The sudden reminder made Ronin notice the bearded Professional Knight kneeling beside Princest.
The man wasn't very strong, and his combat skills couldn't have been high, or he wouldn't have been defeated in a single blow.
But now this man was actually daring to remind Princest, an Intermediate Knight, and his tone even carried a hint of warning.
In a world where, beneath the nobility, strength determined status, how could a Basic Level Knight threaten an Intermediate Knight?
This made Ronin very curious.
"Who are you?"
The man lifted his head disdainfully, his expression like a rooster spoiling for a fight. "Baron Ronin, I advise you to let me go. It'll be for your own good. Otherwise…"
"My dear captive, it seems you haven't yet grasped your situation."
Ronin drew the longsword from his waist and stabbed it downward. The sharp tip pierced straight through the man's hand on the ground and plunged into the dirt. The searing pain made the man howl in agony.
"As a defeated traitor, you have no right to hold your head high before me."
Ronin said coldly, then turned a murderous gaze on another of the captured knights. "You. Talk!"
Perhaps the killing intent in his words was too strong, or perhaps the attitude Ronin had just displayed drove the knight to despair. With a whimper, he fainted dead away, a liquid seeping from his crotch.
This left Ronin a little speechless. 'I was speaking perfectly calmly. Was I really that scary?'
'And he's a Professional Knight, too. To have such weak nerves.'
The acrid smell of urine hit him, and Ronin couldn't help but pinch his nose and step back, moving upwind.
"You speak!"
Ronin pointed to the last knight, the one who had fought David and proactively surrendered.
"My patience is limited. If you also pretend to faint, I guarantee you won't get a chance to wake up!"
"No, my lord! I'm wide awake!"
Clearly, this Professional Knight who had fought David and surrendered was ready to talk. The moment Ronin questioned him, he prostrated himself on the ground.
At these words, the color drained even further from Princest's face. He knew his secret was about to be exposed.
Ronin smiled. 'People who know when to yield are always so pleasant.'
"Very good. What's your name?"
The knight on the ground responded, "My lord, my name is Malt Le."
Ronin was a little surprised. "Raise your head. Are you of noble descent?"
Malt raised his head, revealing a square-jawed face. His skin wasn't very good, and his brown hair was messy and unkempt.
"Yes, my lord. My father was a Knight who served your father, Earl Wiggin. But he unfortunately died in battle years ago after driving the rebels into the Wubei Forest Land. My mother gave birth to me, and I've lived here ever since."
"Pah!" Princest sneered. "A bastard, and he calls himself a noble descendant!"
Ronin glanced at Princest. 'It seems this guy really doesn't like Malt.'
"Your father was a loyal and brave Knight."
He first acknowledged the man's background, then his tone shifted. "However, if he knew his own son had turned around and betrayed his lord, I doubt he would be very pleased."
"I'm sorry, my lord!" Malt lowered his head, his voice choked with emotion. "But please believe me, I had no choice."
'That might actually be true.'
In this kind of environment, if Malt didn't comply with Princest's wishes, his life would likely have been very difficult.
Ronin decided not to pursue the matter for now. "Alright. I will now allow you to atone for your mistakes. Tell me everything about them, without reservation!"
"It would be my honor, my lord!"
Malt began to answer Ronin's questions, giving him a shocking reply right from the start.
"My lord, that man's name is Disen. He's the Defense Officer of Mountain Forest Town, but he is also a knight from Sain Territory."
Ronin thought he had misheard. "What? Did you say Sain Ridge?"
Sain Territory was the closest domain to Mountain Forest Town, ruled by Baron Reisen Sain.
Before entering the mountains, Ronin had even planned to find time to visit this neighbor. He never expected a knight from his own territory to have ties with Sain Territory.
"Yes, my lord!"
Malt continued, "Besides Disen, the unconscious Kate, and the Professional Knight Watro you just killed, all three of them are from Sain Territory and serve Baron Reisen."
'Reisen's men aren't just in Mountain Forest Town, one is even serving as its Defense Officer. How interesting!'
Ronin stared at Princest intently. "Civil Servant, care to explain?"
"There's nothing to explain."
Princest endured the pain. "Without outside support, how could I possibly deal with the Wilderness Tribe on my own? Baron Reisen merely arranged for a few men to protect me and help me fend off enemies."
Ronin gave a cold laugh. 'Nobles aren't that kind-hearted. If Reisen chose to help, he would certainly expect something in return—and a handsome return at that.'
"Forget it. Malt, you tell me. Tell me everything you know."
As Malt spoke, Ronin's entire perception of Mountain Forest Town was overturned.
Lurans had said Mountain Forest Town had a population of less than a thousand, but Malt said there were at least over a thousand people here.
Princest had claimed that the ten gold coins in taxes Mountain Forest Town sent to Wushan Castle annually was its absolute limit, but Malt said that every year, Sain Territory sent men to haul away several cartloads of grain and various goods.
Princest had said he needed to fight the Wilderness Tribe, but Malt said that in recent years, there hadn't been many conflicts between the Wilderness Tribe and Mountain Forest Town, and any that occurred were just isolated incidents.
Malt also said that Princest was not only the Civil Servant of Mountain Forest Town but also a knight who had sworn allegiance to Baron Reisen.
'So for just ten gold coins a year, Baron Reisen has brought Mountain Forest Town under the name of his Sain Clan.'
Ronin gave Princest a thumbs-up. "A brilliant move!"
Periodically, Mountain Forest Town would report to Wushan Castle how many people were killed by Magical Beasts and how many subjects were killed by the Wilderness Tribe, painting the town as a place even Pioneer Knights dared not venture.
As Wushan Castle paid less and less attention to this land, eventually reaching a point where they might have forgotten it entirely, Reisen became like an uncrowned king—the true master of Mountain Forest Town.
Its land, its people, and its wealth would all flow into the pockets of the Sain Clan.
Ronin also understood now why news of what happened in Wushan Castle could reach the remote Mountain Forest Town, on the very edge of the Wushan Territory, so quickly.
'No doubt Baron Reisen sent the news and gave Princest his instructions.'
'Baron Reisen has some serious nerve. He's even willing to kill members of the Wushan Clan for the sake of Mountain Forest Town.'
On one hand, Ronin had to admire Reisen's audacity; on the other, he lamented how weak Wushan Castle's deterrent power over the various families in the Wushan Territory had become.
The day the disease-ridden old Lurans finally died, these restless lords would surely move to carve up the territories anew.
'I underestimated the threat in Mountain Forest Town, but Reisen also misjudged my strength.'
Ronin had expected to face some obstacles in becoming the lord of Mountain Forest Town, but he hadn't anticipated that his opponents would include an Intermediate Knight, let alone the pawns of another noble.
Reisen had also made his arrangements, but he had underestimated Ronin's strength.
Fortunately, Ronin was just a little stronger.
'The Sain Clan of Swamp Town… since you've decided to scheme against me, don't blame me for coming after you in the future.'
'Who says the only way to expand my population is by absorbing people from the Wilderness Tribe?'
'Sain Territory is also a viable target.'