Chapter 16

There were more than just two whimpering tiger cubs in the cave.

Cyrus looked around. Though the light was somewhat dim, he could still clearly make out countless pieces of Rock Asphalt of various sizes and shapes embedded in the cracks of the cave walls.

Some had already rolled onto the ground, forming a thin layer.

"Judas, 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.

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

Cyrus stood up and stepped back, making room for him. The two tiger cubs staggered after him as well.

Judas stepped forward and crouched beside the cave wall to inspect it closely. After looking for a while, he said hesitantly, "My Lord, this seems to be a kind of... ore. Could this place be..."

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

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

"Judas."

Cyrus suddenly called out from behind him. When Judas turned around, Cyrus pointed at the nearby cave wall. "There seems to be some here too..."

A few scattered pieces of black ore were hidden between layers of rock, less conspicuous than the ones directly exposed deeper inside.

Judas took a deep breath. "My Lord, I believe we've discovered a mineral vein."

Just then, a soldier came to report that the two officers had extracted the identity of the mastermind from the prisoners and requested the Count's decision.

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

"Yes, My Lord."

Cyrus bent over, stuck out his rear, and laboriously scooped up the two tiger cubs. Refusing Judas's help, he cradled one cub by the belly in each hand and slowly made his way outside.

Once outside, he unsurprisingly drew many astonished looks.

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

The people who had ambushed Cyrus on Par Mountain were actually acting on the joint scheme of Bevis Elliot and a count from the Gaina Kingdom, Matthew Luke.

Cyrus frowned. A count from the Gaina Kingdom had actually gotten involved as well. No wonder there had been so many men lying in wait in the small valley. It was clear that both men had sent knights to kill him.

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

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

Walker William raised his brows. "Did your former lord know his vassal's hand had stretched this far? All the way into the territory of our Gadayat Kingdom."

"Walker." Cyrus gave him a warning look.

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

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

Cyrus asked, "What else did they say?"

Walker said, "Matthew Luke personally came to Gadayat and is currently a guest at Bevis Elliot's castle."

"Their plan was for Matthew Luke to pretend to seize Visas after the Par Mountain ambush succeeded. Bevis Elliot would then come to the rescue, drive him back, and naturally take over Visas."

Cyrus nodded thoughtfully. "Not a bad plan."

He said, "As I recall, lords of the same kingdom are forbidden from privately going to war."

"But if there is a reason—for example, if someone occupies a territory that has lost its lord while rendering aid—they may apply to the king to become that territory's new lord..."

"Am I right?"

Cyrus's territory had been personally granted by the king.

Bevis Elliot's territory had been granted to him from land Bass Riches had redistributed.

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 affairs within Bevis Elliot's territory.

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

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

What was more, Bevis Elliot had colluded with a count from the Gaina Kingdom in an attempt to murder another noble. The evidence was conclusive and beyond dispute.

Walker smiled. "Of course you are correct."

"In that case, under the name of rescuing Komoy Fort, Ferdinand, Walker, lead the soldiers there at once!"

A heaven-sent opportunity.

Thanks to this winter drill, they had brought complete equipment and could depart directly from Par Mountain, greatly shortening the time needed.

They would strike so quickly that Bevis Elliot would have no time to react.

"Yes, My Lord!"

"Yes, My Lord!"

Bevis Elliot had never imagined that Cyrus would move the winter drill forward by one day at the last minute.

Nor had he imagined that the ambush site he believed to be so well hidden would be discovered so easily and wiped out in one sweep.

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

"My Lord! Bad news! Visas's soldiers have already broken into Komoy Fort... They are heading toward the castle now!"

Most of Komoy Fort's knights had been sent to Par Mountain for the ambush. There were only a handful left in the city, and they barely resisted before the gates were breached.

The soldiers of Visas charged in like a force sweeping through everything in their path.

Crash!

The wineglass shattered on the floor.

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

Bevis Elliot was even more distraught. He grabbed the knight by his armor, his expression twisted with rage. "Why would Visas's soldiers come now?!"

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

The knight said with difficulty, "N-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 furiously.

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

The sound of horses' hooves striking the ground suddenly drew 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 too suddenly.

Before anyone could react.

Knight Commander Daina, who had been quietly standing 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, terrifying Matthew Luke and Bevis Elliot's butler into stunned silence.

The next moment, without pausing, the sword stabbed into the butler's chest once more.

"Y-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 frightened step back. "Why did you kill them?!"

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 and Lord Bass Riches's scheme from being exposed, none of those who knew of it could be left alive."

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

Given the situation before them, there was no way they could escape.

"No, you wouldn't dare!"

Matthew Luke's eyes nearly split with fury.

He watched as Daina raised his sword and slashed down without hesitation. He hurriedly threw himself aside in panic, and the blade instantly stabbed into the carpet beside his leg, its tearing sound nearly ringing in his ears.

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

Knight Commander Daina pursued him closely.

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

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

For a moment, both of them 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 in shock and delight.

Dyna Prince was Fernandi Edward's closest friend.

He clearly had not expected to see his former brother-in-arms here. Ever since Ferdinand had been sentenced into slavery, Daina had believed they would never meet again.

"Ferdinand!"

Dyna Prince could not help rushing over and embracing him, patting his back forcefully with an excited, joyful expression.

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

Walker William 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 his friend 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 chasing Matthew Luke with a sword earlier. Frowning, he asked, "Why were 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. He said in a strange, mocking tone, "It was Bruno Green's order. That damned, hypocritical bastard..."

Before he could finish.

Dyna Prince's sword swiftly pressed across Matthew Luke's throat. "Shut up! You are not allowed to speak ill of the Marquis."

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

"The Marquis ordered that Matthew Luke must be killed. Afterward, I too will willingly face death. This is the loyalty of a knight, I—"

Matthew Luke fearfully cut Dyna Prince off and shouted, "Fernandi Edward! Make him spare me, and I can tell you something—the truth about your sister's death!"