Chapter 150: Shadow
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In the 675th year of the Sea Serpent Kingdom, on November 1, the Grand Duke Bedrock dispatched troops to surround the Irongold family’s castle estate, but made no attempt to attack.
On November 2, the Grand Duke Bedrock sent an envoy to the Irongold family that morning. That afternoon, the Irongold family gathered all the surviving members of its Iron-Armored Golden Dragon Legion and launched a charge in a single direction. Dozens of Iron-Armored Golden Dragons met their deaths in the jaws of a duke-level lair creature—the Bedrock Earth Dragon.
On November 3, the royal family of the Sea Serpent Kingdom sent an envoy to the Grand Duke Bedrock’s domain. That same day, several other grand dukes of the Sea Serpent Kingdom also dispatched envoys to his territory.
On November 4, the Grand Duke Bedrock’s legion fired several volleys of arrows at the Irongold family’s castle estate.
On November 5, three barons and one viscount who had formerly been affiliated with the Irongold family announced that they were breaking away and would instead swear allegiance to another marquis. That same day, the Grand Duke Bedrock’s legion once again fired several volleys of arrows at the Irongold family’s castle estate.
On November 6, the Grand Duke Bedrock sent another envoy to the Irongold family.
On November 7, the Grand Duke Bedrock and the Irongold family reached a settlement. The Irongold family would compensate him with one million Sea Serpent gold coins and two lord-level lairs for the military expenses incurred during the campaign. It would also exchange the Iron-Armored Golden Dragon lair passed down through the family, along with an epic-grade weapon, for a lair belonging to a level-forty-three crystal beetle, which was in the Grand Duke Bedrock’s possession.
On November 8, both sides formally completed the transaction. The Grand Duke Bedrock withdrew his troops from the Irongold family’s territory. Since the Iron-Armored Golden Dragon lair could not be moved again, the Irongold estate and castle were assigned to the Grand Duke Bedrock. In compensation, he gave the Irongold family a barony.
On November 9, the Irongold family abandoned Irongold Estate and began migrating to another location, where it would build a new estate. That same day, Count Irongold announced his abdication. His second son, Sak, succeeded him as count, and the title of Count Irongold was changed to Count Crystal.
“The family has truly exhausted every last bit of its foundation this time…”
In his study, Li Ju looked at the intelligence report in his hands and could not help sighing.
For the Irongold family, the one million Sea Serpent gold coins and two lord-level lairs paid to the Grand Duke Bedrock were only minor losses. But exchanging the Iron-Armored Golden Dragon lair and an epic-grade weapon for a so-called crystal beetle lair had effectively hollowed out the very foundation of the family.
The Irongold family had previously been able to maintain a status in the kingdom no lower than that of a marquis precisely because of the formidable strength of its Iron-Armored Golden Dragons. Now that it had lost both the Iron-Armored Golden Dragon lair and its ancestral epic-grade weapon, the family had fallen directly to the ranks of ordinary counts within the kingdom.
The loss of Irongold Estate was especially painful. It had been the ancestral land that the Irongold family had cultivated ever since its founding, and the family had invested enormous effort in its construction. The estate contained the wealth the Irongold family had accumulated over the years. Even if the family could take the belongings inside with them, there were always some things that could not be moved.
And all those immovable possessions had now fallen into the hands of the Grand Duke Bedrock.
A mere barony was nothing compared with the treasures within Irongold Estate. The Irongold family had suffered a devastating loss this time.
“It’s just a shame about my Iron-Armored Golden Dragon…”
After learning that the Grand Duke Bedrock had gained control of the Iron-Armored Golden Dragon lair, Li Ju had immediately released the dragon. He would never dare keep an Iron-Armored Golden Dragon under the Grand Duke Bedrock’s control at his side.
After releasing it, Li Ju still felt a little regretful at losing such a convenient means of transportation. Without the Iron-Armored Golden Dragon, the Redfire Venom Ants could still fly, but they were ultimately slower than the dragon—and their appearance was nowhere near as mighty and imposing.
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“And then there’s the change in the count’s title…”
Li Ju narrowed his eyes as he studied the news concerning the succession.
Although the change of title occupied only a short sentence in the report, Li Ju could imagine how many hidden currents and sinister struggles lay behind those few words.
For a count in the prime of his life to pass his title on to his child was by no means a simple matter. Even if that count had just suffered a crushing defeat, he should not have surrendered his title so easily.
“My lord, the family has sent word that all direct vassal nobles are to be summoned to the new family estate for a family council.”
As Li Ju pondered the matter, Rama suddenly knocked on the door and entered.
“When?”
“Three days from now.”
“I understand. You may leave.”
Rama withdrew.
“The family has just suffered such a calamity, so holding a family council is only natural. But what will my younger brother, the newly installed Count Crystal, Sara, do to target me at this meeting?”
Li Ju sat in the chair in his study, gazing calmly at the view outside the window.
Although Sara had inherited the title of count, according to the rules of noble succession, Li Ju should originally have been Count Irongold’s first heir. Even though his eligibility as heir had been revoked, he still retained the right to inherit the count’s title.
To a newly installed noble, someone like Li Ju—a former first heir—was bound to be an eyesore.
Since ancient times, nobles had committed no shortage of kin-slaying in order to secure their positions.
“Fortunately, I made preparations long ago.”
During the period when the Grand Duke Bedrock had surrounded the Irongold family, Li Ju had not been idle. Although he lacked the power to act against the Grand Duke Bedrock, he still had the ability to continue acting against the minor nobles in the surrounding regions.
The Grand Duke Bedrock’s actions had intensified the sense of danger in his heart, and he had moved directly to control the surrounding nobles with ruthless efficiency. By now, he had brought two viscounts and barons under his control, while more than twenty minor nobles—including lords and knights—were also under his influence.
He had even gone beyond the territory originally belonging to Count Irongold. Quite a few nobles whose lands bordered the count’s domain, yet who were not under Count Irongold’s control, had also fallen into Li Ju’s hands.
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Strictly speaking, the number of minor nobles under Li Ju’s control was already no less than that of an ordinary count-level noble.
Of course, if this had been merely an underground force, it would not have mattered so much. More importantly, Li Ju had made substantial progress during this period in cultivating the duke-level sword technique he had acquired at auction, Starfall Swordsmanship. Judging solely by his swordsmanship, his strength had now advanced another great step…
Three days later.
Li Ju rode alone, leading thirty elite soldiers, and headed for the site of the new family estate.
“Sir Trenell.”
As soon as he arrived at the entrance to the new family estate, a noble called out to him.
“Lord Bona.”
Li Ju smiled and returned the greeting.
This lord who had taken the initiative to greet him was one of the direct vassal nobles under his control.
“Sir Trenell.”
One noble after another came over to greet Li Ju. He returned each greeting with a smile.
All of these nobles who greeted him were under his control.
Looking at the direct vassals of the Irongold family who appeared to be approaching him of their own accord, yet were in truth all under his command, Li Ju suddenly felt as though the entire Irongold family lay within his grasp—as though he, rather than anyone else, were the family’s count.
But even if that was not yet the case, it soon would be…
Li Ju looked toward the new family castle—the residence of the newly appointed Count Crystal—and smiled mysteriously.
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