Chapter 243 - 232: Passing the Trouble to Others
Chapter 243: Chapter 232: Passing the Trouble to Others
A massive, snow-white figure tore through the blizzard, descending from the sky like a meteor. Wreathed in turbulent air, its heavy body slammed down just a few meters in front of Jon’s convoy!
Packed snow and frozen earth erupted under four giant claws sheathed in thick white fur. The dull thud of the impact sent a tremor through the ground!
It was none other than the manticore, Big Mimi, now even more massive after its Advancement!
The oppressive presence of an apex predator that accompanied its descent instantly sent the Ordinary packhorses pulling the carts and the ten Bronze Scale Horses behind them into a complete panic!
"HIIIIIGH—!"
"WHIIIINE—!"
Terrified neighs erupted almost simultaneously. All the horses reared up on their hind legs, twisting frantically as they tried to break free from their reins. The cart shafts groaned under the strain, making the carriages sway violently. The scene was one of total chaos.
The faces of the siblings, Moon and Sati, went deathly pale. Their bodies froze, and their palms, slick with cold sweat, clutched the reins.
As for the guards in formation, although many had seen Big Mimi before, they couldn’t suppress their terrified trembling when faced with its oppressive might at such close range. Some even stumbled and fell to the ground.
Seeing this, Jon frowned slightly and shot an irritated glare at the source of the chaos.
"What are you showing off for? Itching for another lesson, are you?!"
"Rrrwhine..."
The manticore, so proud and imperious just a moment ago, went rigid upon hearing its master’s voice, instantly recalling the terror of its past "lessons."
And so, it cautiously folded its wings and crouched low to the ground, emitting an appeasing rumble from its throat.
And just as Big Mimi retracted its imposing aura and the chaos began to subside—
A silver figure, as ethereal as moonlight, leapt gracefully from its broad back!
Pushing off its spine with the tips of her toes, Rosalind shot through the flurry of snow like an arrow loosed from a bow, flying straight toward Jon, who was seated on his horse.
Her expression was as cool and distant as ever, but her silver eyes shone like starlight.
As Jon watched her recklessly rushing figure, the stern expression he wore couldn’t help but soften, and a faint smile touched his lips.
He opened his arms to receive the approaching figure.
The next moment, she crashed into his arms, bringing with her a cool, sweet scent mixed with the chill of the blizzard. Her arms, slender yet surprisingly strong, wrapped around his waist like the most tenacious of vines.
Jon braced himself, easily absorbing the impact of her embrace. His own powerful arms wrapped around her slightly trembling form.
He could feel her rapid heartbeat and the chill of her cheek pressed tightly against his chest.
He rested his chin gently on her silver hair, which smelled of the blizzard, and whispered.
"I’m back."
"Mm... Master, welcome back."
In the convoy, Dolores watched the scene, blinking. She unconsciously wiped her hands on her clothes, her thoughts a mystery.
...
As expected, Jon’s return caused quite a stir.
It wasn’t just because of the grand welcome from the eye-catching "Beauty and the Beast" duo—the enormous Big Mimi and the stunningly beautiful Rosalind. It was also because of the "spies" he’d brought back with him.
Entertainment was already scarce in the winter. Coupled with the lingering aftermath of the recent mob riots and days of nonstop fighting, the oppressed and anxious residents finally had an outlet for their pent-up emotions.
What? The kind Lord Jon captured a group of spies?
What? The spies had been stripped bare and were being paraded through the streets?
When had the simple inhabitants of the Yino Continent ever seen such a spectacle?
Word spread like wildfire. Eager for a spectacle, everyone surged into the streets to see the "white sheep."
Paris knew something was wrong the moment he heard the news and rushed out to greet them. But by the time he arrived, he realized he was a step too late.
On Birch Town’s main road, Jon was brazenly parading about on the back of his ever-larger white manticore, still holding his loyal follower in his arms.
Behind him, a purple-haired girl bounced excitedly on the roof of a carriage, waving to the crowds on both sides of the street.
And further back—
When Paris finally saw the ten men on horseback—stripped of their armor, bound like cocoons, their heads bowed in resignation—he froze as if struck. If Knight Locke, who had accompanied him, hadn’t quietly prompted him, there’s no telling how long he would have remained standing there in a daze.
But realizing the situation was now irreversible, Paris showed no hint of his true feelings. He simply spurred his horse forward, adopting the perfect posture of a Lord welcoming a returning hero.
"Welcome back, Mr. Jon."
He bowed from his horse, his posture impeccable.
"Allow me to thank you for your righteous efforts. If not for your help, the route through the Bolaya River Valley would not have been cleared so quickly, nor would we have received aid from the outside so soon. Your service will be forever remembered."
Jon sat atop Big Mimi, looking down on Paris with little change in his expression.
"Viscount Paris, you’re too kind. I merely lent a hand where I could. The credit for breaking the front line in the valley belongs to all the brave Warriors who fought so hard. They are the ones most worthy of being remembered."
At this, he jerked his head backward, gesturing.
"Oh, by the way, I ran into these men on my way back. Though they were dressed like the Envoys of some nobleman, they were engaged in highway robbery."
"If I didn’t have at least some skill to my name, I’m afraid I would have fallen victim to them."
Paris’s gaze swept over the ten magnificent Bronze Scale Horses and the pathetic, shivering "white sheep" on their backs. A storm of emotions churned within him, but he couldn’t let any of it show.
Of course, he recognized whose Knights these were—they were none other than the reinforcements the Second Prince, Harvey Benest, had promised to send!
But he also knew Jon’s claim of "highway robbery" was likely no fabrication. In all likelihood, these idiots, accustomed to throwing their weight around, had seen Jon disguised as a Merchant and tried to extort him for some easy coin, only to find they had picked on the wrong person.
If he mishandled this, he, the Lord of Birch Town, would be caught between a rock and a hard place!
The Viscount looked at Jon’s faint, mocking smile. He knew the man had likely engineered this situation deliberately—it was both a way to cause him trouble and a clear statement of his own stance.
’So, the righteous... We can never truly walk the same path...’
He sighed internally, but the smile on his face didn’t waver. In fact, it grew even more earnest as he declared righteously.
"Rest assured. Leave these men to me. I will be sure to give you a satisfactory answer!"
Jon didn’t agree immediately. Instead, he stared at Paris’s face, meeting his gaze in silence.
Just as the onlookers were beginning to sense that something was amiss in the prolonged confrontation, Jon finally broke into a smile and nodded lightly.
"In that case, I leave them to you."
"I will be at Grent Manor, awaiting your answer."