Chapter 31: 31 An Unexpected Force

The sudden reminder made Luoning notice this bearded Professional Knight kneeling beside Pulinsite.

The other party's strength was not high, and his combat quality should not be high either, otherwise he would not have been defeated by him in a single blow.

Yet now, this person actually spoke up to remind Pulinsite, this Intermediate Knight, and there was even a tone of warning in his voice.

In this world where strength determines status under the nobility, how could a Primary Knight threaten an Intermediate Knight?

This made Luoning very curious.

"Who are you?"

That person held his head high with great disdain, his expression like a rooster about to fight, "Baron Luoning, I advise you to let me go; it will be good for you, otherwise..."

"This captive, you seem to have not yet understood your own situation."

Luoning drew the longsword at his waist and shot it toward the ground; the sharp tip pierced directly through the palm the man was using to support himself on the ground, then drove into the soil. The intense pain made the man unable to help but wail and scream.

"As a defeated traitor, you have no right to hold your head high in front of me."

Luoning said coldly, then looked with killing intent at the other knight he had intercepted who was trying to flee: "You, speak!"

Perhaps the killing intent in these words was too strong, or perhaps the attitude Luoning had just displayed made this knight feel too desperate; he let out a "wua" sound, actually fainted directly on the ground, and liquid flowed out from under his crotch.

This left Luoning somewhat speechless; was he really that scary when he spoke politely?

And he was a Professional Knight, too; to have such psychological quality.

The pungent smell wafting over made Luoning involuntarily pinch his nose and move further away, standing upwind.

"You, speak!"

Luoning pointed at the last knight who had fought Dawei and voluntarily surrendered.

"My patience is limited. If you also pretend to be dead and faint, then I guarantee you won't have the chance to wake up!"

"No, my lord, I am incredibly clear-headed right now!"

Clearly, this Professional Knight who had fought Dawei and voluntarily surrendered had already made up his mind to confess; when Luoning asked, he lay flat on the ground.

This sentence directly made Pulinsite's complexion look even worse; he knew his secret was likely unable to be kept.

Luoning revealed a smile; people who know the times are always so pleasant.

"Very good, what is your name?"

The knight lying on the ground responded: "My lord, my name is Maerte Lei."

Luoning was somewhat surprised, "Raise your head. Are you a descendant of a noble?"

Maerte raised his head, revealing a square face shape. His skin was not very good, and his brown hair looked messy and somewhat slovenly.

"Yes, my lord. My father was once a Conferred Knight who followed your father, Earl Wiggins. However, he unfortunately died in battle after driving rebels into the Wubei Woodland that year. After my mother gave birth to me, I have lived here ever since."

"Bah!" Pulinsite mocked, "A bastard, yet calling himself a descendant of a noble!"

Luoning glanced at Pulinsite; this guy seemed not to like Maerte very much.

"Your father was a loyal and brave knight."

He first acknowledged the other party's background, then changed the subject, "However, if he knew his son had turned around to betray his own lord, I fear he would not be very happy."

"I am very sorry, my lord!" Maerte lowered his head, his voice choked with sobs, "But please believe me, I had no choice."

This statement might actually be true.

Living in such an environment, if Maerte did not comply with Pulinsite's wishes, his days would likely be very difficult.

Luoning decided not to pursue these matters for now, "Alright, now I allow you to make up for your mistakes. Tell me about their affairs, without reservation!"

"It is my honor, my lord!"

Maerte began to answer Luoning's questions, and right from the start, he gave Luoning a shocking answer.

"My lord, this person's name is Disen; he is the Defense Officer of Shanlin Town, and at the same time, he is also a knight of Sain Territory."

Luoning thought he had misheard, "What? You said Sain Territory?"

Sain Territory was the closest territory to Shanlin Town, and it was ruled by Baron Leisen Sain.

Before entering the mountains, Luoning had intended to find time to visit this neighbor, but he had not expected that the knights of his own territory would actually have connections with Sain Territory.

"Yes, my lord!"

Maerte continued: "Besides Disen, the unconscious Kaite, and the Professional Knight Wateluo who was just killed by you, all three of them come from Sain Territory and are loyal to Baron Leisen."

"Leisen's people not only appear in Shanlin Town but also serve as the Defense Officer of Shanlin Town; this is interesting!"

Luoning stared at Pulinsite with deep meaning, "Administrator, do you want to explain this to me?"

"There is nothing to explain."

Pulinsite endured the pain, "Without outside support, how could I deal with the savage tribes alone? Baron Leisen was merely arranging a few people to protect my safety while helping me defend against the enemy."

Luoning chuckled coldly; nobles never have such kind intentions. Since Leisen chose to help, he would certainly receive a return, and the return would surely be quite substantial.

"Forget it, Maerte, you speak. Tell me everything you know."

Next, under Maerte's narration, Shanlin Town completely changed its image in Luoning's mind.

Lulansi said the population of Shanlin Town was less than a thousand, but Maerte said there were at least over a thousand people here;

Pulinsite said that the ten gold coins in taxes paid to Wushan Castle every year were the limit, but Maerte said that every year, Sain Territory would send people to Shanlin Town to haul away several carts of grain and various goods;

Pulinsite said he needed to fight against savage tribes, but Maerte said that in these years, there had not been many conflicts between the savage tribes and Shanlin Town, and even if there were, they were only isolated incidents;

Maerte also said that Pulinsite was both the Administrator of Shanlin Town and a knight loyal to Baron Leisen.

"Baron Leisen only needs to spend ten gold coins every year to bring Shanlin Town under the name of his Sain Family."

Luoning gave a thumbs up to Pulinsite, "This move is played brilliantly!"

Every once in a while, Shanlin Town would report to Wushan Castle how many people here had been killed by Magic Beasts and how many commoners had been killed by savage tribes, shaping Shanlin Town into a place that even Pioneer Knights dared not set foot in.

With Wushan Castle ignoring this land, to the point where they might have eventually forgotten about it, over time, Leisen became like an uncrowned king, the actual owner of Shanlin Town.

The land here, the population here, and the wealth here would all flow into the pockets of the Sain Family.

Luoning also understood why things happening at Wushan Castle could be known so quickly by the remote Shanlin Town on the edge of Wushan Territory.

Needless to say, this must be the news sent by Baron Leisen, and he has given instructions to Pulinsite.

"Baron Leisen really has quite the nerve; for the sake of Shanlin Town, he actually dares to kill someone from the Wushan Family."

On one hand, Luoning admired Leisen's boldness, while on the other, he lamented that the deterrent power of Wushan Castle over the various families of Wushan Territory was truly growing weaker and weaker.

One day, when the ailing old master Lulansi dies, these restless lords will certainly redraw the boundaries of their territories.

"I underestimated the threat of Shanlin Town, but Leisen also miscalculated my strength."

Luoning had considered that becoming the lord of Shanlin Town might encounter some obstacles, but he had not expected that his opponent would have an Intermediate Knight, and even the lackeys of other nobles;

Leisen had also made corresponding arrangements, yet he underestimated Luoning's strength.

Fortunately, Luoning was a bit stronger.

"Sain Family of Zhaoze Town, since you have set your sights on me, don't blame me for dealing with you in the future."

Who says that expanding the population can only be done by absorbing people from wild tribes?

Sain Territory is also an optional target.

(End of this chapter)