs."

Ronin chuckled lightly. It was certainly comprehensive, but the quantities seemed rather meager.

The barley and wheat were not yet hulled; together they amounted to three thousand pounds, but how much would actually be edible?

Was the Count expecting him to feast one day and starve the next for a whole year?

As for the nine elite soldiers...

Ronin glanced at the nine men standing beside the wagons, each armed only with a sword and lacking any armor. Seeing their listless demeanor, could these truly be the elite soldiers of Ursberg?

Nonsense!

Yet the manservant standing nearby struck Ronin as rather decent, appearing robust and capable.

Ah, well, forget it...

Ronin shook his head inwardly. At present, he had no right to pick and choose; he must accept whatever was given.

While consoling himself, he inquired, "Apart from these, is there anything else? What about the hundred gold coins my grandfather promised?"

He cared more about this. With money, he could purchase whatever he lacked.

On the market, barley cost three copper coins per pound. Buying three thousand pounds would require only nine gold coins, which he could afford.

"Here it is!"

Hallward drew a black pouch from his coat. The clinking sound of coins was crisp and pleasing to the ear.

"Besides the hundred gold coins from the Marquis, Lady Deanne has added fifty more, urging you to develop well there and to remember to visit home when time permits."

Ronin's eyes brightened.

Impressive. His predecessor's stepmother was quite considerate, willingly sponsoring fifty gold coins.

Why would she sponsor him?

Ronin pondered. Did she not fear that his rise might threaten her son's position?

In truth, Ronin was overthinking this.

From Deanne's perspective, Ronin's mere survival in the forest town was questionable, let alone any notion of rising to prominence.

Moreover, how could an ordinary person achieve such ascent?

Thus, in Deanne's eyes, Ronin and her son were on different levels; she had no need to compete.

On the contrary, by doing this, she appeared to Marquis Rulance as genuinely concerned for the descendants of the Ursberg family.

"Please convey my gratitude to Deanne!"

Ronin remarked casually, taking the money pouch from Hallward. The weighty sensation felt truly splendid.

Hallward nodded in acknowledgment. "Additionally, young master, the Lord asked me to relay a message to you."

"Oh?"

Ronin was somewhat surprised. He had previously asked Hallward to deliver a message to Viggins; he hadn't expected a reply.

"What did the Count wish you to tell me?"

Perhaps the message was awkward, making Hallward speak softly: "The Lord said that after receiving these items, you should depart Ursberg early tomorrow morning."

Ronin: "..."

When Hallward delivered the appointment letter earlier, Viggins had allowed him two days to leave. Now, with resources acquired, he was instructed to depart the next morning.

It seemed providing these resources had likely displeased Viggins.

Considering this, Ronin smiled faintly.

"Hallward, thank my father for me."

"Huh?" Hallward seemed puzzled.

"Thank him for his tolerance, allowing me one more night in the castle."

Hallward offered a conciliatory smile. He detected a subtle sarcasm and defiance in Ronin's words, but he understood the resentment a son might harbor toward his father's attitude.

Ronin secured the money pouch and pointed to the manservant who pleased him—this fellow appeared far more spirited than the nine elite soldiers.

"What is your name?"

The manservant stepped forward, performing a standard servant's bow. "Your most faithful servant, Chahar, greets the master!"

"Hello, Chahar."

Ronin nodded toward him. "Follow Hallward and assist with arranging accommodations for tonight. Also, prepare accordingly; we shall depart after breakfast tomorrow morning."

"As you wish, master!" Chahar bowed in compliance and began making arrangements.

Though the forest town was not an ideal place, Chahar dreamed of becoming a steward for a great noble like Hallward.

Thus, upon hearing Hallward sought a manservant to serve Ronin, he volunteered.

He knew venturing to the forest town was perilous, but also an opportunity.

Being a minor servant in Ursberg might offer a stable life, yet realizing his dream would be exceedingly difficult.

"May the Baron establish himself firmly in the forest town!"

Chahar prayed inwardly. Only with his master's stability could his aspirations become attainable.

Ronin also requested Hallward to arrange lodgings for the guards and manservants, then returned to his room with the money pouch.

His current savings amounted to 173 gold, 54 silver, and 18 copper coins, totaling over 178 gold coins.

Combined with the implicit assets of warhorses, horses, and wagons, Ronin's worth might now surpass that of some barons nearing bankruptcy.

Given his father's disdain and the revocation of his inheritance, obtaining these resources honestly exceeded his expectations.

"Tomorrow marks my departure; I must take all that belongs to me!"

Ronin surveyed his room, which held numerous garments and books—all his possessions, not to be left behind.

Well, the table could be disregarded; too bulky to transport, and the mountains lacked no wood. He could craft a few himself later.

Ah, also the blankets, useful for the journey.

Ronin busied himself.

...

Night deepened. Within Ursberg, apart from night watch guards and servants still occupied with tasks, most who could rest had already retired.

Inside the long house, the nine guards selected to accompany Ronin to Mountainwood Town couldn't fall asleep no matter how hard they tried.

Unlike Chahar, they weren't going to Mountainwood Town voluntarily—they were forced into it. Being dependents of Black Mountain Castle, they had no right to refuse.

"Ah, thinking about leaving Black Mountain City in just two days makes me feel utterly weak!"

One guard lay sideways on the dry grass, his voice filled with worry.

"I've heard that Mountainwood Town is a perilous place. The number of people eaten by magical beasts each year is unknown, and deep in those old forests, even one meal a day can't be guaranteed. Going there is just waiting for death."

"Indeed, I don't understand what the lords are thinking. Lord Ronin is going to Mountainwood Town as its ruler; at least a knight should be arranged for escort. Having us ordinary folk escort him—doesn't that mean even Lord Ronin's safety isn't valued?"

"Hah, you don't know yet? Ronin has already been stripped of his inheritance rights, meaning he's effectively abandoned by the Count. Do you think someone like that would still have knights assigned for protection?"

"There's such a thing?"

In the long house, the nine guards chattered one after another, growing more desperate as they talked, increasingly feeling they too were abandoned—going to Mountainwood Town was a death sentence.

Perhaps immersed in this despair, two timid ones began softly weeping; they didn't want to die.

Finally, a burly man suddenly lowered his voice, "Since none of us want to go to Mountainwood Town, maybe we should ditch Ronin halfway and run off alone?"

Servants abandoning their master—this was a fatal crime.

As he spoke, the long house fell into a deathly silence.

After a long pause, someone timidly asked, "Wouldn't we be hunted down for this?"

"Hah, don't forget—Hallward just gave Ronin over a hundred gold coins! With that money, where couldn't we go?"

At this mention, light seemed to flicker in everyone's eyes.

That was a full 150 gold coins—even if these men worked as guards for a hundred years combined, they'd never earn that much.

"We... we're going to rob Lord Ronin's money? He's a noble!"

"What's to fear? On the road to Mountainwood Town, there are plenty of remote, unpopulated places. If we act there, who'll know we did it?"

"And for life afterward—with so many gold coins, where couldn't we live?"

He encouraged them; this idea had actually lingered in his mind for a long time, lacking only support.

Now he just needed to persuade these guards—during the action, Ronin and Chahar, being ordinary people, would have no power to resist.

Then money, horses, supplies—they'd have everything they needed. Becoming thieves wouldn't be bad either; after all, more and more bandit groups were emerging in Black Mountain Territory.

Under his instigation, greed surged increasingly in the others' hearts. The long house was filled with the scent of betrayal.

(End of chapter.)