Volume 3, Chapter 14 – Captured

“Colluding with Abyssal Demons?! Utilizing Shadow Essence? What kind of nonsense are you spewing!”

Faced with Aikino’s words, Xiumu was instantly enraged. For him, who had diligently guarded the Northern Frontier, to be accused of colluding with Abyssal Demons was nothing short of a joke! Without a moment’s hesitation, Xiumu retorted sharply.

However, Aikino clearly had no intention of engaging in further conversation with Xiumu and abruptly raised his hand. Surrounded by a swirl of pale red battle aura, a flaming long spear burning with roaring fires was summoned from a spatial ring. Aikino’s terrifying presence, belonging to a high-level saint tier, was released without restraint, immediately casting an unspeakable sense of oppression over everyone in the Marquis Mansion.

“Words are useless; you can say all that after you meet the Grand Justice! If you intend to resist, then today shall be the day you die!”

As he spoke, the members of the Royal Knight Corps followed Aikino’s lead, erupting with the full extent of their internal power. Their magic-conducting guns were all loaded and ready, as if a single command from Aikino would turn Xiumu and the servants and knights beside him into honeycombs.

Faced with the aggressive stance of Aikino and the Royal Knight Corps, the members of the Blizzard Knight Order, led by Sikta, naturally found it unbearable. With their fiery tempers, they directly drew the weapons from their waists and confronted the gold-armored knights surrounding them.

“You guys, don’t be too arrogant! Lord Marquis has guarded Windward City for decades; how could he possibly collude with Abyssal Demons! This is a frame-up!”

While roaring, Sikta hurriedly looked toward Xiumu at his side.

“Lord Marquis, you absolutely cannot go to the capital! This is definitely a false charge! Once you go, it will be impossible to return. Why don’t we just fight it out with them!”

Faced with Sikta’s suggestion, Xiumu fell silent. He looked thoughtfully at the well-trained and fully equipped gold-armored knights around him, as well as the family cemetery in the distance where Lei Jie was located.

Noticing Xiumu’s gaze, Aikino couldn’t help but let out a sneer.

“Don’t even think about it, Lord Marquis. Your family’s Guardian Beast has already been suppressed by the Great General; it cannot help you. And…”

After giving Sikta and the other members of the Blizzard Knight Order a playful glance, Aikino let out a helpless sigh.

“Moreover, Lord Marquis, I truly advise you not to resist. His Majesty Xue Tian’ao has already issued an order: if you join forces with your subordinates and refuse arrest, then Windward City will be considered to be in a state of rebellion. The First Army Group stationed outside will launch an attack immediately.”

“Are you… are you serious?”

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“Yes, Lord Marquis.”

As the words left his mouth, Aikino’s gaze grew increasingly cold.

“If you accept the arrest, the First Army Group will not attack.”

Hearing this, Xiumu’s expression became even more conflicted, and within that conflict was a heavy sense of powerlessness.

“Lord Marquis, do not worry! We have the terrain advantage and can repel them! When the time comes, we can just flee abroad!” Sikta said indignantly from the side.

Regarding his subordinate’s proposal, Xiumu ultimately shook his head.

“There is no need.”

“Lord Marquis!”

“Say no more.”

The First Army Group was the strongest unit in the Snownight Empire, and they were now equipped with the heavy artillery weapons developed by Xue Tian’ao. Once they besieged the city, there would surely be heavy casualties within Windward City, and most of those who died would be civilians. As the lord, his duty was to protect these people, not to let them become sacrifices in a power struggle.

To sacrifice the populace in exchange for the continuation of his own family, Xiumu could not do it. Furthermore, wouldn’t fleeing be equivalent to a tacit admission of guilt? If that happened, wouldn’t the glory accumulated by the Duke Family over several centuries all go down the drain?

Besides, now that the Great General Lockephy had arrived, everything was moot. After all, that old general was a terrifying existence at the high-level of the eighth tier; they had no possibility of contending with him…

‘I truly don’t understand how Xue Tian’ao managed to win him over.’

Going to the capital might still offer a sliver of hope for clearing his name. It all depended on what Xue Tian’ao actually intended to do—whether he merely wanted to strip them of their power or if he wanted to pull the grass out by the roots.

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Sigh…

After a long internal sigh, Xiumu looked toward where Afnora and Yumo were with a look of deep guilt.

‘I am sorry, my lady, and Xia’er…’

Subsequently, ignoring the shouts of Sikta and some of the hardline members, Xiumu dropped the longsword in his hand. After revealing a bitter expression, he walked toward Aikino with resignation.

