Chapter 17

After Matthew Luke finished speaking.

Ferdinand's expression changed abruptly. "What truth?! Wasn't my sister killed by Quint Green?!"

Quint Green was Bruno Green's younger brother.

Matthew Luke said, "Your sister was indeed killed by Quint Green."

"But you have no idea that the marquis you swore loyalty to was a thoroughly disgusting wretch. He was hypocritical, vicious, and deceitful! He fooled every last one of you!"

Matthew Luke took a breath, his heart pounding wildly. Once he was certain Dyna Prince would not kill him for the moment, he continued, "Do you think Bruno Green was truly a kind person?"

"No, he wasn't."

"Your sister was first raped by Bruno Green after being drugged. Then, while unconscious and disheveled, she was thrown into Quint Green's residence."

"Quint Green was reckless and brainless, and even more so, utterly inhuman."

"He locked your sister in a room and tortured her for five whole days. During that time, Bruno Green went there once more. At first, your sister did not know he had drugged and raped her, and she pitifully begged Bruno Green to save her..."

"The outcome was obvious."

"Bruno Green pretended to save her and gave her hope, only to seize her again when she was about to escape that wolf's den... In the end, Quint Green played her to death..."

The surroundings fell silent.

Ferdinand's eyes were bloodshot, his jaw clenched tight, and the hand holding his weapon trembled uncontrollably.

Dyna Prince could no longer maintain his expression. His longsword slowly lowered, its tip hanging limply against the ground.

Matthew Luke licked his dry lips. "Bruno Green told Quint Green to dispose of your sister's body and make it look as though she had been attacked after going out."

"But who would have thought Quint Green was such an incompetent fool? Not only did he fail to dispose of the body properly, allowing you to quickly notice something suspicious, but you also traced it back to him..."

"Unfortunately, Quint Green was killed by you before he could say much."

For a time, the only sound in the silent castle was Ferdinand's heavily suppressed, ragged breathing.

Matthew Luke continued rubbing salt into the bloody wound that had been torn open once more.

"Do you think Bruno Green spared you out of kindness?"

Matthew Luke sneered. "No, quite the opposite. He positioned himself as innocent. He knew that after killing Quint Green, you would have betrayed him, and with your personality, guilt would surely torment you until you might not even want to live anymore."

"Bruno Green wanted you to suffer a fate worse than death. What outcome could be more satisfying than becoming a slave?"

"You were sold to Gadayat not under the executioner's orders, but through his own manipulation. He even made sure you had been bought by a noble before allowing anyone to return to Gaina."

Mockery filled Matthew Luke's eyes. "Bruno Green was utterly hypocritical. Before others, he displayed his virtue and compassion toward you. Behind their backs, though, he said that commoners were nothing but commoners, and whatever he did to you was what you deserved, even if you had to crawl on the ground like dogs..."

With a crash.

Ferdinand finally lost control of his overwhelming rage. Roaring, he swung his greatsword into the wall, instantly leaving a deep gash as a hanging painting and fragments of stone fell to the floor.

Matthew Luke trembled in fright. "I-I told you everything. Tell Dyna Prince not to kill me."

As long as I don't die, once I'm sent to the royal capital of Gadayat, I'll have a way to offer enough bargaining chips to get myself back to Gaina.

Dyna Prince took a step back and left the matter to Ferdinand.

He was still too shocked to believe it. His lips moved several times, but no words came out.

The veins stood out on the hand gripping Ferdinand's greatsword. It was obvious he was doing everything he could to control his emotions.

At that moment, footsteps sounded from the doorway.

Xia Zuoyi arrived with Judith.

Ferdinand and Walker had gone ahead, while he had been kept protected in the rear.

But he had arrived long ago and had heard the "truth" spilling from Matthew Luke's mouth.

Xia Zuoyi said, "If the truth is really as you described it, why do you know it so clearly?"

"Could Quint Green have told you every detail without leaving anything out?"

At those words, Ferdinand's gaze suddenly turned cold and sharp.

Dyna Prince once again pointed his sword at him. "You were involved too?!"

Matthew Luke's expression changed.

"No, I..."

Ferdinand's greatsword suddenly lay across his throat, cutting a line of blood. "Speak!"

Matthew Luke's face gradually turned ashen.

There was no need for excuses. This was the truth.

Seeing the killing intent on Fernandi Edward's face grow stronger and stronger.

Matthew Luke cried out in panic, "No! You can't kill me!"

"I can testify! The assassination of Count Desinia was actually planned by Bruno Green and Bass Riches together! Bevis Elliot and I were only their accomplices. Nothing could be more persuasive than the testimony of a count!"

Walker William raised his sword to stop Ferdinand. "You cannot kill him. Matthew Luke must be sent before the king as a witness, so justice can be sought for the count."

Ferdinand's chest rose and fell violently.

Just as Dyna Prince could not help wanting to say something for his friend, he saw Ferdinand slowly lower his greatsword and say hoarsely, "I will spare his life... for the count."

Dyna Prince looked surprised and cast a discreet glance at Xia Zuoyi.

Matthew Luke sighed in relief.

But Xia Zuoyi said at that moment, "Kill him, Ferdinand."

"One day, I will deal with Bass Riches myself."

