Chapter 271: Defense (Part 2)

Chapter 271: Defense (Part 2)



The journey from Flashgold Town to Haubs Manor was not far, and within ten minutes, the group approached the manor's entrance.

At that moment, four guards stood at the manor's gate, tense at the sight of the large group approaching. They immediately sent someone inside to report, while the others remained vigilant.

However, upon seeing the Haubs family's Kalei Bird crest on the carriage, the guards breathed a sigh of relief.

They're allies! As Ren and the others alighted from the carriage, the guards exchanged glances, their faces filled with surprise. "It's Lady Shadiya, the head maid!" they exclaimed.

"Oh my! Lady Kraya is back too!" several guards cried out in delight.

But Ren's transformation was quite significant, making the guards feel both familiar and unfamiliar, leaving them hesitant to recognize him for a moment.

Soon, a familiar figure emerged from the manor, hurrying towards them. It was Royd, the steward of Haubs Manor.

"Yes, may I ask who you are?" Royd asked.

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Basically, they followed the orders of the person in charge without question.

"Knight Royd, Ren is now Baron Ren, and he will soon be promoted to Viscount!" Lady Shadiya said with a smile.

The people in the carriage became solemn.

Not long after, several Temple Guardians from the Goddess Church arrived and took custody of the person from the security officers, quickly leading them away.

Ren's gaze followed Kraya's figure as she entered the manor, and he was shocked to see an elderly man lying on the bed, his body hunched and frail.

"Oh, have you heard? Not many people in Flashgold Town survived," the old man said.

Ren understood this, as the task they had accepted was to protect the safety of the transportation route, and considering the stability of the overall situation, they had stationed themselves at the Haubs Count's mansion.

"Oh, the neighboring town... The Empire probably can't do much either. I heard the Haubs Count was also severely injured," the old man continued.

"Everyone, follow my orders just as you would follow Baron Ren's."

Ren had met the Haubs Count twice before, but both times it was in the study, and he was there as a subordinate.

"If you worship the Great Hunting God, you will be protected from the Apocalyptic Black Flame, which will destroy those who follow heretical faiths!"

"It will take about three days to break through. I'd like to entrust the safety of the mansion to you."

"Sir Royd, do these situations occur frequently?" Kraya asked, deep in thought.

"Yes, Lady Kraya. Ever since the attack, there have been many cases of people going insane or acting erratically due to drunkenness," Royd replied.

Half an hour later, in the study.

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At this moment, lying on the bed was an elderly man with a gaunt face, wrinkled skin, and almost completely white hair. He could be described as a centenarian!

After some inquiries, they learned just how powerful this young Lord Ren was.

As the carriage entered the city, Ren looked out the window at the familiar streets.

"Good, Lord Ren, Lady Olena asked me to inquire if you have any further needs. She and Lady Umaz will do their best to coordinate for you," the steward said.

This left many people puzzled.

Inside the Haubs Count's mansion.

He needed someone to bear the brunt of his anger.

On two previous occasions, Ren had met the Haubs Count.

Hmm? Upon hearing this news, Ren was slightly surprised.

"Hmm," Ren murmured, deep in thought.

If Vinonika were here, with her expertise in birds, she could handle the surveillance, allowing him to save a significant amount of energy and focus on the battle.

"That's right! What about the Count's side?" Royd suddenly realized something and stopped inviting them.

"Do not question Lord Ren's orders or carry them out half-heartedly!"

When he was at the Swordmaster Branch, he had heard that the situation in Rosby County was also dire, and this time, Evelyn had returned there to carry out a task.

"It's been a while, Sir Royd," Kraya said with a smile.

What? A Viscount at such a young age? The guards were shocked.

The pedestrians on the street were all in a hurry, most of them with furrowed brows or serious expressions.

This was not bad, Ren thought to himself.

Could he marry into the family?

At that moment, Bishop Sean approached and whispered to him, "Ren, let's go outside and leave them to it."

Of course, if the other party had sufficient strength, they might not even need Ren to seek them out; they would come knocking on his door!

Most of the family's knights and guards were gathered here.

Suddenly, the magical energy fluctuations on the letter flickered and then returned to normal.

"I've heard! And the town of Monem is also almost completely wiped out."

"Bishop Sean, it's been a while," Ren greeted.

"Yes, being a Baron isn't much, is it?"

Ren thought of the twin-tailed girl, Vinonika.

