Administrator Prinster

Two groups of people faced off, separated by dozens of meters, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense.

At first, the guards on Luo Ning's side weren't entirely sure why the Baron had ordered them to take up arms.

But when they heard the newcomers speaking in such an impolite tone, they seemed to understand.

At this moment, their admiration for Luo Ning deepened. The Baron was truly a divine being, able to foresee such a situation.

Administrator Prinster sat on his horse, looking up at the guards behind Luo Ning. The number of guards holding swords was exactly as he had anticipated, around thirty people. He felt a surge of confidence.

"Lord Luo Ning, you may not know this, but I have served as the Administrator of Mountain Forest Town for nine years. In these years, even when harvests were poor, even when we were attacked by the Savage Tribe and the Magical Beasts in Wushan, I was still able to pay ten Gold Coins worth of taxes to Wushan Castle each year."

These ten Gold Coins didn't necessarily refer to actual money; equivalent goods were also included.

Although it didn't sound like much, for a small mountain town with a population of less than a thousand, being able to pay this much in taxes annually was indeed commendable.

Luo Ning nodded slightly. "You've done very well. It is precisely because Wushan Castle saw this ability in you that they entrusted this town to your care for nine years."

He wasn't sure what measures the other party intended to take, so it was no harm to praise him a little.

"Heh heh, but now, the place I've worked so hard to manage for nine years is to be handed over to you, a notorious good-for-nothing!"

Prinster's eyes changed, becoming aggressive. "I am not convinced!"

"Why can nobles so easily seize the fruits of others' labor? Why should my things be handed over to you, a useless person played by women?"

He roared in anger, "Why!"

"Silence!"

Macken drew his longsword. He looked at Luo Ning. "Lord, let me go over and kill him!"

Luo Ning, however, shook his head, signaling Macken to hold back for now.

As a transmigrator, he somewhat understood the other party's feelings.

Although Prinster hadn't been the lord of Mountain Forest Town all these years, he was essentially the same. Now, asking him to acknowledge him as his master was indeed psychologically difficult to accept.

However, understanding was one thing; the other party wanting to occupy his things was absolutely unacceptable.

"You were sent by Wushan Castle to manage Mountain Forest Town, but Mountain Forest Town does not belong to you. Whether you are angry or roaring, it doesn't change this rule, because this is how the world is, ruled and dominated by nobles! If you want a territory of your own, the first thing you must do is pledge your loyalty to a noble."

"But I understand you."

Luo Ning's tone shifted. "As long as you dismount now and acknowledge me as your master, I can overlook your attitude today. As long as you are loyal to me, perhaps one day you can also become a Baron like I am now."

"Perhaps!"

Prinster slowly drew the sword from his waist. "But I have a better suggestion."

The atmosphere began to turn icy, killing intent slowly leaking out.

"Speak," Luo Ning said.

Prinster pointed his sword at Luo Ning. "I can kill you here and continue to serve as the Administrator of Mountain Forest Town."

"Oh? Aren't you afraid of Wushan Castle's retribution?"

Prinster laughed loudly. "Wild beasts and Magical Beasts frequently appear on the road to Mountain Forest Town. With just one Beginner Knight by your side and thirty Infantry, it's perfectly normal for you to die under the claws and fangs of Magical Beasts."

Clearly, the other party also had information about Luo Ning's personnel configuration. He believed that as soon as he left Wushan Castle, this information was already on its way to Mountain Forest Town.

Luo Ning didn't believe that Prinster had informants in Wushan Castle.

An Administrator of a small mountain town didn't have that much capability.

So Luo Ning was very curious, where exactly did the other party get this information?

He looked at the few burly men on horseback beside the other party. These four men seemed extraordinary. Could they also be Beginner Knights?

But a Mountain Forest Town, with a mere few hundred people, shouldn't produce so many Transcendent, right?

Luo Ning tried to probe the other party.

"Your plan does have a certain feasibility. But I see you only have twenty to thirty people on your side. Are you so confident that you can easily kill me?"

As he spoke, he looked back. "In terms of numbers, I have more than you~"

"Haha, you are indeed as foolish as Wiggins! If numbers could decide everything, then could your Wushan Castle crush the Black Gold Brotherhood? Could it crush the Hyde Family?"

Prinster's face was full of disdain. "But the reality is, Wushan Castle is powerless against anyone!"

The more he spoke, the more excited he became. Challenging the authority of nobles and trampling on their dignity was something he greatly desired to do, and today he could finally do it.

"To tell you the truth, I myself am an Intermediate Knight, and I have four Beginner Knights by my side. In the face of absolute power, you are no different from sheep in a sheepfold."

He was already looking forward to seeing the expression of fear on the face of this Legitimate Grandson of Wushan Castle when he heard about such a lineup.

But he only saw a fleeting look of surprise on Luo Ning's face.

Luo Ning was indeed surprised.

When they came, everyone from Wushan Castle thought that at most there would be one or two Transcendent in Mountain Forest Town. Who would have thought that there were not only five Transcendent here, but even an Intermediate Knight?

Wushan Castle's intelligence gathering ability was truly too poor; they really knew nothing about Mountain Forest Town.

However, there was also a possibility that they had never cared about Mountain Forest Town. As long as the ten Gold Coins in taxes were collected every year, they didn't care what happened here.

This is how a gradually declining noble family slowly loses its grip on power.

"I'll say it again, Prinster, and everyone behind you listen up!"

Luo Ning regained his composure. "Before we resort to force, I can forgive your disrespect today. But if you still don't value your lives and challenge my authority, then don't blame me, your new lord, for killing."

Over there, Prinster's face had darkened.

Having been the master of Mountain Forest Town for so many years, it had been a long time since he'd heard such disrespectful words.

For years, he had eagerly anticipated seeing panic and fear on the faces of nobles, and he had greatly desired to surpass them.

But not only did Luo Ning show none of these reactions, he was also shaking the morale of his own people.

He noticed that some of the guards around him were indeed showing signs of wavering. After all, the concept of nobility was deeply ingrained in these people's minds, and they knew they all belonged to the Wushan Territory.

They couldn't continue talking.

Prinster hardened his heart. "Archers, fire!"

The three archers didn't waver. To them, the noble was ethereal, while the Administrator was real and the one who granted them a superior life.

They quickly drew their bows and nocked arrows. In just two seconds, the arrows flew from the strings.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Macken charged out first.

Driven by his Battle Qi, the Sword Aura on his longsword surged.

With just one sweep, all three arrows were cut down and fell to the ground.

Prinster's pupils constricted violently, and his face changed. "How is this possible? How do you have an Intermediate Knight?"

Since the fight had started, there was no need for more nonsense.

Luo Ning quickly ordered, "Leave Prinster to Macken. Remember to try and keep him alive, I still have use for him!"

"Elrond, remember to treat the wounded promptly."

Luo Ning pointed his longsword. "Everyone, kill!"

Macken also responded loudly, "Traitors, you deserve to die!"

Hoofbeats were urgent. Macken, Luo Ning, and David charged ahead, directly towards the enemy formation. Behind them, the twenty-nine guards also all rushed forward.

Only the Mage Elrond and the manservant Chahar remained behind and did not advance.

Prinster hadn't expected the other side to initiate the charge, and what's more, they were uphill while his side was downhill, making the terrain disadvantageous.

However, since the battle had begun, there was no need to dwell on positioning issues.

"Kill!"

He roared, his entire body erupting with Battle Qi, looking quite imposing.

On this main road, a battle involving sixty to seventy people broke out.