Chapter 95: This Is the Strength of a Bronze Knight

As soon as Roko finished speaking, the entire valley seemed to turn cold in an instant.

A flash of surprise crossed Aaron's face, immediately replaced by even thicker mockery.

"Kid, you've got a big mouth!"

He brandished the greatsword in his hands, the blade reflecting a cold, sharp glint in the morning light.

"Since you've said as much, I'll have to see just how much you're really worth, kid!"

Before his voice had even faded, Aaron slammed his heels into the black horse he was riding and leaned forward.

His entire body erupted with a powerful wave of Bronze Rank Battle Qi, and he charged toward Roko with a menacing aura.

That pressure, unique to a Great Knight Mid-stage, swept over them instantly.

Mike's face turned deathly pale in a flash, and his body involuntarily retreated a few steps.

He had never felt the pressure of a Great Knight level at such close range; the sense of oppression from the gap in strength made him almost suffocate.

Although Falco also felt the pressure, he still gritted his teeth and gripped the longsword in his hand.

A determined light flickered in his eyes as he recalled Hart's teachings in his mind.

"On the battlefield, never be intimidated by the enemy's aura!"

Fula's reaction was the calmest.

She leaped down from her horse with agility, her silver-gray cat ears twitching slightly, and a dangerous light flickered in her heterochromatic pupils.

The moment her thin sword left its sheath, a sharp aura unique to a Bronze Knight instantly permeated the air.

A cold sneer rose to the corner of Roko's mouth.

A mere Great Knight Mid-stage, daring to be this arrogant in front of him?

He slowly stood up from his horse, his right hand pressing onto the hilt of the longsword at his waist.

Since that was the case, he would play along with him.

These days spent opening up the trade route had mostly been spent on the road, and now, a hotheaded fool had finally arrived.

Naturally, he had to play slowly.

"Fula, left side."

With these two short words, Fula had already grasped his intent.

Her figure instantly turned into a streak of silver light, circling around to Aaron's left.

Roko, meanwhile, headed straight toward the menacingly charging Aaron, not a hint of fear in his eyes.

Two streams of Battle Qi collided violently in the valley, kicking up gusts of wind.

Aaron's greatsword, carrying a sharp whistling sound, slashed straight down.

That tyrannical power of a Great Knight Mid-stage caused the sound of wind to ring out incessantly.

However, Roko's movements were faster.

His figure flashed to the right, dodging this heavy blow with extreme ease.

At the same time, the longsword at his waist was unsheathed in an instant, and raging flames ignited on the blade.

【Great Sun Blazing Slash! Flame Slash!】

The scorching sword Qi was as dazzling as the blazing sun, carrying a high temperature that burned the air as it slashed diagonally toward Aaron's left flank.

Aaron's pupils contracted instantly.

The power of this sword Qi far exceeded his expectations!

He hurriedly held his greatsword horizontally in front of him, attempting to block this Flame Slash.

However, Roko's attack was merely a feint.

The true killing blow came from Fula on the flank.

The silver-gray figure flashed to Aaron's left like a ghost, her thin sword burning with the same scorching flames.

Her angle of attack was extremely tricky, aiming straight for Aaron's vital throat.

【Great Sun Blazing Slash! Flame Slash!】

Two streams of flame sword Qi struck almost simultaneously, forming a perfect pincer attack.

Aaron's expression changed completely.

He hadn't expected that this seemingly delicate Maonv would actually possess such powerful strength?

Even the Battle Qi radiating from these two made his heart palpitate.

Moreover, the sword technique she used was exactly the same as that young Baron's!

What was going on?

What realm were they actually at?

In his desperation, Aaron could only forcibly drive the Battle Qi within his body to form a protective barrier around himself.

The power of the Flame Slash exceeded his imagination.

Roko's sword Qi struck his protective barrier first, and the scorching flames instantly burned a gap through it.

Immediately following, Fula's thin sword darted inside.

The tip of the sword carved a deep bloody mark on his shoulder.

"Ah!"

Aaron let out a cry of pain, his body involuntarily retreating a few steps.

Fresh blood gushed from the wound, instantly staining his clothes red.

He looked at Roko and Fula before him in disbelief, his eyes filled with shock.

