"Mika, this time, it's all up to you."
The man patted Mika on the shoulder. "You must sow discord between the two sides. It'd be best if you could start a war outright... When the time comes, all of Upper Green Forest will welcome its rightful masters home!"
"Once I become the new lord, I'll marry Monica to you and make you the lord of Emerald Territory!"
"I'm at your service!"
Mika clenched his fist and thumped it against his chest, ambition burning in his eyes.
The Davis Family truly should be the ones ruling Upper Green Forest!
Even if the man before him was only from a branch family, the main line was dead and gone, after all.
And then there was the territory, and Miss Monica...
Blackstone Manor, main gate.
To show proper courtesy, Aaron stood at the gate in formal attire to welcome his guests.
Before long, a carriage train appeared at the end of the road and steadily drew closer.
"Baron, you're too kind."
Knight Yiman dismounted and shook Aaron's hand.
"Welcome to my manor." Aaron responded politely.
Knight Yiman then helped a young lady down from the carriage. "Allow me to introduce the brightest jewel in Emerald Territory, my daughter—Monica!"
"Hello, beautiful lady."
"Good day, my lord." Monica gazed at Aaron's handsome face, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. She felt less opposed to her family's arrangements now.
"This is my disciple, Mika!"
Knight Yiman continued, introducing a young man.
"Mm."
Aaron grew a little more reserved, merely nodding before moving on.
His guest seemed skilled with a blade, but that was all.
What struck him as slightly odd was that, carried on the breeze, he could hear the man's heartbeat and other signs of life. He was far too excited.
He's hiding it well, but I'm not a count. Is there really any need to be this nervous...?
Aaron immediately grew more wary. He sensed the condition of the others in the carriage train, gave Eight-Fingers a look, then led Knight Yiman into the manor.
In the drawing room, the cooks brought in sweet honey water and rich, milky pudding.
"Please, help yourselves. Try something I came up with."
Aaron scooped up a spoonful of pudding and put it in his mouth. It was Ginny's favorite dessert, though she complained that the castle cooks could never get it right.
"This is truly divine."
Knight Yiman took a taste and set down his spoon. Monica, however, had eyes shining with delight. She maintained her ladylike grace while wielding her spoon at a furious pace. The maid beside her gave her several meaningful looks, but to no avail.
Knight Yiman felt a little vexed, but kept it off his face as he chatted amiably with Aaron.
"I hear the Baron has some remarkably effective medicines. Did they cure Lady Sylvie?"
He brought it up casually, with a hint of curiosity.
"I bought them from a traveling merchant. They may have helped a little, but the scholar and the midwife probably deserve most of the credit..." Aaron replied modestly.
Yiman secretly rolled his eyes, not believing a word of it.
He knew what sort of people the traveling merchants in Green Forest were. If they had such miraculous medicine, they would have bragged about it to the heavens.
The medicine was almost certainly Aaron's own creation. After all, he'd already had a reputation for such things.
If that was the case, all the more reason to build a good relationship with him. Medicine that could save lives was precious in this age.
Even without the medicine, Yiman would have loved to get his hands on the farming tools and fertilizers that could double the harvest.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt his daughter was letting him down.
After a short rest, Aaron led Knight Yiman and the others on a tour of his manor.
"The wheat yield has been good this year. The manor's mill has been running at full capacity, so I'm planning to build another... The storehouses also need to be expanded."
Aaron walked through the manor with Yiman, Monica, Mika, and the others.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out behind them.
"What's going on?"
Aaron frowned. Eight-Fingers and Sanchez hurried over. After glancing at Knight Yiman, they spoke without lowering their voices. "We found suspicious people among the retinue. They were carrying poisoned daggers. We suspect they're assassins!"
"This must be a misunderstanding!" Knight Yiman's expression changed drastically.
Aaron abruptly turned and looked at Mika.
The young man's heartbeat suddenly quickened.
I have to admit, some of Chrysalis's abilities are pretty useful.
Aaron looked at Mika with an almost amused smile. "Your name is... Mika, right?"
"Y-yes, Baron."
Mika had no idea why Aaron had ignored Knight Yiman and singled him out. Sweat was already beading on his forehead.
"Why did you come to assassinate me?"
The next moment, Aaron stated it with a cold laugh. He had no interest in playing games over evidence. On his own territory, he was the law. Suspicion alone was enough to arrest, interrogate, or even kill someone!
"What?"
Yiman's expression shifted again. Then he saw Mika's face twist with rage as he drew the Cross Sword at his waist.
Unfortunately, he was a step too slow.
Aaron's hand swept to his waist, and the light Rapier was in his grasp. He stepped forward and thrust.
Thud!
A flash of silver. The Rapier's slender blade pierced Mika's right chest and punctured his lung.
"Mika... Ah..."
Monica screamed as she watched Mika fall.
Knight Yiman stared at Aaron in utter shock. Mika was his prized disciple, and had even surpassed him in physical strength. He still lacked a little experience, but he could have placed among the best at a tournament.
And yet, his opponent had taken him down with a single move.
There were other factors at play, of course, but Baron Aaron's skill with a blade was clearly extraordinary.
"Knight Yiman..."
Aaron took out a pristine white handkerchief and gently wiped his sword. Then he asked casually, "Did you know about this?"
Knight Yiman broke into a cold sweat, instantly realizing he had been caught up in a vast conspiracy.
From Mika's expression and actions, it was clear that he really was behind the assassination. There was no doubt that this would implicate the knight as well.
At such a sensitive time, as a vassal who had only recently submitted, causing this kind of incident could even invite a punitive expedition!
"I swear on the faith of Grandmother that I knew nothing about this!"
Knight Yiman made his decision at once. He knelt on one knee and slowly drew his sword, scabbard and all, offering it to Aaron with both hands.
"Of course... I believe you completely."
Aaron did not take it. Stripping a knight of his weapon entirely would be an insult.
Besides, he had already sensed Yiman's condition through the hairs on his body and was fairly certain he was innocent.
"Eight-Fingers, please escort Knight Yiman and Miss Monica to the guest rooms. Search the servants as well. We can't let the bandits who infiltrated the carriage train get away with their scheme."
He smiled as he spoke.
"Thank you for your mercy. Your wisdom is beyond anything I have ever seen."
Knight Yiman rose to his feet, feeling as though a great weight had been lifted. It seemed this lord still trusted him.
Before you continue