Lord: Stripped of My Inheritance from the Start

Chapter 492: Chapter 465: Commotion

The fierce battle alerted everyone in Red Pine Castle. All the Knight Orders stationed nearby rushed to the Griffin Platform, forming a tight perimeter several layers deep, leaving no way through.

At Garrett’s shout, the Knights in the inner rings drew their Longswords, their bodies gleaming with Fighting Qi. Most of them were mid to Advanced Level Knights, and there were even Silver Level and Golden Level Knights among them.

A combined attack from that many people would be enough to give Ridder a world of trouble, even if he didn’t fight back.

Just as Garrett was about to lead the men to attack, a voice as deep and sudden as a clap of thunder resounded through Red Pine Castle.

"Everyone, stop this at once!"

The voice lingered, echoing for a long time. The Knights who were about to attack were all stunned into submission, extinguishing the Fighting Qi on their Longswords.

Just then, a towering figure soared through the air and landed with a heavy THUD between Ridder and Garrett’s group. His burly figure was so imposing that the mere sight of him inspired awe and fear.

’How can a person grow to be so tall?’

The newcomer surveyed the scene, his fierce gaze sweeping past Ridder before landing on Garrett, Yuge, and the others.

"Crown Prince, can you tell me what’s going on here?"

The anger on Garrett’s face had not subsided. He stood leaning on his sword. "Gushan, tell me. If a man disobeys a direct military order, refuses punishment, and then attacks me, how should he be dealt with?"

Gushan Sorro, once the Commander-in-Chief of Red Pine Castle, now its Deputy Commander.

He commanded immense prestige among the border troops. His power had long since reached the Silver Moon Level, and in recognition of his valor and distinguished service, His Majesty the King had bestowed upon him the title of "Barbarian King Knight."

Gushan did not directly respond to Garrett’s words, but instead turned to look at Ridder. "Who are you?"

Seeing that the situation seemed to be easing, Ridder decided against leaving immediately.

To him, it would be best to resolve this dispute here and now, saving Ronin the trouble later.

"Kingdom Guardian Knight, follower of the Ronning Marquis, Defense Commander of West Wind Hill, Ridder Main!"

"Oh..."

Gushan nodded in understanding. He had never heard of Ridder’s name, but Ronin’s name had been so renowned lately, it was impossible not to know it.

He turned back to look at Garrett and asked, "Your Highness, what military order did he actually disobey?"

"You don’t need to know that!"

Garrett refused to answer. "Gushan, I am ordering you now: seize this rebel and hold him for punishment!"

Gushan sized up the four of them: Garrett, Yuge, Laoshan, and Kubi. Two Silver Moon Level Knights and two Meteor Level Knights had ganged up on Ridder, yet they were the ones who were injured, while Ridder himself stood there looking completely unscathed.

This was proof enough of Ridder’s immense power. ’Could he be another Proud Sun Knight?’ Gushan wondered privately.

"Your Highness, since Ridder is a Knight under the Ronning Marquis, even if he did defy a military order, we must consult with his lord before carrying out any punishment."

Gushan added, "This protocol must be followed, even by the Commander-in-Chief."

’Beating or arresting some insignificant Knight or soldier would be one thing,’ Gushan thought, ’but this is a person of consequence. What is Garrett thinking?’

Garrett did not yield to this counsel. "And what if I insist on arresting him today and seeing him punished?"

Gushan’s voice was grave. "Do you wish for our own soldiers and Knights to die in an internal conflict before the war has even begun?"

The atmosphere tensed instantly, as if even the dust motes in the air had frozen solid.

A sinister glint flashed in Garrett’s eyes. Gushan was not one to blindly obey his every command.

’If not for the restraints imposed by this Deputy Commander,’ Garrett fumed internally, ’I would have already chosen the right moment to strike, even without His Majesty the King’s order to commence hostilities.’

Now, Gushan had dared to openly defy him in front of so many Knights. He was furious.

"Deputy Commander Gushan, do not forget your station!"

Garrett deliberately lowered his voice, making it low and menacing. "As Deputy Commander, you are to obey my orders without question!"

"My apologies, Your Highness. I respect your station, but my loyalty is first and foremost to the peace and justice of the Kingdom. Until this matter is properly investigated, any rash action could become the spark that ignites an internal war."

Gushan’s voice was firm and unyielding. He was well aware of His Majesty the King’s purpose for stationing him here and the responsibilities he had been given.

"Permit me to detain Ridder for the time being and send for the Ronning Marquis immediately, so that we may discuss this matter jointly."

The surrounding Knights exchanged uncertain glances. Many were Garrett’s own men, but a good number had also served under Gushan in the past.