"Impossible! This is impossible!"

Aaron roared in anger, gripping his greatsword tightly with both hands.

He did not believe he would lose to the two people before him,

but reality is always cruel.

The Flame Slash unleashed by Roko and Fula was astonishing in power, with every attack carrying a potent burning effect.

Aaron's defenses were growing weaker, and the wounds on his body were increasing.

"Young Master is mighty!"

Falco shouted excitedly from the rear, his eyes filled with a look of worship.

He had finally witnessed Roko's true strength; that crushing combat style was simply boundless in its coolness. Mike, meanwhile, watched all of this dumbfounded, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg.

He never imagined that this young Baron would possess such terrifying combat power.

Previously, his father seemed to have said that Baron Roko's strength had already reached the realm of a Bronze Knight.

Could this be the true combat power of a Bronze Knight?

At the same time, the other enemies on both sides of the valley launched a charge.

Fifty Storm Knights, led by an experienced Captain, quickly formed a combat formation.

Their equipment was excellent and they were well-trained; facing enemies several times their number, they did not fall behind in the slightest.

The longswords in the hands of the Storm Knights danced in tacit coordination.

Although the enemy cavalry was numerous, their equipment and training levels were clearly inferior.

After a few rounds of charging, the enemy instead suffered heavy losses.

The ordinary guards of the caravan also managed to stabilize their footing under the cover of the Storm Knights.

Although their combat power was limited, at least they did not become a burden.

The scales of battle were tilting toward Roko's side.

"Damn it!"

Aaron's complexion grew increasingly ugly.

He discovered that no matter how hard he tried, he could not gain an advantage under the joint attacks of Roko and Fula.

Worse still, the injuries on his body were becoming more severe, and his stamina was depleting rapidly.

If this continued, defeat was an inevitable outcome.

"Die!"

In his desperation, Aaron erupted with a final madness.

He recklessly burned all the Battle Qi within his body, and astonishing energy fluctuations surged from his greatsword.

This was his ultimate move, and also his final gamble.

Roko's reaction was faster; he keenly sensed Aaron's intent, and a cold, sharp light flashed in his eyes. "It's over."

Roko said softly, slowly raising the longsword in his hand.

The flames on the sword blade became even more scorching, as if they were about to ignite the entire sky.

【Flame Slash: Great Accomplishment Realm!】

For this strike, Roko utilized about one-third of his strength.

The scorching sword Qi was as dazzling as a true blazing sun, carrying the momentum to destroy everything as it headed straight for Aaron.

Aaron's pupils dilated completely in this instant.

He could feel the terrifying power of this strike; it was an attack sufficient to take his life!

However, at this moment, he had nowhere left to retreat.

He could only bite the bullet and swing his final sword.

The two forces collided violently in the air, erupting with a deafening roar.

The intense light instantly illuminated the entire valley, stinging people's eyes so they could not keep them open.

When the light dissipated, the result of the battle was already decided.

Aaron's greatsword had snapped into two pieces, and his body stood unsteadily on the spot.

A massive sword wound appeared on his chest, and blood gushed out like a spring.

His eyes were filled with unwillingness and fear, his mouth opening and closing as if wanting to say something.

But in the end, no sound was emitted.

"Thump!"

Aaron's body fell heavily to the ground, and he had no more breath.

The valley instantly fell silent, with only the sound of the wind hissing.

The other enemy cavalrymen saw Aaron's death, and their complexions changed drastically.

Their leader was dead, so what was there left to fight for?

"Surrender! We surrender!"

Finally, someone threw down their weapon and knelt on both knees.

With the first, the second and third followed suit.

Soon, the remaining enemy cavalry all threw down their weapons and chose to surrender.

The battle had completely ended.

Roko withdrew his longsword and scanned the battlefield with a calm expression.

Fula walked to his side obediently, her silver-gray cat ears twitching gently.

Blood was still dripping from her thin sword, but her expression remained as cold as ever.

"Young Master, are you alright?"

Falco hurried over and asked with concern.

Although he hadn't been able to participate much in this battle, seeing Roko's performance made his sense of admiration grow even stronger. "It's nothing."

