Chapter 73: 73 Unexpected News

Chapter 73: Unexpected News

Rhonin did not know the knights of Horseback City, but the moment he heard the name "Ragnar Ironhoof," he knew the visitor's identity—someone from the Ironhoof family, the viscounts of Horseback City.

He searched his mind for any information regarding the name, but all he knew was that this Ragnar was the second son of Viscount Marvin, and nothing more.

Rhonin himself had even less connection to the Ironhoof family, unless one counted his spending of over a thousand gold coins on their lands during his recent trip.

So, what were the people of the Ironhoof family doing here?

"Come, accompany me over to take a look."

When nobles came to visit, it was impolite to keep them waiting too long. Rhonin did not delay, calling McCain to return to the castle with him.

At this moment, five people stood outside the castle. Three of them looked like guards, while the leaders were a man and a woman, both wearing light armor and carrying weapons, appearing to be professional knights.

It was Rhonin's first time seeing a female professional knight, but his attention was drawn more to the man who bore the black horse crest on his chest.

This man was heavily built and stood erect, his hand resting continuously on the longsword at his waist, radiating a rather sharp and commanding presence.

He held his head high at the moment, sizing up the castle before him, perhaps comparing it to the castle of the Ironhoof family, or perhaps mentally calculating the defensive strength of Highforest Castle.

"Ragnar, they are here," the woman beside him whispered, catching sight of Rhonin and his companions approaching from the distance.

The man who had been looking up at the castle finally snapped out of his thoughts, quickly turning his gaze to the left and locking his eyes onto the silver-haired youth.

"Good morning, Baron Rhonin!"

The sharp aura he possessed just moments ago vanished completely, replaced by a highly amiable demeanor. "I am Ragnar Ironhoof of Horseback City. Please forgive my sudden and presumptuous visit."

Rhonin sized the man up slightly; with black hair and black eyes, the appearance actually made him feel a sense of familiarity, though it was a pity the man's skin was rather pale.

"Welcome, Lord Ragnar!"

Rhonin stepped forward, smiling as he gave the man a light embrace. "It has been a long time since Highforest Town has hosted any guests. Your arrival fills me with great joy."

Ragnar was somewhat surprised. The Baron Rhonin before him seemed quite different from the legendary eldest grandson of the marquis.

Though they had only met for a brief moment, he felt the person before him was remarkably steady and composed.

"Rhonin, this is Lady Bellamy Snow, my fiancée."

Oh?

Now Rhonin was even more astonished. What was this man doing bringing his fiancée to such a remote and impoverished place? Surely he hadn't brought his whole family along to pledge allegiance to him?

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Bellamy."

Rhonin smiled and nodded to her, then spoke to Ragnar, "You have a beautiful fiancée."

"Hahaha, I think so too."

Ragnar scratched his head and laughed out loud, making Bellamy beside him look a little uncomfortable.

After a few pleasantries, the second son of the Ironhoof family stepped to the side and led forward a remarkably handsome and spirited black horse. "We only learned a day or two ago that you had visited Horseback City a while back. The Ironhoof family failed to show proper hospitality, and my father instructed me to offer his apologies on his behalf."

"Viscount Marvin is far too polite. Speaking of which, it is I who should have submitted a visiting card upon arriving in Horseback City," Rhonin said, though he felt a touch of surprise. Ragnar couldn't have brought people all the way to Highforest Town just for this matter, could he?

Did nobles care about etiquette to such an extent?

"This is a Cloud-Treader, a steed possessing the bloodline of a tier-three magical beast. Although it is only three years old and not yet fully grown, its defensive power is astounding; ordinary arrows cannot harm it in the slightest! Moreover, its speed and endurance far exceed those of other horses. Flying across eight hundred li in a single day is completely effortless for it!"

This Cloud-Treader possessed a vigorous stature and smooth muscle lines, its entire body exuding a powerful sense of strength. Meeting its gaze, one could actually feel a faint, subtle pressure.

The Cloud-Treader was pitch black all over, shining with a dark luster, yet above its four hooves lay a ring of pure white hair, making it look as though it were stepping upon clouds, extraordinarily elegant.

As Ragnar introduced the beast, he handed the reins into Rhonin's hands, leaving the latter completely dazed.

