Chapter 16

There were not only two whimpering tiger cubs inside the cave.

Xia Zuoyi looked around. Even in the slightly dim light, he could still clearly see many pieces of rock asphalt of varying sizes and shapes embedded in the cracks of the cave walls.

Some had already rolled onto the ground, covering it in a thin layer.

"Judith, why are these stones black?"

As he spoke, he picked up a small piece of rock asphalt from the ground and handed it to the butler standing behind him.

Judith took it and examined it closely, then frowned. "My lord, this doesn't seem to be a stone... May I take a closer look?"

Xia Zuoyi stood and stepped back, giving him room. The two tiger cubs also stumbled after him.

Judith stepped forward and crouched beside the cave wall to inspect it carefully. Afterward, he said hesitantly, "My lord, this appears to be some kind of... ore. Could this place..."

He used the hilt of the dagger he carried to tap the cracks in the cave wall.

Quite a few black ores came clattering down, covering the ground around his feet with another layer. Yet even more ore was revealed within the cracks.

"Judith."

Xia Zuoyi suddenly called out from behind him. When Judith turned around, he pointed at the cave wall beside them. "There seems to be some here too..."

A few scattered pieces of black ore were hidden between the layers of rock, not as conspicuous as those exposed deeper inside.

Judith drew a deep breath. "My lord, I think we've discovered a mineral vein."

Just then, a soldier came to report that the two commanders had interrogated the mastermind behind the attack and asked the count to go make a decision.

"Judith, don't announce the discovery of the mineral vein for now. We'll discuss it after this matter has been settled."

"Yes, my lord."

Xia Zuoyi bent over, stuck out his rear, and laboriously picked up the two tiger cubs. Refusing Judith's help, he scooped up one cub's little belly in each hand and slowly made his way outside.

Once outside, he unsurprisingly received many astonished looks.

Ferdinand and Walker interrogated the prisoners separately before comparing and verifying their testimonies.

The people who had ambushed Xia Zuoyi on Par Mountain were unexpectedly acting under a joint scheme between Bevis Elliot and Matthew Luke, an earl from the Gaina Kingdom.

Xia Zuoyi frowned. An earl from the Gaina Kingdom had actually been involved too. No wonder there had been so many people lying in ambush in the small valley. It was clear that both men had sent knights in order to kill him.

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He looked at Ferdinand and asked, "Have you heard of Matthew Luke?"

Ferdinand said in a low voice, "...Not only have I heard of him, I've met him before. He is a subordinate vassal of Marquis Bruno Green."

Walker raised an eyebrow. "Did your former lord know that his vassal's hand had stretched so far? All the way into our Gadayat Kingdom."

"Walker." Xia Zuoyi shot him a warning look.

"I meant nothing else by it, my lord." Walker smiled and raised both hands beside his head.

Ferdinand's expression remained indifferent, and he said nothing.

Xia Zuoyi asked, "What else did they say?"

"Matthew Luke came to Gadayat personally and is currently a guest in Bevis Elliot's castle."

"Their plan was to wait until the ambush at Par Mountain succeeded. Then Matthew Luke would pretend to seize Visas, Bevis Elliot would come to its rescue and drive him off, and then naturally take over Visas."

Xia Zuoyi nodded thoughtfully. "Not a bad idea."

He said, "I remember that lords of the same kingdom are not allowed to wage war privately."

"But if there is a valid reason—for example, occupying a territory that has lost its lord while coming to its rescue—one can apply to the king to become that territory's new lord..."

"Am I right?"

Xia Zuoyi's territory had been personally granted by the king.

Bevis Elliot's territory had been granted to him by Bass Riches, who had subdivided his own land.

There was a saying: the vassal of my vassal is not my vassal.

The king granted land to Bass Riches.

Bass Riches then granted part of his own land to Bevis Elliot.

Therefore, even the king could not casually interfere in matters within Bevis Elliot's territory.

But if Xia Zuoyi rescued Komoy Fort, naturally occupied it afterward, and then applied to the king to become Komoy Fort's new lord...

Even Bass Riches, the superior lord, would have no right to interfere.

Moreover, Bevis Elliot had colluded with an earl from the Gaina Kingdom in an attempt to murder another noble. The evidence was conclusive and impossible to dispute.

Walker smiled. "Of course you're right."

"In that case, under the banner of rescuing Komoy Fort—Ferdinand, Walker, lead the soldiers there to provide aid!"

It was a heaven-sent opportunity.

Thanks to this winter drill, they had brought all their equipment. They could set out directly from Par Mountain, greatly shortening the time required.

They would strike Bevis Elliot before he had time to react.

"Yes, my lord!" Ferdinand replied.

"Yes, my lord!" Walker replied.

Bevis Elliot had never expected Xia Zuoyi to move the winter drill forward by a day at the last minute.

Nor had he expected his supposedly well-hidden ambush site to be discovered so easily and completely wiped out.