Roko shook his head faintly, his gaze falling on Mike not far away.

This eighth young master of the Ramirez Family was currently sitting blankly on horseback, his face still deathly pale.

Clearly, the battle just now had caused him quite a shock.

"Mike."

Roko called out to him.

Mike raised his head as if waking from a dream, a trace of daze still in his eyes.

"Yo, young master?"

"Come over and help clean up the battlefield."

Roko's tone was calm, with no intention of blaming him.

He knew that for a noble young master who had never experienced a real battle, adapting to the battlefield required a process.

Mike swallowed his saliva and climbed off his horse tremblingly.

His legs were still a bit weak, but he still managed to walk toward the battlefield.

Looking at Aaron's corpse on the ground, his stomach churned, and he almost vomited.

This was a real battle.

Bloody, cruel, and without the slightest hint of romance.

Mike finally understood why his father had sent him to Roko's side.

Here, what he could learn was not just combat techniques.

More importantly, it was what it meant to be a true powerhouse.

"Take inventory of the spoils."

Roko said to Falco.

"Also, interrogate those captives and see what useful information we can get."

Falco nodded immediately and went off excitedly to carry out the order.

Fula remained standing silently by Roko's side, following him like a shadow.

A satisfied light flickered in her heterochromatic pupils; clearly, she was very satisfied with the performance in the battle just now.

To her, being able to help Roko in battle was the greatest happiness.

"Meow."

She let out a soft cry, her voice carrying a hint of coquettishness.

Roko reached out and gently stroked her silver-gray cat ears, and Fula squinted her eyes comfortably.

Half an hour later, the battlefield was cleaned up.

Falco ran back excitedly, holding a simple list in his hand.

"Young master, we captured a total of eighty warhorses, one hundred and twenty pieces of various weapons, and some scattered gold coins."

He paused, then continued.

"Most importantly, I got some interesting news from those captives."

Roko raised an eyebrow.

"Let's hear it."

Falco lowered his voice and said mysteriously.

"According to those captives, this Aaron was just a small leader under Zewen."

"The real Zewen is currently hiding in the deep mountains of the Red Leaf Forest Territory, with less than three hundred men left under his command."

》

"Moreover, his situation is very difficult; he lacks food and, even more so, weapons and equipment."

A glimmer of thought flashed in Roko's eyes.

"Continue."

"Those captives also said that the Red Leaf Forest Territory is actually very wealthy, producing high-quality timber and medicinal herbs."

Falco's voice was filled with excitement.

"If we can take that territory, it will definitely be of great benefit to the development of our Vanguard Valley!"

Roko nodded, having already made up his mind.

A desperate, down-and-out noble and a wealthy territory.

Within this, there seemed to be no small opportunity.

"Take all those captives with us, we are continuing forward."

Roko made his decision.

"Target: Red Leaf Forest Territory."

Falco was stunned for a moment, then nodded excitedly.

"Yes, young master!"

Hearing this decision, Mike's expression changed again.

What were they going to do?

Participate in the infighting between nobles?

This kind of thing was extremely dangerous!

However, seeing Roko's confident expression, he swallowed the dissuasion that had reached his lips.

Perhaps, by following this Baron, he really could see a different world.

Fula, however, showed no reaction.

To her, as long as she followed Roko, it did not matter where they went.

The caravan packed up and set off again, heading in the direction of the Red Leaf Forest Territory.

Behind them, they left behind a patch of bloodstains and traces of the battle.

The Red Leaf Forest Territory was located in the northwest of the Xin Feng Province, about a day's journey from the valley where the battle had just taken place.

Under Roko's command, the caravan adjusted its route and headed toward this land that was said to be wealthy but currently in chaos.

Along the way, Mike's mood was a complex mix of emotions.

He would occasionally look at Roko's calm profile, and occasionally recall the bloody scenes from the battle just now.

As a young noble who had grown up in a greenhouse, all of this was too shocking for him.

"Young Master, are we really going to intervene in the internal strife of their family?"

Taking advantage of a break, Mike finally could not help but ask.

His voice trembled slightly; clearly, he had not yet fully recovered from the battle just now.

Roko glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Are you scared?"

