Chapter 490 - 463: Tempting Reinforcements
Chapter 490: Chapter 463: Tempting Reinforcements
After Ridder left, Ronin also concluded his inspection.
The Knight Order he had stationed here had 2,700 official members, with nearly 3,000 support personnel.
During times of peace, these support personnel and soldiers could put down their weapons and implement his farming garrison system, cultivating grain on this land.
’I don’t even know why I enjoy farming so much. Perhaps it’s a profound love for the land, buried deep in my soul.’
There was nothing wrong with that.
Ronin used the Wind Shadow Skill to ascend into the sky above Watchtower Castle, observing the enemy’s situation.
His Spiritual Power radiated outward, covering a radius of over thirteen li. It was safe to say the entirety of Watchtower Castle fell within its range.
’There are quite a few people in Watchtower Castle.’
Through his Spiritual Power, Ronin roughly estimated the enemy’s numbers to be around six thousand, not much different from his own forces.
To be honest, if a real war were to break out, none of the people below could withstand it if he were to cast a Ninth Level Magic like Destructive Storm or Fire Rain Star Pendant.
Even if there were survivors, the Knight Order stationed at West Wind Hill could simply move in to clean up, quickly bringing the entire camp under control.
Ronin could already feel the deterrent power wielded by an absolute expert. His opponents would either have to produce a rival of his own caliber or dispatch a sufficient number of Professional Knights and Mages. And even then, they would need to be outfitted with a vast amount of Extraordinary Equipment just to have a fighting chance.
But clearly, Watchtower Castle had neither.
’Right now, I’m just a Ninth Level Transcendent. Once I become Legendary and master Extreme Elemental Power, even their human-wave tactics and stockpiles of Extraordinary Equipment will be useless against me.’
Once Ronin became Legendary, he might even be able to emulate the first Emperor Orland, using martial force to make all the nobles bow their heads. He could become their sole sovereign and establish an Empire.
Currently, Ronin’s progress as a Knight was maxed out, while his progress as a Mage had reached (5368/30000). At this rate, he would break through to the Legendary rank in four years at most.
’If his kingdom wasn’t established by then, could he emulate Emperor Orland? Could he just use military force to compel the nobles into submission and have himself crowned king?’
In comparison, Ronin still preferred conquest by military might. Such confrontations would eliminate a large number of nobles from the old order, which would in turn lower the difficulty of establishing his new one.
If they all surrendered preemptively because of his power, dealing with them would be far more difficult than simply slaughtering them on the battlefield.
Of course, all of that would have to wait until the Holy Storm Organization was completely eradicated.
"Hm?"
Ronin sensed a sizable army thirteen li away, marching toward Watchtower Castle.
’Logistics? Or reinforcements?’
He activated his Wind’s Wings and flew closer, the area covered by his Spiritual Power extending along with his movement.
’This force has at least six thousand men. That’s equivalent to two standard Knight Orders, including their support personnel.’
Ronin was certain these troops were reinforcements for Watchtower Castle.
’It seems the enemy knows West Wind Hill has been entrusted to my defense, so they’re sending more troops. But do they really think two Knight Orders are enough to contend with the Proud Sun Knights?’
Puzzled, Ronin lowered his altitude. He used a Curved Light and Shadow Spell Scroll and observed the approaching force carefully.
He wouldn’t have known had he not looked, but what he saw was a pleasant surprise.
’That group in robes must be Mages. Tsk, tsk, twelve Mages... that’s quite an investment.’
’Oh, and one, two, three... a full seven Magic Energy Cannons.’
’And a whole company of Magic-Enchanted Archers!’
Ronin took out a detection device made by Sophia from his Space Ring. He found no unusual fluctuations, which meant there was no Alien Energy, like Witch Soul Power, in the vicinity.
So, this group was safe.
’If I could get this entire group to surrender and join my ranks, it would be a massive help.’
His gaze shifted to the twelve-person Mage Squad.
’You can never have too many Mages.’
As such, the thought of simply using Magic to blast them all to kingdom come now seemed like a terrible waste.
’I’ll wait for Ridder to get back and we’ll discuss it. We need to figure out how to take this group down with minimal losses.’
Meanwhile, Ridder and Denny, each riding a Griffin, soon arrived in the Red Pine Castle region.
Looking down from the sky, the landscape was a fiery blaze of red maples.
Such a view held a special appeal for Ridder, with his short red hair and Fire Attribute. If he could, he would have loved to wander through the forest land below.
