Chapter 62

At dusk.

Since the old baron's accidental death, Crescent Castle has for the first time shaken off its gloomy, sorrowful atmosphere and become bustling.

The spacious warehouse was carefully cleaned and filled with supplies.

Trash in the courtyard was cleared, puddles filled with gravel, the perpetually dim castle hall lit up with many magical lamps, and the mottled walls were carefully patched with plaster.

Inside the castle hall, the first banquet of the new lord's ascension began.

Below the lord's high chair, a temporary extra horizontal table was set up, which is the dining seat for Luosen and Princess Selena.

On either side of the horizontal table are a few slightly lower small tables, seats for the lord's family and close retainers.

Currently there are four people.

On the left are Luosen's mother and sister; on the right are Ailiya, appointed commander of the guard regiment, and Stonard, the intelligence director.

Further down, the two vertical long tables are for important members of Crescent City, now fully occupied.

These people are divided into several batches.

One batch consists of warriors.

Among them are the commander, deputy commander, and squad leaders of the Flame War Regiment, nominally the princess's guard, as well as over fifty Crescent Knights loyal to the baron.

One batch consists of mages.

These are Alonso, Weige, and fifteen Kao mages.

Finally, there is a batch of administrative personnel.

The newly appointed acting administrator, mercenary Klub, and the loyal personnel recently fished out of the castle dungeon, who survived a great calamity.

This batch currently has seventeen people, forming Crescent City's first administrative core.

Now the table is laden with delicious food, personally cooked by a chef hired from Shire County, using high-quality ingredients and seasonings brought from Shire County, and served on pure silver tableware also brought from Shire County.

Beside the hearth, a group of beautiful dancers invited from Shire County are performing songs and dances.

Everything is a grandeur beyond what the people of White Sturgeon Island could ever imagine.

Naturally, the banquet atmosphere is extremely lively and joyous.

The lord's family, warriors, and retainers can fully enjoy the banquet, but the lord cannot.

The ancients of Earth said, 'Treat not the existing illness but prevent the future one.'

In other words, one must nip potential troubles in the bud before they surface.

From his seat, Luosen saw the Flame War Regiment members growing increasingly arrogant and haughty.

He also saw the Crescent Knights' dissatisfaction hidden beneath their humility and forbearance.

He knew in his heart: 'We must put a shackle on this borrowed fierce hound.'

Otherwise, the fierce hound will soon turn on its master.

When the banquet reached its midpoint, Luosen suddenly looked toward the regiment commander Yap, seated at the top left.

He lightly stirred the milk caviar sauce with a clear, bright silver spoon, speaking in a low but clear tone.

"Regiment Commander Yap, my domain still has many rebellions, so I still need your assistance in defending the castle."

"That's natural." Yap said, full of pride and satisfaction.

Luosen shifted the topic.

"But this situation won't last long; once the Black-Iron Guard protecting my wife's safety arrives at White Sturgeon Island, the castle will be completely secure."

"Then you can begin your investigative mission."

After saying this, Luosen noticed the Flame War Regiment members fall silent, everyone pricking up their ears.

The island locals didn't really understand the meaning of 'Black-Iron Guard,' and being far away they couldn't hear clearly, so there was little reaction.

But hearing that term, the Flame War Regiment members felt an effect no less than a thunderclap.

Yap and his three deputy commanders exchanged glances, believing about eighty or ninety percent of Luosen's words.

Although the duke's proclamation to the counties explicitly banned trade between the counties and White Sturgeon Island and clearly stated that the princess may not leave White Sturgeon Island, it did not revoke Princess Selena's title.

Since she is a princess, she naturally represents the dignity of the Adrian family.

Thus, the duke sending the Black-Iron Guard to protect the princess's safety is both reasonable and logical.

As for why they weren't sent directly, Yap also thought of a reason: likely to spare the face of King Aaron.

Yap immediately asked: "Baron, roughly how many Black-Iron Guard will come?"

Luosen didn't hide it either: "The first batch will be about fifty, with more to follow in second and third batches, because after all we must consider King Aaron's face, so we can't send too many at once."

"But although the numbers are few, they are all extremely powerful high-class professionals, including twenty high-ranking battle mages."

This made Yap suck in a cold breath; fifty high-class Black-Iron Guard would have enough combat power to overwhelm them.

No wonder they dare say 'completely secure.'

This matter is also very important, concerning their Flame War Regiment's future attitude toward the baron.

Without these fifty Black-Iron Guard, they would be the strongest force on White Sturgeon Island.

If the baron wishes to rely on their strength, he must maintain sufficient respect toward them.

In some respects, even if they slightly overstep, they need not worry about any punishment.

But if the Black-Iron Guard are present, and it looks like the final number may exceed a hundred, the situation immediately reverses.

They must then maintain sufficient respect for the baron and strictly obey White Sturgeon Island's laws.

Yap personally thinks this is not entirely a bad thing.

Because he clearly feels that after today, many of his subordinates have gotten hot-headed, each wanting to keep squeezing the baron's purse.

After thinking, he cautiously asked: "Then roughly how long until they arrive?"

"The exact date isn't certain, it depends on the opportunity, but the first batch should arrive within half a month."

"Oh~~ I understand."

Yop nodded, turned his head and exchanged a glance with the deputy regiment commanders, and noticed that the deputy regiment commander Harry, the most hot-headed, had become much clearer in his eyes.

Obviously, this battle mage's mind has cleared.

On the other side, Luosen took a sip of maple dew wine, the corner of his mouth slightly curled: 'Alright, the biggest troublemaker is under control.'

He turned his head and began chatting and laughing with his family.

Because the food was delicious and abundant, this banquet naturally saw host and guest enjoying themselves to the fullest.

After the meal, once the guests had all left, everyone went about their own business, and Luosen summoned the old steward Afu.

