Lord: Stripped of My Inheritance from the Start

Chapter 467 - 440: Subversion

The ransom system held a significant place in the wartime culture of the nobility. This was one of the reasons Patridge had received special treatment after Karda captured him.

Ronin smiled faintly, sat down on a nearby stool, and calmly sized up the once high-and-mighty Viscount of Crescent Island.

Though Patridge was disheveled and resentful, at his core, he was still a nobleman, retaining a sliver of his former authority and arrogance.

"Ransom?"

Ronin’s voice was tinged with amusement. "My dear Viscount, you do realize that in my eyes, you are nothing more than a pirate who attempted to attack Rapids Island. You are merely my prisoner."

Patridge stiffened, suddenly on high alert. "What, you intend to just kill me?"

With a smile on his face, Ronin delivered the most menacing of threats. "Quite a few nobles have died at my hands over the years. There was the Baron of Swamp Town long ago, and more recently, the Count of Moonlight Valley. One more like you wouldn’t make much of a difference."

Patridge’s eyes widened. "You killed Jesus? You’re insane! You even dared to kill His Majesty the King’s younger brother?!"

"If someone commits an unforgivable crime, then of course I can kill them."

Ronin’s expression turned serious. "Just like you, Patridge. You brought so many Knights and Magic Energy Cannons in an attempt to destroy my Rapids Island. That, too, is an unforgivable sin."

"No, no, no..."

Patridge began to panic. He was starting to think this young man before him was the impulsive type, someone who might actually ignore the codes of the nobility and just kill him.

"You’ve misunderstood, Lord Baron. I only wanted to do business with Rapids Island. I had no intention of attacking you."

"Do business? Did you plan to do business with me using warships and cannons?"

Ronin couldn’t help but find this amusing. "Enough, Patridge. I don’t think you quite grasp your situation, do you?"

"You disguised yourself as a pirate to attack my domain. Even if I were to kill you, the Fleming Clan wouldn’t step forward to demand justice. They wouldn’t want to publicly admit their intention to attack me."

He spread his hands. "So for your death, I would pay no price at all."

Patridge suddenly calmed down. He knew Ronin was right.

Setting aside that sliver of arrogance in his heart, he had to re-evaluate the young nobleman before him.

The man possessed a Giant Dragon that could command the seas and had rendered him powerless. At the same time, it was said that his own personal strength was not to be underestimated.

"You talked about killing me, yet you haven’t done it. So, what do you want from me? Or rather, what do you want me to do for you?"

Ronin was quite satisfied that his captive had shifted his approach instead of continuing with pointless denials.

"Simple. I need you to switch your allegiance to me."

Hearing this, Karda and Reis, who were standing nearby, were somewhat surprised.

’Patridge was a vassal of the Earl of Scream Island. Was Ronin really going to poach him like this? Would it even work?’

’And even if he agreed, could he really be trusted?’

Patridge looked Ronin straight in the eye. "You want to defeat the Fleming Clan and replace them as the hegemon of the seas?"

’Hegemon of the seas?’

Ronin did not respond, but he had to admit, the man’s perspective was far too limited. He was thinking too simply.

The Fleming Clan was indeed an enemy on his path, but not his final enemy.

The Ronin of today already stood at the apex of the Orland Continent’s Transcendent population. The enemies he would face in the future were the Holy Storm Organization, and even the Demon Gods of the Crescent Continent.

Against such foes, individual strength was certainly crucial, but the strength of one’s faction was equally important.

Ronin needed a group of powerful subordinates.

Patridge’s strength was decent, and at just over fifty, he still had room to improve. He was a good talent to recruit.

Seeing Ronin’s silence, Patridge asked again, "Even if I were truly willing to swear fealty to you, would you really believe I wouldn’t rebel?"

On this point, Ronin was very confident.

"You can rebel. But you’ve already had a taste of my Giant Dragon’s power. The moment you do, never mind you—your family, your castle, everything will be turned to ash beneath its flames."

"Your Giant Dragon is indeed very strong, but I was only caught because I was careless. If we were to do it again, as long as I was more vigilant, I could dodge its claws! Moreover, if we were prepared—with Magic Energy Cannons, Magic Energy Arrows, and Magic Scrolls—we could absolutely achieve the feat of slaying a Dragon!"

Ronin spread his hands. "Perhaps. But I don’t think Crescent Island possesses that kind of power."

Patridge’s determined expression suddenly softened.

’Alright, Ronin was right. The Fleming Clan might have the power to slay a Dragon, but Crescent Island certainly did not.’

"What do I get for swearing fealty to you?" he asked.

"Simple. You get to live."

Ronin had no intention of giving him anything. "You need to understand, you have no bargaining chips right now. On the contrary, even if you submit to me, your family will still have to hand over Thirty Thousand Gold Coins, plus five warships!"

Patridge was stunned. He never expected that even after choosing to compromise, he would still have to pay the ransom.

But he didn’t dare to object, because he truly had no chips to support any negotiation.

"Paying the ransom allows you to continue acting as a Vassal of the Fleming Clan."

Patridge knew Ronin was telling him to be a spy.

His honor as a Knight and a nobleman rebelled at the thought, but caught between life and death, after a series of internal struggles, he ultimately chose to compromise.

"Very well, Lord Ronin, I am willing to switch my allegiance to you!"

Ronin smiled and nodded in satisfaction. "Very good, Patridge. One day, you will be glad you made this decision."

He stood up and ordered, "Karda, write a letter of allegiance in Patridge’s name, then have him put his handprint on it."

The letter itself was of little practical use, but it would at least make Scream Island distrust Crescent Island, and it would also serve as a psychological deterrent for Patridge.

"Also, write another letter and have it sent to Crescent Island. Tell them to bring the ransom over. We’ll consider those Thirty Thousand Gold Coins a contribution to the development of Rapids Island."

Karda laughed. He never thought the Thirty Thousand Gold Coins just pledged to their cause would be coming from Crescent Island.

"I understand, my lord. I’ll get right on it!"

He immediately turned and left the room.

Ronin took a Strong Healing Skill Scroll out of his Space Ring.

"This is a Strong Healing Skill from the hand of a Great Mage. It will be a great help for your injuries. Consider it a reward."

As Ronin infused his Magic Power into the Scroll, a gentle light shot out and enveloped Patridge’s entire body.

Bathing in the light of the Strong Healing Skill, Patridge felt an indescribable sense of relief wash over his body. The pain that had been tormenting him for days rapidly faded away.

He closed his eyes, able to feel his bones mending and his wounds closing.

"As expected of a rare Strong Healing Skill Scroll!"

When the healing was finished, he pushed himself up to lean against the headboard. "How do you want me to help you deal with the Fleming Clan?"

"Now is not the time."

Ronin signaled for Reis to take out a pen and paper to take notes. "However, you can start by telling me the specifics about Screaming Island."

"Also, Alfonso hasn’t been seen much in recent years. I want to know, has he broken through?"

Patridge hesitated for a moment. After all, this was betraying information about his Lord.

But he quickly changed his mindset.

"Count Alfonso has indeed been in seclusion, training bitterly. But regrettably, he is still a Great Mage. He has not broken through."

"He’s not even a Magic Master?" Ronin asked, surprised.

Patridge shook his head. "He has already begun to enter his period of decline. I’m afraid there’s no hope of him advancing in this lifetime."

At that moment, Screaming Island’s combat strength plummeted in Ronin’s estimation.

Perhaps dealing with Screaming Island in the future wouldn’t be as troublesome as he had imagined.