Chapter 119: Who Moved the Nobles’ Cheese?
“Damn it! If I hear any more support for Givia, I’ll break your legs!” Baron Shoko roared, pacing back and forth before his servants, his whip cracking in the air, his voice filled with rage. “Who’s responsible for our prosperity this year? King Kevin! Don’t you understand? You dare defy me, supporting that incompetent traitor! Who are you trying to impress?!”
The servants stood silently, their heads bowed. It wasn’t that they had nothing to say, but one of their fellow servants, the young stablehand, lay unconscious on the floor, his body covered in welts, a victim of the baron’s wrath. During the broadcast, the young man had not only raised his thumb in approval of Givia’s Blood Atonement, but had also started singing a song of praise. The baron, already enraged, had flown into a rage, summoning all the servants and publicly whipping the young man until he passed out.
They all knew that the baron’s “we,” referring to those who had benefited from Kevin’s rule, didn’t include them. The baron had been among the first to pledge his loyalty to the usurper, earning him rewards and legal loopholes, allowing him to exploit his subjects even further. But their wages hadn’t increased.
And most of them were locals, their families living within his territory. They not only hadn’t benefited from his newfound wealth, but were actually being squeezed even harder, fueling their resentment.
They longed for the day Princess Givia and her Restoration Army would liberate them. They would gladly see this cruel baron hanged.
“Do you know what we must do? Pledge our loyalty to King Kevin!” Baron Shoko continued his tirade. “Our loyalty will be noticed by the warrior sent by His Majesty. He will report it to Kevin, and we will be rewarded! King Kevin is generous! He won’t be stingy with his favors. You fools are so shortsighted!”
The “warrior” he spoke of had arrived shortly after he had pledged his loyalty to Kevin, bearing a letter signed by the king himself. This warrior was a seventh-tier, seventh-grade Dou Warrior, incredibly powerful. He had three tasks: to serve as the baron’s bodyguard and enforcer, to monitor his loyalty and report any suspicious activities, and to prune the baron’s garden with a pair of shears.
The celestial broadcast had occurred during their midday rest. The warrior had remained in his room, unaware of the servants’ actions. Baron Shoko was now worried, hoping the warrior hadn’t witnessed their defiance.
“I’m warning you, if that warrior saw your foolish actions, I’ll hang you all!” the baron roared, his anger escalating.
“Good afternoon, Baron. Why so angry?”
A calm voice interrupted him as two figures entered the room.
The baron turned, his eyes narrowed, as he saw a gray-haired young man and a golden-haired young woman, their attire suggesting noble origins. The young man, despite speaking fluent Ossi without any accent, didn’t look like an Ossi native. His features were delicate, his skin fair, suggesting Eastern Empire and Elven ancestry. And the golden-haired young woman was even more peculiar, her appearance unmistakably that of a Westerner.
“Who are you? I don’t recall meeting you two,” the baron said, his voice wary. “How did those incompetent fools at the gate let you in?”
The newcomers were, of course, Abyss and Flora. Abyss shrugged, a smile playing on his lips. “I apologize, but please don’t insult your guards. We flew in. We didn’t use the gate.”
“What?!” the baron exclaimed, startled. He stepped back, dropping his whip and drawing a short sword from his belt, pointing it at Abyss. “Don’t come any closer! Guards! Guards!”
“Flora, check on that injured boy,” Abyss said softly, and Flora, nodding, rushed to the unconscious stablehand’s side.
Abyss continued approaching the baron, his movements casual, his expression calm.
“Baron, you might not recognize me, but I know you, Mr. Shoko. You were among the first to support Prince Kevin after his coup, the most enthusiastic, I might add. And you’ve been ruthlessly exploiting your subjects. It’s hard to forget such a memorable performance,” Abyss said, his smile widening, revealing his pearly white teeth. “To be frank, I’m with Princess Givia. I’m here for three things: first, to beat you up; second, to burn down your garden; third, to kill that warrior you’re harboring. What do you think?”
“You damn mutt! Guards! Kill him! And that bitch on the floor! Seize her!” the baron roared.
Several guards had gathered at the entrance, but they hesitated, unsure how to react. Hearing the baron’s order, they finally remembered their duty.
“Go back. This doesn’t concern you,” Abyss said casually, without turning around.
The guards, as if compelled by an unseen force, turned and left.
The baron’s jaw dropped. “You! What kind of magic did you use?!”
“Just a simple charm spell,” Abyss said, now standing before him, his smile unwavering.
“Alright, alright, please don’t hurt me. I’ll give you anything you want,” the baron said, his demeanor suddenly shifting, his voice pleading.
“If you’re willing to obey my every command, I might consider sparing you,” Abyss said, his eyebrows raised, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Shhhk!
“I don’t care who you are! Die!”
The baron lunged, his short sword flashing, plunging into Abyss’s throat!
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