Chapter 229: Chapter 228: The Wandering Knight Kudore

Ever since Wilson became the Civil Servant of Mountain Forest Town, he had worked his way up to become the Civil Affairs Chief of Wubei Territory today.

Although it hadn’t been long, during this time he had helped handle everything from major disputes between the territory’s people to minor issues like a family’s lost poultry.

While some of his administrative work wasn’t handled perfectly, he had, for the most part, met the Lord’s expectations.

During his time as a Civil Servant, he had become a person of some standing in Wubei Territory.

But he had never been in such a passive position as he was today.

This new group of Free People had actually protested his arrangements, not only striking his assistant but even implicating Sim and Juliet, who had rushed over to maintain order.

Now, faced with this protest, their only option was to ask the Lord to come over.

And thanks to the blessing of the Seven Gods, the Lord happened to have returned to Mountain Forest Town today. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have known how to handle the current situation.

Ronin frowned, arriving at the Western Square under the escort of his Guards.

He remembered that when he had first arrived in Mountain Forest Town, this was where he had held a meeting with the townspeople. Back then, it was just a grassy field.

But later, after Macken and Ridder began drilling the Guards, the area was converted into a proper square.

This was where Wilson assigned and made arrangements for the new people who came seeking refuge in Mountain Forest Town.

At this moment, a crowd had formed a circle, trapping Wilson, Sim, and Juliet in the middle. Outside this circle, the residents of Mountain Forest Town were on their tiptoes, craning their necks to see, pointing and murmuring.

When they saw Ronin approaching, they all bowed in respect, eagerly anticipating how the Lord would handle the matter.

Just then, the crowd forming the circle also noticed Ronin and subconsciously parted to form a path. When their gazes met the Lord’s, they couldn’t help but look away evasively.

“Lord, you’re finally here!”

Wilson ran up, his face full of self-reproach. “My apologies, Lord. I’m sorry to have troubled you to come in person for this matter!”

“What’s going on?”

Ronin frowned and walked slowly into the crowd. Only then did he see Sim lying on the ground, beaten, and a bruised and swollen Juliet.

Besides them, another person was on the ground covered in blood, with two others beside him pressing a piece of linen against a wound on his arm.

“Greetings, Lord Viscount!”

The middle-aged Knight opposite Ronin performed a knight’s salute. If he wasn’t mistaken, this must be the Wandering Knight named Kudore.

Ronin shot the man a glance before turning to walk toward Juliet and Sim.

“How does it feel to be beaten up on your own turf?”

Juliet managed to get to his feet, but Sim’s leg was injured, and he couldn’t stand. Their faces showed pain, but more than that, self-reproach. It was humiliating, and they had lost face for the Lord.

“Remember this feeling. Don’t let yourself taste it again.”

As he spoke, he took out a Healing Spell Scroll and used it on Wilson’s assistant, staunching the flow of blood.

On the other side, Rogner was sternly questioning, “Kudore, what do you think you’re doing?!”

He had thought it was a minor scuffle, but he hadn’t expected the scene to be this bloody.

He had led this group all the way to Mountain Forest Town and hadn’t found Kudore to be a reckless person. How could he have caused such a huge incident so soon after arriving in the territory?

“Mr. Rogner, I was merely offering some of my own opinions to them with my friends. Not only did they refuse to listen, but they accused us of causing trouble.”

Kudore spread his hands and said with an expression of utter helplessness, “During the argument, that man even attacked me, so I was forced to retaliate. Then those two Knights came over and attacked me without asking any questions, so I had no choice but to fight back.”

“Bullshit!”

“You were clearly the one who started cursing and fighting, and now you’re turning it around on us!”

Wilson was trembling with rage. The person the man was slandering was his own assistant.

If he couldn’t stand up for his subordinate in this matter, how could he continue to serve as the Civil Affairs Chief?

“The people here can all testify that it was your man who struck first!”

Kudore looked completely innocent. “We came all the way from Baron Kona’s lands, traveling over mountains and through rivers, because we admire Lord Ronin. We never expected to be treated like this the moment we arrived!”

“If word of your behavior gets out, it will damage the reputation of the Viscount of Wubei! When that time comes, even people who want to join Wubei Territory will hesitate because of you!”

“You!”

Wilson had never encountered a situation like this. Unfortunately, he was just an ordinary man with no ability to challenge the other party, or he would have charged forward and fought him long ago.

“Kudore, that’s enough!” Rogner shouted coldly.

He had no close relationship with this Wandering Knight; in truth, they weren’t even casual friends.

