Chapter 523: Chapter 496: Garrett’s Plot

In Oduin Hall, having finished the day’s political affairs, Bruno received Garrett, who had returned from the Gregor battlefield.

"Ference tells me that in the war that just ended, you led your valiant knights and captured the enemy commander, Earl Alons?"

Garrett bowed slightly. "Yes, Father. In this battle, we captured a total of six enemy Professional Knights of the Meteor Level and above. I have escorted them all back to Golden Feather City to await your judgment!"

Bruno was very pleased, his mood excellent.

"In these last two wars, we’ve captured many of their important figures. They are all now imprisoned, awaiting a ransom request from King Tyrone of the Tricia Kingdom."

"It’s just a pity that this young king doesn’t seem to care about these failures. To this day, we haven’t received any word from him."

Count Ural of Mist City held a high and powerful position in the Tricia Kingdom. Logically, with such a person captured, the other side should have sent someone to negotiate.

But for some reason, two months had passed, and the other side had remained completely silent.

And as the victor, the Oduin Kingdom certainly wouldn’t lower itself to ask if they intended to pay the ransom.

Since they couldn’t just casually execute Ural and his men, they had remained locked away in prison.

Garrett gave a cold smile. "I believe that Tyrone has written them off as sacrifices. If possible, I’d like to persuade these prisoners and see if any of them are willing to abandon the one they pledged allegiance to and serve me instead."

"That would be difficult."

Bruno stood and slowly descended from the throne. "All their roots are in the Tricia Kingdom. The chances of them abandoning everything to pledge allegiance to us are slim. Besides, while Tyrone has only just ascended the throne and is still young, he wouldn’t go so far as to completely ignore the capture of a Border Count."

If Tyrone truly disregarded the lives of Ural and the others, he would surely earn the scorn of his followers and alienate them.

That would be even more beneficial to the Oduin Kingdom!

"I’m still willing to try."

Garrett insisted on his idea. "The trend of us unifying this continent has already taken shape. If they can see the situation clearly, they can make the right choice. Once we take down Tricia, why would they worry about not getting their things back?"

With that, he bowed slightly. "Father, I ask for your permission to do so!"

A look of relief appeared in Bruno’s eyes. Garrett was much more humble now than he had been before.

"I feel you’ve changed, Garrett. You seem much more composed now than you were a while ago. It seems the tutors I assigned to you have been effective."

Garrett smiled. "The tutors were indeed excellent; I learned a great deal from them. However, the conditions in the war camp were harsh, and the constant travel back and forth exhausted them. They wanted to spend the festival in Ferrensburg, so I agreed to let them stay behind."

"Mm, they are ordinary people. Coming back only to have to rush back again after a couple of days would indeed be too much for them. It’s wonderful that you can be so considerate of their hardship!"

Bruno walked up to him and patted his shoulder. "Go ahead and negotiate with the captives. You have my support!"

During the battle at Mist City, Garrett’s confidant Yuge and several of his trusted men had been killed. If a few of these captives were willing to switch their allegiance to him, it would perfectly solve his problem of being short-staffed.

"Thank you for your support, Father!"

Garrett bowed, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly in a mocking smile.

Bruno would never have guessed that the tutors he had assigned to Garrett hadn’t stayed behind in Ferrensburg. Instead, they had died by his son’s sword, laid to rest forever in the Gregor Highlands.

’He had long grown tired of those old men chattering around him every day. Seeing them even one more time was pure torture.’

As for recruiting the nobles of the Tricia Kingdom...

’In truth, Alons and the others he had escorted back to Golden Feather City had already become his followers. And as for Count Ural and his subordinates, he believed they too would pledge allegiance to him once he revealed his true identity.’

"Alright, it’s almost time for the evening banquet. Come with me."

Bruno said as he walked, "It’s the festival these next two days, so relax a little. Don’t be so tense. Oh, right, I heard you broke through to become a Proud Sun Knight not long ago?"

Garrett followed closely behind. "Yes, Father. Although Ronin and I don’t have the best relationship, I must admit that the Enhancement Potion from the Wubei Territory was of great use to me. With its help, I successfully broke through my bottleneck and advanced to become a Proud Sun!"

"Haha, this is a joyous occasion for the Audoin Clan!"

Bruno was overjoyed. Although he had been happy to see Ronin at the Proud Sun Level, deep down he had always hoped that his own family would produce a Proud Sun Knight as well.

Now, his wish had come true.

"Our cooperation with Ronin is much closer now. Many Mages have recently joined his domain, so the potion production must have increased significantly. When I have the chance, I’ll contact him and get him to sell more potions to us."

Garrett shook his head. "That kind of potion is useless for someone at the Proud Sun Level."

"It might be useless to you, but you can reward it to others."

Bruno said with a laugh, "Who would complain that their followers are too strong?"

"That’s true."

Garrett pondered for a moment, a flash of hesitation in his eyes, but he finally spoke up. "Father, if we have the ability to deal with Ronin and his followers in the future, should we still maintain our relationship with the Wushan Clan?"

Bruno didn’t answer immediately. He glanced at Garrett, then turned to look ahead.

’Does Ronin threaten the royal authority?’

’To be honest, the answer is yes.’

’It’s impossible for a young Proud Sun Knight to have no ambition.’ Bruno knew this.

He also wanted to restrain Ronin, but it was simply not possible right now.

Therefore, through their discussions at Mist Castle, he had stabilized the relationship between them. At least for a long time to come, Ronin would fight for him and for the Kingdom.

As for the future relationship between the two families, they would just have to take it one step at a time.

Now that his son had also become a Proud Sun Knight, with the passage of time, a second and a third Proud Sun would surely appear across the vast kingdom.

A single Duke’s Domain could not compare to the foundation of an entire Kingdom.

However, Bruno didn’t voice his true thoughts. He knew his son’s personality.

If Garrett knew that his father was also wary of Ronin deep down, he might just bring the conflict out into the open, which would be detrimental to the current situation.

"This time at Mist Castle, Ronin and I spoke for a long time. I can tell he’s someone who values kindness and face. So, as long as we have shown him favor, he won’t betray the Kingdom as you imagine."

Bruno paused for a moment before walking forward. "Garrett, put those thoughts aside. Our next goal is to eliminate Tricia and become the king of this continent. Before that, getting tangled up in precautions and infighting is pointless."

Garrett watched his father’s back, a flicker of pity and resolve in his eyes. "I understand!"

He took a deep breath and walked forward, adding silently in his heart: ’I gave you a chance, Father. You can only blame yourself for not taking it!’

After a lavish banquet, Garrett left the Golden Feather Palace.

He mounted his golden Griffin and flew through the snowy night to Horn Bay, entering the prison where the captives from Mist City were being held.

As important captives, they were guarded by professional and powerful Knights. They were also fitted with special shackles that would restrain even a Silver Moon Knight, making escape impossible.

"Count Ural, it’s been a while."

Light from a Magic Lamp illuminated the pitch-black cell. A faint smile played on Garrett’s face as he looked at the Silver Moon Knight before him, who was weighed down by heavy shackles and could barely move.

"Heh, to think the esteemed Crown Prince himself would personally come to this filthy cell?"

Ural sneered, sitting on the floor opposite him.

The once-distinguished noble was now a wretched sight, his hair disheveled.

"Under normal circumstances, the mere smell of this place would make me want to vomit."

Garrett walked forward and crouched down in front of Count Ural. "But today, I have come with the greatest sincerity to have a talk with you."

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