Lord: Stripped of My Inheritance from the Start

Chapter 555: Chapter 527: Valuable Intelligence

Ronin had originally been observing the battle quietly from high in the sky. He wanted to see just how powerful Elron could be when he went all out.

He just hadn’t expected Alfonso’s Wind and Water Dual Attribute Fusion Magic to give his opponent a chance to escape.

That was why he couldn’t resist taking action, flashing forward to land a kick.

The waves on the sea still surged, but Alfonso could no longer hear their roar. At this moment, Ronin’s very presence consumed all of his attention.

’Strong... unshakably strong!’

This was the only sensation Alfonso could feel. He didn’t need to ask who his opponent was, because the answer was obvious.

"Haha, I never thought the day would come when I, Alfonso, would require a Legendary powerhouse to capture me personally. Duke Ronin, you honor me!"

"Don’t get the wrong idea. I was just on my way to Rapids Island to find Elron and happened to be passing through. I didn’t come for you."

Ronin wasn’t intentionally trying to demoralize him. After boosting Macken’s power, he had brought the remaining thirty-thousand-plus points of Energy Essence here to do the same for Elron, only to stumble upon the naval battle.

Alfonso’s face darkened. "I would very much like to know, Your Grace, who you bribed to track my movements so accurately."

Ronin glanced toward the distant sea behind them, and Alfonso followed his gaze.

Two ships there were flying the yellow crescent flag of the Hunter Clan. Aboard one of them was Viscount Patridge of Crescent Island.

Ronin smiled. "Viscount Patridge is actually quite loyal. It’s just that your son, MacLaren, went too far."

At the mention of his son, Alfonso’s eyes filled with rage at Ronin, but given the overwhelming disparity in their power, he had no strength to resist.

"Enough with the pleasantries. If you’re going to kill me, get on with it!"

"Grandfather..."

Clinging to a wooden plank to stay afloat, Facundo didn’t want to die, but he could see no path to survival.

Ronin glanced at Facundo, who immediately lowered his head upon meeting his gaze, not daring to look directly at him.

"Siding with the Alien Race is unforgivable. There is only one path for you: death."

Ronin continued, "However, if you can provide me with valuable intelligence, I will spare Facundo’s life for the sake of your grandson, who is still human."

Alfonso was stunned for a moment. "Really?"

As the sea gradually calmed, Elron flew over, looking somewhat embarrassed. "My Lord, I didn’t expect you."

Ronin nodded slightly, then looked back at Alfonso. "Of course. I won’t go back on my word in front of so many of my followers."

Facundo was just a Bronze Knight who had lost everything. He posed no threat to Ronin, so killing him or sparing him made no difference.

"Fine!"

Alfonso said grimly.

He had risked returning this time precisely to save his grandson and prevent the Fleming Clan’s line from being extinguished.

Now that his own death was certain, he might as well give his family a glimmer of hope.

Alfonso thought for a moment before saying grimly, "Serdil has set up multiple Arrays in the Royal Palace of Giant Dragon City. The right to activate them is currently in the hands of Flame Wings."

Serdil was indeed skilled with Arrays. The Trapping and Killing Array that Aluba and the others had used previously had caused Ronin considerable trouble.

"What kind of Arrays are they? How powerful?"

Ronin asked. He had previously been planning to storm their main base with Ridder.

Alfonso countered, "Is this intelligence valuable?"

He was worried that Ronin would find an excuse to kill Facundo even after getting the information.

The corner of Ronin’s mouth lifted slightly as he looked at Facundo, who was still struggling in the water. "The Eastern Front is currently laying siege to the Villa Duchy. I’ll throw you onto the battlefield as a common soldier. If you can prove your worth, I don’t mind leaving a path open for the Fleming Clan."

Facundo’s pupils contracted violently. He had clearly never imagined he’d have a chance to live.

Ronin looked at Alfonso and said, "Rest assured. Your grandson isn’t important enough for me to break my word."

"Good!"

Alfonso looked at the warships closing in. Given their hearing, they could probably overhear the conversation.

"Though there are multiple layers to the Arrays, most are just to prevent those captured for the ’baptism’ from escaping. There are only two you need to pay special attention to."

"The first is the Extreme Cold Killing Array. It’s an Array that combines the Wind and Water Attributes. Even if you’re at the Legendary Level, you’ll be affected by the Extreme Cold Power inside once you enter. A single misstep could risk you being frozen solid!"

At this point, Alfonso added proudly, "I assisted Serdil in setting up this Array, so don’t doubt my assessment."