Yet just now, when answering Ronin’s question, his response had sounded like a recommendation for this Knight.

He had no intention of recommending him.

Besides, regardless of the truth of the matter, it was wrong for a Professional Knight to violently attack an ordinary person, especially when that person was an official under the Lord.

He couldn’t help but look at Ronin, only to see the latter pat the injured assistant’s shoulder. “Ask Wilson for a few days off to rest.”

“Thank you, Lord!” the Political Assistant responded weakly.

Only then did Ronin stand up and turn to deal with the matter at hand.

“Wilson, you tell me what happened.”

Wilson suppressed his anger. “Lord, according to your instructions, we are to prepare five acres of land for every member of the Free People who joins Wushan Territory, but this group demanded ten. On top of that, they also insisted on moving into more spacious houses and extending the period of low taxes.”

“Jack rejected his unreasonable demands, but we never expected him to be so arrogant as to attack him directly!”

The two Political Assistants at his side chimed in, corroborating their superior’s account.

“Lord, he’s slandering me!”

Kudore argued vehemently.

“As a newcomer, where would I get the nerve to do such a thing? If you don’t believe me, you can ask the others here. I’m sure they will testify for me that he is the one lying!”

Ronin casually glanced at someone in the crowd. “Is that so?”

“Y-yes, Lord!”

Ronin scanned the others. Most silently lowered their heads and said nothing, but a small portion affirmed Kudore’s claims.

In truth, Ronin had already made up his mind about who was telling the truth.

Wilson almost always followed his orders strictly. He didn’t have a forceful personality and wouldn’t dare tell such a huge lie to Ronin.

Kudore and his group, on the other hand, clearly looked like they had colluded.

’It seems that after Anthony gathered them, but before Rogner brought them back, Kudore conspired with this group to use their numbers to demand more benefits. And these Free People aren’t timid either; they actually dared to go along with it. Where did they find the courage and audacity to think they could force a Lord to concede this way? Are they idiots?’

For the first time, Ronin looked directly at Kudore. “In Wubei Territory, neither Knights nor Mages are permitted to attack common people without just cause.”

“Lord, please believe me, I was forced!”

Ronin glanced at Juliet and Sim, then changed the subject. “Is your strength greater than that of my subordinates?”

Kudore’s expression remained impassive, but inwardly, he was overjoyed.

’He had heard this Lord was very generous and that his territory was desperately short on people. Back when Anthony was recruiting, he said that as long as you came to Wubei Territory, the Viscount here would treat you with courtesy and let you live a good life. That’s why he felt the risk of stirring up this kind of trouble was small. If he succeeded, all these people would give him a little grain or money each year in exchange for his help. And even if he failed, the Lord of the short-staffed Wubei Territory probably wouldn’t do anything too drastic to them, especially since he was an Intermediate Knight. A Wubei Territory short on people was even shorter on Professional Knights.’

“Lord, I am at the Intermediate Peak. Perhaps I will soon become an Advanced Level Knight.”

He dropped to one knee. “I, Kudore, am willing to follow you, Lord, and be at your command from this day forward!”

The Free People who had come with Kudore showed expressions of relief.

If Kudore obtained a high position in Wubei Territory, they would have someone to rely on in this unfamiliar land and wouldn’t be casually bullied by the “locals.”

“Kudore, draw your sword. Let me see your strength.”

Ronin walked to Rogner’s side and slowly drew the longsword from his hip.

“If you can withstand a single move from me, the position of Wubei Territory’s Guard Officer is yours, with a daily salary of 1,100 Copper Coins.”

Rogner sighed. Although Ronin appeared pleasant, he knew the Lord was probably not in a good mood.

Wilson and the others, however, were getting anxious. ’Why is the Lord doing this? Not only is he not punishing the man, he’s offering him the position of Guard Officer? Besides, isn’t Lord Macken the Guard Officer? What right does this guy have to be compared to Lord Macken?’

Kudore, however, was thrilled. Such a high daily salary made his heart tremble just hearing it.

’It’s just one move. Even if it means getting injured, I have to take it!’

He quickly stood up and drew the longsword from his waist. “Lord, I’m coming!”

Ronin swung Rogner’s longsword, finding it much lighter than his Flowing Flame Sword. “Come on!”

SWOOSH!

Kudore lunged forward in a single bound, his longsword thrusting straight at Ronin.

“Too many openings. Is this the extent of your strength?”

Ronin sidestepped, a cold flash of sword light streaked past, and a head went flying into the air.

“How disappointing.”

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