Chapter 45: Ironblood Duke

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Ironblood Duke

「Nightfall.」

The dining hall on the first floor of Ice Wolf Castle.

Roy, Tony, and Erin sat at a long dining table, enjoying their dinner.

"Word has come from Redwood City. Count Rock Lion’s second son, Webb, was killed by the Dark Night Knight a week ago."

Tony said slowly, looking at Roy.

Roy wasn’t surprised that the news of Webb’s death was only now getting out.

’If I were Count Rock Lion, I’d do everything I could to suppress the news too.’

Once word of Webb’s death got out, Count Rock Lion’s reputation would take another hit.

Although Webb was only Count Rock Lion’s second son, after Jeremy’s death, he had become the first heir in line for the Beluns Clan.

More importantly, unlike Jeremy, who died in Redwood City, Webb had died in his own bedroom inside Rock Lion Castle.

Redwood City was merely a part of the Beluns Clan’s territory.

Rock Lion Castle, on the other hand, was the clan’s stronghold.

For the first heir in line to be assassinated within the family stronghold, the repercussions would be far more severe.

With masterful acting, Roy put on a look of surprise and quickly asked, "Hasn’t the Dark Night Knight already left Yorkshire?"

"Obviously, he hasn’t."

"What’s more, he has responded to Count Rock Lion’s hefty bounty with action."

With that, Tony took a sip of his wine.

"So, did Count Rock Lion raise the bounty again?"

Roy set down his knife and fork and continued to ask.

"No, the reward is the same as before."

"Even if he did raise it, it wouldn’t make much of a difference."

"The bounty wasn’t increased, but I heard he took his fourth son, Nox, to Iron Blood Castle a few days ago. I wonder if he went to ask the Ironblood Duke for aid."

Tony shook his head, his brow furrowed as he spoke.

’The Ironblood Duke?’

Roy’s brow furrowed slightly upon hearing Tony’s reply.

The Beluns Clan’s title of Count wasn’t granted by the King. It had been bestowed by the Ironblood Duke over a century ago.

In other words, the Beluns Clan’s allegiance was not to the King, but to the Ironblood Duke.

The Laine Kingdom currently had a total of four Dukes, each occupying one of the four cardinal regions of the Kingdom—north, south, east, and west.

The Royal Family, meanwhile, controlled the Kingdom’s central region.

The Ironblood Duke was the most powerful noble in the Kingdom’s Northern Territory. He controlled Green Province, where Yorkshire is located, as well as all the other provinces in the north.

In the Laine Kingdom’s Northern Territory, an order from the Ironblood Duke carried more weight than one from the King.

Roy thought for a moment. ’Count Rock Lion probably didn’t go to the Ironblood Duke for help.’

The deaths of Jeremy and Webb were certainly a huge blow to Count Rock Lion.

But to the Ironblood Duke, it was a trivial matter.

More importantly, if Count Rock Lion were to go to the Ironblood Duke for aid over this, it would only make the Duke see him as incompetent.

"Count Rock Lion probably didn’t go seeking aid."

"If he were, there would be no need for him to personally bring Nox along."

Roy said slowly.

"Whether Count Rock Lion went for aid or not, he’s certain to have mentioned to the Ironblood Duke that Jeremy and Webb were killed by the Dark Night Knight."

"Even if he didn’t, the Ironblood Duke likely knows by now."

"As Count Rock Lion’s Lord, he might take it upon himself to send men to help the Count capture the Dark Night Knight."

Tony didn’t particularly care whether Count Rock Lion would ask the Ironblood Duke for aid, nor did he mind who else from the Beluns Clan the Dark Night Knight killed.

He was only concerned that if the Dark Night Knight were caught, the truth about the deaths of Baron Red Eagle and Baron Giant Dog would be revealed.

Tony didn’t say it aloud, but Roy knew what he was worried about. He said slowly, "Even if the Ironblood Duke does send men to Yorkshire to capture the Dark Night Knight, it has nothing to do with us. It’s nothing to worry about."

Tony glanced at the maids in the dining hall, nodded, and decisively ended the conversation.

After eating and drinking his fill, Roy returned to his bedroom.

After some thought, he decided to visit the Red Salmon and Cherry Pie tavern that night to meet with Sandru and see if he could learn anything.

「Late at night.」

After emerging from Chaos Square, Roy changed into black clothes, put on a black mask, climbed out his bedroom window, and set off for Redwood City.

With his strength having improved, it took him less than an hour to get from Ice Wolf Castle to the Red Salmon and Cherry Pie tavern.

「The second floor of the tavern.」

Sandru’s office.

"Do you know why Count Rock Lion went to Iron Blood Castle?"

Roy asked bluntly, taking a seat in the chair opposite Sandru.

Sandru didn’t answer immediately, instead sizing him up with a puzzled expression.

After a dozen or so seconds, Sandru finally spoke. "You found an Excellent Level Universal Breathing Technique?"

’Did he realize I’m a Great Knight?’

’No!’

’He couldn’t possibly tell!’

Roy had thought Sandru realized he was a Great Knight.

But he quickly realized he was overthinking things and guessed why Sandru had asked.

Other Peak Knights who joined the Second Son Brotherhood would certainly take on as many missions as they could, saving up Contribution Points at top speed to exchange for an Exemplary Breathing Technique.

But he had been a member of the Second Son Brotherhood for two months and had only taken on a single mission.

Not only that, but he had also used all his Contribution Points to exchange for a Bloodline Breathing Technique he couldn’t even cultivate.

Other than him having already found an Excellent Level Universal Breathing Technique, Sandru couldn’t think of any other reason.

After a few seconds of silence, Roy slowly said, "Yes, I’ve already found an Excellent Level Universal Breathing Technique."

Upon hearing his answer, Sandru said with a sigh, "You’re incredibly lucky. To think you actually found one."

"By the looks of it, you’ve already switched to the new Breathing Technique. Do you need my help gathering the Secret Medicine Materials?"

Although he was very curious which Excellent Universal Breathing Technique Roy had found, Sandru didn’t ask for its name directly. Instead, he tactfully inquired whether he needed help collecting the Secret Medicine Materials.

"No need. I’ve already collected enough Secret Medicine Materials."

Roy replied quickly.

With Chaos Square, he had no need for a Breathing Technique’s Secret Medicine to aid his cultivation.

However, he had no intention of revealing this to anyone.

Sandru nodded, decisively changing the subject. "As for why Count Rock Lion went to Iron Blood Castle, I’m not entirely sure myself."

"However, if I had to guess, it’s probably related to the second Tulip War after the start of spring next year."

"If you want to know more, you can ask Catherine. She would know more."

’The second Tulip War?’

After a moment of thought, Roy said slowly, "Help me find someone."

"Who?"

Sandru asked at once.

"Sonia, the Black Market Merchant!"

Roy said without hesitation.

...