Lord: Stripped of My Inheritance from the Start - Chapter 397 - 371: Black Python Castle’s Choice
Wolf Fang Territory.
“Father, what is the meaning of this Transfer Order from the Marquis?”
Galier asked, completely bewildered. “Are we going to war against someone again?”
Toru was filled with shock and uncertainty.
At the new year’s celebration banquet, they had all believed that with the Polante Thief Gang annihilated and the Black Gold Brotherhood pushed back to the border, this year would be a peaceful one. He never expected to receive a letter from Wushan Castle ordering him to prepare his Knight Order for battle.
But the crucial point was that the letter not only failed to identify the enemy, but it also offered no clues whatsoever. It created the feeling that a great war was imminent, yet left him completely in the dark.
And what surprised Toru most of all was that the letter was not from Wiggin, but penned by the Marquis himself.
This was enough to prove that these war preparations were anything but ordinary.
“I’ll go to Wushan Castle and see for myself. Since the Marquis wrote the letter personally, it means he considers this matter of great importance.”
Toru folded the letter and put it away. “You stay here in Wolf Fang Territory and oversee this year’s spring planting. I’ll notify you when there are real signs of war.”
“Yes, Father.”
In fact, Toru wasn’t the only one who received a letter. The leaders of the other Knight Orders had all received similar letters ordering them to prepare for war, and they all shared the same confusion.
Word gets around, and since Lurans hadn’t specified this was a secret operation, the mobilization of the major Knight Orders quickly drew the attention of all the great nobles within Wushan Territory.
All eight of Wushan Castle’s Knight Orders were on the move, yet none of the vassals had received a summons. This was strange. Could it be that the Marquis wanted to win a war all by himself?
’Could they be moving against Black Python City?’ Marvin wondered to himself.
But he quickly dismissed the thought as soon as it appeared.
Although he despised Ossen, Wushan Castle and Black Python Castle were ultimately connected by marriage. Dianey was not only alive and well in the castle, but she had even been asked by Ronin to help him.
Under these circumstances, it was impossible for the two families to suddenly go to war.
’Could it be that he plans to uproot the Black Gold Brotherhood at Black Pine Mountain?’
Another possibility occurred to Marvin.
’No, I have to ask the old man what’s going on. How can they start a war now without including us!’
In the last battle against the Polante Thief Gang, many people had gained substantial benefits.
Toru, Philip, and Solstein had even been made Barons and granted land, making many people extremely envious.
If there was another war, actively participating might allow them to reap some rewards as well.
…
Black Python City.
Barrington clutched the letter in his hand, his icy gaze fixed on the Knight from Wushan Town who had delivered it. If looks could kill, the messenger would have died many times over.
In the end, his reason won out.
“You wait here. I will go and ask the Count, and then I will give you a reply.”
The messenger Knight’s forehead was beaded with sweat. He had even written his will before coming to deliver the letter.
“As you wish!”
Barrington snorted, turned, and left the hall, heading straight for the rear courtyard.
At that moment, not only were Ossen and Black Wound in Black Python Castle, but so was the man they called the Divine Envoy, Mephisto.
“Both of you are Meteor Knights, yet you actually failed to deal with a single Great Mage!”
Mephisto’s tone was filled with anger. “You have disappointed me immensely!”
His plan had been to use Moonlight Valley and Black Python City as bases to build up his strength, but he never imagined Black Python City would be at risk of exposure so soon.
The escaped Miroslav still hadn’t been found, and it was likely he never would be.
“My lord, although we made a mistake, that Miroslav is genuinely skilled. We didn’t expect him to have mastered the Earth Travel Skill.”
Ossen said defensively. In Mephisto’s presence, he lost all the arrogance he displayed before Lurans, appearing instead like a true follower, or even a servant.
Black Wound said nothing. His mistake that day had been to believe Ossen’s nonsense, trusting that the latter could easily take down Miroslav on his own. That was why he hadn’t acted immediately.
“Enough. I have no interest in hearing your excuses. Once Miroslav informs Wushan Castle of this, you’d better start thinking about how to deal with the war that’s likely to come.”
Just then, Barrington knocked and entered.
“Your Excellency the Divine Envoy, and Father, Marquis Melonika has sent an order.”
He handed the letter to Ossen. “It orders me to go to Wushan Castle in your place.”
Everyone was stunned for a moment. They had just been discussing the possibility of war, and in the next instant, a letter had arrived from Wushan Castle.
“Has Miroslav already escaped back to Wushan Town? Or did he go straight to Wushan Castle?”
Ossen took the letter and began to read.
Barrington guessed, “Miroslav was injured, so he probably hasn’t made it back to Wushan Town yet. The letter only mentions Lurans’s concern about the battle that took place at Black Python Castle and his desire to understand the specific situation.”
Ossen glanced through it quickly before respectfully handing the letter to Mephisto.
“Based on my understanding of Lurans, even if Miroslav hasn’t made it back yet, that old fox has definitely guessed a thing or two.”
He sneered, “He doesn’t dare to fight us, but he has to give Miroslav an explanation for this matter. That’s why he wants to trick you into going there, lock you up, and force us to give him an explanation!”
Lurans did not want to initiate a direct conflict with Black Python City. It wouldn’t be good for the faltering Wushan Castle.
If he could give Miroslav an explanation this way, it would indeed be an excellent move.
Mephisto finished reading the letter and thought in silence for a while before finally speaking:
“Barrington, go tell that messenger to return and inform Lurans that Black Python City is swamped with affairs. Tell him that you will set out for Wushan Castle in May, after you’ve finished your business next month.”
“Do I really have to go?”
Although Barrington could not defy Mephisto’s command, going to Wushan Castle was fraught with uncertainty, and he could even lose his life. To be honest, he did not want to go.
Mephisto laughed. “Of course you’re not going. This is just to stall for time.”
As he spoke, he looked at Ossen. “Since Lurans doesn’t have long to live, let’s throw Wushan Territory into complete chaos. Don’t you have a way to contact the Black Gold Brotherhood? Go and tell them to prepare as quickly as possible. The perfect opportunity to invade Wushan Territory has arrived.”
The corners of Ossen’s mouth tilted up. “As you wish, Your Excellency the Divine Envoy!”
He was a vassal of Wushan Territory, but that was in the past.
Now, he was Mephisto’s tool, his servant.
In the past, the order of the nobility had kept him from rebelling openly, but now that he had broken free from those shackles, there was nothing he wouldn’t dare to do.
Besides, this was not a path to certain death.
If he could get the secret support of the Villa Duchy, he might just be able to drag Wushan Castle down while Black Python City remained unscathed.
Watching the father and son, Ossen and Barrington, leave, Black Wound asked, “My lord, does Moonlight Valley need to coordinate with this operation?”
Mephisto pondered for a moment.
Most of the people Jesus had left behind in Shore City had been eliminated. If they wanted to make a big move, they would have to mobilize Moonlight Valley for a direct assault.
But doing so would undoubtedly expose Jesus.
Right now, Moonlight Valley was “incubating” very nicely, and he didn’t want to expose it so soon.
“Letting Black Python City charge ahead will be enough. There’s no need for Moonlight Valley to get involved for now.”
Mephisto narrowed his eyes, a conspiratorial glint in them.
“This Lurans was said to be incredibly powerful in his youth. If we can use this chaos to pull him over to our side, then it wouldn’t matter even if we lost Ossen and Black Python City.”
In his heart, although Black Python City and Ossen’s group had some value, it wasn’t much.
