Lord: Stripped of My Inheritance from the Start - Chapter 301 - 298: Sharp Horn City and Screaming Island

Chapter 301: Chapter 298: Sharp Horn City and Screaming Island

「An hour earlier.」

Reis, who had rushed back to Sharp Horn Castle, met with Vitorino.

“Father, Ronin is in the city. Jamie is bringing him to the castle now.”

“Good, he’s here.”

To be honest, Vitorino had been a little worried that Ronin wouldn’t come.

After all, during the recent war with the Polante Thief Gang, he had been scheduled to lead the troops personally but had changed his mind at the last minute.

Even though he had found a good excuse, others were bound to be displeased.

He didn’t know what kind of person Ronin was. If Ronin were like Wiggin and refused the invitation, it was entirely possible he’d do just that.

“So, what did you think of Ronin?” Vitorino asked with a smile.

Reis thought for a moment, then shook his head. “I didn’t feel any intimidating presence from him. He’s completely different from Crown Prince Garrett.”

“The Crown Prince is like a finely-honed, unsheathed sword, while Ronin is just… ordinary. If I hadn’t been told, I never would have guessed he was a Silver Knight.”

“Hammett wouldn’t lie.”

Vitorino chuckled. “Ronin hasn’t revealed his strength for many years, which just goes to show how skilled he is at concealing it. The ordinary man you saw is likely the face he always presents to the world.”

Ronin, for his part, would have said that he really wasn’t hiding anything.

“Send someone to notify Lu Qi and the other nobles and Knights. Tell them to attend the welcome banquet at Sharp Horn Castle tonight.”

“Yes, Father.” Reis withdrew from the room.

“You seem to place a lot of importance on this Ronin. He hasn’t had his inheritance rights restored yet, has he?”

Inside the room, Viscountess Parida glanced at her son’s back as he left. It was a rare thing for her husband to have Reis greet someone personally.

“Ronin’s rise has been too fast. And after this war, Marvin, Kabil, Toru, and the others will all support him.”

Vitorino patted his large belly, a look of puzzlement in his eyes. “I’m not sure what the Marquis is thinking, either, but I suspect he’ll find an opportunity to reinstate Ronin. After all, the relationship between the Hyde Clan and Wushan Castle is in tatters, and with Bretton having half Hyde Clan blood, his position is rather awkward.”

“Then what about our cooperation with Moonlight Valley?”

“We merely made a deal with Jesus, it wasn’t a partnership.”

Vitorino cut Parida off. “The moment I decided against going to the battlefield and made an agreement with the Earl of Sharp Sea, that deal was concluded.”

He stood up.

“Come, Parida. We need to get ready as well. Let’s show Ronin the warmth of the Dennis Clan!”

And the Dennis Clan was indeed warm.

The evening banquet featured dazzling lights, a magnificent orchestra, enchanting singers, beautiful dancers, and more. The affair was in no way inferior to those held at Wushan Castle; it was an extraordinarily lively event.

After the banquet, Vitorino invited Ronin to his study.

“Did you enjoy yourself, Ronin?”

“I had a wonderful time!”

Ronin praised with a smile, “Sharp Horn City’s seafood and fine wine are second to none, and the hospitality of the Dennis Clan made me feel right at home!”

“I’m delighted to hear such high praise from you.”

Vitorino reclined in his chair, patting his round, stuffed belly.

“I know you’re in a hurry to get to Golden Feather City, so I’ve already had the port officials prepare two of the Dennis Clan’s sailboats. You can depart whenever you’re ready.”

“You’re too kind, Viscount.”

As the old saying goes, beware of those who are overly attentive for no reason; they’re either plotting something or after your purse.

Since the banquet began, Ronin had been wondering what Vitorino wanted from him to be so hospitable.

’This is all far too grand for a simple welcome.’

’And there didn’t seem to be any reason for him to cooperate with me or try to curry my favor.’

“It’s no trouble at all. You don’t need to thank me.”

Vitorino continued, “Furthermore, I’ll have my son, Reis, escort you to Golden Feather City. That boy of mine is only interested in the strong and the talented. If he wishes to spar with you, I hope you’ll indulge him.”

Ronin’s thoughts stirred. ’Is he doing all this just for Reis?’

“Actually, I invited you here tonight because there’s something I need to trouble you with, something to mention to Lord Wiggin or Lord Lurans.”

’Here it comes,’ Ronin thought. ’Finally.’

Ronin focused his attention. “Please, go on.”

“The Earl of Scream Island. I’m sure you’ve heard of him.”

Ronin nodded.

The Screaming Sea is shaped like an inverted triangle, and Sharp Horn City is located to the right of its apex, hence the name “Sharp Horn.”

This vast sea is dotted with over a hundred islands of various sizes. The largest among them is Screaming Island, and the Fleming Clan are its lords.

Thirty years ago, also for meritorious service, Alfonso Fleming became the Earl of Scream Island. Besides these islands, his domain also includes an exclave west of the Wushan Demon Beast Mountain Range.

If you took away the Demon Beast Mountain Range, Wubei Territory might even be neighbors with that exclave.

“Geographically speaking, if the Fleming Clan blockades the northern sea, the ships from Dennis Port are trapped, only able to wander around the corner of the nearby harbor.”

Vitorino’s expression soured. “The Fleming Clan and I have had many conflicts over this issue throughout the years! Initially, thanks to the Marquis’s influence, they backed off for a long time.”

“But then the Marquis’s health declined, and after he handed territorial affairs over to Wiggin, the Fleming Clan started stirring up trouble again. The crucial part is, Earl Wiggin won’t intervene.”

In reality, Wiggin had tried to intervene at first, but they showed him no respect whatsoever, so he eventually just let the matter drop.

“So you want me to negotiate with the Fleming Clan on this matter?”

Ronin shook his head slightly. “They probably wouldn’t listen to me, either.”

Although he was also a Count, one was a Kingdom Count, while the other was a newly-appointed Count of Wushan Territory. Their statuses were not the same.

Besides, Ronin’s own strength might not measure up to the Earl’s.

“No, no. I just want you to put in a good word for me with the Marquis, and also to ask Earl Wiggin if he might be able to help me solve this difficult problem.”

The main reason Vitorino hadn’t personally gone to the battlefield this time was that Jesus had been willing to mediate, ultimately brokering a three-year free-passage agreement between Dennis Port and Scream Island.

But three years was too short.

If he had known that the battle at Chishan Town would be such a resounding victory for Wushan Castle, he never would have agreed to Jesus’s demands.

Every time he thought about it, Vitorino was filled with regret.

If he had participated, he might have been able to acquire a manor and a small town near Shore City.

A three-year agreement would expire, but land you acquired was usually yours for good.

But it was too late for regrets.

All Vitorino could do now was explain the threat facing the Dennis Clan and hope Wushan Castle would intervene again. Even if he couldn’t get a permanent agreement, surely they could secure one for at least eight or ten years?

“Alright, I’ll relay this matter to the Marquis and Earl Wiggin.”

This was the first he had heard of the conflict between Scream Island and Sharp Horn City.

Thinking it over, it made perfect sense from a geographical standpoint.

If Scream Island set up a blockade, all the ships in Dennis Port would be trapped.

Ronin found himself wondering: if the port in Wubei Territory were successfully built, could he then sail counter-clockwise along the coast into the Screaming Sea, catching the Earl of Scream Island in a pincer movement?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com