Baron Leysen's Response

The night was quiet.

As Luo Ning waited for midnight to arrive, he considered how to deal with Sain Territory.

The plan of claiming that Macken was an Advanced Peak Knight was never particularly reliable.

Anyone leaving Mountain Forest Town would have to pass by Sain Territory. If the other side intercepted them, it would be like catching a turtle in a jar, leaving them completely passive.

"I analyzed this before. Baron Leysen fears two things. First, that Wushan Castle will learn he embezzled Mountain Forest Town's taxes. Second, that Wushan Castle will learn he tried to kill me."

Luo Ning lay on his bed with his head resting on his palm. After turning it over and over in his mind, he still felt he needed to borrow Wushan Castle's influence to intimidate the other side.

"First, let Wushan Castle learn about his embezzlement of taxes. Then keep the second matter in my own hands."

The reason Luo Ning did not want to tell Wushan Castle about Leysen's attempt on his life was that he wanted to keep Sain Territory around and expose the matter only when the time was right.

And when would the time be right?

Naturally, when he had the ability to eliminate Baron Leysen and claim Sain Territory for himself.

Once Wushan Castle learned that Sain Territory had done such a thing, it would certainly send people to investigate. At that time, Baron Leysen should be too busy dealing with it to pay attention to Mountain Forest Town.

That would buy Luo Ning a long period of breathing room.

"Tomorrow, I need to send someone out with a message."

The Professional Knight needed to stay by Luo Ning's side and clearly could not be sent out. Luo Ning could only select two guards to deliver the message.

"Give them ordinary Warhorses and have them set out during the day, quickly crossing the forest. The danger should be low. Then have them borrow the Green Family's Carrier Pigeon in Lakeside Town to send a letter to Wushan Castle. Surely not even Baron German would refuse, right?"

Carrier Pigeons were tools for transmitting information in this world, somewhat similar to homing pigeons.

They were around fifty centimeters long, fast, and highly enduring. It was said they could fly a thousand li in a single day.

With one delivering the letter, news from Mountain Forest Town could reach Wushan Castle in a day.

Luo Ning also wanted to acquire a few Carrier Pigeons, but they required specialized trainers. Catching them was not enough; they had to memorize the locations at both ends.

Time slowly passed as he pondered, and soon it was midnight.

Without realizing it, Luo Ning had already spent fourteen days in this world. He checked in and received his second Heartwarming Gift Box.

Attribute Points +25

Energy Essence +25

Compared to the previous Heartwarming Gift Box, this one contained five more Attribute Points and five more Energy Essence.

It really was... indeed more heartwarming.

Luo Ning skillfully spent all the Attribute Points on his mage level. His progress had now reached 101/150.

With his current amount of Mental Power and mana, he could cast Clear Wind Spell many times.

Unfortunately, aside from blowing up ladies' skirts, this First-level Magic seemed to have no other use.

Oh, right. It could blow away dust during a major cleaning.

"In just over a week, I'll be able to fill the mage progress bar and break through to Intermediate Rank."

Once he broke through to Intermediate Rank, Luo Ning could learn the Wind Blade spell.

That day, Pedro had used a sneak attack and directly killed Lakeside Town's Knight Captain with Wind Blade. Learning this spell would greatly improve Luo Ning's overall strength.

"Once I put all the Energy Essence into Macken tomorrow, his knight progress will reach 95/200. He'll still be halfway away from becoming a true Advanced Rank."

As long as he could hold back Sain Territory and keep them from paying attention to Mountain Forest Town for a while, Luo Ning would still have plenty of room to maneuver.

At the same time, in Baron Leysen's hall in Sain Territory.

The Magic Crystal Lamp shone brightly, illuminating the hall.

If Luo Ning had been there, he might have thought he had returned to Earth.

Mages were rare, and mages capable of creating magical constructs were rarer still.

That made magical items extremely expensive. For example, Baron Leysen's Magic Crystal Lamp alone cost at least a hundred gold coins.

And that was merely the cost of buying the "lamp shell." It used Magic Crystal Stones and magic cores as energy sources, which also required quite a few gold coins.

Therefore, those who could afford Magic Crystal Lamps were generally nobles—wealthy nobles willing to spend money for appearances.

