Chapter 316: Chapter 313: Rumors

Ronin’s forceful arrival brought the one-sided bullying to an abrupt halt.

He observed the group across from him. The three men and two women at the front were dressed quite lavishly; they seemed to be the children of nobles, though their specific identities were hard to confirm.

Judging by the seven or eight Knights in Light Armor surrounding them, they must have come from a significant background.

“Ronin, you have some nerve! How dare you injure my Attendants!”

The man who spoke was handsome, but what stood out was his hair—a deep crimson, even darker than Ridder’s, that looked like a raging Flame.

“Who are you?”

Ronin frowned. The man knew who he was, but he had no idea who this man was.

’Looks like it’s time I learned more about the members of the Kingdom’s major noble families.’

Hearing this question, the red-haired man’s expression immediately darkened.

Practically everyone allowed into the Golden Feather Palace was a noble. Among them, the Wushan Clan was conspicuous for their silver hair. Likewise, there was only one great noble family known for their red hair.

Once the family was identified, one could roughly deduce the person’s identity based on their age.

But for Ronin to ask such a question now, in his eyes, was a clear and deliberate act of feigned ignorance.

“My grandfather was right. The Wushan Clan is an ill-mannered family. Your place among the Marquises is purely a gift from His Majesty Klinsmann!”

Someone chimed in, “His Majesty Klinsmann must have pitied Earl Lurans for being deposed and losing his son. That’s why he charitably bestowed the Noble Title of Marquis of Wushan.”

These two remarks immediately drew a roar of laughter from the crowd.

They looked at Ronin the way a noble might look at a peasant who knew nothing of etiquette, their expressions full of contempt.

“If sympathy could earn one a Marquisate, then I’d suggest all the Counts, Viscounts, and Barons in the Oduin Kingdom stop fighting on the battlefield. They could just have a few more sons and daughters, put on a few sob stories for His Majesty Bruno, and maybe get their Noble Titles upgraded.”

Ronin let out a cold laugh and retorted with sarcasm, “I can’t speak for the Wushan Clan’s manners. But I doubt a family that loves to slander people behind their backs has any manners to speak of.”

The red-haired man’s expression changed. He hadn’t expected Ronin to respond like this, let alone drag His Majesty the King into the conversation.

In reality, none of the great noble families—especially those outside the Oduin name—had obtained their Noble Titles by eliciting sympathy. Without exception, all of them had reached their current status through generations of accumulated merit.

Slandering the Wushan Clan over this matter was indeed a weak argument.

Ronin had no interest in a war of words. He turned to Tom and David. “How are you two?”

Tom and David grimaced in pain as they stood up. It had only been a single exchange, but both were seriously injured.

“Feels like two ribs are broken.”

“Me too…”

“Then stay on the ground. Don’t get up.”

Tom and David paused for a moment, then lay back down. The movement must have aggravated their injuries, as they both let out pained groans.

“Tell me, what happened?”

At the mention of this, anger flashed across both of their faces.

“They insulted you, saying you…”

David rushed to speak, but the words caught in his throat, and he didn’t dare continue.

“Said what about me?”

“They said you were a good-for-nothing, that you only became a Count with the backing of Lord Lurans.”

Tom added in a low voice, “They also said you… were with many women in the past, and that you’re completely unworthy of Her Highness Princess.”

“They also said you have a cruel and violent temper, and that you drove the Ossen Count’s granddaughter to her death…”

“We went to stop them from talking like that, but we ended up being insulted by them instead!”

Taking turns, the two of them described the general course of events.

’So it was for my reputation and honor,’ Ronin thought. He had been wondering where Tom and David had found the courage to pick a fight with nobles. ’That is indeed what a loyal follower should do.’

He gave them a smile of approval and encouragement. “You did well. Just lie there and rest for now.”

He turned back to the group, his expression hardening. His icy gaze swept over them. “The ones who injured my Attendants, step forward!”

The two Knights Ronin had just struck had already rejoined their group, where their companions were tending to their wounds.

Compared to Tom and David’s broken ribs, their superficial wounds would heal much faster.

“What’s this? Does ’Count’ Ronin want to seek justice for your Attendants?”

The red-haired man spat out the word “Count,” making Ronin’s Noble Title seem cheap and beneath their notice.

Then, in a sarcastic tone, he retorted, “But you also injured our Knights. Should I not also seek justice for them?”

“A duel, then!”

Ronin drew his Flame Stream Sword and plunged it into the ground. He poured his Fighting Qi into the blade, and Flames erupted, instantly shattering the atmosphere of verbal sparring.

“You talk the most, so it’ll be you and me. A duel to the death, between Knights! No matter who wins or loses, this matter will be settled once and for all!”

He wasn’t acting rashly just to stand up for his men.

He didn’t know if his opponents had planned to injure Tom and David from the start, but their timing in spreading these negative rumors about his past was definitely deliberate.

Although the marriage alliance between Ronin and Blanche hadn’t been officially announced, the major noble families had their own ways of gathering information. The recent interactions between the Royal Family and Wushan Castle were telling.

But there were those who did not want the Royal Family to ally with Wushan Castle.

Such an alliance would not only increase King Bruno’s political clout but also greatly benefit Wushan Castle and Ronin himself.

If they could sabotage the marriage, they could, on one hand, ensure Blanche remained unmarried. This would lead outsiders to believe the King was inept at managing the Royal Family’s affairs, creating public pressure that could undermine his authority, status, and even his decisions.

On the other hand, it would also weaken the political standing of both Wushan Castle and Ronin, making it harder for Bruno to interfere in the affairs of the Wushan Territory.

As for how to sabotage the marriage, the methods were predictable: diplomatic maneuvering, economic incentives, lobbying, military threats, or spreading negative rumors.

Against Bruno’s determination to marry off the aging Princess, the first few methods were unlikely to succeed.

Only the last method had a real chance of success—

damaging Ronin’s reputation and status with negative information, thereby forcing the Princess or the King to reconsider.

Best of all, this method required little effort. They didn’t even need to invent rumors—they just had to drag up things Ronin had done in the past.

To say nothing of other incidents, the matter of him forcing himself on Selena, leading to her suicide, was a huge black stain on his record that could never be erased.

For Ronin, most of what had happened in the past were unchangeable facts. There was no point in trying to argue or defend himself.

The only thing he could do was use his present actions to overshadow the stains of his past self.

The best way to do that was to display his power. He needed to make the world see him through new actions and events, rather than forming a preconceived negative impression from these old rumors.

A spectacular duel to the death with this group of troublemakers, who didn’t even look that strong, was clearly an excellent choice.

But as soon as he spoke those words, the expressions on the faces of the group across from him changed.

It was true they didn’t think much of Ronin. They were even skeptical of the rumors that he possessed silver-level strength.

But that didn’t mean they were willing to risk their own lives over a minor squabble and step onto a dueling ground.

Are you kidding? Once you agree to a duel to the death, being killed on the dueling ground is perfectly legal.

At that point, even with their powerful families backing them, there would be no grounds to retaliate against the victor’s family.

“Are you crazy?”

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