Lord: Stripped of My Inheritance from the Start

Chapter 477 - 450: Choice

The moment he heard those words, Garrett sensed immense danger.

He eyed Ference warily from head to toe and sneered, "My dear uncle, is your head full of pig shit? How dare you suggest I commit patricide?"

Garrett knew Bruno’s character quite well. Though his father, the King, would likely remain a Silver Knight his entire life, he was a man of firm political conviction.

As had been said before, once Bruno made a decision, almost no one could change his mind.

Now, Bruno had chosen to trust the Wushan Territory, to bind Ronin with honor, power, and status. Unless Ronin showed true signs of betrayal, the King would not risk a mutually destructive conflict to deal with him.

As long as this situation was maintained, as long as Oduin rule was preserved, the rest was just a matter of time.

Ronin might be powerful, but his lifespan was ultimately finite.

After all, in all of history, even someone as mighty as the first Emperor Orland had eventually vanished into the river of time, hadn’t he?

The Royal Family could outlast a Proud Sun Knight, or even a Legendary, in three generations at most.

Therefore, in Garrett’s eyes, the path Ference was offering had only one method: regicide, followed by his own ascension to the throne.

Although Garrett was conceited, arrogant, and even somewhat extreme in his disposition, he still placed great importance on the honor and face of the Oduin Royal Family.

If he truly killed his own father to inherit the throne, it would be a stain on the Royal Family’s name.

He could even imagine that once he did it, after they successfully killed Ronin, Ference and his ilk would use the excuse of regicide and patricide to claim he was unworthy of the throne and unite against him.

Faced with Garrett’s foul language, Ference did not get angry. Instead, he waved his hands dismissively.

"No, no, no, you misunderstand. I never said you should do such a thing."

He explained, "To command the Kingdom’s nobles in your father’s stead, you don’t have to kill him. Historically, it’s not uncommon for a King to be unable to manage state affairs due to illness or other matters, thereby entrusting governance to the Crown Prince or the Hand of the King."

Garrett said in a cold voice, "In the end, it still means I’d have to bear the infamy of framing my own father, doesn’t it?"

"If you’re willing, I can do it for you," Ference said.

"That’s betrayal!"

"No! This is for Oduin! It’s to free us from the threat of the Wushan Territory!"

Ference suddenly raised his voice. "Lurans is vengeful, and Ronin is treacherous! What we did to the Wushan Clan back then, they will surely repay tenfold, a hundredfold! When that time comes, Oduin—and I, an Oduin who changed his name to Gregor—none of us will escape the fate of annihilation at their hands!"

"But your father chose to trust people like that! His actions will only destroy the foundation Oduin has built over centuries and bring us a devastating disaster!"

He looked at Garrett earnestly, his expression one of utmost sincerity. "For Oduin, I am willing to bear such infamy for you!"

Garrett threatened in a low voice, "Aren’t you afraid I’ll report your words to my father, the King, and have him join forces with Ronin to trample your Ference Duchy first?"

"You won’t!"

Ference raised his hand and clapped Garrett on the shoulder. "I know you. You value your honor and the fate of the Kingdom above all else. Besides, even if you told my brother about this, my story would remain the same."

"For Oduin, I will have no regrets!"

Garrett fell into a long, deep silence.

After a long while, he brushed Ference’s arm away. "I will not agree to your methods. If you dare use any treacherous schemes against my father, the King, I will not let you off the hook either!"

"As for Ronin, I too will become a Proud Sun Knight soon enough. The Wushan Clan is not as terrifying as you claim!"

He turned around and issued a dismissal. "You may leave. I’ll pretend you were never here today."

Ference stared at him for a moment, then sighed dejectedly.

"As you wish. In any case, I’ve said what I needed to say and done what I needed to do. If one day you and your father follow in Jesus’s footsteps, don’t have any regrets, and don’t blame me for not warning you."

He turned, his back to Garrett. "However, if you come to your senses, you can find me anytime. Before Ronin becomes a Legendary, of course."

With that said, Ference strode away without a second glance.

Regardless of what Garrett thought, the seed had been planted in his heart.

Whether it would sprout was up to fate.

Garrett watched Ference’s retreating figure. He stood there for a full half-hour before finally shaking his head and leaving the training grounds.

’No matter what, I will never allow such a thing to happen!’

’With my own strength, I can find a way to counterbalance the Wushan Territory.’

Meanwhile, after seeing Duke Valgis off, Ronin began to plan his own return journey.

First was the matter of the Griffins.

The Griffin nests being built in Mountain Forest Town were mostly complete. Though a bit crude, they were now ready for the creatures to inhabit.

So, Ronin contacted Broel and Missy, telling them to prepare for the Griffins’ transport to Mountain Forest Town.

As for the several hundred specialists involved in breeding and caring for the Griffins, Ronin sent Carlos back to the Wubei Territory. While there, he was to pick up Elron and also notify Reis Knight. Reis was to sail from Wubei Port to Horn Bay and transport these specialists to Mountain Forest Town.

「Two days later, at Duke Valgis’s manor.」

"Haha! I never expected Mr. Elron to be a Magic Master at such a young age!"

Valgis warmly welcomed Ronin and Elron’s arrival. He hadn’t expected Ronin to bring Elron over in such a short time.

"May the Light watch over everyone!"

Elron offered a polite greeting. "Lord Ronin has already told me about the Gistana Clan’s situation. I hope I can be of assistance to you on this journey west."

The sound of his voice put Valgis completely at ease. He began to wonder if Magic Masters with the Light Attribute were born with a natural ability to relax people.

"The Valgis Duchy is thousands of miles from the Royal Capital. Although we will be returning by Griffin, it will still take two or three days. I’m afraid the journey will be an imposition on you, Your Excellency Magic Master!"

Ronin could see that Valgis was being very deferential toward Elron, on whom he had placed great hopes.

He smiled. "In that case, I’ll head back first. Elron, do your best to help the Duke investigate the cause, and resolve any abnormalities with all your might."

Elron bowed slightly. "Rest assured, my lord. I will give it my all!"

On the way there, Ronin had already briefed Elron.

If he managed to solve the Gistana Clan’s problem this time, he was to boldly propose a collaboration: for the Wubei Territory to establish a cultivation base within the Gistana Duchy, dedicated to growing Flame Grass.

Elron would provide the technical support for this base, while the Gistana Duchy would provide the personnel.

Once cultivation was successful, the Flame Grass from the base would go directly to the Wubei Territory, not be sold to the Royal Family.

As for the split, Ronin wasn’t stingy. An 80/20 or 70/30 split would be fine; he believed Duke Valgis wouldn’t be too cheap either.

Of course, if the trip yielded no major breakthroughs, Elron was still to address the health problems afflicting Duke Valgis’s son and grandson, doing his best to restore their health.

In that case, Elron would still take the opportunity to propose the collaboration on Ronin’s behalf, but the difference would be that he would offer a more generous share.