Ronin looked at the young man kneeling on one knee before him. Instead of fleeing, he had come forward to pledge his loyalty—a deed that required immense courage.

After all, the young man had no way of knowing whether the new lord would accept his pledge or hand him a sword.

"You’re very courageous."

Ronin glanced at the Guards who had also knelt around them. "Are these soldiers of the Reed Clan?"

"Yes, my lord!"

Saimon remained kneeling on one knee. "Over the past two days, I have worked to maintain the city’s stability. I led my men to pacify the populace, suppressed several troublemakers, and prevented many from fleeing the Purple Thunder Territory."

"Oh?"

Ronin raised an eyebrow. He recalled what he had seen from the sky just now; the entire Purple Thunder Territory indeed appeared relatively calm and had not descended into chaos.

"How did you manage that?"

Saimon was still very nervous. He had no idea what Ronin’s intentions were, so he could only answer with the utmost sincerity.

"I arrested the troublemakers. As for those who tried to flee, I told them that even if they reached the Villa Duchy, they would arrive with no land, no homes, and no possessions. They would very likely become peasant slaves, or face an even worse fate! I said it would be better to remain in the Purple Thunder Territory. After all, there are vast fields and estates here that need tending. Even if the Marquis takes back the Count’s Domain, he won’t slaughter everyone."

In short, fleeing their homes would most likely lead to a hard life, while staying offered a sliver of hope for survival.

Ronin nodded slightly. Although it was common for the people on a defeated lord’s land to become slaves, this wasn’t always the case.

Besides, Haid’s County had such a large population; the sudden appearance of hundreds of thousands of slaves would be difficult to manage.

Saimon had realized this and had taken two key actions. Although he had acted on his own authority, it was enough to display his capability and decisiveness, proving his worth.

This was, in a way, his pledge of fealty to the new lord of the Purple Thunder Territory.

"I haven’t heard of the Reed Clan or of you. Introduce yourself."

Hearing this, Saimon’s taut nerves relaxed a fraction. ’When someone wants to get to know you,’ he thought, ’things usually aren’t so bad.’

After Saimon’s introduction, Ronin gained some understanding of the Reed Clan.

This clan was the only family of baronial rank under Taini Viscount. Saimon’s father, Baron Nige, had been a Silver Peak Knight. Because of this, when Taini was granting fiefs, he assigned the northeastern corner of the Purple Thunder Territory to the Reed Clan. Their duty was to guard the foot of the mountains and prevent Magical Beasts from descending to threaten the territory.

Although Baron Nige had died in the war, Saimon’s own strength was respectable—he was an Advanced Peak Knight and an Intermediate Mage. In addition, his mother was a Senior Mage.

If Taini Viscount had not been defeated, Saimon would have inherited the title of Baron, and the Reed Clan would not have fallen into decline.

Ronin was quite satisfied with Saimon, as well as his mother, Julia.

He was particularly pleased with Saimon. With him assisting Macken in managing the Purple Thunder Territory, their efforts would be far more effective.

’But then again, I am his father’s killer. Will he truly serve me with all his heart?’

Ronin pondered for a long while before speaking. "I can accept your allegiance, but you must accept my conditions."

Saimon raised his head. "Please, my lord, state your terms!"

"First, I will confiscate the Reed Clan’s territory."

Ronin had so many followers, yet even people like Ridder and Macken were only Governors; they had not been granted land or Noble Titles.

He couldn’t possibly allow a defeated enemy who had surrendered to him to become the first Baron in the Wubei Territory.

A flicker of emotion crossed Saimon’s eyes. ’I knew it would come to this. Still, the thought of my family’s territory suddenly being gone fills me with sorrow... But I know I’m in no position to refuse.’

"However, your family will be following me as Transcendents. According to the Wubei Territory’s policy for attracting talented individuals, I will grant you a portion of farmland."

Hearing this, Saimon felt a small measure of relief.

