The Handover

"Ryan, do we really have to do this? They're just women. Can't we drive them away or lock them up?"

In the room, Donny spoke to the other man in a trembling voice.

"We have to! If they were merely ordinary women, it wouldn't matter if we let them go. But they are Baron Sean of Nathan Territory's beloved daughter and granddaughter. If Baron Sean learns that his son-in-law died at our hands, then not only will your right to inherit the territory be questioned, but the knights under Baron Sean will take both our lives... You should know what choice to make."

Zhou Ming spoke in an icy tone, telling Donny that he had to be decisive.

After Edward's death, he left behind a wife and two daughters who were only three or four years old. His wife was named Finnie and came from Nathan Territory, which bordered Glan Territory. Baron Sean, lord of Nathan Territory, and Baron Connor had been family friends for generations, and their two families had a history of intermarriage spanning several generations.

After Edward married Finnie, their relationship had been fairly loving, and they had given birth to a pair of adorable daughters who were dearly loved by both parents and Madam Madeline.

"But, but... I can't bring myself to do it!"

Thinking of his innocent, adorable little nieces, Donny clutched his head and struggled in anguish.

"You don't need to do it yourself. Snake Woman, make a trip there. Remember not to let them suffer too much."

Zhou Ming gave the order to Snake Woman behind him. She nodded, took out a small pouch from her belt, and quietly left the room.

Patting his shoulder, Zhou Ming said, "Donny, don't be too upset. Since we've come this far, there's no turning back. One step back is a bottomless abyss! Forget these troubling matters. Tell yourself that Brother Edward encountered bandits and died tragically, while Miss Finnie and her two daughters unfortunately died after contracting the plague. They were all accidents. You became the lord of Glan Territory only because God blessed the Burns Family with one remaining heir. You had only wanted to become a learned scholar."

Listening to those comforting words, Donny quickly emerged from his struggle. He kept hypnotizing himself: "Yes, an accident. It was all an accident. I never wanted to become a lord. I only wanted to be a scholar. This is all God's arrangement for me..."

The next day.

A burst of heartbroken wailing came from the corridor on the third floor of the castle.

"Finnie! What happened to you?"

"Avril! Louise! My sweet little darlings, why aren't you moving?"

"Donny! My cruel-hearted son, how could you not even spare a woman and two children? Has your heart been possessed by the devil? How can you be even more ruthless than the devil?!"

Madam Madeline threw herself over the three corpses, one adult and two children, weeping so frantically that the servants around her tried to pull her away. But she clawed them aside like a madwoman, and no one dared approach again.

"Snake Woman, how did you let Madam Madeline leave her room? Hurry and take her back to rest. Madam Madeline is overwhelmed by grief and needs to recuperate properly."

Zhou Ming walked over with his hands behind his back. Seeing the scene, he spoke displeasedly to Snake Woman beside him.

"Ryan?"

At the sight of Zhou Ming, Madam Madeline suddenly raised her head and glared at him. Then she lunged at him like a wild beast. Even after several servants desperately held her back, she continued to stare fixedly at him, cursing, "Devil, you devil! This was all brought about by you, you devil! You damned devil!"

Zhou Ming ignored her. He did not even spare the three corpses on the ground a glance as he passed by with an indifferent expression.

That was right. He was a devil. From the moment those lofty nobles had denied him even the slightest opportunity and used every possible means to humiliate and frame him, he had already become a devil.

A devil who would soon devour every noble in this world.

This was merely a little interest.

After Snake Woman "escorted" her back to her room, Madam Madeline went from crying and making a scene to complete calm in just one day. She then began eating and sleeping normally, obeying the arrangements Zhou Ming made for her, such as inspecting the territory and comforting the townspeople. She even publicly announced that, from then on, all affairs within the territory and the castle would be handed over to her son Donny.

A week later, once she saw that Zhou Ming had "relaxed" his guard, Madam Madeline used the opportunity of visiting Baron Connor, whose condition was worsening by the day, to quietly slip an envelope into Knight Morris's hand in the sickroom.

"Madam Madeline, this..." Knight Morris looked troubled and pushed the envelope back.

