Chapter 141: A Bronze Peak Illusionist? The Assassin, Viper!

Among them, the one making the most noise was a baron named Feng Kaise'er.

His territory was located in the eastern part of the New Wind Province; it was neither wealthy nor particularly barren.

Relying on the fact that his territory was the furthest from Vanguard Valley, he was the first to jump out and openly oppose the Unification Act.

"What kind of bullshit alliance! What kind of bullshit act!"

"That Roko Raymond, who does he think he is? Does he want to be the King of New Wind Province?"

"The gold coins I earned through hard work, why should I hand half of them over to him?"

Baron Kaise'er roared loudly at his knights inside his castle.

He even began secretly contacting other nobles, attempting to form an "Anti-Roko Alliance."

However, what he did not know was this.

Every move he made had already fallen into Roko's eyes.

Scout Captain Bake, utilizing his own connections and the gold coins provided by Roko, had established an all-encompassing intelligence network throughout the entire New Wind Province.

In this network, there were merchants traveling north and south, barmaids in taverns, and commoners oppressed by nobles.

There were even some disgruntled knights.

"Master, Baron Kaise'er has been in very frequent contact with some people of unknown origin recently."

Bake handed the latest intelligence to Roko.

"According to the news we received."

"Those people seem to be the remnants of the Poison Scorpion Society left in the province."

"They seem to be plotting something detrimental to Miss Martina."

A cold light flashed in Roko's eyes.

"I know."

"Keep watching him."

A few days later.

Martina, according to the plan, led a small diplomatic mission to a small town in the eastern part of New Wind Province.

She prepared to hold a public speech there to promote the benefits of the new act to the local residents.

Baron Kaise'er's castle was not far from that small town.

When he learned the news that Martina was coming, a ferocious smile appeared on his face.

"There is a path to heaven, yet you do not take it; there is no door to hell, yet you break in!"

"That vixen actually dared to run onto my turf alone!"

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

He said to a mysterious person in a black robe beside him.

"Master, is everything proceeding according to plan?"

The black-robed person let out a hoarse laugh.

"Of course."

"Kill her, and Roko Raymond will have lost an arm."

"By then, the entire New Wind Alliance will collapse without a fight."

"After it is done, our organization will support you to become the new Eastern Lord."

Baron Kaise'er's eyes were filled with greed.

"Then, I wish us a pleasant cooperation!"

In the central square of the small town, there was a sea of people.

Martina stood on a temporarily constructed high platform, facing thousands of residents.

Her cold yet pleasant voice clearly spread across the entire square through an alchemy loudspeaker.

She did not speak those empty, high-sounding principles.

She was simply recounting the changes in Vanguard Valley.

From tax reductions to improved farming tools, and then to providing free education and medical care.

She painted a picture of a wonderful life that they had never imagined for all the residents.

The residents in the square went from numbness at the beginning, to surprise, and finally to fanaticism.

In their eyes, a flame named "hope" was ignited.

Just as the speech reached its climax.

A sudden change occurred!

Over a dozen assassins hidden in the crowd suddenly erupted!

Holding poisoned daggers, they charged toward Martina on the high platform from all directions.

The square instantly fell into chaos.

Screams and cries rose one after another.

However, there was not the slightest panic on Martina's face.

She just quietly watched those assassins rushing over.

As if she were watching a group of clowns.

Just as the assassins were about to rush onto the platform.

Cold arrows whistled down from the surrounding rooftops!

The arrows precisely pierced the throats of every assassin.

Those assassins fell to the ground and died one after another before they could even let out a scream.

Baron Kaise'er, on a clock tower not far away, saw this scene and his expression changed drastically.

"No! It's an ambush!"

He just wanted to run away.

A tall figure, however, appeared behind him like a ghost.

"Lord Baron, where are you in such a hurry to go?"

Hart's steady face carried a trace of a cold smile.

Baron Kaise'er only felt a chill rush straight from the soles of his feet to his crown.

He wanted to resist.

But Hart's steel-like hand had already clamped onto his neck.

Lifting him up like a little chicken.

Three days later.

A grand public trial was held in the square of Vanguard Valley.

