In the woods beside the road sign for Mountain Forest Town, Ronin's retinue rested after finishing their lunch.
After a morning of trekking through the mountains, which sometimes required the Guards to dismount and push the carriages, everyone was rather exhausted.
However, the thought of their long journey finally coming to an end brought a look of joy to their eyes.
They were currently gathered in small groups, leaning against tree trunks and resting in the shade, chatting softly amongst themselves.
A mountain breeze rustled the leaves. Mage Elron, who had been meditating under a tree at the front of the group, opened his eyes. He gazed into the distance, a sharp glint in his eyes.
"My Lord, I sense a group of people approaching from that direction," Elron warned.
Ronin's eyes snapped open, interrupting his Mana refinement. He stood and looked down at the plains below, where he could indeed see a group of people following the main road.
They were simply too far away for him to make out their exact number.
Chahar, standing beside Ronin, gazed into the distance. "Could it be the local Civil Servant? Do you think he's discovered our arrival and come out to welcome you, my Lord?"
Ronin shrugged. "Let's hope so."
He turned and strode toward the area where the Guards were resting. Guard Officer Macken and his deputy, David, followed close behind.
"Everyone, on your feet!" Ronin barked.
Thanks to their recent training, the Guards all snapped to attention the instant they heard the command, regardless of what they were doing.
Their discipline was on a completely different level compared to just ten days prior.
The Guards reacted on pure reflex, but a moment later, a question surfaced in their minds.
'The Baron just told us to get some proper rest this afternoon. Why the sudden training session?'
But Ronin hadn't called them over for training. "Grab your weapons and assemble before me!"
'Weapons?'
The Guards were taken aback. Their drills, like footwork and hand-to-hand combat, didn't require weapons. 'Why does the Baron want us armed?'
Chahar and David were also stunned, unable to comprehend why the Baron would give such an order.
Of everyone present, only Macken and Elron remained unfazed. It wasn't that they knew Ronin's purpose, but rather that they would execute any decision he made without question.
Confused as they were, Ronin held absolute authority in their eyes. They immediately grabbed their Inferior Longswords and assembled swiftly.
They formed up in five ranks and six files, perfectly uniform.
"Very good."
Looking at the neat formation, Ronin nodded slightly. "The party we're about to meet could be our own people here to give us a warm welcome, or they could greet us with cold steel. Be prepared for a fight!"
His words sent a jolt through everyone present.
'What's going on? We've reached Mountain Forest Town, but we're still in danger?'
Ronin didn't elaborate. "Now, form groups of five and spread out!"
A tense and uneasy atmosphere began to spread. However, knowing their party included an Intermediate Knight and a Mage—four Transcendents in total—they didn't panic.
"My Lord, are you concerned they might attack us?" Elron inquired.
Ronin nodded slightly. "I hope I'm just being paranoid, but it never hurts to be prepared."
"We will protect you to the death, my Lord!" Macken shouted, unstrapping his Shield and drawing his Longsword.
David did the same. "We will protect you to the death, my Lord!"
Seeing this, the Guards all raised their Inferior Longswords. "We will protect you to the death, my Lord!"
A smile touched Ronin's lips as he watched the scene unfold.
'It's good to have my own loyal men,' he thought.
Time trickled by, and the approaching column drew ever closer. Ronin noticed they had not only Cavalry, but also Infantry marching behind them.
"Twenty-eight people in total."
As an Intermediate Mage, Elron's perception was sharper; he was the one who confirmed their number.
A corner of Ronin's mouth quirked up. 'Twenty-eight people, a mix of Cavalry and Infantry... What could they possibly be here for?'
If he had encountered such a force while passing through another lord's territory, Ronin would likely have taken a detour to avoid a direct confrontation.
'But I can't do that now,' he thought. 'I'm already in my own domain. How can I possibly detour?'
Even if they came with hostile intentions, he had to face them head-on.
The sounds of hooves and marching feet grew clearer, and everyone's hearts leaped into their throats.
Soon, the group appeared about a hundred meters away.
Ronin mounted his horse and rode forward, leading his men to block the path from their position on the slope, giving them the high ground.
Macken, David, and Elron mounted their own warhorses, flanking him protectively.
When the two parties were about fifty meters apart, Macken's deep voice boomed, "Halt! State your names and identities!"
His powerful voice echoed through the forest.
The five riders at the head of the opposing group, who had already slowed, pulled their reins and halted. A tall, slender man gently spurred his horse forward a few paces from the group.
"And who might you be?"
he demanded coldly. "What is your business in Mountain Forest Town?"
Macken's voice was grave as he replied, "Before you stands a scion of the Wushan Clan, the Baron of Mountain Forest Town, Ronin Blazing Storm! If you are subjects of this town, you should be offering your greetings and pledging your fealty to Baron Ronin!"
"A scion of the Wushan Family?"
The man's voice held a hint of confusion, laced with faint, almost imperceptible mockery.
"As far as I know, Earl Wiggin has only three children. The eldest son, Ronin, was just stripped of his inheritance. His daughter, McKinney, is married to Sir Kabil of Splendid City, and his second son, Bretton, is studying at the Wushan Extraordinary Academy."
He raised an eyebrow and spread his hands. "I've never heard of the great Earl having a son named Ronin Blazing Storm. What is he, a bastard?"
"You...!"
Ronin raised a hand, signaling Macken to stand down. He held the reins firmly, remaining calm and unhurried atop his horse.
"They say Mountain Forest Town is exceptionally remote and barren, a place where news should travel slowly. I'm surprised that you, living deep in the mountains, have already heard that the primary heir of Wushan Castle has been disinherited."
Ronin chuckled. "In that case, you must also know that this Ronin changed his surname to Blazing Storm, correct?"
The man's expression flickered. He'd just realized his slip of the tongue.
Ronin didn't want to waste any more words and decided to lay his cards on the table. "If I'm not mistaken, you must be the Civil Servant of Mountain Forest Town. Tell me your name."
"The rumors from the outside world paint you as a fool, but seeing you today, it's clear they can't be trusted." The man dropped the pretense and raised his hand in a Knight's salute.
"Lord Baron, I am Princest. I am the Civil Servant of Mountain Forest Town, as well as its operator and protector."
Ronin narrowed his eyes, his brow furrowing.
The title of Civil Servant was one bestowed upon him by Wushan Castle. 'Operator' and 'protector,' however, were clearly titles he had given himself.
'Listening to his tone and observing his attitude, he's probably come to see himself as the true master of Mountain Forest Town.'
'That's why Princest brought armed men to 'welcome' me. That's why he remains on horseback to speak with me, rather than dismounting to offer a proper salute.'
Ronin didn't know what gave the man his confidence, but it was clear he had no intention of easily relinquishing his 'de facto Lord' of Mountain Forest Town position.
'Or perhaps he's using this show of force to try and extort some concessions from me, the rightful Lord?'
Ronin's gaze swept over Princest's men. Four Cavalry, twenty Infantry, and he even spotted three Archers among them.
According to Lurans, Mountain Forest Town had a population of no more than a thousand. To be able to field this many Guards was somewhat beyond Ronin's expectations.
"Alright, Civil Servant Princest. You can tell me your purpose now."