Chapter 51: Time to find a scapegoat

Pu La Da City, Duke's Mansion.

Duke Auston looked at the secret report in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed.

The secret report described the characteristics of that mysterious bandit group in detail.

"Storm Colts?"

"Only robbing Castilla caravans?"

"Powerful strength, mysterious actions?"

A young figure couldn't help but emerge in Duke Auston's mind.

Rocco Raymond.

The son of the Marquis who was developing a territory in Vanguard Valley.

Although there was no evidence, Duke Auston always felt that this batch of so-called bandits might be related to that Rocco.

"Philip."

Duke Auston called out.

The butler, Philip, appeared silently at the door of the study.

"Master Duke, what are your orders?"

"You go to Vanguard Valley personally."

Duke Auston handed the order document in his hand to Philip.

"Give this to Rocco."

"Tell him that the Kingdom attaches great importance to the border bandit problem."

"I hope he can handle this matter properly as soon as possible."

Duke Auston paused and added.

"If he can solve this matter perfectly, not only will he receive the Kingdom's commendation, but it will also be of great help to his future promotion to the rank of Baron."

Philip took the document and bowed respectfully.

"Yes, Master Duke, I understand."

He knew that the Duke was giving credit to Rocco.

As for the true identity of that group of bandits...

Did that really matter?

Philip understood in his heart, but his face showed no change in expression.

Some things are better left unsaid even if seen through.

Vanguard Valley.

After a month of "hard work," Roko's treasury had become quite substantial.

The smiles on Martina's face also increased.

The construction progress of the castle had also greatly accelerated due to the availability of funds.

Just as Roko was calculating whether he could temporarily stop and rest for a period of time.

Butler Philip arrived at Vanguard Valley with Duke Auston's order.

Inside the council hall.

Roko looked at the order document in his hand and then at Philip's gentle and respectful face.

He instantly understood Duke Auston's intention.

This was a reminder, and also a way to give him a graceful exit.

"Please convey to the Duke that I will definitely solve the border bandit problem in the shortest possible time."

Roko placed the document on the table and said in a calm tone.

Philip nodded with a smile.

"I believe that with Young Master Raymond's ability, this will not be a difficult task."

"The Duke looks forward to your good news."

After seeing Philip off, Roko summoned Hart, Martina, Fura, and the others.

"It seems our bandit career has to come to a temporary end."

Roko said with some helplessness.

Upon hearing this, Martina showed a trace of regret on her face.

She hadn't enjoyed the thrill of the rapid growth of gold coins enough yet.

Hart, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief.

Although raiding Castilla caravans was exciting, it also carried significant risks.

"Master, what should we do next?"

Hart asked.

Roko pondered.

"Duke Auston's meaning is very clear; he needs a result, a result that can satisfy the Kingdom."

"We need to find a group of 'scapegoats'."

This task was not difficult.

The border of Xin Feng Province was a place where all sorts of people gathered.

Real bandit groups were not uncommon.

Soon, Hart's scouts locked onto a target.

This was a group of bandits entrenched on the edge of the Mist Forest, numbering about seventy or eighty.

Their strength was not strong, and their leader was merely an ordinary knight.

Usually, they relied on robbing lone travelers and small caravans for a living.

Using them as scapegoats was just right.

Three days later, at dusk.

Roko personally led fifty Storm Knights to raid the bandits' nest.

The battle had no suspense.

Facing the Storm Knights, who were like gods descending to earth, these ragtag bandits couldn't even organize decent resistance.

In less than half an hour, the battle was over.

The bandit nest was burned to the ground.

More than seventy bandit heads were neatly piled together.

Roko looked at the "fruits of victory" before him and nodded with satisfaction.

"Collect these heads."

"We will need to send these heads to Duke Auston later."

After Hart nodded, he began to execute the things Roko had ordered.

With this matter finished, Roko led Hart and the others back to Vanguard Valley.

After a simple rest, Roko decided to personally head to the provincial capital of Xin Feng Province, Pu La Da City.

Firstly, it was to present the heads of these bandits to Duke Auston as the merit for suppressing the bandits.

Secondly, it was to exchange a portion of the supplies obtained from raiding the Castilla caravans into more solid gold coins in the prosperous provincial capital.

"Roko, I want to go too!"

After Martina learned that Roko was going to Pu La Da City, she hugged her precious ledger and came to Roko's side.

"Those goods must be watched by me personally to be sold for the best price!"

Roko looked at her appearance—money-minded yet serious—and rubbed his forehead with some helplessness.

"Alright, I'll take you."

Fura naturally stood silently behind Roko, always following his figure, needing no further words.

Hart selected twenty knights to accompany them, responsible for protection and transporting the goods.

This time, Roko deliberately did not use those eye-catching Storm Colts.

They rode ordinary warhorses, pulling several carriages full of goods, and left Vanguard Valley in a low-key manner.

The journey to Pu La Da City was not exactly peaceful.

Xin Feng Province was, after all, a newly developed land; bandits and wild beasts often appeared in the wilderness.

On the evening of the third day, when their team reached a hilly area, the scouts responsible for reconnaissance reported that they had discovered a group of about forty or fifty bandits entrenched in a hidden mountain hollow ahead.

A cold arc curled at the corner of Roko's mouth.

There was no reason to refuse merit delivered to his doorstep.

He didn't even make much of a deployment, directly ordering Hart to lead the knights to launch a charge.

Although these knights were not riding Storm Colts, after being tempered in several real battles and trained by Roko daily using a simplified version of the 【Flame Griffin Breathing Method】, their combat power was no longer what it used to be.

Facing this group of poorly equipped, low-strength bandits, it was almost a one-sided slaughter.

Under the afterglow of the setting sun, the battle ended quickly.

Roko's team gained several dozen more fresh bandit heads.

The number of "merits" in his space ring had easily exceeded one hundred.

Several days later, the tall and sturdy city walls of Pu La Da City finally appeared on the horizon.

At the city gate, civilians and caravans waiting to enter the city lined up in a long queue.

Roko's team headed straight for the other side, the passage reserved for nobles.

The guarding soldiers saw the exquisite Flame Griffin emblem on Roko's chest and immediately bowed respectfully to let them pass.

Countless envious and jealous gazes were cast from the crowd waiting in line.

This was the privilege of the nobility—naked, yet taken for granted.

Roko was long used to this and rode into the city with a calm expression. ===== CHAPTER 52 =====