"The sixth or the seventh? Lady Kraya, with your peak knight status and solid foundation, you're ready to challenge for the rank of Great Knight."

In truth, our primary mission is to ensure the safety of the transportation route from Fishing Port Town to the County City. Due to the limited capacity of the airships, most of the supplies need to be transported by land.

Seeing a familiar face, Ren's mood improved slightly, and he managed to force a smile as he greeted the person.

Ren was in conversation with a young man he didn't recognize.

"By the way, Ren, once I break through, I believe your Arcadia Swordsmanship will improve even faster when we spar again."

"You said that if this so-called Great Hunting God can truly protect us..." Suddenly, the speaker's mouth was covered! "Are you allowed to speak so carelessly?" The person beside him looked anxious, glancing around.

In other words, if he were to make a move soon, he would likely face two experts from the two cults.

Not long after Stewart left, a steward arrived with a report: "Sir Ren, there's a messenger from the Swordsman Branch of Minster Province at the door, requesting an audience to deliver an important message."

"A Viscount of the Empire!"

"Yes, thank you! Come, Ren, I'll take you to announce this matter." Kraya stood up and said.

"Alright, thank you, Bishop Seer."

This was without considering the situation with the sorcerers.

"Don't cry; I'm not going to die yet! I'll live a few more years, and seeing you get married shouldn't be a problem."

Ren thought for a moment and said, "Please tell the two lords if they can help me coordinate and bring Veronica to me. She's my teammate, currently in Fishing Port Town."

"Of course."

"Don't consider the heirs of the Imperial Nobles; just find a young man you like and let him marry into the family."

"Inform Lords Yuma and Olena that I will continue with this task, and thank them for their concern."

Moreover, he had sparred with him a few times, and his personality and strength were both good. If he could be transferred together, at least the defense aspect would be much easier for him.

"What!" Royd was shocked by this revelation!

But this time was different.

"Yes!"

Maestus County City.

"Bishop Seer, there's a matter I need your help with." Ren suddenly remembered something.

"Well, currently, I'm alone."

If the insider causes some disruption, then the effectiveness of these formations is highly questionable.

Habus Manor's Training Grounds.

"Additionally, I'd like to clarify that Sir Ren is not a Baron; he's already a Viscount, but the official appointment hasn't been issued yet."

"I'm Stewart, and like you, I'm from the Swordsman Branch of Minster Province. I belong to the Hurricane Squad and am currently stationed at the Earl's Manor."

When Ren began assigning defensive tasks, many of the manor's stewards were surprised.

In the study.

"This is a confidential letter. Sir Ren, in five minutes, the letter will self-destruct, so please read it quickly." The sturdy man explained.

Ren looked at the people before him and nodded slightly.

"Yes, Sir Ren, is there anything else?"

He was an elderly man with neatly combed hair, a deep and thick aura, and slightly gray hair, but his spirit was still sharp.

"Father, I'm not considering marriage right now. Let's overcome this challenge first."

It's normal for breakthrough and stabilization to take five days. Ren has the system, so it can't be generalized.

Ren nodded and handed the golden insignia to the other party.

Ren nodded.

Additionally, there was another piece of news in the letter that caught his attention.

Soon, he memorized the content.

More importantly, the dire situation in Flash Gold Town and the unrest in Maestus made him feel oppressed and uncomfortable.

"I'll be careful; it shouldn't be a problem."

Hearing this, Kraya's face turned slightly red, and her mood gradually improved.

The library?

"Difficult! The cult is too powerful, but at the rate Ren is improving, perhaps in a few years, it might be possible."

Apparently, the situation in Maestus was still not under control and remained volatile.

"Father!"

Ren nodded; the other party had good intentions, so he couldn't say anything.

In terms of strength, they were not weak; they were all well-trained family knights and stewards.

Ren hadn't expected the 'Bloodburner' Raksool's strength to be as formidable as he had previously estimated, and the task level had now been adjusted to three and a half stars.

Hmm? Ren furrowed his brows and said, "Quickly, please!"

"Yes, Bishop Seer."

Ren nodded, took the letter, and quickly opened it, skimming through it.

"Of course, you are now my guardian knight. You have access to certain privileges, such as the family's private library." Kraya said as they walked.

It was as if he had blown up a balloon! "Knight Royd, it's been a while."

"Kraya, I knew you'd come back. I've prepared something for you—a specially tailored giant beast essence potion, kept in the family's secret room."

