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, "Of course your sister was killed by Quint Green."

"But you have no idea that the marquis you served was a thoroughly disgusting man. He was hypocritical, sinister, and cunning! He deceived every last one of you!"

Matthew Luke caught his breath, his heart pounding incessantly. After confirming that Dyna Prince would not kill him for the moment, he continued, "Did you think Bruno Green was truly a kind man?"

"No, he wasn't."

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

"Quint Green was reckless and witless, and even more so, a man without humanity."

"He locked your sister in a room and tortured her for five whole days. During that time, Bruno Green visited once more. At first, your sister did not know that 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 den of wolves... 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 gripping 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 like she had been attacked while out alone."

"But who would have thought Quint Green was such an incompetent fool? He failed to deal with the body properly. Not only did you quickly discover something suspicious, but you also traced it back to him..."

"Unfortunately, Quint Green did not have time to say much before you killed him."

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

Matthew Luke continued to rub salt into the reopened, bloody wound.

"Did you think Bruno Green spared your life out of kindness?"

Matthew Luke sneered. "No, quite the opposite. He put himself in the position of innocence. He knew that after killing Quint Green and effectively betraying him, someone with your character would surely be tormented by guilt and might even lose the will to live."

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

"Your sale to Gadayat was not an executor's order. It was entirely orchestrated by him. 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 hypocrisy itself. In front of you, he displayed his benevolence and compassion, but behind your backs, he said that trash would always be trash. Whatever he did to you was what you deserved, even if you had to lie on the ground like dogs..."

With a crash.

Ferdinand finally lost control of his overwhelming rage. Roaring, he swung the greatsword in his hand against the wall, instantly leaving a deep gash as paintings and broken stones crashed to the floor.

Matthew Luke trembled in fright. "I-I've said everything. Tell Dyna Prince not to kill me."

He thought that as long as he lived, once he was escorted to the royal capital of Gadayat, he would have a way to produce enough bargaining chips to return to Gaina.

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

He was still in shock and disbelief. His lips moved a few times, but he could not speak.

The veins on Ferdinand's hand bulged as he gripped the greatsword. It was obvious that he was doing everything he could to restrain his emotions.

At that moment, footsteps sounded at the door.

Cyrus approached with Judas.

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

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

Cyrus said, "If the truth is really as you described, why do you know it in such detail?"

"Did Quint Green tell you every detail without missing a thing?"

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

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

Matthew Luke's expression changed.

"No, I..."

Ferdinand's greatsword suddenly pressed across his neck, drawing a line of blood. "Speak!"

Matthew Luke's face gradually turned ashen.

There was no need to argue. This was the truth.

Seeing the killing intent on Fernandi Edward's face grow increasingly intense.

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

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

Walker William stopped Ferdinand with his sword. "You cannot kill him. Matthew Luke must be sent before the king as a witness to seek justice for the count."

Ferdinand's chest rose and fell incessantly.

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 inconspicuously glanced at Cyrus.

Matthew Luke sighed in relief.

But Cyrus 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 financial power. 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 high chance the king would only punish him lightly."

"There is little point in sparing Matthew Luke's life if it only harms the muscles without touching the bone."

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

Matthew Luke's expression turned terrified.

Walker William lowered the hand that had been stopping Ferdinand and stood behind Cyrus, making his stance clear.

Cyrus 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 was also escorted away.

Behind them came Matthew Luke's terrified screams.

Standing in the open space outside the castle, Cyrus 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 highly ambitious."

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

Cyrus asked, "He serves as finance minister in the royal capital. Where is his territory?"

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

"Oh."

Cyrus then turned to Dyna Prince, whose hands were bound. "Do you know what awaits you next?"

Dyna Prince said, "Yes, I know very well."

Although he had acted under orders, he had still killed a noble. Whether he was executed on the spot or escorted to the royal capital for execution, it was the fate he would have to accept.

Dyna Prince had no complaints.

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

Cyrus said, "Go ahead."

Dyna Prince asked, "Ferdinand at first... was he bought back by you from the 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..."

"No. I bought Ferdinand because he was about to be beaten to death in the street."

Cyrus said, "Are you asking whether Ferdinand has been freed from slavery?"

Dyna Prince nodded.

Cyrus said, "He has."

Dyna Prince relaxed, looking as though he could now die without worry.

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

He came before Cyrus and knelt on one knee, placing the greatsword at his side. Lowering his head, he said, "Count, everything I have comes from your grace. From this day onward, I place my life in your hands."

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

Ferdinand lowered his head deeply, his posture humble. "But I 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."

Cyrus asked, "If my decision is not the outcome you hope for, Ferdinand, will you resent it?"

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

"I will offer you my loyalty without reservation. I respect and accept any decision you make. I will never harbor even the slightest grievance!"

Ferdinand would not cover up Dyna Prince's mistakes.

But Dyna Prince was still his friend.

Ferdinand could not watch Dyna be condemned without doing anything. At the very least, pleading for Dyna was the only thing he could do now.

Cyrus looked at Dyna Prince. "Do you still serve Bruno Green?"

Dyna Prince frowned. "No, never again."

He disgusts me.

"Then you can serve someone else. For example, me."

Dyna Prince froze.

Ferdinand could not help showing delight.

Cyrus 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.

Cyrus 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 spare Bass Riches either.

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

The soldiers of Visas breached the city gates, and the commoners and slaves of Komoy Fort were filled with anxiety.

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

The crime of Bevis Elliot colluding with a count of the Gaina Kingdom spread throughout the city.

A few days later, once the documents sent to the king were 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 along the way, and their bodies were burned clean.

Only the document requesting that Komoy Fort become 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 lit up at once, while pink petals drifted down from above.

System 098: [Congratulations, host! Your territory has expanded again. Throwing flowers, throwing flowers~]