When a knight guarding the city gate came desperately rushing to the castle, covered in blood, Bevis Elliot and Matthew Luke were leisurely tasting wine.

"My lord! This is bad! Visas's soldiers have already attacked Komoy Fort... They're heading toward the castle now!"

Most of Komoy Fort's knights had been sent to Par Mountain for the ambush. The few remaining in the city had barely resisted for any time at all before the gates were breached.

Visas's soldiers charged in with unstoppable force.

With a crash,

the wineglass shattered on the floor.

Matthew Luke rose from his seat in disbelief. "What did you say?!"

Bevis Elliot was even more beside himself. He grabbed the knight by his armor and snarled with a twisted expression, "Why would Visas's soldiers come at this time?!"

"Weren't they supposed to hold their winter drill on Par Mountain tomorrow?! Why... Where are the others?! Where are the other knights?!"

The knight said with difficulty, "No... they're all gone..."

Bevis Elliot froze. His hand loosened, and the knight collapsed to the floor.

"Your plan was wrong!" Matthew Luke accused angrily.

Bevis Elliot snapped back in fury, "Bullshit! It was—"

The sound of hooves striking the ground suddenly came rushing closer from afar.

Bevis Elliot's expression turned panicked. "Run, we need to get out of here... Urgh!"

A spray of fresh, hot blood suddenly splashed across Matthew Luke's face.

It happened without warning.

Before anyone could react,

Knight Commander Daina, who had been standing quietly behind Matthew Luke, instantly drew his sword and stepped forward. The sharp blade mercilessly sliced across Bevis Elliot's throat...

Blood sprayed across the floor, stunning Matthew Luke and Bevis Elliot's butler.

The next moment, the sword did not pause. It stabbed into the butler's chest again.

"You, you..."

The butler finally died with his eyes wide open, collapsing beside Bevis Elliot's corpse.

Knight Commander Daina turned toward Matthew Luke.

Matthew Luke could not help taking a terrified step back. "Why did you kill them?!"

Knight Commander Daina's face was concealed by his helmet, and his voice was slightly muffled. "The marquis ordered that if the plan failed, then to prevent his scheme with Lord Bass Riches from being exposed, none of those who knew of it could be allowed to live."

"Rest assured, my lord. I will not leave Komoy Fort alive either."

Given the situation, they could not escape at all.

"No, you wouldn't dare!"

Matthew Luke's eyes nearly split with rage.

He watched as Knight Commander Daina gripped his sword and swung down without hesitation. He hurriedly threw himself aside in panic to dodge, and the blade instantly stabbed into the carpet beside his leg. The sound of tearing was almost against his ear.

Matthew Luke did not dare hesitate. He quickly scrambled to his feet and fled toward the outside of the castle.

Knight Commander Daina chased relentlessly after him.

The two ran straight into Ferdinand and Walker, who were leading soldiers into the castle.

Ferdinand wore a half-face helmet, and his resolute features instantly entered Matthew Luke's sight—as well as Knight Commander Daina's.

For a moment, both men stopped.

"...Ferdinand?!" Daina's voice was full of disbelief.

He even removed his helmet, revealing a handsome, clean-cut face as he looked at Fernandi Edward with both shock and delight.

Dyna Prince was Fernandi Edward's closest friend.

He clearly had not expected to see his former brother here. Ever since Ferdinand had been punished and reduced to slavery, he had thought they would never meet again.

"Ferdinand!"

Dyna Prince could not help rushing over to hug him. He patted Ferdinand's back forcefully, his expression excited and delighted.

Ferdinand was equally happy. After returning the embrace, a smile appeared on his usually expressionless face.

Walker curled his lips. "Gentlemen, perhaps you can catch up later."

Only then did Dyna Prince realize that something was wrong.

Why was Ferdinand here?!

He released him and carefully looked him over from head to toe. When he noticed that Ferdinand was wearing armor only knights were qualified to wear, his eyes widened involuntarily. "Ferdinand, you..."

"It's a long story," Ferdinand said.

He had not missed the sight of Daina pursuing Matthew Luke with his sword earlier. Frowning, he asked, "Why are you trying to kill him?"

Why was Dyna Prince, Knight Commander to Marquis Bruno Green, here as well?!

Matthew Luke finally had a chance to speak. In a strange, mocking tone, he said, "It was Bruno Green's order. That damned, hypocritical bastard..."

Before he could finish,

Dyna Prince's sword swiftly came to rest against Matthew Luke's neck. "Shut up! You are not allowed to speak ill of the marquis!"

He looked at Ferdinand again. "I'm very happy to see you here, Ferdinand. Seeing that you're doing well puts my mind at ease."

"The marquis ordered that Matthew Luke must be killed. Afterward, I too will willingly die. This is the loyalty expected of a knight. I..."

Matthew Luke panicked and interrupted Dyna Prince loudly. "Fernandi Edward! Tell him not to kill me, and I can tell you something—the truth about your sister's death!"