The Deterrent Beneath the City Walls

The journey of over twenty kilometers wasn't far, but the deep snow on the ground exhausted the soldiers. Seeing Goer Castle so close, Reiner ordered the soldiers to set up camp and rest.

Reiner stood in front of Goer Castle, examining it. Its walls were about three meters high, similar to Morland Castle before its upgrade, but Goer Castle's walls were made of wood and earth, a significant difference from Morland Castle's stone construction.

There were only a sparse two or three people on each of the arrow towers. Unlike the Moreland Family, who had to directly face attacks and raids from the Krad People, the Gwen Family didn't place much importance on archers. Families like the Moreland Family, who needed to use bows and arrows to kill the Krad People on their walls every year, would arm regular archers.

The Gwen Family didn't need to do this. Most of the Krad People would stay around Morland Castle to forage and even attack it. Any Krad People who had gathered food at Morland Castle wouldn't continue south to Goer Castle. The number of Krad People invading Goer Castle each year wouldn't exceed five hundred.

Such a small number posed no threat to the castle, so they didn't prioritize archers. All the archers currently on the arrow towers were legally recognized hunters who had been temporarily conscripted.

Watching the Morland Army below the walls, the guards trembled. They knew that the Baron had led his army to attack Morland Castle, and now, instead of the Baron, these unfamiliar troops had arrived. Evidently, the Baron had been defeated, and Baron Morland had brought his army.

"Madam, Baron Morland has appeared below the castle. It seems the Baron's plan has failed, and perhaps he has already been captured. Should we send an envoy to negotiate with them and see what ransom we need to pay to redeem the Baron?" Baron Lobean's Secretary said to Baron Lobean's wife inside the castle.

Baron Lobean's wife was a young noblewoman, herself not much older than twenty. His wife was also very well-preserved; while not stunningly beautiful, she possessed a rare charm.

She was wearing a green noblewoman's dress, her brown hair hanging limply, much like her mood. After a moment, she said, "No matter how much ransom they demand, we must pay any price to redeem my husband!"

Without her husband's protection, she and her four-year-old son would become defenseless prey. The Gwen Family had many relatives, and Baron Lobean's brother had the same right of succession to Goer Castle as her son. It was hard to say what actions they might take against an orphan and a widow.

"Yes, Madam, I will go negotiate with them immediately and try my best to ensure the Baron is redeemed!"

After the Secretary left, Lady Gwen collapsed weakly onto the bed. "I should never have let him help Count Zebo. Now look, he's dragged himself into this too!"

"Baron, they want to negotiate with us! And discuss the ransom!" Sir Valas said.

"Alright, although Baron Lobean was unfortunately killed by accident on the battlefield, we still want ransom for the other knights!"

Although many knights were killed in the previous battle, some who escaped were captured by Reiner's men, and some unconscious knights had also woken up. Reiner still had four or five knights in his custody.

An old man in a black robe, with graying hair and a face covered in dense wrinkles, slowly and tremblingly approached Reiner, bowed, and said, "Greetings, esteemed Baron Reiner Morland. I am Baron Lobean's Secretary. I wish to redeem my master, Baron Lobean, from your hands. For this, we are willing to pay ten gold coins!"

Reiner couldn't help but gasp upon hearing this. Nobles were truly valuable! Ten gold coins—that was a year's income for Morland Castle. To capture a baron and get that price, wouldn't counts and viscounts be even more valuable? No wonder nobles in this era were keen on war. Even after the Empire forbade private feuds, nobles in some remote areas would frequently fight. As long as they won, they would make a fortune.

However, Reiner didn't covet these ten gold coins. He intended to incorporate all of Goer Castle into his rule; what were a mere ten gold coins?

"I regret to inform you, Secretary, though I wish I didn't have to, that Baron Lobean unfortunately perished during our battle, killed by accident!"

"Wh-what!" The elderly Secretary's eyes widened. He pointed a wrinkled finger, like withered old tree bark, at Reiner. "You! You dare to murder a noble! Cursed by the devil! You actually killed my master! A person of noble status!"

His voice was like a crow with its throat squeezed, sharp and hoarse.

"Watch your words, Secretary! Otherwise, I won't hesitate to chop off the hand you're pointing at my lord!" Sir Valas suddenly drew the pale red saber from his waist and pointed it at the man. The saying "a subject dies for his lord's humiliation" wasn't exclusive to the Celestial Dynasty; such a sentiment was equally present in this world. An insult to his master was a great disgrace to him.

"Alright, Sir Valas! Put your sword away." Reiner then coldly said to the Secretary, "Your master ambushed my castle while I was fighting Heretics! He was the one who did such a shameless thing first. I accidentally killed him in self-defense, and there's nothing shameful about that!"

"Now! I'm giving you an ultimatum. Goer Castle will become my territory. Everything here belongs to me. This is the price for what your master, Baron Lobean, did!" Reiner said, looking at the man expressionlessly.

"You... you murdered my master and now you even dare to seize his territory!" The Secretary's wrinkled face turned crimson, his breathing became rapid, and he glared at Reiner with hatred, looking utterly indignant.

"Go back immediately and relay my words, or your head will be chopped off and fed to the dogs!" Reiner was truly impatient. Your army has been routed anyway, and your master is dead. What are you going to do if I just annex this territory?

"Oh! You'll be damned! You'll go to hell!" The Secretary stumbled towards the door, muttering curses under his breath.

"What!" Lady Gwen's eyes widened in disbelief when she heard the news, and then tears flowed from her eyes like endlessly rolling beans.

"How dare he! How dare he do that!" she shrieked hysterically. For a noblewoman, her husband's death was like the sky falling.

"Impossible! I can't surrender! My son will be the sole ruler of Goer Castle! There's no way I'll surrender!" she screamed and shouted like a shrew, completely losing her usual dignified and graceful demeanor.

There was no doubt that if Reiner appeared before her at that moment, she would desperately rush forward and fight him.