"Besides, he is a duke and controls the kingdom's finances. The king may not necessarily do anything to Bass Riches for my sake. He could easily find some reason or excuse to clear himself, and there is a strong possibility the king would only punish him lightly."

"There is little point in leaving Matthew Luke alive if it only harms the surface without touching the foundation."

"Take your revenge. For yourself, and for your sister."

Matthew Luke's expression turned terrified.

Walker William lowered the hand that had been blocking Ferdinand and stood behind Xia Zuoyi, making his stance clear.

Xia Zuoyi said, "Let's go outside."

After saying that, he turned and led the others out of the castle, leaving the space to Ferdinand.

Seeing this, Dyna Prince threw down his sword. As a captive, he willingly allowed himself to be escorted away.

Behind them came Matthew Luke's terrified cries.

Standing in the open space outside the castle, Xia Zuoyi asked Walker, "You once served in the royal capital. What kind of person do you think Bass Riches is?"

Walker said, "He is deeply calculating and has great ambitions."

"Bass Riches is now targeting you, Count. You must be extremely careful."

Xia Zuoyi asked, "He serves as Minister of Finance in the royal capital. Where is his territory?"

"Bass Riches's territory is Niramo, known as the liveliest city in the Gadayat Kingdom. It was built beside the Volri River and the royal capital."

"Oh."

Xia Zuoyi then turned to Dyna Prince, whose hands were bound. "Do you understand what awaits you?"

Dyna Prince said, "Yes, I understand very clearly."

Though he had acted under orders, he had still killed a noble. Whether he was executed on the spot or taken to the royal capital for execution, that was the fate awaiting him.

Dyna Prince had no complaints at all.

"May I ask you something?" Dyna Prince suddenly said.

Xia Zuoyi said, "Ask."

Dyna Prince asked, "At the beginning... did you buy Ferdinand back from the people of Gaina?"

"No. I spent one gold coin to buy him from another noble."

"Why did you... I mean, did you know his former identity, so you..."

"I didn't. I bought Ferdinand because he was about to be beaten to death in the street."

Xia Zuoyi said, "Are you asking whether Ferdinand has been freed from his status as a slave?"

Dyna Prince nodded.

Xia Zuoyi said, "He has."

Dyna Prince's expression relaxed, as though he could now die without regrets.

At that moment, Fernandi Edward emerged carrying a bloodstained greatsword.

He came before Xia Zuoyi and knelt on one knee, placing the greatsword by his side. Lowering his head, he said, "Count, everything I have came from your grace. From today onward, I place my life in your hands."

"By the Creator God above, you have the right to decide whether I live or die. Should I ever betray this oath, may demons take my soul and cast it into the endless abyss."

Ferdinand bowed his head deeply, his posture humble. "But I wish to beg you, please spare Dyna Prince's life."

Dyna Prince said, "Ferdinand, you need not do this. I accept the judgment fate has given me. This is what I deserve."

Xia Zuoyi asked, "If my decision is not the outcome you wish for, Ferdinand, will you hold resentment?"

Ferdinand raised his head. "I swear by the Creator God!"

"I will offer you my loyalty without reservation. I respect and accept every decision you make, and I will never hold the slightest resentment!"

Ferdinand would not cover up Dyna Prince's mistakes.

But Dyna Prince was, after all, his friend.

Ferdinand could not simply watch Dyna Prince be held accountable and do nothing. At the very least, pleading for Dyna Prince was the only thing he could do now.

Xia Zuoyi looked at Dyna Prince. "Do you still swear loyalty to Bruno Green?"

Dyna Prince frowned. "No. Never again."

He disgusted me.

"Then you can swear loyalty to someone else. For example, me."

Dyna Prince froze.

Ferdinand could not help showing joy.

Xia Zuoyi said, "But I must strip you of your position as captain of the knights. You will begin as an ordinary soldier. Do you object?"

"No, of course not. Thank you for your mercy!" Dyna Prince said.

Xia Zuoyi looked at Ferdinand. "I believe your revenge is not over, but killing Bruno Green will not be easy."

"A marquis is not someone you can easily shake. Be patient, Ferdinand. I promise that one day Bruno Green will die beneath your sword. Rise."

He would not let Bass Riches go either.

Ferdinand's eyes flickered. After a long while, he said, "Yes, Count."

When the soldiers of Visas broke through the city gates, the commoners and slaves of Komoy Fort were filled with unease.

Then, in less than a day, the lord of Komoy Fort died.

The charge that Bevis Elliot had colluded with a count of the Gaina Kingdom spread throughout the city.

A few days later, once the documents sent before the king had been approved, they would welcome a new lord—Count Desinia.

The people of Komoy Fort rejoiced upon hearing the news, showing not the slightest sorrow over their former lord's death.

The knights captured at Par Mountain were also sent toward the royal capital, but they were all killed under cover of night halfway there, and their bodies were burned clean.

Only the documents applying for Komoy Fort to become Count Desinia's new territory reached the royal capital.

The old king quickly approved it.

On the system interface, the three-dimensional map of Komoy Fort immediately lit up, while pink flower petals drifted down from above.

System 098: [Congratulations, Host! Your territory has expanded once again. Flowers, flowers~]