Distinguished Guests

The knight captain of the City Defense Corps immediately stepped forward and shouted loudly toward the procession galloping in from afar, "Which noble lord approaches?"

Knights were not a force just anyone could assemble; only nobles had the right to raise a certain number of knights to protect the safety of their territories. As for other merchants, wealthy tycoons, and the like, none of them were permitted to maintain knightly retinues, at most hiring a few powerful swordsmen.

The leading knightly procession ahead gradually slowed its pace. At the forefront rode a middle-aged man around forty years old, wearing a flame-like helmet upon his head and heavy armor, mounted upon a sturdy black steed. He advanced gradually, looking down from his vantage point as he said indifferently, "I am Baron Wengulite Burey. Today, I have brought a distinguished guest to visit the Lord City Master."

"Ah, Baron Wengulite. Please wait a moment while I go report to the Lord City Master."

The knight captain of the City Defense Corps naturally knew Baron Wengulite as a noble lord of Blackwater City. Yet before going to make his report, he cast a deep look at the carriage seated in the middle of the knights. To be escorted personally by Baron Wengulite meant the person inside the carriage must possess an extremely noble identity.

Thus, not daring to delay, the knight captain hurried inside the City Lord's Manor.

Baron Wengulite gazed at the towering City Lord's Manor, a flash of fiery fervor crossing his eyes, before he shouted softly backward, "Tilafa."

Tilafa had also followed within the knightly procession. Hearing Baron Wengulite's voice, he hurriedly stepped forward a few steps and said respectfully, "Father, what are your orders?"

Baron Wengulite narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice, "Later, Ogdin certainly won't let you all go inside. You will take the knights from the castle and guard this place, waiting until I come out."

Tilafa narrowed his eyes slightly and asked with some worry, "Father, will there be danger? What if Ogdin doesn't agree..."

"Not agree? If he doesn't agree, that is even better. Once the deed is done, perhaps the master of this City Lord's Manor should be changed. As for danger... with that lord present, what danger could there be?"

Baron Wengulite's gaze turned toward the carriage behind him, a trace of fearful awe even lingering on his face.

Before long, the knight who had gone to report returned once more. He looked respectfully at Baron Wengulite and said, "The Lord City Master commands that only the baron lord and the distinguished guest in the carriage may enter."

Baron Wengulite nodded and said, "Lead the way!"

With that, Baron Wengulite and the mysterious carriage slowly followed the knight into the City Lord's Manor.

Inside the reception hall of the City Lord's Manor, the current lord of Blackwater City, Baron Ogdin, sat in a chair with his brows slightly furrowing, his sharp, spirited gaze fixed outside.

"Lord City Master, Baron Wengulite has arrived."

Baron Ogdin hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Invite Baron Wengulite in."

Just as his voice fell, Baron Wengulite strode into the hall with a loud laugh, offering a slight bow to Baron Ogdin in the etiquette of the nobility.

Baron Ogdin's expression remained unchanged as he merely glanced indifferently at Wengulite, then said calmly, "Baron Wengulite, you aren't staying in your castle today—do you have some important matter in coming to my City Lord's Manor?"

Even though Ogdin's tone was very cold, Wengulite did not take offense. His expression remained the same as he simply lowered his voice and said, "Baron Ogdin, this time it isn't I who have come to find you, but rather a distinguished guest!"

With that, another man walked in from outside, wearing a white robe with a silver cross-sword embroidered upon his chest.

Upon seeing this white-robed man, Ogdin's expression shifted drastically. He immediately stood up and said in a deep voice, "Mage Jason, did you not already slay the evil heretic last time? Could there still be evil heretics in Blackwater City?"

This white-robed man was none of other than Mage Jason, who had originally come from Gran City to Blackwater City to slay old man Aita.

Mage Jason's eyes were very clear, seemingly capable of piercing straight through the human heart. Instead of answering Baron Ogdin's words, he spoke with a half-smile, "Baron Ogdin, it is time to make your choice!"