"Yes, Sir Ren, I've taken note of this matter, and I'll report it to the two lords immediately.

"Do you have any other requests?"

Of course, the Goddess Church had also arranged many formations in the Baron's Mansion, but generally speaking, without the manipulation of high-ranking church officials, most of these formations could only serve as an early warning.

That's the Serpent Cult's envoy, who will be arriving in Maestus in the next few days to make contact with the Black Flame Cult.

Kraya couldn't help but exclaim in surprise and quickly rushed over.

If it's used to defend against attacks by Senior Knights or below, it can be said that there's basically no issue.

The number of street vendors on both sides of the street was also much less than before, and unlike usual, there weren't children playing and frolicking on the streets.

Fortresses are generally easier to breach from the inside.

"That's amazing. We might be able to avenge Flashgold Town's grudge."

"Moreover, you're very likely to activate your family's bloodline talent, so this matter can't be delayed. You must take it as soon as possible!"

"Lord Roland, please show your insignia. The secret letter needs your insignia to open it."

However, launching an attack during this time frame was still a bit unexpected for him.

Suddenly, Roland saw a middle-aged man with a flushed face darting out from a distant alley, dancing and shouting loudly.

The defense personnel of Habus Earl's Mansion were still quite numerous.

"Miss Kraya, Sir Seril, shall we enter the estate to chat?"

Roland and Kraya sat facing each other.

Knight Roland saw Kraya and showed surprise, saying, "Miss Kraya, you're back!"

"Um, thanks." Roland paused, speaking in surprise.

Panic continued to spread.

"Do you really think we trust him because of Lord Roland's title?"

However, if they encountered a Senior Knight or multiple Great Knights, the entire defensive force would be insufficient.

"If you're alone, I advise you to give up this task early and let another team with complete personnel take over."

But these few people were, after all, new Swordsmen, and it would be relatively easier to mobilize them.

Because they found that the colleagues who went to welcome Miss Kraya seemed to trust this young Baron Roland very much.

Seeing that Roland didn't seem to heed his advice, Stewart couldn't help but shake his head and left.

"Good!"

Giving up was out of the question! Don't forget, he had also accepted two other Golden Rank missions, both more challenging than protecting Habus Earl.

At the moment, he could only rely on the Blood Feather Gryphon and the Spirit Tindi War Dog to ensure the safety and security of the main building of the villa.

As for Evelyn, he didn't consider her.

"You have the highest concentration of the family's bloodline. Once you reach the rank of Great Knight, your strength will see a significant boost."

Even though he was in the carriage at the moment, he could still hear the discussions of many citizens on the street watching this scene: "Is this the several one today?"

Even if it's just for vigilance and defense, Habus Earl's Mansion, which had experienced several attacks, didn't have personnel strong enough to achieve this.

"Are you the Roland who took on the mission to protect Habus Earl? I've heard of you. You have a nickname, 'Maestus Siege Hammer'!" The young man in the robe smiled and said.

Roland took out the golden conch insignia from his chest and handed it to Bishop Sean.

The sharp-eared Head Maid, Shadiya, naturally also heard the guards' discussion and interjected:

"Of course, there's no problem. I just need to return to the temple to cast the blessing. How about this, later on, I'll send someone to deliver it to you."

Roland knew that although this person was quickly subdued, the fear among the citizens didn't dissipate as quickly.

After Kraya's announcement, she headed towards the secret room.

"By the way, Roland, are you here alone? Where are the other members of your team?" Stewart asked with a puzzled expression as he was about to leave.

The impact of his words was deeper than he had imagined.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the city of Maestus County.

The previous Roland was only about 5'11", half a head shorter than him, but now, the young man before him had grown so tall that he had to look up. His stature was impressive, and he was at least 6'7".

The surrounding guards began whispering to each other:

"Okay, is Lord Perez not here?"

Kraya's heart felt a bit complicated.

The young man's expression was serious, and upon seeing Roland, he managed a faint smile and nodded.

"Father, I must return!" Kraya, who was usually calm and composed, had tears welling up in her eyes at this moment.

Kraya glanced at Roland and said, "Knight Roland, no need. We plan to head to the county city immediately."

The young man took the insignia and lightly drew it across the letter, which emitted a faint sorcery glow.

However, the issue was that Roland had only used half a year to reach his current level of strength.

Kraya's luxurious carriage was spacious, and when Knight Roland entered, it was just right for four people, and it didn't feel crowded.