"This is?" Rhonin took the reins, somewhat bewildered.

A horse with a magical beast bloodline was not something that could be bought for just one or two hundred gold coins. Was the Ironhoof family intending to gift one to him? Simply because he had gone to Horseback City and they felt discourteous for not hosting him?

Was the Ironhoof family really that wealthy and magnanimous?

Seeing Rhonin's somewhat stupefied expression, Knight Bellamy on the side could not help but smile. "Lord Marvin said the Ironhoof family neglected its manners, so he had Ragnar bring the Cloud-Treader as an offering of apology."

It really was...

Rhonin found this too unbelievable, and he constantly felt that the other party's purpose was not merely this.

"Please convey my gratitude to Viscount Marvin."

Rhonin spoke with great emotion, "It is just that a horse with a magical beast bloodline is far too precious, I..."

"Do not be polite either."

Ragnar quickly interrupted Rhonin's words. "In truth, our coming here this time is primarily for another matter."

Rhonin's heart stirred. As expected, there was another matter. What could it be?

"Then please, follow me into the castle first before we speak further."

As the master of this place, Rhonin warmly invited Ragnar and Miss Bellamy into the inner keep. He had Bella bring out tea and several fruit platters, while simultaneously ordering the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous lunch to welcome the honored guests.

Recently, as the castle servants became more familiar with the lord's vegetable garden, the selection of fruits and vegetables had become much richer than at the very beginning.

Though the hospitality was still somewhat simple, it was no longer as shabby as when he had hosted Knight Philip back then.

Ragnar and Bellamy offered their thanks, and after enjoying a few bites of fruit, they returned to the main topic.

"Rhonin, my bringing the Cloud-Treader this time to express my father's apologies is secondary. The main purpose is to deliver a piece of news to you."

Ragnar's voice lowered slightly. "It is a piece of bad news."

"Hmm?"

Rhonin frowned, thoroughly perplexed. What bad news could there possibly be for him?

As he spoke, Ragnar drew a small piece of parchment from his tunic and handed it over.

Rhonin took it with confusion, and the other man continued, "This is a letter sent from the Misty Mountain City branch of the Ironhoof Chamber of Commerce to Horseback City. After my father saw the contents upon it, he felt it necessary to inform you."

"This is?"

Rhonin opened the letter in his hands with doubt, quickly reading the words written upon it.

What he saw left him utterly shocked. The letter actually stated that the count of Misty Mountain City, who was also Rhonin's father, Wiggins, had been assassinated and was lingering on the brink of death!

If this parchment did not bear the black horse crest of the Ironhoof family, and if it had not been delivered personally by the son of the Horseback City viscount, Rhonin would have suspected some rogue was maliciously spreading false rumors.

But since Viscount Marvin used such a method to pass the news to him, it meant the credibility of the Ironhoof family guaranteed the authenticity of the information.

Rhonin raised his head in disbelief. "What on earth happened?"

The letter did not state the specific reasons.

Ragnar explained, "You should also know that the twenty-eighth of last month was Count Orson's seventieth birthday. Many nobles of the Misty Mountain Territory sent people to celebrate. Lord Wiggins, as the man's son-in-law, naturally would not be absent."

"Although the banquet proceeded smoothly, no one expected that on his way back to Misty Mountain Castle after attending the birthday feast, Lord Wiggins would be assassinated by unidentified killers!"

Ragnar sighed deeply. "It is said that among the assassins this time were two silver knights. Even though Sir Toru Vernal, who protects Count Wiggins, is a gold knight, he could only barely hold those two back. What's more, the opponents also had a bronze knight and several advanced knights!"

Rhonin had heard the name Toru Vernal before; the man was precisely the commander of the First Knight Order of Misty Mountain Castle, and Garman Stott, whom he had met before, was the man's subordinate.

The outside world all believed Toru was merely a silver knight. When had he broken through to gold?

Of course, this was not the most pressing matter. Even under the protection of a gold knight, Wiggins had still been heavily wounded and was hovering between life and death. The opponents had clearly come fully prepared for this assassination.

Rhonin spoke in disbelief, "Count Wiggins... my father, is he dead?"

(End of this chapter.)