"Second, I value your abilities highly. My subordinate, the Silver Moon Knight Macken, will become the Governor of the Purple Thunder Territory. I will arrange for you to assist him in managing the territory’s affairs."

Saimon’s eyes widened sharply at those words.

"A... a Silver Moon Level?"

’He’d never seen a Silver Moon Knight in his entire life, and now he was being asked to assist such a powerful expert?’

The corners of Ronin’s mouth tilted up slightly. ’Letting him know Macken’s strength is a calculated deterrent.’

’In the face of absolute power, even if Saimon is some local bully with ulterior motives, he’ll have to keep them in check.’

"And a third point. Swamp Town in the Wubei Territory is my base for Magic. I have need of your mother’s abilities. If she is willing, I would like her to go to Swamp Town to live and work."

Ronin continued, "In Swamp Town, she can access more magical knowledge and learn to create Magic Potions. She’ll also have the chance to receive guidance on her Cultivation from Mage Master Elron."

"This..."

Saimon was stunned.

’I didn’t mishear, did I? It was already unbelievable that Ronin had a Silver Moon Knight, but he has a Mage Master too?’

Two Eighth-level Transcendents!

"No, more than that!"

Saimon glanced at Ronin, then at Carlos in the courtyard, who radiated an immense pressure. He realized that the man and beast before him were also terrifyingly powerful!

’This Count Ronin... he’s truly incredible.’

’Perhaps following him is an excellent choice.’

However, Ronin’s request for Julia to go to the Wubei Territory put Saimon in a difficult position.

’He had a good idea of what Ronin was after, but the Wubei Territory was so far away. If his mother went there, how often would he get to see her?’

He asked cautiously, "My lord, can I go to the Wubei Territory to visit my mother?"

Ronin smiled slightly. "Of course. Not only can you go to the Wubei Territory, but your mother can also return to the Purple Thunder Territory. I am not restricting your freedom."

Saimon breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as he’d thought before, he really had no other choice. ’If I agree, I can preserve a normal life for my family, one that’s at least better than that of the average Free People. But if I refuse... the consequences are unknown, and they certainly won’t be good.’

"My lord, I can accept your first two conditions. As for the third, I will accept it on my mother’s behalf for now, but please allow me to go home and inform her before giving you a final reply."

Ronin nodded slightly. ’He could see Saimon was a man who cared for his family.’

"I think your mother will agree."

He took a bottle of Advanced Enhancement Potion from his Space Ring and handed it to Saimon. "Drink it."

Saimon took the potion bottle. He didn’t know that it contained an Enhancement Potion and subconsciously associated it with a poison used to control people.

’Is he using poison to force my mother to agree?’

’Would someone from the Wushan Clan really resort to such a despicable tactic?’

The thought flashed through his mind, but he didn’t dare to voice it.

At this point, Saimon had no other choice. He quickly twisted open the cap and downed the potion in one gulp.

As a scorching heat washed over his body, the Fighting Qi inside him began to surge. He subconsciously thought the poison was taking effect.

But this sensation only lasted for a moment and brought him no pain at all.

And just as the potion’s effects were about to fade, a flash of cyan light erupted from his body.

"I broke through!"

Saimon felt the surge of new Power in disbelief, then looked at Ronin in confusion. "My lord, this potion...?"

’When I heard he was an Advanced Peak Knight, I figured I’d try giving him an Enhancement Potion,’ Ronin thought. ’I didn’t actually expect it to help him break through.’

He smiled and said, "This is the very Magic Potion I need your mother’s help to produce—one that can enhance a Knight’s Cultivation."

Saimon was stunned. He’d never imagined a Magic Potion with such an incredible effect could exist.

Then, his face flushed with embarrassment.

He had first assumed the request for his mother to make Magic Potions was a pretext, and then he’d suspected the potion was poison.

Now, the truth was clear: Ronin hadn’t deceived him. It was he who had been unfairly suspicious.

Saimon performed a Knight’s salute with sincere gratitude. "Thank you for your gift, my lord. From this day forward, your command will be my path!"