"Has the castle dungeon been cleaned up?"

"As much as possible, it's been cleaned up, and the entrance is completely blocked."

Afu replied humbly, his body ramrod straight.

The young Baron before him spoke much more gently than the Old Baron, yet he deeply felt that the other possessed a dignity far surpassing that of the Old Baron.

This made him dare not have the slightest slackness. In fact, all the servants in the castle were very afraid of Luosen, even Madame Sachsen and the young lady, who were all extremely cautious.

Luosen was fully aware of this.

Because this is the leader image he deliberately cultivated.

Since this image can intimidate Battle Masters like Yop, it naturally creates terrifying psychological pressure on ordinary people.

But he had no intention of deliberately showing the mercy of a superior; in time, the servants would naturally understand and well adapt to his character.

He nodded satisfactorily: "Very good."

Then he looked toward Madame Sachsen: "Mother, are you still satisfied with the bedroom arrangement?"

Madame Sachsen still felt as if she were in a dream, her spirit somewhat dazed.

Ten years without seeing, this son's change is truly enormous; the former dullness and sluggishness have completely vanished, as if he were a different person.

The only thing she can be sure of is that with such a formidable son, she no longer needs to live in fear.

At this moment, hearing the question, she answered instinctively.

"Good, everything couldn't be better."

Since that's the case, Luosen then looked toward his sister.

"Evelyn, how about you?"

His sister also shook her head repeatedly, not knowing whether it was from fear or genuine satisfaction.

But seeing her eat with oil all over her mouth, satisfaction likely predominates.

Just then, noisy sounds came from outside the hall again.

After a moment, a Crescent City knight ran in to report.

"Lord, the warriors of Highland Town have returned, and they've brought back all 3,300 townspeople."

Crescent City is about 15 kilometers from Highland Town; the Highland Town warriors set out at noon, and by now 8 o'clock they have brought over three thousand townspeople, showing they really gave it their all.

Luosen chuckled to himself: "My construction crew has arrived."

He insisted on relocating the Highland Town townspeople back, which is certainly to fulfill his duty as lord to protect.

But there are also some private considerations.

Because afterward the sea island will vigorously construct various projects, which requires a large labor force.

Although Crescent City has many people, ninety percent are farmers; if they did construction, there would be no one left to till the fields.

As for this group from Highland Town, having left their homeland, they naturally lost their land, essentially becoming the proletariat of another world.

Turning them into a professional labor force to earn money from work is both reasonable and logical.

This little thought, of course, cannot be spoken aloud.

He wore a solemn expression: "Go summon Klub and the knights on mission."

Soon, both groups arrived.

Luosen, in front of the traitorous knights, earnestly instructed Klub.

"The townspeople of Highland Town are also my subjects; as the Supreme Lord of White Sturgeon Island, I have the duty to protect every subject."

"Find an empty plot in the city, prepare sufficient cold‑resistance supplies and food, and first arrange for them to settle."

"Yes, Lord."

Luosen emphasized with a heavier tone.

"Don't let me hear anyone bullying the Highland Town townspeople or letting them go hungry, or I will surely punish them severely!"

These words were meant for the Highland Town knights; Klub, being a smart man, immediately gave a loud assurance.

One can see that the tense faces of the over twenty Highland Town knights have visibly relaxed.

Luosen then looked toward the traitorous knights, his expression easing and his tone gentle.

"You have done an excellent job completing the mission, successfully saving the Highland Town townspeople from the tragic fate of being killed by foreign tribes."

"I also keep my promise, pardoning your crimes."

"From now on, you will no longer bear the name of traitors, but be honored Crescent City knights."

"The corresponding fiefs will also be granted one by one."

This time, executing a batch of corrupted Crescent City knights conveniently allows their fiefs to be transferred to this new batch of knights.

"Huuu~~~"

The knights all let out a long sigh, as if relieved of a heavy burden.

Luosen then said to Laifu: "The soldiers have been rushing all afternoon; they must be starving. Bring out the food and let them have a hearty meal."

Afu immediately had people bring out sufficient meat, wine, and bread.

The knights were already so hungry their chests stuck to their backs; seeing such abundant food, their eyes turned green.

They hastily gave Luosen a salute, then immediately sat aside and wolfed down their food.

Until this moment, Luosen finally fully took over Crescent City and also obtained most of Ales's inheritance.

Now, he has over 80 battle‑experienced official Crescent Knights, over 800 official soldiers, and twenty thousand subjects.

In addition, there is an extra Flame Brigade, 17 scholar mages, and countless supplies.

Also, thanks to his status as the Princess's husband, his lordship is as solid as a rock.

This start is quite perfect, with many playable cards in hand.

But he still cannot relax.

Because the envoy he sent to the four Knights hasn't returned yet, it most likely means the four Knights intend to fight him to the end.

So, he must immediately move to the next step of the plan.

And this plan will be carried out in their own Magic Method Laboratory.

He turned to his wife Selena and whispered, "Let's go to our secret Magic Method Laboratory."

This Magic Method experiment is extremely secret; only he and his wife know it, and its location is the supposedly sealed castle dungeon.

The dungeon's nominal entrance was sealed, but Luosen used the Transformation Technique to create a secret entrance in his own bedroom.

When the two returned to the bedroom and followed the passage into the secret dungeon, Luosen's steps suddenly faltered slightly.

He received a message transmitted by the Detect Guard sigil.

Under the moonlit night, in the forest on the edge of Crescent River Valley, a squad of about two hundred Forest Spirits was swiftly moving toward the Sturgeon Dock.

Luosen smiled inwardly, "The retaliation came quickly, but you'll miss the mark, hehe."

All the residents of Sturgeon Dock have already been relocated back to Crescent City.

(End of chapter)