Baron Kaise'er was thrown into the center of the judgment platform like a dead dog.

Standing in a circle around him were fully armed Storm Knights.

All the nobles of the New Wind Alliance were invited to observe the ceremony.

Roko sat in the center of the judgment seat, expressionless.

Martina stood by his side, reading out Baron Kaise'er's crimes.

Colluding with the Poison Scorpion Society, attempting to assassinate alliance officials, inciting rebellion—

Every single one was a capital crime. "I—I didn't! You are framing me!"

Baron Kaise'er was still making his final struggle.

Roko ignored his shouting.

He simply snapped his fingers.

A black-robed person, tied up with five-flower ropes, was brought up.

It was precisely the Poison Scorpion Society leader who had conspired with Baron Kaise'er that day.

When Baron Kaise'er saw that black-robed person, his complexion instantly turned deathly pale.

He knew he was finished.

"According to the New Wind Alliance Unification Act."

Roko stood up, his voice like winter ice.

"I announce the stripping of Feng Kaise'er's baronial title and the confiscation of all his territory and property."

"He himself is sentenced to hanging, to be executed immediately!"

"No! You can't do this to me! I am a noble! You can't kill me!"

Baron Kaise'er let out a desperate roar.

However, no one paid him any mind.

Two Storm Knights dragged him toward the gallows that had already been prepared.

Just at this moment.

A mass of thick black smoke suddenly erupted from Baron Kaise'er's body.

The black smoke dissipated, and his figure had already disappeared.

Leaving only a scorched scorpion mark on the ground.

"It's a teleportation scroll from the Poison Scorpion Society."

Martina frowned.

"He let him get away."

"The monk can run, but the temple cannot."

There was no fluctuation on Roko's face.

He looked at the nobles below the platform who were trembling like cicadas in winter.

Then, his gaze fell upon Hart's deputy, a young knight named Lei'er.

Lei'er had performed very heroically in the previous battle and had made a great contribution.

"Knight Lei'er, step forward to receive your enfeoffment."

Lei'er was stunned for a moment, then knelt on one knee with an excited face.

"From today on, you are the new Lord of the Kaise'er territory, a hereditary Baron."

Roko's voice spread across the entire square.

"I hope you can remember."

"Loyalty will be rewarded."

"And betrayal leads only to a dead end."

Lei'er's body trembled slightly from excitement.

"Willing to die for you, Master!"

The nobles below the platform watched this scene, their hearts filled with mixed feelings.

The way they looked at Roko had also completely changed.

From the previous contempt and suspicion, it had turned into awe and fear.

The integration of the alliance had completely enraged the Poison Scorpion Society hidden in the shadows.

For a time, the entire New Wind Province fell into a state of panic.

Assassinations and sabotage targeting alliance nobles emerged one after another.

Caravan after caravan was looted and burned on the road by mysterious men in black.

Several mayors of remote small towns died bizarrely in their own beds.

An invisible, terrifying dark cloud hung over everyone's hearts.

They knew this was the retaliation of the Poison Scorpion Society.

It was also their most direct provocation to Roko.

"Master, the latest intelligence we received."

Bake's expression was unprecedentedly grave.

"The Poison Scorpion Society has dispatched a top-tier assassin."

"Codename, 'Viper'."

"He is a Bronze Peak Mage, proficient in illusion and deadly poison."

"It is said that he once single-handedly slaughtered a viscount's castle with over a thousand defenders."

"His target is you."

A Bronze Peak illusionist?

Roko's brows raised slightly.

This was actually quite interesting.

"When will he arrive?"

"According to intelligence, he will strike on the night of the full moon three days from now."

"Very good."

A cold smile appeared on the corner of Roko's mouth.

"Then, let us prepare a big gift for this 'Viper' gentleman."

Three days later, the night of the full moon.

The Lord's Mansion in Vanguard Valley was silent.

Except for a few guards still on patrol, the entire castle seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.

A black figure, almost blending into the night.

Silently climbed over the tall walls of the castle.

He was like a drop of ink blending into the sea, not attracting anyone's attention.