Red Pine Castle was situated in the center of the forest land. It covered a vast area and was relatively luxurious; its construction must have required considerable effort.
"We’re here!"
Denny led Ridder to a landing on the Griffin Platform. "Let’s go, Ridder. I’ll go make my report first. You can wait in the main hall for a little while."
"No problem," Ridder replied politely.
The two entered the fortress’s main hall. While Denny went to make his report, Ridder sat alone on a long bench, waiting quietly.
’There’s no sense of tension here, as if a great battle is about to begin. I predict the Crown Prince didn’t summon me for anything related to that.’
’Perhaps he just wanted to meet?’
「In the back courtyard, inside Garrett’s study.」
Denny had expected the Crown Prince to be displeased. Sure enough, the moment he finished reporting on Ronin, Garrett’s expression darkened, and he looked on the verge of erupting in anger.
"Are you telling me that Ronin came all this way but won’t come to see me?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Denny could only force himself to nod. He truly didn’t want to offend Ronin, but he wanted to displease the man before him even less.
"Marquis Ronin must have some urgent business, which is why he couldn’t find the time to come."
Garrett sneered. "What urgent business could he possibly have in that dump?"
"That’s enough. You are dismissed," he said with a wave of his hand.
Denny placed a hand over his chest in a salute and turned to leave, but he stopped after just two steps. "And what of Ridder?"
Garrett glanced up at Denny coolly. "You need not concern yourself with that."
"As you wish."
As he watched Denny depart, Garrett clenched his fists.
’I am the Crown Prince, the commander-in-chief of the front lines, and Ronin’s own brother-in-law. By any measure, he should have come to pay his respects.’
’But now, he sends some no-name Commander in his stead, choosing to hide away in that dump West Wind Hill rather than experience the refined environment of Red Pine Castle. This is a clear sign of disrespect.’
He hadn’t always been one to hate and resent a person so intensely. The outside world had merely seen him as arrogant and conceited.
But Ronin’s appearance had unleashed Garrett’s inner pettiness, extremism, and even his foolishness, all of which were growing worse by the day.
Ridder waited and waited in the main hall.
He waited from morning until noon, through the afternoon, and finally until the sun began to set, but he never once saw Garrett.
’Is he trying to put me in my place?’
Ridder had a very steady temperament and did not fly into a rage.
However, being left to hang for the better part of a day was the limit of his patience.
He stood, walked out of the hall, and spoke to a nearby guard. "If His Highness Garrett asks, tell him that matters at West Wind Hill require my attention. If he has any orders, he can write them in a letter and have it delivered to me."
’His loyalty was to Ronin. Even though Garrett was the commander-in-chief, his orders carried less weight here.’
The fact that Ridder had waited this long was already a great show of respect.
Before the guard could even respond, Ridder took a few steps and leaped into the air, heading for the Griffin Platform.
However, just as Ridder was about to mount his Griffin and depart, Garrett’s figure landed on the platform.
"What’s this, Ridder? Did I give you permission to leave?"
Behind him stood three tall Knights clad in Heavy Armor, all of whom looked quite powerful.
Ridder let go of his Griffin’s reins, handing them to a nearby guard.
"Your Highness, I have been waiting here for the better part of a day, only to be ignored. As the commander of West Wind Hill, I have a duty to my troops and our defensive line. I do not have the right to waste my time here."
A flash of anger crossed Garrett’s eyes. As the old saying goes, like master, like servant.
Ronin was disrespectful to him, and so was this Ridder.
’And besides, on what grounds does a commander with no status act so calm and collected in my main stronghold?’
"I summoned you here. That was a military order."
Garrett narrowed his eyes. "To leave without my permission is to disobey a direct military order! And here, those who disobey military orders face imprisonment and fines for minor infractions, or the gallows for serious ones! Heh, have you considered the consequences?"
Hearing this, the three Knights behind him took on a jeering expression. They knew the Crown Prince was about to make an example of someone.
"And how, I wonder, does Your Highness plan to punish me?"
Ridder, for his part, was neither provoked nor afraid. He glanced at the three men behind Garrett.
"Are you planning to join forces with the three men behind you and kill me right here?"
"To disobey a military order and still act so relaxed and unconcerned... is this the caliber of Ronin’s commanders?"
Garrett sneered. "Today, I will teach you the consequences of defying a military order!"
Before the words had even left his mouth, he gave a sharp wave of his hand. The three heavily armored Knights behind him immediately stepped forward, surrounding Ridder completely.
The atmosphere instantly grew taut with tension.