Lord: Stripped of My Inheritance from the Start

Chapter 475: Chapter 448: The Duke’s Visit

Back in his room, Ronin opened his Attribute Panel.

He currently had 1,626 Attribute Points and 9,037 Energy Essence. The rate at which he was accumulating them was quite impressive.

He allocated all his Attribute Points to his Knight Progress, which would allow him to have a decent amount of Fighting Qi left even after using his Celestial Fire Scorched Earth technique.

’Over nine thousand Energy Essence...’

Remembering Carlos’s fifty-thousand-point requirement, Ronin considered whether he should start investing more in Macken and Elron.

According to Sophia, the Sea of Storms was a blight of pollution left behind by the fall of the Demon King. It had remained unpurified for so many years. While the Demon Race’s interference was a factor, the primary reason was that the Human Race lacked people skilled in purifying Evil Energy.

Elron, however, was especially skilled at purification. Perhaps he could prove immensely valuable in the future, becoming the key to reopening normal shipping routes between the two continents.

As Ronin mulled this over, he opened the Achievement Panel.

[Famous Throughout the World]: A Noble Title is both a symbol of status and a manifestation of power. Strive to become a Duke. Reward: +10,000 Attribute Points, +20,000 Energy Essence.

’The Marquis title only gave me 1,500 points, but becoming a Duke is worth ten thousand. It’s clear that even though they’re only one rank apart, the system considers a Duke to be on a much higher tier.’

[King of Slaughter]: Single-handedly kill any Legendary Level unit. Reward: +30,000 Attribute Points, +60,000 Energy Essence.

’This achievement is extremely difficult. So far, there haven’t even been rumors of any living Legendary figures on the Oduin Continent.’

[Population Prosperity]: Reach a registered population of 500,000 in your territory. Reward: +10,000 Attribute Points, +20,000 Energy Essence.

This achievement was something he could definitely complete in the short term.

Ronin’s territory currently had a population of 370,000. Adding the people from Moonlight Valley and the 100,000 relocated by Bruno would be enough to reach the 500,000 mark.

[Siege and Conquest]: Possess three major cities with populations exceeding 100,000. Reward: +8,000 Attribute Points, +16,000 Energy Essence.

Although he couldn’t complete this achievement in the short term, it should be achievable within a year or two.

’If I complete the other three achievements besides King of Slaughter within two years, I’ll get 28,000 Attribute Points. With another 13,000 from my sign-ins, I’ll have enough to reach the Legendary Level!’

Population Prosperity and Siege and Conquest were practically in the bag. The only uncertainty was Famous Throughout the World.

This required Ronin to make the leap from Marquis to Duke within two years, which would be impossible without fighting and winning a difficult war.

’His Majesty the King is actively preparing for war, and Wushan Territory is about to dispatch Melonika’s Third Knight Order to the front lines. I just don’t know when the real fighting will actually break out.’

For now, the Tricia Kingdom was merely reinforcing Mist City. Its intentions were clearly defensive, with no plans to attack just yet.

Bruno, taking into account that Ronin had just taken over Moonlight Valley and was about to marry his daughter, didn’t order him to immediately form a Knight Order and dispatch it to the front. However, he did assign a region for Ronin to garrison.

’West Wind Hill.’

It was one of Mist City’s military camps, currently garrisoned by one of the Kingdom’s Knight Orders.

’Over the next year, I have to fully establish the Knight Orders for my territories!’

Right now, all he had in his various territories were Knight Squads. If not for Lurans’s help, he wouldn’t even have a single fully-manned Knight Order.

All his victories so far had been won through the strength of his elite combatants.

However, now that Ronin held the titles of Kingdom Guardian Knight and Lord of Moonlight Valley, it would be much easier to attract unaligned knights and Mages to serve under him.

He needed to form Knight Orders for Moonlight Valley, Purple Thunder Territory, Wubei Territory, and Rapids Island.

Early the next morning, Wushan Manor received an unexpected guest—Duke Valgis.

He hadn’t come to see Lurans, but Ronin.

This piqued Ronin’s curiosity. "Your Grace, what brings you here? Is there something I can help you with?"

"Haha, Ronin, there’s no need to be so formal with me."

Valgis was clearly in better spirits than he had been the day before. "I did come to see you because there is, in fact, something I need your help with."

"Please, go on."

Ronin smiled. "If it’s something I can help with, I’ll certainly do my best."

Although Valgis belonged to the Kingdom’s neutral faction, he was a Duke. Being on good terms with him would be highly beneficial.

Valgis glanced at Lurans, who was sitting nearby, and then said, "I heard from your grandfather that his ailments were cleansed by a Light Attribute Mage under your command. I have a great deal of admiration for this Mage. If possible, I would like to invite him to be a guest at my castle for a while."

Ronin found this a bit strange. He glanced at Lurans, who smiled and said, "You know what the Gistana Clan has been through. With Elron’s abilities, he might be able to help the Duke purify any abnormalities."

Ronin immediately understood. He spoke with a hint of resignation, "Your Grace, do you also believe that my fiancée, Blanche, brought a curse upon your family?"

"No, no, no!"

Valgis shook his head emphatically. "Those are just outside rumors. Blanche has never even been to Gistana Castle, so how could she possibly bring a curse upon my family?"

He shrugged. "However, having Elron take a look would, at the very least, put my mind at ease."

Valgis’s expression grew grim. "You may not be aware, but over the past two months, the health of my only son, Paradro, and my only grandson has been deteriorating."

That...

Ronin was taken aback. His first thought was that Gistana Castle itself might be cursed.

"Have any of the servants or other staff in your castle also experienced worsening health?"

"That’s precisely why I’m so concerned—because they haven’t."

Valgis was overwhelmed with anxiety. If something were to happen to his son and grandson, his family line would truly come to an end.

"Ronin, just have Elron come. Name your price, whatever it is. I will do everything in my power to meet it!"

’A promise from a Duke is not something one obtains easily.’

But Ronin shook his head. "It’s a small matter. As soon as I return to my territory, I will inform Elron and have him travel to your lands as quickly as possible."

"My retinue and I will await his arrival at our manor in Golden Feather City!"

A look of delight crossed Valgis’s face. "I heard the Royal Family has reached an agreement with you regarding Magic Potions. The Flame Grass used in them is a specialty of my territory. If you need it, I can provide you with a special supply each year."

Ronin had been on the verge of suggesting that very thing, but had decided against it, feeling it was too rash to make demands when the situation was still unknown. He never expected the Duke to offer it himself.

"That would be wonderful! Thank you!"

He stood and shook the elderly Duke’s hand warmly. "You can rest assured, I will have Elron conduct a thorough examination. If there is any anomaly, we will do everything in our power to eliminate it for you!"

After seeing Duke Valgis off, only Ronin and Lurans remained in the living room.

Lurans smiled. "It would be for the best if Elron finds something amiss. If not, have him get a little creative. The gratitude of a Duke will be a significant asset for your future."

With Elron’s abilities, it would be no problem at all for him to fabricate an anomaly and then resolve it.

But Ronin had his reservations about this method. "An ally gained through deception... that kind of relationship is never truly reliable."

"You don’t have to be so scrupulous. Besides, I’m not telling you to deceive him."

Lurans shook his head. "Elron is a Light Attribute Mage. Even if there’s nothing truly wrong, with his magical prowess, he can still provide significant therapeutic effects for Valgis’s son and grandson. He just needs to be a bit more... dramatic during the treatment."

Ronin considered this for a moment, then nodded. "I’ll think about it."