With the annual celebration and the Marquis’s birthday banquet over, nobles from across the land began preparing to return to their respective territories.

However, before officially departing, they were far more curious about how Wushan Castle would handle Baron Reisen. The more inquisitive among them even postponed their return just to find out.

That afternoon, nobles of all ranks gathered at Wushan Fortress.

Though they whispered in small groups, most were discussing the Marquis’s purpose in gathering them.

Many speculated that the meeting had to do with either Reisen or Ronin.

Of everyone present, Ronin was likely the only one who knew the meeting’s purpose. But he sat in his chair, perfectly still and composed, refusing to breathe a word of it even when others approached him with probing questions.

Before long, Lurans arrived, followed by Great Mage Miroslav, Broel, Blanche, and Missy Knight.

The great hall of the fortress fell silent as they took their seats.

Lurans smiled faintly. “I have gathered you all here today for two primary reasons.”

“The first matter is the judgment of Reisen Sain.”

The Old Marquis paused, glancing at Sir Toru seated below him. The knight had already prepared the testimonies from Reisen’s retinue.

“After last night’s interrogation, it has been confirmed that Reisen embezzled resources from Wushan Castle and made multiple attempts on Ronin’s life. Furthermore, he is strongly suspected of being involved in the assassination attempt on Her Highness Princess Blanche and Wiggin.”

“The law of the nobility offers him no protection for such crimes. I hereby formally announce…”

Everyone leaned in, listening intently. Although they already knew what Reisen’s fate would be, they still wanted to hear the sentence pronounced.

“The Sain family is to be stripped of its hereditary title of Baron and its territory, Swamp Town. Reisen and his family will be imprisoned. As for whether he was involved in the assassination of Her Highness Princess Blanche and Wiggin, that will be jointly investigated by the Royal Family and Wushan Castle.”

“But regardless of his involvement in those matters, once the investigation is concluded, Wushan Castle will execute Reisen by hanging to atone for his crimes!”

In short, Reisen’s death was inevitable; the only question was when, and that depended on the conclusion of the investigation.

Lurans gestured, and Sir Toru stepped forward, holding a stack of written testimonies.

“These are the results of yesterday’s interrogation. Anyone who is interested may come and have a look. If anyone objects to my ruling, they may speak now.”

At once, several nobles raised their hands, eager to see the results of the interrogation. Among them were Viscount Marvin and Count Ossen.

It wasn’t that they suspected Wushan Castle of fabricating evidence; in truth, most were simply curious.

A period of review followed.

Count Ossen perused the testimonies for a long moment before looking up. “I have no objection.”

Ronin was taken aback.

He had expected Count Ossen to argue on Reisen’s behalf, to try and save his life. He never thought the Count would publicly declare he had no objection.

By now, more nobles had finished reading, and all of them voiced their agreement with the Marquis’s judgment.

“Since no one has any objections, the judgment against Reisen is hereby effective.”

Lurans said this while looking toward Blanche, who was seated below. “Should the investigation prove Reisen’s connection to the assassination plot, Wushan Castle will turn him over to the Royal Family for judgment. We will also assist the Royal Family in hunting down the assassins and the mastermind behind them.”

Blanche nodded slightly. “Broel, arrange for one of our knights to coordinate with Wushan Castle on the ensuing investigation.”

“As you wish, Your Highness!” Broel replied respectfully.

The great hall fell quiet for a moment before Lurans continued. “With the Sain family stripped of its noble title and lands, Swamp Town is now without a lord.”

At his words, everyone grew alert.

Every noble wishes for their territory to be larger, and larger still. Unclaimed lands held a considerable allure for them, especially a territory that was already somewhat developed.

While Swamp Town’s industries were lackluster and its population small, it possessed one special asset: the Black Water Buffalo.

These animals were excellent for farm work, and Reisen earned a significant number of Gold Coins each year just by selling them.

Whoever took control of this unclaimed land would also take control of the Black Water Buffalo trade.

Ronin noticed the look in many of the nobles’ eyes change. Even Viscount Marvin’s gaze burned with avarice. Count Ossen, in contrast, was more restrained.

“During the assassination attempt at the Beast Fighting Arena, it was Ronin’s protection that kept Princess Blanche completely unharmed.”

“Ronin averted the crisis facing Her Highness the Princess, rendering an indelible service to the Oduin Royal Family! At the same time, he prevented a catastrophe for Wushan Castle. His meritorious service to Wushan Castle cannot be overstated!”

Lurans looked to Ronin. “Now, by my authority as a Marquis of the Oduin Kingdom and Lord of Wushan Territory, I hereby name the Sain Territory and the lands to its north the ‘Wubei Territory,’ and I formally invest ‘Roning Wushan’ as the Viscount of Wubei!”

Many of the nobles’ breath caught in their throats. ‘The Wubei Territory… just how vast was that region? And it was all going to be Ronin’s domain?’

‘This is a bit too…’

However, when they considered Ronin’s actions, the great merit of saving Princess Blanche, and Lurans’s own intentions, it seemed understandable.

Count Ossen’s brow furrowed slightly.

‘He had long suspected that the Sain Territory would go to Ronin. He just hadn’t expected Lurans to make such a grand gesture, giving him the entire northern region as well.’

‘The Wubei Territory was large enough to be a Count’s Domain, let alone a Viscount’s.’

‘Of course, that was a secondary concern. The Wubei Territory was incredibly barren and sparsely populated. Developing and managing it would be an extremely difficult and time-consuming task.’

‘What concerned Ossen more was Lurans’s choice of words.’

‘If he recalled correctly, Ronin had changed his surname when he became the Baron of Mountain Forest Town. He no longer went by ‘Wushan.”

‘Yet in his announcement, Lurans had used the name ‘Roning Wushan.’ This meant Ronin had taken back his original surname.’

‘The implication was obvious.’

Ossen’s hand, hidden beneath his robe, clenched into a fist. ‘Lurans,’ he thought, ‘don’t tell me you truly intend to cast aside my grandson and make Ronin the heir again?’

‘Stripping Ronin of his inheritance was easy. His mother’s line is extinct, and he had no support from the other nobles.’

‘But stripping Bretton of his inheritance is another matter entirely. I, Ossen, would be the first to object.’

Lurans allowed the murmurs of discussion in the hall to continue for some time before he asked with a faint smile, “Does anyone have any objections to this investiture?”

Ennobling a mere Baron, especially for a remote area like Mountain Forest Town, was something Lurans—or even Wiggin—could decide on their own, as it didn’t infringe upon the interests of other nobles.

However, ennobling a Viscount and granting a territory as vast as Wubei was another matter. It could easily provoke dissatisfaction and resentment from other nobles.

In the world of the nobility, a vassal owed his lord fealty, and in turn, the lord was obligated to protect his vassals.

If an investiture harmed the interests of other nobles, it meant the lord had failed in his duty of protection, and his vassals were well within their rights to object.

Thus, Lurans’s question was perfectly reasonable.

Many of the nobles exchanged glances.

Though they coveted a territory as large as Swamp Town, let alone the entire Wubei Territory, they wouldn’t go so far as to object to Lurans’s decision.

Because it was obvious to everyone that Lurans intended to promote Ronin.

When no one immediately voiced an objection, Ronin quietly breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Things were progressing much more smoothly than he had anticipated.’

But just as he began to feel relieved, an inopportune voice cut through the hall.

“Marquis, I object!”

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