The Cyan Bamboo Tribe’s population was less than four hundred, and its usual defensive force numbered twenty n at most.
Among them, aside from the three Professional Knights led by Willie, the rest were commoners—farrs who beca guards when they took up arms. They had no formal training. They were no match for Professional Knights; even the Guards Ronin had brought from Wushan Castle were stronger than them.
In truth, the battle was over the mont Ronin and his n arrived unimpeded at the outskirts of the Cyan Bamboo Tribe.
Not only did they fail to mount any real resistance, but no one even managed to send word out for help. The two teams led by Juliet and Sim, which Ronin had cautiously positioned on the roads, proved entirely unnecessary.
He simply hadn’t expected it to go this smoothly.
Willie was genuinely tempted by Ronin’s offer. He had followed his elders into hiding in this mountain forest, branded as the descendant of a rebel. Even when he went out to procure supplies, he could only deal with small-ti peddlers, and even then, he had to be extrely careful not to let his identity be discovered.
If outsiders discovered who he was, they would surely report him to the nobles of Wushan Territory, all for a bounty of just a few Gold Coins.
Once, influenced by his elders, Willie dread only of restoring his family’s forr glory. But after years of hardship, especially with the recent rise of the Black-collar Tribe, he had grown desperate to escape this Forest Land.
Now, it seed the young Baron before him could offer him everything he desired.
"Lord Ronin, I am very tempted by your offer!"
Willie’s tone softened. "But as you know, even when a man wants to ta a Magical Beast, he must first defeat it. If you wish for to submit to you, you must first demonstrate your strength."
Ronin paused, taken aback. ’How else does he expect to demonstrate my strength?’
’I’ve surrounded the entire Cyan Bamboo Tribe. What more does he need?’
"Willie Knight, do you not understand your current situation? I have the Cyan Bamboo Tribe completely surrounded. You’ve fallen into my grasp without any power to resist. That alone proves my strength—and that I am, at the very least, stronger than you."
"No, no, no."
Willie shook his head quickly. "You’ve only trapped my people, not . If I wanted to break free, I’m not so sure you could stop ."
His tone was suprely confident. "If you want to submit, you must defeat yourself, in single combat!"
"I admire your courage, Willie Knight."
The corner of Ronin’s mouth curled up. "But I also admire your ignorance."
Hearing this, Willie’s expression turned cold. "Lord Ronin, mind your words! I have not offended you, yet you insult . That is not a quality befitting a nobleman!"
’The qualities of a nobleman? Is that supposed to an constantly maintaining humility and respect, politely praising everyone?’
"I have no interest in dueling you."
Ronin shook his head. "You have one minute to consider. Submit to , or be killed."
’In a situation this one-sided, what right does he have to negotiate?’
A tense atmosphere spread. Willie glanced at the n surrounding him. Despite his confident words, he wasn’t at all certain he could actually break free if he tried.
Besides, he didn’t want to give up his position as tribal chief to serve under another, with no one left to wait on him.
He wanted what Ronin had: to have servants waiting on him the mont he opened his eyes, to do as he pleased, the freedom of answering to no one.
The two Knights beside Willie were extrely nervous. The presence of the group opposite them was too powerful. They were only Basic Level Knights; if talks broke down, escape would be impossible.
The minute passed quickly. After a fierce internal struggle, Willie finally yielded.
"My lord, I am willing to submit to you."
Willie spoke again, "However, I hope that you will allow to remain chief of the Cyan Bamboo Tribe and continue to manage my people."
Ronin was taken aback by this demand for a mont, and then he actually started to laugh.
He slowly raised his hand. The well-practiced Magic Patterns of the Wind Blade Skill traced themselves across his palm. As the Wind Elent surged, a faint, cyan Wind Blade quietly ford in his hand.
"Ronin, you—!"
Willie’s expression changed dramatically. He had thought that even if his condition was rejected, there would still be room to negotiate. He never expected Ronin to strike without another word.
Ronin couldn’t be bothered to say more. Guided by his Spiritual Power, the Wind Blade shot from his hand, whistling sharply as it flew toward the other man’s neck.
"Hah!"
As an Interdiate Knight, Willie’s Fighting Qi erupted from his entire body. He raised his Longsword, channeling his power into a Fla Slash to block the incoming attack.
But whether it was because his Longsword was of poor quality or his Fla Slash hadn’t fully ford, the Wind Blade sliced clean through the blade of his sword and left a thin, red line on his throat.
"You..."
Willie felt his body go cold, as if his soul were being slowly drawn away. Then, his body crumpled to the ground.
"The defeated have no right to make so many demands."
Ronin sneered. ’If you can’t even read the situation, you’re no use to as a subordinate.’
In truth, if the man had made so other request, like asking for a few Gold Coins, Ronin would have been more than willing to oblige.
After all, having an Interdiate Knight in his service would have been quite advantageous for Ronin.
Unfortunately, this Willie wanted far too much. He actually wanted to remain chief of the Cyan Bamboo Tribe. Wasn’t that equivalent to Ronin granting him a Knight’s Noble Title and assigning him a fief?
Neither Macken, his longest-serving subordinate, nor Ridder, who had perford great deeds, had been enfeoffed. What right did the leader of a defeated band of rebels have to ask for such a thing?
’Lord Willie... dead? Just like that?’
The two Knights who had been standing beside Willie were completely stunned by this turn of events. The strongest warrior in the Cyan Bamboo Tribe couldn’t even withstand a single one of the Baron’s attacks.
The whistle of the Wind Blade seed to still echo in their ears, like the wail of a soul from Hell.
The farrs who had stood up, ready to fight alongside Willie, saw this and collapsed to the ground in despair, all courage to resist gone.
"Those who kneel and surrender will not be killed!" Ronin said calmly.
Ridder and Macken pointed their Longswords to the sky, shouting, "Those who kneel and surrender will not be killed!"
After that display, even Willie’s two Professional Knights were frightened into kneeling and begging for rcy. Who else would dare to resist?
One by one, they all knelt on the ground, trembling and praying for the nobleman’s rcy.
Fortunately, before the campaign, Ronin had Ridder and Macken do a great deal to prepare the Guards, drilling into them the strict rule against randomly killing prisoners.
Even when dealing with those who surrendered, the soldiers were rough at worst; not a single person was randomly killed or maid.
’Training a disciplined force that obeys orders without question is indeed essential.’
"David, Tom, take so n and round up everyone in the Cyan Bamboo Tribe."
Ronin stressed, "And rember, search thoroughly. Man, woman, or child—don’t miss a single one!"
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