Hearing these words, Ogdin could no longer maintain his composure. He collapsed dejectedly into his chair with a drooping head, his complexion as gloomy as water.

Mage Jason's purpose was not any evil heretic, but rather to force him to make a choice!

"Is the Church finally going to make a move? Can it not wait any longer?"

Ogdin asked with a pale face.

Mage Jason's expression turned somewhat indifferent, and he sneered, "Baron Ogdin, we have already given you enough time for consideration. Once we make our move, all previous promises will be considered null and void!"

Ogdin's lips felt somewhat dry. He glanced at Wengulite standing beside Mage Jason, knowing that if he did not agree now, the one to ultimately profit would likely be the Wengulite Family, while his Ogdin Family might be utterly ruined due to his erroneous choice.

Such a massive price was one he could not afford to bear!

After a long while, Ogdin slowly raised his head. He drew a deep breath and said with utmost solemnity, every single word weighty, "Mage Jason, my City Defense Corps knights shall obey Mage Jason's dispatches at any time!"

"Haha, Baron Ogdin, since you are willing to return to the embrace of the gods, you shall still remain the most faithful servant of the gods, and the gods will not abandon a faithful servant. Rest assured, we will not make a move immediately, but the matters that follow will still require the City Master's cooperation."

"Name it, Mage Jason; how shall it be done? My Ogdin Family are all the most loyal servants of the gods!"

Now that he had made his decision, Baron Ogdin actually felt a sense of relief in his heart.

"It is very simple. The City Master simply needs to invite all the nobles of Blackwater City to come to the City Lord's Manor to discuss the issue of the bandits who have been frequently attacking the towns recently. I believe they will all come. When the time comes, we naturally will not mistreat the nobles who are willing to believe in the gods and become servants of the gods, but as for those who are stubbornly unyielding, I shall personally step forth and slay them!"

Hearing Mage Jason's plan, Baron Ogdin felt a chill in his heart. If this plan truly succeeded, it would wipe out all the nobles of Blackwater City in one fell swoop.

Seeing Mage Jason's gaze turn toward him, Ogdin hurriedly said, "Please rest assured, Mage Jason. I will definitely notify all the nobles of Blackwater City to come in the name of the City Master."

The matter was on the verge of being finalized, but Baron Wengulite beside them suddenly stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Mage Jason, Wilson is currently not in Blackwater City; he went to his territory and has yet to return. If we fail to deal with him, relying on the heavy armored knights in his hands, I fear he will bring us a great deal of trouble."

"Wilson? City Master, what do you think should be done?"

Mage Jason narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing at Baron Ogdin with an icy glare.

Baron Ogdin glanced at Wengulite. The enmity between Wengulite and Wilson was something known to everyone in Blackwater City.

After pondering for a moment, Ogdin spoke in a deep voice, "Wilson served in the military for twenty years, accumulating battle merits until he finally became a baron. He can truly be called a veteran of countless battlefields! The nearly two hundred heavy armored knights he trained are the elite of the elite; even my City Defense Corps knights would hardly be able to withstand a charge from Wilson's heavy armored knights. Furthermore, Wilson himself is a Second-Level Elemental Swordsman with formidable strength, making him very difficult to deal with!"

"However, if we wish to control Blackwater City, we cannot avoid dealing with Wilson. With his temperament, having him betray the royal family and surrender to the Church is simply impossible, so he must be eliminated. Thus, we can delay the discussion meeting somewhat, giving Wilson time to hurry back from his territory. When the time comes, with Lord Jason presiding over the situation, what winds and waves could we possibly fear Wilson stirring up?"

Mage Jason nodded in apparent approval and said with a smile, "Good, very good, Wilson must be dealt with! However, delaying the time is hardly necessary. The City Master should still dispatch men as usual to send letters to all the nobles, and Wilson Castle will be no exception. As for Wilson—heh heh—he will never return..."