Unexpected Forces

The sudden warning made Luo Ning notice the bearded Professional Knight kneeling beside Prinster.

The man was not particularly strong, and his combat ability was likely poor as well. Otherwise, Luo Ning would not have defeated him with one blow.

Yet this man had actually spoken up to warn Prinster, an Intermediate Knight, and there was even a threatening edge in his tone.

In this world beneath the nobility, where strength determined status, how could a Beginner Knight threaten an Intermediate Knight?

This made Luo Ning deeply curious.

"Who are you?"

The man raised his head disdainfully, looking like a fighting rooster. "Baron Luo Ning, I advise you to let me go. It will be good for you. Otherwise..."

"Prisoner, it seems you still have not understood your situation."

Luo Ning drew the longsword at his waist and drove it into the ground. The sharp tip penetrated the hand the man was using to brace himself before sinking into the soil. The intense pain made him howl miserably.

"As a defeated traitor, you have no right to hold your head high before me."

Luo Ning spoke coldly, then looked at the other knight he had intercepted with killing intent in his eyes. "You tell me!"

Perhaps the killing intent in his words was too strong, or perhaps Luo Ning's attitude had driven the knight into despair. With a shriek, he actually fainted on the spot, liquid flowing from beneath his crotch.

Luo Ning was speechless. Was he really that frightening when he spoke nicely?

And this was a Professional Knight? What pathetic mental fortitude.

The pungent stench made Luo Ning pinch his nose and move farther away, standing upwind.

"You tell me!"

Luo Ning pointed at the last knight, the one who had fought David and voluntarily surrendered.

"My patience is limited. If you pretend to be dead and faint as well, I guarantee you will not have a chance to wake up again!"

"No, my lord, I am incredibly awake right now!"

Clearly, the Professional Knight who had fought David and surrendered had already prepared to confess. When Luo Ning questioned him, he immediately lay flat on the ground.

Those words made Prinster's expression turn even uglier. He knew his secret was probably impossible to keep now.

Luo Ning smiled. People who knew how to read the situation were always pleasant.

"Very good. What is your name?"

The knight lying on the ground replied, "My lord, my name is Malt Ray."

Luo Ning was somewhat surprised. "Raise your head. Are you of noble descent?"

Malt raised his head, revealing a square face. His complexion was poor, and his brown hair looked messy and unkempt.

"Yes, my lord. My father was once an Ennobled Knight who followed your father, Count Wiggins. However, he was unfortunately killed in battle after driving the rebels into Wubei Forest. After my mother gave birth to me, she lived here ever since."

"Pah!" Prinster sneered. "A bastard calling himself of noble descent!"

Luo Ning glanced at Prinster. This man seemed to dislike Malt quite a bit.

"Your father was a loyal and brave knight."

He first acknowledged Malt's background, then changed the subject. "But if he knew that his son had turned around and Betrayed his own lord, he would probably not be pleased."

"I am sorry, my lord!" Malt lowered his head, his voice choking. "But please believe me, I had no choice."

That might well have been true.

In such an environment, if Malt had not obeyed Prinster's wishes, his life would likely have been extremely difficult.

Luo Ning decided not to pursue the matter for now. "Enough. I will now allow you to make up for your mistakes. Tell me everything about them, without holding anything back!"

"It is my honor, my lord!"

Malt began answering Luo Ning's questions, and his very first answer was astonishing.

"My lord, this man is named Dyson. He is the Defense Officer of Mountain Forest Town, and he is also a knight of Sain Territory."

Luo Ning thought he had misheard. "What? You said Sain Territory?"

Sain Territory was the closest territory to Mountain Forest Town, ruled by Baron Leysen Sain.

Before entering the mountains, Luo Ning had even intended to find time to visit this neighbor. He had not expected that the knights in his own territory would be connected to Sain Territory.

"Yes, my lord!"

Malt continued, "Besides Dyson, the unconscious Kate and the Professional Knight Vatro whom you just killed all came from Sain Territory. The three of them serve Baron Leysen."

"Leysen's people not only appeared in Mountain Forest Town, but even served as its Defense Officer. Now that is interesting!"

Luo Ning stared meaningfully at Prinster. "Administrator, would you like to explain?"

"There is nothing to explain."

Prinster endured the pain. "Without outside support, how could I alone deal with the savage tribes? Baron Leysen merely arranged for a few people to protect me and help me resist enemies."

Luo Ning chuckled coldly. Nobles were never so kind-hearted. Since Leysen had chosen to help, he would certainly receive compensation, and it would surely be substantial.

"Forget it. Malt, you tell me. Tell me everything you know."

Then, through Malt's account, Mountain Forest Town took on an entirely different image in Luo Ning's mind.

Rulans had said that Mountain Forest Town had fewer than a thousand residents, but Malt said there were at least a thousand people here.

Prinster had said that paying Wushan Castle ten gold coins in taxes each year was already the town's limit, but Malt said that every year, Sain Territory sent people to haul away several Carriages of grain and various goods from Mountain Forest Town.

Prinster had said that he needed to fight the savage tribes, but Malt said that in recent years, the savage tribes and Mountain Forest Town had not had many conflicts. Even when there were any, they were only isolated incidents.

Malt also said that Prinster was not only the Administrator of Mountain Forest Town, but also a knight loyal to Baron Leysen.

"Baron Leysen only needed to spend ten gold coins each year to place Mountain Forest Town under the name of his Sain Family."

Luo Ning gave Prinster a thumbs-up. "That was quite the move!"

Every so often, Mountain Forest Town would report to Wushan Castle how many people had been killed by Demon Beasts and how many residents had been killed by savage tribes, portraying Mountain Forest Town as a place even Pioneer Knights dared not enter.

As Wushan Castle gradually neglected this area, perhaps even forgetting it in the end, Leysen became like an uncrowned king, the true owner of Mountain Forest Town.

The land here, the population here, and the wealth here would all flow into the pockets of the Sain Family.

Luo Ning also understood why news of what had happened at Wushan Castle could reach the remote Mountain Forest Town, on the edge of Wushan Territory, so fast.

There was no need to guess. Baron Leysen must have sent the news and given Prinster his instructions.

"Baron Leysen truly has some nerve. For Mountain Forest Town, he even dared to kill members of the Wushan Family."

On one hand, Luo Ning admired Leysen's boldness. On the other, he lamented that Wushan Castle's deterrence over the various families of Wushan Territory had truly grown weaker and weaker.

Once old Rulans, plagued by illness, died, these restless lords would certainly redraw the boundaries of their territories.

"I underestimated the threat posed by Mountain Forest Town, but Leysen also underestimated my strength."

Luo Ning had expected that becoming the lord of Mountain Forest Town might bring some obstacles, but he had not expected his opponents to include an Intermediate Knight and the lackeys of other nobles.

Leysen had made corresponding arrangements as well, but he had underestimated Luo Ning's strength.

Fortunately, Luo Ning was a little stronger.

"The Sain Family of Swamp Town, since you have set your sights on me, do not blame me for dealing with you in the future."

Who said expanding the population could only be done by taking in people from the savage tribes?

Sain Territory was also a possible target.