One of the main reasons Roland valued these people was that they were all veterans of the Imperial Army, known for their strict discipline.

Hearing Ren's response, Stewart couldn't help but glance at Ren in surprise and said, "Then this task will be extremely challenging. The Black Flame Cult has increased their activities in Maestus County, and there are several experts."

However, Ren quickly thought of something and nodded, saying, "Rest assured, Miss Kreatya. I'll take care of the defense of the manor, and you can focus on breaking through."

"As you command, Baron," the physicians quickly stepped out of the room.

Although the other party was at a distance from the convoy, Ren's keen hearing still allowed him to clearly hear what they were shouting.

Listening to her father's earnest admonishment, Kreatya fought back her tears and nodded firmly.

"It seems our Flashgold Town has produced a prominent figure!"

This was the first time Ren had witnessed such a state between Kreatya and her father, and he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

"Ren, regarding your appointment ceremony, the current situation is not suitable for a large banquet. So, I think we can discuss it again after some time, is that okay?"

He also knew that this matter might be challenging, as the other party originally belonged to the military, and with the current turmoil in the empire, they might have specific tasks.

"This is Baron Ren, who will now be in charge of the security and defense of the entire Haubs Manor."

Currently, he faced a thorny issue: if he needed to defend the entire Haubs Manor, he had too few people at his disposal.

"Ren, the family has prepared a customized beast essence for me. I want to use it in the family's secret room immediately."

"The 'Exorcism Spell' from the Crest of the Sea Shell has already been used. I may need your help to re-empower it later."

"This way, it'll be more secure for you, for us, and for the entire manor."

The two Peak Knights from Viscount Sir Seril faced the cult experts, but they were no match for them.

For some reason, when the topics of 'marriage' and 'entering the family' came up, Kreatya's mind couldn't help but picture Ren's image during battle.

The instigator, the Black Flame Cult, was naturally the best choice!

"Peak Knights are not enough to handle the current situation in Maestus County. If you become a Great Knight, I'll be much more at ease."

Moreover, he had to consider the possibility of enemy infiltrators within the manor.

Now that he had arrived, it was only natural for the other party to step aside.

"Then I'll accompany you."

"Hey, why are you all so obedient to this young Baron Ren?"

"Indeed! It's been a while, Ren. I feel your aura has become more robust, indicating an increase in your strength." Bishop Sylar looked at Ren with surprise, examining him up and down.

Soon, the man was pinned down by the security officers.

"By the way, Kreatya, I've decided to let you succeed me as the head of the Haubs family and the first-in-line heir."

Soon, Ren met a messenger from the Swordsmanship Branch in the sitting room, a robust male wearing leather armor.

"Perez has been reassigned to reinforce the county town's defense."

Roland's eyes widened in surprise when he saw the tall silver-armored knight standing next to Kreatya, and exclaimed, "You... you're Ren, the Baron!"

"The second matter is to ask Lady Olenya to help me inquire about Angus, Viery, and the other three, whether they are willing to come to Maestus County to carry out the task."

As Ren entered the room, he smelled the strong scent of potions. Inside, there were several people in white robes working diligently, and Bishop Sylar was also present.

"How come this Viscount is so obedient?"

"Currently, the Black Flame Cult is heavily disrupting the transportation lines. Now that you're here, I can return to my own squad."

"You guys can leave too," Baron Stewart said, looking at the physicians.

"Kreatya, didn't I tell you not to come back? You never listen to my words," said the familiar voice. Baron Habus' originally dim eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately showed a happy and relieved smile.

Outside the room, on the corridor.

For the first time, Ren followed Kreatya to the county governor's bedroom.

"Don't you know how strong this Baron Ren is? Didn't you see that Viscount Sir Seril is also following Baron Ren's orders?"

"Indeed, it's like Baron Ren has become a different person. Before, Ren was slightly smaller than me, but now he's actually taller. Look over there," said the person next to him, pointing.

The entire county town's atmosphere seemed oppressive.

"Nothing." - On the road near the border of Nom Province and Minster Province.

A luxurious carriage was galloping on the road, with two people in black cloaks sitting facing each other.

Their black cloaks had snake emblems sewn on the collar and cuffs, and the most striking feature was their facial markings. One person had a metal ring with a snake emblem embedded in their mouth, looking quite eerie. The other person had an "8"-shaped snake emblem drawn on their forehead.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end