Mike's face flushed red instantly, but he still bit the bullet and shook his head.

"I, I just think, wouldn't doing this be a bit risky?"

"After all, we don't know anything about that Zewen's situation, what if..."

"What if what?"

Roko's tone remained calm, but his gaze became sharp.

"What if he's a madman, what if he's unwilling to cooperate, what if..."

Mike's voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was almost inaudible at the end.

Falco, listening from the side, could not help but laugh.

"Mike, you're overthinking it."

"Since the Young Master has decided to do this, he must have his reasons."

"All we need to do is trust the Young Master and then follow him to get it done!"

Although his words were simple, they carried a firm conviction.

This caused Mike to fall into deep thought.

Trust.

This was an emotion he had rarely felt since he was a child.

In the Ramirez Family, there was more competition and calculation between siblings.

His father's attitude toward him was also more cold than caring.

But here, he saw that almost blind trust Falco had for Roko.

More importantly, Roko seemed to truly be worthy of this trust.

Fula still sat silently by Roko's side; she had no interest in such discussions, with only one thought in her heart.

As long as she followed Roko, she would do anything.

"Do you want to know why I want to do this?"

Roko suddenly spoke, looking at Mike.

Mike nodded quickly, his eyes full of anticipation.

Roko stood up slowly, his gaze looking toward the distance.

"First of all, that Zewen is currently at a dead end and is in need of help."

"In such a situation, any assistance from us is like providing charcoal in snowy weather for him."

"And providing charcoal in snowy weather is often more effective at earning Loyalty than adding flowers to a brocade."

Mike nodded thoughtfully.

He understood this principle, but the problem was, "But Young Master, what can we gain from this?"

"What benefits can a down-and-out noble still give us?"

Roko turned his head to look at Mike, a flash of approval in his eyes.

"Very good, that you can think of this point shows your mind is still quite clear."

"However, you only saw the surface."

He walked to the map and drew a circle on the location of the Red Leaf Forest Territory.

"Although the Red Leaf Forest Territory is chaotic now, it is inherently rich in resources."

"High-quality timber, precious herbs, and some mineral resources."

"More importantly, its geographical location is excellent; it is an important passage connecting the east and west of the Xin Feng Province."

Mike's eyes gradually brightened.

"You mean, if we can control this territory..."

"Control?"

Roko shook his head.

"I never said I wanted to control it."

"I just want to reach some kind of cooperative relationship with Zewen."

"For example, I help him take back the territory, and he gives me some actual benefits."

"Like priority trading rights, like resource extraction rights, like..."

Roko paused deliberately and looked at Mike.

"For instance, the share of the territory's revenue."

Mike gasped.

This plan sounded truly tempting, but the risks were not small either.

What if Zewen went back on his word?

What if they couldn't defeat that viper-like stepmother?

Seeming to see through his worries, Roko smiled faintly.

"Every opportunity is accompanied by risk."

"The key is to learn how to assess risk and have enough strength to deal with it."

"You saw the battle just now; it is not as if we lack the power to fight."

"Furthermore, sometimes wisdom is more important than force."

Falco nodded repeatedly from the side, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Young Master is right!"

"All we need to do is trust Young Master and then fully support Young Master's decision!"

Fula raised her head, a warm light flashing in her heterochromatic pupils.

She reached out her small hand and gently tugged at Roko's sleeve.

This simple action expressed her stance.

No matter what decision Roko made, she would support him unconditionally.

Watching this scene before him, Mike felt a complex mix of emotions.

Perhaps this was the atmosphere that should surround a strong person.

"I understand, Young Master."

Mike bowed deeply.

"From now on, I will fully support your every decision."

Although the words were spoken somewhat stiffly, Roko could feel his sincerity.

【Loyalty: 75】

【Favorability: 70】

The system's notification made Roko nod in satisfaction.

It seemed this experience was very helpful for Mike's growth.

A subordinate who is willing to think, willing to learn, and gradually building up loyalty.

Is much more useful than those idiots who only know how to follow blindly.

"Very good."

Roko patted Mike on the shoulder.

"Remember how you feel today; this will be an important lesson on your path of growth."

"Alright, enough talk."

"Let's hurry on our way!"