"A bunch of trash."

"Viper" looked at those drowsy guards, a sneer of disdain appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He took steps and sneaked toward the Lord's bedroom in the deepest part of the castle.

Along the way, the black robe on his body constantly emitted waves of invisible fluctuations.

All the guards swept by the fluctuations fell into deeper illusions without noticing anything.

In their eyes, everything was calm and peaceful.

"Viper" enjoyed this feeling of playing with enemies in the palm of his hand.

He was like a grim reaper walking in the human world.

Elegantly harvesting fresh lives one by one.

Soon, he arrived at the main hall of the Lord's Mansion.

As long as he passed through here, it would be Roko's bedroom.

He pushed open the heavy doors and walked in.

However, the scene in the hall made him freeze.

The hall was brightly lit.

Roko was sitting peacefully in the main seat.

Beside him stood that stunningly beautiful girl with cat ears and heterochromatic eyes.

Were they waiting for him?

"Viper"'s heart skipped a beat.

No, it's a trap!

He prepared to retreat without hesitation.

But it was already too late.

"Boom!"

The heavy door behind him was slammed shut.

Dozens of Storm Knights wearing Obsidian Gold heavy armor, holding powerful crossbows, surged out from all around the hall.

Surrounding him tightly.

Leading them was none other than Knight Captain Hart.

His face carried a playful expression like a cat playing with a mouse.

"Mr. Mage, since you've come, why be in such a hurry to leave?"

"Viper"'s complexion became incomparably ugly.

His whereabouts had been exposed.

"Do you think you can trap me with just these tin cans?"

He let out a cold laugh.

"Too naive!"

"Let me show you what true fear is!"

He snapped his fingers violently.

The scene of the entire hall changed instantly.

The magnificent hall turned into a gloomy and terrifying purgatory.

Viscous blood flowed on the walls.

The ground was covered with wriggling white bones.

Countless evil ghosts and resentful spirits rushed toward everyone from all directions.

The Storm Knights let out gasps of surprise.

Their eyes were filled with fear.

Even the most strong-willed warriors could hardly avoid losing their composure when facing this kind of illusion that struck directly at the soul.

However.

Roko and Fula still stood in place, motionless.

There wasn't even a trace of extra expression on their faces.

"Small tricks."

Roko spat out these four words faintly.

"Viper"'s pupils shrank violently.

Impossible!

His "Purgatory Illusion," even a Silver-ranked powerhouse, would be affected if caught off guard.

Why did these two have no reaction at all?

Just as he was suspicious and uncertain.

Fula moved.

"Playing with such low-class tricks in front of the Master."

Her voice was cold and devoid of any emotion.

"Truly, you don't know how to live."

"Frostfire: Truth-Breaking!"

The longsword in her hand swung lightly.

A strange sword Qi, mixed with blue and red, swept out.

That sword Qi seemed to carry some mysterious power that purified all falsehoods.

Wherever it passed.

Those so-called blood, bones, evil ghosts, and resentful spirits—

All melted away instantly like ice and snow under the sun.

The entire hall returned to its original appearance.

"Pfft!"

"Viper" spat out a mouthful of blood violently.

The illusion was forcibly broken, causing him to suffer a severe backlash.

His face was filled with disbelief.

"How is it possible, you, your Battle Qi—"

He could feel that Fula's Battle Qi was naturally suppressing his kind of mental-type magic.

"Nothing is impossible."

Roko slowly stood up from the main seat.

"Now, it's my turn."

He walked toward "Viper" step by step.

Every step felt like stepping on "Viper"'s heart.

Fear finally appeared in "Viper"'s eyes.

He wanted to run.

But the knight order led by Hart had already blocked all his retreat paths.

"Since you won't give me a way to live!"

A crazy look appeared on "Viper"'s face.

"Then, let's die together!"

He pulled a black crystal ball from his bosom.

"Forbidden Spell: Poisonous Plague!"

He crushed the crystal ball violently.

A dark green, highly corrosive poison mist instantly erupted from his body.

Spreading toward the entire hall.

However, there was still no expression on Roko's face.

He didn't even make a move to dodge.