Lord: Stripped of My Inheritance from the Start

Chapter 448 - 421: The Crown Prince Arrives

After the fierce battle, powerful Fighting Qi and destructive Magic had left a devastated battlefield in the center of Tars Town.

Ronin looked around in a daze. He had just killed so many Witch Soul Knights, yet now, only he and Sophia remained. There were no bodies on the ground, making it seem as if the two of them had been fighting each other.

"How are you? Exhausted?" Sophia asked.

Ronin nodded and stood up. "I’m exhausted, but this battle was a huge benefit to my growth. It also made me realize that a Silver Moon Level Knight’s strength is still lacking against a vast number of Witch Soul Knights."

"You always need your own subordinates."

Sophia said, "Relying on one person’s strength might be enough to achieve a critical objective, but wiping out all the evil forces? That would work you to death."

Ronin couldn’t agree more.

"Let’s go. We have to leave this place."

The two of them got back on the Magic Flying Carpet and headed toward Shore City.

As they were leaving, Ronin noticed many survivors in Tars Town who had taken the opportunity to escape.

Without the Witch Soul Knights and soldiers guarding them, they finally had a chance to escape their torment.

Ronin channeled his Fighting Qi and shouted, "Moonlight Valley has fallen and become a domain of Demons! If you want to live, head northeast! Shore City in Wushan Territory will accept all who have suffered!"

His voice boomed like thunder, ringing as clear as a great bell through every corner of Tars Town.

The fleeing people froze in place. It was only after a few dozen seconds that some of them reacted and began to flee in the direction of Shore City.

Sophia gave Ronin a long look, gaining a deeper understanding of his kindness.

"You’re actually willing to take them in? Aren’t you afraid there might be spies from Moonlight Valley among them?"

Ronin smiled. "They’re mostly innocent people who have suffered. Helping them survive is no great effort for me. As for spies..."

He thought for a moment before adding, "I’ll settle them in Giant Stone City, far away from Shore City. Even if there are spies, they won’t be able to send out any information."

Sophia nodded slightly. "That’s a good arrangement. I’ll also help you screen these people to make sure no one slips through the cracks."

On their way back, they passed the temporary camp Ridder had set up on the border. Ronin informed Petro and Harmon, who were in charge of camp affairs, to let the refugees from Tars Town pass. He also had a few soldiers escort the refugees to Shore City.

Furthermore, after returning to Shore City, Ronin wrote a letter to Sailin, the Civil Servant in Giant Stone City, telling him to prepare for the arrival of these refugees.

...

「Three days later.」

Several Griffins appeared in the sky above Tars Town, a golden one among them particularly eye-catching.

Gold is the mark of a king among Griffins, signifying that this one had reached the level of a Sixth-level Magical Beast.

The master of the golden Griffin was none other than Crown Prince Garrett, who had come from Golden Feather City.

Accompanying him were his five Knights, as well as Broel, the Count of Moonlight Valley Jesus, and two of his Knights.

Ten Griffins circled above the giant crater.

"Crown Prince, look! This is what’s left of my town after the attack!"

Jesus said with a grim face, "The culprit not only destroyed my town but also slaughtered tens of thousands of its residents! For such a monstrously cruel criminal, I hope the Royal Family will step forward to uphold the authority of the Kingdom’s laws and the dignity of the nobility!"

Garrett’s brow furrowed. He urged his Griffin to fly down and land on the edge of the crater.

He carefully examined the crater. The ground within a fifteen-meter radius from the center of the explosion was completely scorched black. This must have been caused by Fire Attribute Magic.

Garrett concluded, "If I’m not mistaken, this crater was likely caused by the Eighth-level Fire Magic, ’Flame God’s Roar’."

The others landed as well.

Broel was slightly dazed. "There are only two known Fire Element Magic Masters," he said. "But one is far away in the Gistana Duchy, and the other has lived in Amethyst County for years..."

"Obviously, there’s another Fire Element Magic Master."

Jesus sneered. "The closest place to Tars Town is Shore City in Wushan Territory. As far as I know, Sophia, the one who accused me in Oduin Hall, has come here. There’s no need to guess—this is definitely her handiwork!"

He added in a low, furious voice, "Wushan Territory is invading another noble’s domain!"

Broel frowned. "But Sophia used Water Magic at the time."

"Multi-Attribute Mages are quite common, my dear Vice Leader!"

"Enough. There’s no need to argue on the culprit’s behalf here!"

Garrett leaped onto his Griffin’s back. "Why don’t we just go to Shore City and interrogate them?"

Jesus immediately followed. "Exactly! Someone who commits such an invasion and massacre should be executed!"

Broel watched them fly off, then, with a sense of helplessness, jumped onto his own Griffin and followed.

When he came, Garrett hadn’t told him the purpose of this trip, but now, he seemed to be starting to understand.

This was probably a ploy to join forces with Moonlight Valley and suppress Wushan Territory.

After all, Wushan Territory had quite a few top-tier fighters now. It would be for the best if they could strip this Sophia away from them.

’Faced with pressure from the Royal Family, Wushan Territory, as a Vassal, seems to have no choice but to agree, right?’

’If Wushan Territory gets labeled as a traitor, their situation will be dire.’

’But...’

Broel looked down from high in the sky. A fierce battle had indeed taken place in Tars Town, and its central area had been razed to the ground.

But for such a battle, there were no bodies to be seen.

That was extremely strange.

Broel didn’t believe Jesus could have cleaned up the battlefield so quickly and thoroughly.

’So, Jesus really is a member of the Witch Soul Race, and the people of Tars Town were too.’

He had experienced the war with Black Python City and knew that these Witch Soul Knights and soldiers didn’t leave bodies behind when they died.

’The Crown Prince is collaborating with Demons!’

Broel’s heart grew heavy. Logic told him that doing this could easily backfire and lead to an irreversible situation.

But as a Knight loyal to the Oduin Clan, Broel had no way to change the situation.

’It seems the peaceful state of the Kingdom is about to be shattered.’

Broel urged the Griffin beneath him to speed up and catch up with the group. ’I wonder what choice Ronin will make in a little while,’ he thought.

Soon, the ten Griffins flew across the border between Moonlight Valley and Wushan Territory.

"Look! They’ve already deployed troops at the border! This is clearly in preparation for an attack on Moonlight Valley!"

Jesus said, "To openly invade another noble’s domain—and a domain that belongs to the Oduin name, no less—is betrayal! Garrett, this is betrayal!"

Garrett’s eyes narrowed.

He knew why Wushan Territory had made such arrangements, but since they had chosen to protect Jesus, there was no reason to back down now.

’Could Wushan Territory really have the guts to openly challenge the Royal Family’s authority and start a war?’

’On what grounds?’

’Just because of two Silver Moon Knights and one Magic Master?’

On the ground, the Knights in charge of the camp spotted the Griffins flying past.

"Look, Griffins! And a golden one!"

"They’re Griffins from Moonlight Valley!"

"Quick, go report it!"

A Horn sounded in the camp, and two warhorses galloped out. The riders were the two Meteor Knights, Petro and Harmon, who had been transferred to the camp.

"Everyone else, on alert!"

The two shouted orders as they galloped toward Shore City.

They were aware of what Ronin and Sophia had done a few days ago. Now, ten Griffins had arrived from Moonlight Valley.

With such a large formation, they were extremely worried for Sophia’s safety.