This clash between their superiors left them unwilling to make any rash moves.

"Ridder, do you have any objections?"

Ridder’s brow furrowed. Although there was a favorable turn of events, Ronin had still been dragged into it—the very thing he had hoped to avoid.

He could still force his way out of this situation, but doing so would only make it look as though he really had disobeyed a military order.

"Have Denny Viscount make another trip to West Wind Hill, assuming the Marquis is still there."

Gushan nodded slightly, then looked at Garrett. "So, what does Your Highness think?"

Garrett knew it was impossible to press the attack. That being the case, he could only let out a cold laugh. "Fine, have it your way. I’m eager to see just how Ronin plans to cover for his subordinate!"

With that, Garrett strode away, taking Yuge and the other two with him.

Gushan gave Denny a look. "I’ll have to trouble you to make another trip."

Denny shrugged. "It can’t be helped."

He vaulted onto a Griffin and sped towards West Wind Hill.

Denny never imagined that fetching Ridder this morning would end up like this.

He knew the Crown Prince’s temperament. After losing so much face today, His Highness’s resentment toward the Ronning Marquis was bound to deepen.

’How is this all going to end?’

’I hope we don’t end up just as Gushan feared—falling into disarray before we even attack the Tricia Kingdom.’

Gushan approached Ridder with a steady gait. His tone was half-statement, half-question. "A Proud Sun Knight?"

Ridder didn’t answer directly. Instead, he smiled. "Thank you for intervening. Otherwise, I have no idea how that farce would have ended."

Seeing that Ridder didn’t want to answer, Gushan didn’t press the matter.

"Come, let’s go have a seat. We’ll wait for Ronin to arrive and see how this matter gets resolved."

He added with a smile, "If you want to wrap this up quickly, I suggest you admit some fault later on. I’ll put in a good word for you, and the whole thing will blow over."

Gushan glanced at Ridder and chuckled. "Sometimes, strength alone can’t solve your troubles."

Ridder nodded slightly. "Thank you for the advice. I will consider it."

Meanwhile, Ronin was at West Wind Hill, taking stock of the clay Oduro and his men had excavated.

There were over a dozen baskets of clay, all of excellent quality. ’Jim will definitely be able to make some fine pottery with this,’ he thought.

"Alright, this should be enough."

Ronin clapped the dust from his hands. "Oduro, go and survey how much of this clay we have at West Wind Hill. I’ll need it later."

"Yes, my lord!"

Oduro bowed. "The kitchen has prepared your dinner, my lord. It is time to eat."

Ronin nodded. He glanced at the darkening sky, a little puzzled. ’What on earth did Garrett want? Why has Ridder been gone for so long?’

He wasn’t particularly worried about Ridder’s safety. After all, the man was a Proud Sun Knight. Even if he couldn’t win a fight, he could certainly escape.

Just then, a Griffin landed.

’Denny?’

Ronin frowned slightly. ’Has something happened?’

"Marquis, Deputy Commander Gushan requests your presence."

Denny dismounted the Griffin and said bluntly, "There’s a problem with Ridder."

’Hm?’

Ronin’s heart skipped a beat. ’Don’t tell me Garrett’s stirring up trouble again.’

"What happened?"

With a helpless look, Denny recounted the events at Red Pine Castle.

The more Ronin listened, the darker his expression grew.

When they first met, he had thought Garrett was merely proud and arrogant, which was understandable. After all, the man had been treated like royalty his whole life, hailed as the Kingdom’s youngest prodigy.

But with each new incident, he had proven himself to be increasingly impatient and less and less befitting of a Crown Prince.

’And now he’s decided to make an example out of Ridder.’

’If Macken had been here today instead of Ridder, he would have surely suffered for no good reason.’

A thought crossed Ronin’s mind, and a furious roar echoed from a nearby mountaintop.

Immediately after, the colossal form of Carlos appeared in the sky above the West Wind Hill encampment.

Denny’s face went pale at the sight.

The Giant Dragon—the very same one that had stunned all the guests at the wedding. This was the first time he had seen it with his own eyes.

He was a Meteor Knight, yet in the face of such overwhelming pressure, he found himself utterly incapable of even thinking of resisting!

"M-my lord, you mustn’t do anything rash!"

Denny couldn’t help but plead, "We can talk this through!"

Ronin let out a cold laugh, leaping onto the Giant Dragon’s back. "Lead the way, Denny Viscount."

"Y-yes!"

With a heart full of trepidation, he scrambled onto his Griffin. The creature itself flapped its wings unsteadily as it took to the air to lead the way.

Denny wailed inwardly, ’Gods, what’s going to happen now?’