"Morris, you have served the Burns Family for thirty years, ever since you became Connor's knight attendant at thirteen. At the most dangerous moment for the Burns Family, are you unwilling to offer even this small bit of help? Hurry! Take this letter to Baron Sean. Only you can stop Donny and that devil Ryan now."

Madam Madeline looked into Morris's eyes, her tone almost pleading.

"...Very well, Madam. I will take this letter to Baron Sean."

Knight Morris quietly hid the envelope in his sleeve and nodded to Madam Madeline.

One morning, three days later.

Taking advantage of the castle gate's mercenaries having drunk themselves into a stupor the night before, Knight Morris took a horse from the stables. Under the pretext of inspecting the territory, he had the farmer guarding the gate open the castle gates, then spurred his horse onward at full speed toward Nathan Territory in the south.

However, after crossing a ridge, he saw a figure standing before a small earthen slope, as though it had been waiting there for a long time. His heart immediately sank.

"Knight Morris, where are you off to?" Zhou Ming asked with a faintly mocking smile, seated atop a horse.

"I've been in the castle too long. I wanted to return to my fief and see my family," Morris explained.

"Isn't your fief to the west? Why are you heading south? Don't tell me you intend to take a detour through the south to reach your fief?"

"Ryan, you'd better get out of my way right now, or don't blame me for being impolite." Morris drew the longsword at his waist, unwilling to waste any more words.

"Knight Morris, you'd better return to the castle now and honor the oath of loyalty you swore before Young Master Donny yesterday. Glan Territory has only one knight left. Don't force me to act." Zhou Ming sincerely tried to persuade him. He truly did not want to completely lose the only remaining high-level combat power in Glan Territory.

"Enough nonsense. Move!" Morris spurred his warhorse and charged at him with his sword raised.

Rumble—

Before he could reach Zhou Ming, however, the ground ahead suddenly caved in. Morris and his horse fell together into the pit.

Kill!

More than a dozen bandits holding crossbows rushed out at once. They first threw several handfuls of lime into the pit, then used powerful crossbows to fire dozens of poisoned bolts at Knight Morris below.

Pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft!

Thus, Knight Morris—the only man in Glan Territory whom Zhou Ming considered fairly decent—died in the pit trap with his eyes wide open, his face full of resentment.

After dealing with Knight Morris and returning to the castle, Zhou Ming had Snake Woman tighten the restrictions on Madam Madeline's movements, cutting off every possibility of her sending word outside.

Meanwhile, Baron Connor was nearing the end of his life. Each day, he remained conscious for less than half an hour, and that time was dwindling by the day.

Zhou Ming had no choice but to hurry. After discussing it with Donny, he drafted a will of territorial succession on a blank sheet of parchment.

"Baron, Glan Territory cannot go a day without a lord. Your health is failing. Please sign this will and hand the territory over to Young Master Donny."

Kneeling on one knee beside the bed, Zhou Ming held the will in his hands and spoke earnestly to the still not fully lucid Baron Connor.

At those words, Baron Connor's eyes flew open, flashing with a terrifying gleam that seemed to seize one's very soul.

But that light was merely his final burst of vitality before death. Baron Connor understood this as well. His hand trembling slightly, he took the quill Zhou Ming handed him and signed his name clearly on the will.

"Ryan... Ryan."

"I'm here." Hearing Baron Connor call for him, Zhou Ming hurried forward and leaned in close.

"Ryan, Glan... Glan Territory is yours now. Please... please... don't hurt... hurt Donny anymore. Consider it... my final request. Can you... promise me?"

Baron Connor's broken words were as faint as a mosquito's buzz, yet every one of them reached Zhou Ming's ears with perfect clarity.

Zhou Ming's face filled with shock and disbelief.

Though Baron Connor had barely left his sickbed in the past three months, he had long since seen through everything in his heart.

After even discovering Zhou Ming's true purpose, the nobleman—proud all his life—had actually used the word "please."

"Yes, Baron. I promise you," Zhou Ming nodded.

"Good, good..." Baron Connor sighed. His body relaxed, and just like that, he departed this world.

And so, this small barony of Glan Territory completed the final transfer between two generations of lords.