“I understand. I will not resist.”

“Hehe, a wise decision.”

Aikino withdrew the flaming long spear back into his spatial ring, and his amber eyes were no longer as cold as they had been a moment ago. A satisfied smile slowly appeared on Aikino’s face.

‘Hehe. As expected, just as the Crown Prince had predicted, Marquis Xiumu did not dare to gamble with the lives of his subjects.’

“Then for what comes next, I shall ask for your cooperation, Lord Marquis.”

As he spoke, Aikino directly brought out specially made magic-sealing shackles and bound Xiumu’s hands and feet. As an eerie blue light flickered upon the magic-sealing shackles, the battle aura within Xiumu’s body was heavily suppressed. Already in a state of severe injury, he had absolutely no possibility of breaking free from the restraints.

Afterward, under the unwilling and furious gazes of the Duke Family’s servants and the members of the Blizzard Knight Order, their incomparably respected Lord Marquis fell to the status of a prisoner of the Royal Knight Corps…

Also falling to the status of a prisoner was Afnora, who had been resting on the other side of the Marquis Mansion. The Blizzard Knight Order members protecting Afnora and the garrison of Windward City had originally wanted to fight the Royal Knight Corps, but they ultimately followed Afnora’s instructions and laid down their weapons. Clearly, this husband and wife had made almost identical decisions at this moment.

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At the same time, several maids and guards, having received instructions from the Duke Family’s butler, rushed frantically into the room where Mengxi was resting.

“Miss Xia’er, something terrible has happened! The royal family has made a move against the Duke Family! Before those Royal Knights arrive, Miss Xia’er, we must leave quickly!”

As she spoke, one of the maids grabbed Yumo’s small hand without another word and ran directly toward the exit, leaving Yumo in a state of bewilderment.

“Wait, what’s the situation here?”

Similarly, the silver-haired girl beside her was also incomparably confused.

“Just what is this?”

Mengxi, who was originally enjoying her world of two with Yumo, naturally felt a hint of displeasure at being interrupted so suddenly, and she couldn’t help but look at these ‘uninvited guests’ with doubt.

Upon seeing Mengxi, these maids could only let out a helpless sigh.

“Sigh, there’s no time to explain, Miss Mengxi. We must first take Miss Xia’er and escape from the Marquis Mansion! No, we must escape from Windward City first! We’ll explain once we’re safe.”

“Safe?”

“Yes, we simply cannot allow those Royal Knights to take the young lady to the capital; otherwise, her life or death will truly be uncertain!”

As she spoke, one of the maids cautiously opened the door. Taking advantage of the moment when no one was around, she hurried to pull Yumo’s hand and ran toward the southern exit of the Marquis Mansion!

However, before they had gone many steps, the expressions of the maids and guards changed abruptly. A sudden gust of wind swept toward them, and dozens of Royal Knights riding black griffins descended from the sky, directly surrounding Yumo and the others who were attempting to flee. Upon seeing Yumo’s face, the leading squad captain immediately revealed an excited smile.

“That’s right, it’s her! The daughter of the Duke family! Hehe, still thinking of escaping? Seize her quickly!”

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At the squad captain’s command, dozens of knights leaped down and charged toward Miss Yumo. The surrounding guards tried to resist, but unfortunately, their strength was insufficient. Coupled with being outnumbered, they were easily subdued by the Royal Knights.

In the next moment, several sharp swords were held against Miss Yumo’s neck.

Yumo: “Huh??”

Then, the squad captain riding the griffin slowly flew above Yumo. Looking down from a height, he spoke in a disdainful and hostile tone.

“Please come with us, daughter of the Duke family.”

“…”

‘Umm.’

Looking at this scene and glancing at the longswords held against her neck, Miss Yumo showed a confused expression.

‘Ah, this… What’s the situation this time?’

However, although Yumo was dazed, when Mengxi saw someone holding swords to Yumo’s neck, an unknown rage instantly erupted from her heart. Even though she knew the weapons of these people could not possibly hurt the pink-haired girl, Mengxi still felt extremely unpleasant, especially after noticing the disdain in the other party’s eyes.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing!”

The displeased Mengxi instantly transformed into a streak of silver-white light, charging into mid-air in an instant. Under the caught-off-guard gazes of the Royal Knights, Mengxi’s small, shoeless foot abruptly struck the squad captain’s head! The impact directly caved in and distorted his face…

In an instant, blood splattered across the sky…