Leysen was exactly that kind of man.

Displaying his splendor and flaunting his wealth at every moment was one of his favorite things to do.

"My lord, our intelligence was inaccurate. Luo Ning has an Advanced Peak Knight protecting him. We could not guarantee killing him, so we did not act."

Knight Phileton reported, "Moreover, the guards under him do not seem to be ordinary rabble. I suspect Lord Rulans still values his own bloodline greatly."

Seated above, Baron Leysen turned the huge dark-blue Emerald Ring on his finger as he digested the results brought back by the knights.

To be honest, he had not expected this.

"You are right. That fellow Wiggins clearly dislikes Luo Ning, but Lord Rulans values bloodlines greatly."

At that, he could not help laughing. "Lord Rulans was so valiant when he was young. Who would have thought that in his old age, he would have no successor? He even arranged an Advanced Knight to protect a useless grandson like Luo Ning."

Philiton echoed, "After all, Luo Ning has Wushan blood in him. Perhaps he might have a chance of producing a powerful transcendent?"

"Heh heh, then he should treat Luo Ning like a stud and have him spend every day in bed making more children."

His deputy Unai laughed. "Isn't Luo Ning already that sort of person? But I do wonder—he has slept with so many women without producing a single child. Could he be useless already, just like his father?"

"Hahaha!"

In the hall, Leysen and several knights burst into laughter.

As the laughter gradually died down, Philiton put on a more worried expression.

"My lord, although Luo Ning did not learn from Prinster and the others that we intended to kill him, once he settles into Mountain Forest Town, he will certainly learn that we have gained many benefits from it over the years."

He paused, then continued, "If he tells Wushan Castle about this matter, I fear it will not be good for you."

"I have already considered that and have a way to deal with it!"

Baron Leysen was not flustered at all, as though the matter was easily resolved.

"Philiton, set out for Mountain Forest Town early tomorrow morning and negotiate with Luo Ning. Tell him we are willing to compensate him for everything we have taken from Mountain Forest Town over the years, and ask him not to report this matter to Wushan Castle."

"Compensate him?"

Philiton considered the idea, then slowly nodded. "Your method could work, my lord. We just do not know whether Luo Ning will agree."

"Only an idiot would refuse!"

Leysen laughed. "If he chooses to tell Wushan Castle, I can pull a few strings, have the great nobles speak on my behalf, and then pay Wushan Castle some compensation. The matter will be settled."

"But by that method, Wushan Castle gets the money, not Mountain Forest Town. If Luo Ning agrees to settle the matter privately with me, then Luo Ning gets the money, not Wushan Castle."

After saying that, he looked around at the knights present and asked with a smile, "Tell me, would Luo Ning be foolish enough to reject this compensation?"

Everyone nodded in agreement. Luo Ning should not be that foolish, right?

"In Luo Ning's eyes, we are not in a life-or-death conflict with them. Rather than let Wushan Castle take the money, he might as well take it himself."

Knight Philiton praised, "Your method is truly brilliant, my lord!"

The main reason they concluded there was no deep hatred between the two sides was that they had spent part of the afternoon peacefully together.

If there had been a blood feud, given Luo Ning's temperament and the protection of an Advanced Knight, conflict would definitely have broken out.

"Enough. Leave the matter of Mountain Forest Town to you. We will discuss what comes next after I return."

To Baron Leysen, Mountain Forest Town would eventually belong to him. It had previously been managed by Prinster, and now it was nothing more than temporarily in Luo Ning's hands.

He stood and instructed, "Lord Orson's birthday is coming soon. I will set out for Black Python City tomorrow. Unai, you will accompany me with two knights this time. Philiton, you and the others will remain in the territory."

The "Lord Orson" he spoke of was Count Orson Hyde of the borderlands. Black Python City was the central city of the Hyde Family, and it was quite a distance from Sain Territory.

Leysen was attending the count's birthday banquet partly because he had been invited, and partly because he wanted to take the opportunity to meet friends, build connections, and have some proper exchanges with certain people.

Compared with attending the birthday banquet, the matter of Mountain Forest Town was not even on the same level of importance.

"Enough, disperse. Philiton, come with me to collect the agreement."

Baron Leysen strode out of the hall.