Chapter 28: Baron Carter

A few days later, at dusk.

The setting sun dyed the valley with a layer of warm luster.

A Knight on guard at the valley entrance suddenly became sharp-eyed.

He listened intently for a moment, then made a gesture.

Soon, the news reached Hart.

Hart came to Roko's tent.

"Young Master, the outer guard discovered a few sneaky mice."

"They should be aimed at us."

Roko put down the animal skin map and raised his head.

"Can you confirm their identity?"

"Judging from the marching route and hiding techniques, they don't look like ordinary bandits or adventurers."

Hart said in a deep voice.

"They look more like trained spies."

"Spies..."

A cold light flashed in Roko's eyes.

It seemed that someone had noticed the abnormality here.

He almost immediately thought of Baron Carter, who had been intercepted by him for the Snow Fox.

Besides him, there shouldn't be any other nobles in this vicinity who would pay such close attention to him for the time being.

"Dispose of them."

Roko's voice was very light, but carried a cold killing intent.

"Don't leave any traces."

The news of the gold mine must absolutely not be leaked.

"Understood!"

A fierce look flashed in Hart's eyes, and he turned and left.

He picked ten of the most agile Knights who were best at stealth and assassination, and they merged into the darkening twilight like hunting leopards, silently.

Outside the valley, at the edge of the dense forest.

Three spies wearing leather armor convenient for action, with camouflage painted on their faces, were carefully pushing aside the shrubs, trying to get close to the valley that was strictly guarded.

They were scouts sent by Baron Carter, experienced.

However, they didn't know that they had long fallen into the hunter's line of sight.

A black shadow fell from the tree canopy like a ghost, and the cold dagger precisely slashed the throat of the spy walking at the back.

Blood sprayed, and that spy couldn't even let out a hum before collapsing softly to the ground.

"Enemy attack!"

The two spies in front reacted instantly, pulling out the short knives at their waists, backing to back, vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

But, it was too late.

Several crossbow bolts, carrying sharp whistling sounds, shot from different directions.

Precisely hitting their chests and heads.

Puchi! Puchi!

The sound of arrows piercing leather armor and flesh was particularly harsh in the quiet forest.

Two spies fell into a pool of blood with full faces of astonishment and unwillingness.

Hart walked out of the shadows and checked the corpses.

He recognized a small, inconspicuous mark on the lining of their leather armor, the emblem of Baron Carter's private soldiers in New Moon Town.

"Clean it up."

Hart ordered the Knights who followed.

The Knights acted quickly, dragging the corpses into the depths of the dense forest to bury them, carefully cleaning up the bloodstains and signs of fighting at the scene.

As if nothing had happened here.

New Moon Town, stone castle.

Baron Carter paced restlessly in the hall.

The spies sent out had been out of contact for more than a day.

This was absolutely not normal.

The ones he sent were all experienced veterans; even if they encountered danger, at least they could find a way to send back some news.

Now that there was no news like this, there was only one possibility.

They were dead!

And, they were solved cleanly and neatly.

The only ones who could do this were that brat Roko and the Knights under his command.

Baron Carter's face became uglier and uglier, and his breathing became heavy.

That brat was indeed hiding something!

And, in order to keep this secret, he didn't hesitate to kill to silence them!

The more this was the case, the more it showed that there was huge interest hidden in that valley!

The flames of greed instantly ignited Baron Carter's heart.

The Raymond family was very powerful, but this was the border of the New Wind Province!

The sky is high and the Emperor is far away!

As long as it was done cleanly, even if it was a Marquis family, it was impossible to completely turn against a border Baron for the sake of a brat who was not an heir!

What's more, if he could get that secret...

A crazy light flashed in Baron Carter's eyes.

He stopped pacing abruptly and roared toward the door.

"Someone! Go and call Morris for me!"

A moment later, a tall, thin young man with a somewhat pale face walked in quickly.

He was Baron Carter's eldest son, Morris.

"Father, you called me?"

Morris saluted respectfully, but a trace of imperceptible ambition was hidden deep in his eyes.

"Morris!"

Baron Carter looked at his son, his voice low and powerful.

"Gather two hundred soldiers and thirty elite Knights."

"I want you to take these people and go to that valley in the west immediately!"

Morris was stunned.

"Father, are we going to..."

"That brat Roko killed our people!"

Baron Carter said through gritted teeth.

"He must have discovered something incredible there!"

"You take people there, and find out clearly for me!"

"If he discovered any treasure, or mineral vein..."

A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Baron Carter's eyes.

"Then use the excuse of investigating the disappearance of my subordinates to station there and keep an eye on that brat."

"Then, send someone back to tell me."

"I will take more soldiers and Knights to support you."

Morris's heart jumped abruptly, and an excited look appeared on his face.

This was a good opportunity to make a contribution!

If he could really discover something, he might be able to gain a more important position in his father's heart.

"Yes! Father! I understand!"

Morris's voice trembled somewhat because of excitement.

Soon, on the square of New Moon Town, a team consisting of thirty Knights and nearly two hundred armed soldiers was assembled.

Although the equipment and momentum could not compare to the elite Knights Roko brought.

But in this border area, it was already a force that could not be underestimated.

Morris mounted his horse, pulled out the longsword at his waist, and pointed toward the west.

"Set off!"

The team kicked up dust and marched mightily out of New Moon Town.

Constantly moving forward toward that mysterious valley.

The excavation work of the gold mine, under Martina's near-harsh planning, was carried out rapidly and orderly.

The Dwarf blacksmiths guided the selected miner slaves, using the crude tools that had just been forged, bit by bit peeling the ore containing wealth from the rock wall.

The landing of each piece of ore was accompanied by a dull sound.

Roko stood at the mine entrance, looking at the busy scene, but his mood was not completely relaxed.

The spies sent by Baron Carter were disposed of, but this was only temporary.

He knew very well that a greedy neighbor would not easily give up prying.

Especially when behind this prying, it might hide huge interests that could make people crazy.

Sure enough, just two days later.

Hart found Roko again, his face even more solemn than before.

"Young Master, outside the western valley mouth, about five miles away, a team appeared."

"The number is not small, at least two hundred people, and about thirty Knights."

"They have already set up camp."

Roko's heart sank abruptly.

"The flag?"

"Saw it, it's a black lizard flag."

Hart's voice was low.

"New Moon Town, Baron Carter's people." ===== CHAPTER 29 =====