Nolan narrowed his eyes slightly, a faint, unreadable smile touching his lips.
He patted his horse and guided it closer to the retainer, his voice turning cold.
"He doesn't wish to see me? If that's the case, why bring me here?"
"To make sure you didn't run, of course!"
"The ones who should be running are you."
Nolan gave a small, helpless sigh. He had hoped to avoid unnecessary trouble, yet it seemed impossible.
"You really have no fear of death."
"Ha!"
The retainer threw his head back and laughed, mockery thick in his voice.
"You lightless wretch, still putting on an act."
"This is Morton territory. Forget a Carian Knight. Even the Lunar Princess would not dare behave so brazenly here."
"Men! Seize them. Dead or alive, the lord will reward you!"
At a time like this, he still dared to pose as a Carian Knight?
Just some ignorant bumpkin from outside the Lands Between.
As for Vyke, he did not even bother to consider him a threat.
Just an ordinary Tarnished. Could he possibly take on five or ten trained knights by himself?
The only one he was wary of was Nolan.
After all, this unknown Tarnished had yet to make a move. But since the young master had returned unharmed, he could not be that impressive.
One of the knights spurred his horse forward and charged straight at Nolan.
Seeing the armored mount thundering in like a gale, Vyke's heart jumped. He raised his spear and stepped forward instinctively.
"Careful!"
A brilliant golden light flared in Nolan's hand, so dazzling that everyone present had to squint.
The charging warhorse shrieked and reared, startled out of its momentum.
With a sharp crack through the air, the Lightning Spear shot forward, piercing cleanly through the knight's heavy armor and body.
There was no spray of blood. The wound blackened instantly, charred by the lightning.
But the force did not stop there.
The spear carried the knight's body onward, tearing through the air for hundreds of meters before slamming into an ancient bell tower.
A thunderous crash followed.
The tower shook violently, then collapsed with a roar. Bricks and shattered stone rained down in a deafening cascade, the ground trembling beneath the impact.
When the dust finally settled, Nolan withdrew the fading light in his hand. His gaze swept over the stunned faces around him.
"This is what you were relying on?"
"You seem to have mistaken my restraint for arrogance."
The retainer stood frozen, wishing he could drag that foolish young master over and throttle him, then beg the lord to hurry and produce another heir.
He had misjudged this completely.
This was no mere Carian Knight.
"Sir Knight, please, look carefully! This has nothing to do with me. It was Lord Hadley who ordered it. I was only following instructions!"
He shouted desperately, scrambling off his horse and dropping to his knees in one fluid motion.
Even Vyke stared in disbelief at how quickly the man switched sides.
The Morton retainers hesitated.
Knightly honor urged them to charge.
But no code of chivalry could stop that lightning spear.
"Why are you still holding your weapons? This is an Ancient Dragon Knight. If the Dynasty passes judgment, can you bear the consequences?" the retainer shouted in a panic.
The knights glanced at one another. Conflict and reluctance were written plainly across their faces.
In the end, they let go.
Weapons clattered to the ground one after another.
"Spare me, my lord! Please don't kill me. I can still be useful to you!"
The retainer had just begun to relax when he felt the cold edge of a greatsword settle against his shoulder. His face drained of color.
The strength this Tarnished had displayed far exceeded anything he had imagined.
How could someone like this be wandering around a small place like Limgrave?
If he were in the Royal Capital, he would likely be treated as an honored guest.
"With this much commotion, our lord has surely gone into hiding," the retainer blurted out.
"But I know where he is."
"There isn't a single room or hidden passage in this manor I don't know."
He spoke quickly, eager to prove his worth.
"Interesting. What's your name?" Nolan asked calmly.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
The man's talent for changing sides was truly remarkable.
"My lord, my name is Val. I am the steward of the Morton family."
Val bowed repeatedly, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
"Very well, Val. Take me to your lord."
Just then, a chaotic pounding of hooves echoed through the courtyard.
Everyone turned.
More than a dozen Kaiden mercenaries in heavy armor rode in at full speed.
They wore tough armor lined with snow wolf fur and carried gleaming cavalry sabers and solid round shields, forcing their way into the yard.
Nolan's gaze turned cold. His right hand tightened around the hilt of the Banished Knight's Greatsword.
He lifted the blade.
A violent surge of power erupted from it, twisting into a roaring storm that coiled around the sword like a living beast.
With a single sweeping strike, he unleashed it.
A burst of force tore through the courtyard. Dust exploded into the air. Stone shattered.
The charging riders were crushed in an instant.
Men and horses alike were torn apart, blood and flesh scattering across the ground.
Val felt his scalp go numb.
He hurried forward even more eagerly now, betraying his former master without hesitation.
"My lord, this way."
...
Inside the earthen fort, a figure strode into a chamber.
"What happened here?" he demanded, eyes wide at the chaos before him.
A blood-soaked knight rushed to Hadley's side, trembling.
"My lord, Val betrayed us. He brought two Tarnished into the manor."
"That Carian Knight is far too powerful. We couldn't stop him."
"What? It really is a Carian Knight? How did they get past the Stormveil defenses and reach this place?"
Hadley felt his heart sink.
...
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