Chapter 38: Assassination (Happy National Day!)

"Mika, this time I must rely on you."

The man patted Mika on the shoulder: "You must create conflict between the two sides; it would be best to incite war directly... By then, the entire Upper Green Forest will welcome the return of its original master!"

"Yes, after I become the new lord, I will marry Monika to you and even make you the lord of the Emerald Territory!"

"I am willing to serve you!"

Mika clenched his fist and struck his chest, flames of ambition burning in his eyes.

Indeed, the one who should rule the Upper Green Forest is the Davis Family!

Even if the man before him was only from a side branch, who else was there since the main line had all died out?

Not to mention, there was also the territory, Miss Monika...

Black Stone Manor, main gate.

To show courtesy, Aaron wore formal attire and stood at the gate to welcome them.

Before long, a carriage procession appeared at the end of the road, constantly drawing closer.

"Baron, you are truly too kind."

Knight Yiman dismounted and shook hands with Aaron.

"Welcome to my manor as a guest," Aaron responded politely.

Knight Yiman then helped a young lady down from the carriage: "Allow me to introduce the brightest pearl in the Emerald Territory, my daughter—Monika!"

"Hello, beautiful lady."

"Good day, my lord," Monika looked at Aaron's handsome face, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks, and she was no longer so resistant to her family's arrangements.

"This is my Disciple—Mika!"

Knight Yiman continued by introducing a young man.

"Hmm."

Aaron became much more reserved, nodded, and moved on.

Although the other party seemed to have decent martial arts, that was all.

What made him slightly curious was that in the breeze, he could sense the other party's heartbeat and other vital signs; they were a bit too agitated.

'He hides it well on his face, but it's not like he's meeting a Count, is it necessary to be like this...'

He immediately paid a little more attention, sensed the state of the others in the carriage procession, gave Bazhi a look, and led Knight Yiman into the manor.

In the living room, the cooks served sweet honey water and pudding with a rich milky fragrance.

"Please don't be formal, try my invention."

Aaron scooped a spoonful of pudding into his mouth; this was Jinni's favorite dessert, though she complained that the cooks in the castle could never make it right.

"Truly supreme deliciousness."

Knight Yiman tasted a mouthful and set down his spoon, but Monika beside him had eyes that lit up; while maintaining a lady's elegance, she moved her spoon rapidly, and the nanny beside her gave her several looks to no avail.

Knight Yiman felt somewhat annoyed inside, but he did not show it on his face and chatted happily with Aaron.

"I heard that you, Baron, have some potions with quite miraculous effects, which cured Lady Sylvie?"

He mentioned it with a hint of inquiry, as if it were unintentional.

"I acquired them from a traveling merchant; perhaps they had a small effect, but the credit should mostly go to the scholar and the midwife..."

Aaron said very modestly.

Yiman rolled his eyes inwardly, not believing it at all.

Didn't he know what kind of people the traveling merchants in the Green Forest were? If there were such miraculous potions, they would have bragged about them to the heavens long ago.

These potions were likely made by Aaron himself; after all, he already had a reputation in this regard.

Since that was the case, he should build a better relationship; after all, life-saving potions were extremely precious things in this era.

Even without the potions, he also really wanted the various farm tools and fertilizers that could double the yield per acre.

Thinking of this, Yiman felt even more that his daughter was disappointing.

After a short rest, Aaron took the lead and brought Knight Yiman and the others to inspect his manor.

"The wheat yield is good this year, and the manor's mill has been running at full capacity; I am preparing to build another one... Besides that, the warehouse also needs to be expanded."

Aaron walked through the manor with Yiman, Monika, and Mika.

Suddenly, a commotion came from behind.

"What is going on?"

Aaron frowned, then saw Bazhi and Sanchez trot over; they glanced at Knight Yiman and, without lowering their voices, said: "Suspicious individuals were discovered among the entourage; they are carrying poisoned daggers, suspected to be assassins!"

"This must be a misunderstanding!"

Knight Yiman's expression changed drastically.

And Aaron suddenly turned in a different direction, looking at Mika.

This young man's heartbeat accelerated quite a bit.

'I have to say, some of the abilities of the "Pupa" are quite useful.'

Aaron looked at Mika, a half-smile appearing on his face: "Your name is... Mika, right?"

"Y-yes, Baron."

Mika had no idea why this Aaron didn't go to Knight Yiman but came directly to him; cold sweat had already begun to seep from his forehead.

"Why did you come to assassinate me?"

The next moment, Aaron said this with a cold laugh; he couldn't be bothered to play games about evidence with anyone. On his territory, he was the law; mere suspicion was enough to arrest, interrogate, or even kill someone!

"What?"

Yiman's expression changed again, and then he saw Mika's expression turn ferocious as he drew the Cross Sword from his waist.

Unfortunately, he was a step too slow.

Aaron swept his wrist across his waist, and his nimble Rapier appeared in his hand, followed by a forward lunge.

Pfft!

A flash of silver light, and the slender blade of the Rapier pierced directly through Mika's right chest, puncturing his lung.

"Mika... ah..."

Watching Mika fall, Monika let out a scream.

Knight Yiman, on the other hand, stared at Aaron in utter shock; Mika was his prized Disciple, who had even surpassed him in physical strength, lacking only a little experience, yet he was still capable of ranking among the best at the martial arts tournament.

But at this moment, he had been taken down by the enemy in a single move.

Although there were other factors involved, the martial arts of this Baron Aaron were clearly extraordinary.

"Knight Yiman..."

Aaron took out a snow-white handkerchief, gently wiped his sword, and asked casually: "About this matter... were you aware of it?"

Knight Yiman's face was involuntarily covered in cold sweat, and he instantly realized he had been dragged into a massive conspiracy.

Looking at Mika's expression and actions, he really was the mastermind behind the assassin, and this would undoubtedly implicate the Knight himself.

At such a sensitive time, as a surrendered official, causing such an incident could even invite a punitive expedition!

"I swear by the faith of my Ancestor mother, I am completely ignorant of this!"

Knight Yiman made a quick decision; he knelt on one knee, slowly drew his own sword, and held it out with both hands, scabbard and all, to offer it to Aaron.

"Of course... I believe that completely."

Aaron did not take it; to completely disarm a Knight was an insult.

Furthermore, he had long since confirmed Yiman's state through the sensing of hair, and could basically be certain that the other party was innocent.

"Bazhi, please invite Knight Yiman and Miss Monika to the guest rooms to rest, and conduct a search of those servants; we cannot let the conspiracy of the bandits who infiltrated the caravan succeed."

He said with a smile.

"Thank you for your mercy; your wisdom is the greatest I have ever seen in my life."

Knight Yiman stood up, feeling a great sense of relief; this lord still seemed to trust him.