Ronin nodded. The Fleming Clan was skilled at making Magic Energy Cannons, so it was only natural that Alfonso, as Patriarch, would also be proficient with Arrays.

"And the second one?"

"The second is the ’Wind Guardian Barrier.’ It can withstand two attacks from a Legendary powerhouse."

Ronin now had a clearer picture. The second barrier wasn’t a major issue, but the Extreme Cold Killing Array was worth paying attention to.

"Your intelligence is indeed valuable."

Ronin commented, "I value your abilities as well. It’s just a shame you accepted their so-called ’baptism’ and abandoned your identity as a human."

If not for that, Ronin truly would have wanted to keep him alive. After all, besides Sophia, no one in his domain knew how to make Magic Energy Cannons.

As for Arrays, even Sophia was likely less skilled than Alfonso.

Alfonso shrugged. "To be honest, this baptism has no real downsides for humans. I am still myself."

Ronin shook his head. "But when you use those wings, you automatically emit so-called Nightmare Power, and that is precisely the energy the Demon God needs to revive. With more people like you, the day the Demon God returns to this land will not be far off."

Alfonso was clearly stunned by Ronin’s explanation. "Demon God? Nightmare Power?"

These were things Serdil and the others had never mentioned. Their only demand was that those who received the baptism would serve them.

Thinking about it carefully now, he realized there was probably an unknown secret behind it all.

Alfonso’s expression shifted several times before he finally let out a helpless sigh. The choice he had made in pursuit of greater Power had ended up being his own undoing.

He looked at his grandson, flew over, and patted the boy’s head. "Live a good life, child. Don’t be like your grandfather and your father."

"Grandfather..." Facundo choked up.

Alfonso turned to Ronin. "I have one more piece of crucial intelligence. I hope that after you hear it, Your Grace, you can guarantee that neither your subordinates nor your Dragon will harm my grandson or cripple his abilities."

Ronin frowned slightly. ’He must have made this request because he heard Garrett’s Cultivation was crippled,’ he thought.

The fact that a dying man could still be so considerate of his grandson moved Ronin.

"Go on."

Alfonso said, "Flame Wings once boasted that while he only possesses the strength of the Middle Stage of Legend, he can use the Flaming Emblem to summon Power infinitely close to that of a Sage."

Ronin’s eyes narrowed.

Mephisto had the Witch Soul Pearl, and Serdil had the Heart of the Storm; it stood to reason that Flame Wings would have his own special artifact as well.

This "Flaming Emblem" was very likely that artifact.

"The last few battles caused Flame Wings to suffer heavy losses among his top combatants, but he’s already working to replenish them. However, the number of Silver Moon Knights is limited, so it’s impossible for him to create more Proud Sun Level Flame Seal Knights. Because of this, the Noble Alliance Army has the advantage."

Alfonso added, "But if you intend to assassinate him ahead of schedule, I advise you to be more thorough in your preparations. Given Flame Wings’s personality, he probably won’t be leaving the Giant Dragon Palace again."

Ronin nodded.

’My Knight Progress has reached Perfection. Does that mean I’m also infinitely close to the Sage Level?’

Still, the Flaming Emblem that Alfonso mentioned was something he had to treat with caution.

Fortunately, he hadn’t been rash and had been making steady progress.

"Your intelligence is very valuable to me. Carlos, take his grandson, Facundo, to Macken."

Carlos grunted, huge clouds of mist snorting from his nostrils.

"Grandfather, you..."

Facundo’s heart was a mess of conflicting emotions. He wanted to die with his grandfather, but he lacked the courage.

"Go!"

With a casual wave of his hand, Alfonso sent a wave surging up to lift Facundo and deposit him on Carlos’s back.

Carlos, clearly displeased, casually jostled Facundo off his back, then grabbed him in his claws and flew away.

Alfonso said nothing. As long as the boy survived, it was for the best.

He turned to face Ronin, drew the Longsword from his waist, and placed it against his own neck.

"Duke Ronin, I trust you will keep your promise!"

Alfonso stared at Ronin for a few seconds before the sharp blade sliced across his neck, staining the surface of the sea red with his blood.

Ronin watched the body fall onto the surface of the sea. Taking one’s own life required immense courage.

There weren’t many nobles whom Ronin admired, but Alfonso could now be counted as one of them.

Ronin used his Spiritual Power to lift the body onto Karda’s ship. "Take him to Screaming Island for burial. Also, you may now begin the assault on Screaming Island."

Karda and his men were thrilled.

First, they finally saw Ronin in the flesh again—a Legendary figure they could only look up to in awe.

Second, the next phase of their operation was beginning. They could finally conquer Screaming Island.

"As you wish, my Lord!"