Chapter 16

The mountain bandit lair had fallen into chaos, with battles breaking out everywhere.

In a corner.

"Die! You traitor!"

A bearded bandit roared as he lunged at Ronnie, who was the deputy leader of the bandits and Buck's right-hand man. He believed that Tang En's appearance here was due to Ronnie's betrayal.

"Spare me, Deputy Leader! It really wasn't me!"

Seeing no one around, Ronnie fell to his knees: "It's all because of that new lord, that guy named Tang En. He just arrived and wanted to wipe out the bandits, and even led the charge himself. I had no choice!"

"No choice? What a convenient excuse!"

The deputy leader's sword was pressed against Ronnie's neck, and he sneered: "Because you had no choice, you betrayed us, right?"

"It's not like that! Lord Hogg and Lord Buck were so good to me, how could I betray them!"

Ronnie loudly protested, and his expression seemed genuine, making the bearded man pause.

In the next moment, Ronnie suddenly burst into action. After getting close, he stabbed a sharp dagger into the deputy leader's heart.

"You, you—"

"Whether I betrayed them or not doesn't matter, does it?"

Ronnie grinned ferociously: "What matters is that Hogg is dead, he's no longer the lord, and the sky over Ellington should change."

The dagger was pulled out, not a drop of blood on it.

Ronnie whistled. This enchanted dagger, which had the property of armor-piercing, was a gift from Buck. It was perfect for close combat assassinations.

The deputy leader fell to the ground, his eyes wide open, staring at Ronnie. He died with his eyes unblinking.

Outside, the battle continued, with screams of pain echoing every moment.

At this moment, Ronnie saw Tang En standing there, overseeing the battle, and his heart burned with anger.

Why should I be working for him?

I'm the captain of the militia!

In Ellington, I'm the one in charge!

At least Hogg knew how to buy my loyalty, but this guy didn't even show a bit of respect. Does he look down on me?

Ronnie had been annoyed with Tang En since he met him yesterday. They were about the same age, so why could he become the lord? Why could he make Elsa look at him with new respect?

He just has a better background. If he were a commoner, what could he do?

If he weren't a noble, Elsa wouldn't even look at him!

Right!

He's definitely not as good as me!

Elsa just likes his noble status!

If I were a noble...

If I were the lord...

The more Ronnie thought, the angrier he became, especially after Tang En stole his thunder yesterday and Elsa acknowledged him, even following his commands.

Elsa is the woman I want!

But...

That woman Fiona that Tang En brought is also top-notch...

Ronnie recalled, swallowing hard. Having never seen a real noblewoman, he was completely defenseless against Fiona's natural noble aura.

If I were the lord...

Elsa and Fiona would both be mine...

Not only that, but all the other girls in the territory would be at my disposal.

And that wealth...

Ronnie's heart raced faster, his blood boiling. He panted heavily, and for some reason, Hogg's words came to mind.

This is Ellington.

A vast, sparsely populated place, so remote that even merchants don't want to come...

As long as the taxes are paid, the noble council doesn't care who the lord is...

An idea that had been buried deep in his mind for a long time gradually surfaced, becoming more and more prominent, eventually dominating Ronnie's entire mind.

Kill him, and I'll be the lord!

Once I'm the lord, I can make Ellington more prosperous.

I can give Elsa and Fiona a happy life.

Only by becoming the lord can I achieve all this.

The crime of killing Tang En?

Once I'm the lord, how I report to the higher-ups is up to me.

Who else would dare to criticize the lord?

Even if a new lord is sent, it would be years later. Before that, Ellington is my domain!

Most importantly, I can have Elsa and Fiona!

Ronnie panted heavily, almost seeing his glorious life as the lord, and Elsa and Fiona looking at him with admiration.

Do it!

Ronnie gritted his teeth. Only by taking risks can one gain treasures. The adventurer's creed applies here too!

Although he thought a lot, it only took a moment. Tang En was still standing there, observing the battlefield, with no sign of leaving.

Ronnie's eyes darted around, carefully putting away the dagger, then turned and cut off the deputy leader's head.

Success or failure, this is it.

"Lord!"

Ronnie ran to Tang En, holding the deputy leader's head, his face full of excitement: "I killed their deputy leader!"

Tang En's lips curled slightly. He had seen what happened in the corner. The deputy leader's words confirmed what Hogg's steward had revealed. Ronnie was indeed one of them.

But he really went through with it, killing the deputy leader to defect?

There was no more time to waste.

Tang En had just sensed that Fiona's heartbeat was a bit rapid, something seemed to be happening in Ellington, but her heartbeat quickly calmed down, and there was no abnormality, so he didn't rush back.

"Lord!"

At this moment, Elsa ran over, her face full of urgency: "Uncle Depp just got a message from a bandit. One-eyed Buck is leading a large group to Ellington!"

What a coincidence?

Tang En was also stunned. Could Fiona's emotional fluctuation just now be because of Buck?

Elsa? Why is she here!?

Ronnie, who had already run to Tang En's side, was shocked, but this was the best moment to strike!

Should I act?

Should I not?

Should I act in front of Elsa?

Ronnie hesitated, but then he steeled his resolve.

If you don't take risks in life, how can you achieve great things?

What if she sees? The result is what matters!

Once I'm the lord, leading everyone to a prosperous life, can Elsa really turn against me over a stranger she just met?

As long as Tang En is dead, all problems will be solved!

Tang En must die!

With this thought, Ronnie approached Tang En, one hand holding the deputy leader's head, seemingly offering his loyalty, while the other hand reached for the hidden dagger—

"Elsa—"

"Lord, we—Ronnie!?"

Elsa, who was talking to Tang En, suddenly saw a flash of cold light from Ronnie's chest, and a dagger stabbed fiercely at Tang En's back!

In that instant, countless thoughts raced through Elsa's mind, but they all turned into one question.

Why?

Why is Ronnie doing this?

Why is Ronnie trying to kill Tang En?

As these thoughts appeared, Elsa instinctively reached out to pull Tang En.

But her hand wasn't long enough to reach him.

Can I only watch him be killed by Ronnie?

Elsa's eyes widened, and at that moment, time seemed to stretch infinitely...

Success!

Ronnie was overjoyed. He could feel the tip of the dagger about to tear through Tang En's clothes, then pierce his skin, tear his flesh, and stab his heart, sending him to the brink of death!

Power!

Wealth!

Beauty!

I'm coming!

Everything is within reach!

Ronnie's eyes were clouded by the imminent rewards. Yes, once Tang En is dead, everything in Ellington will be his.

Tang En will surely die!

I'm a second-rank Bronze Awakened, and such a close-range full-force attack, he can't possibly dodge!

An enchanted dagger with armor-piercing can easily tear through his clothes, pierce his heart, and take his life!

Ah! The great Lord Ronnie of Ellington! He inherits the glorious tradition of Ilrus!

The intoxicated Ronnie imagined future generations praising him, his body trembling with excitement.

The Death God Gritrens and the Trickster God Jibkens possessed his soul at this moment!

He represents the future of Ellington!

At this moment, he is not fighting alone!

He is not alone!

Closer!

Even closer!

Success!

"Clang—"

A crisp sound entered Ronnie's ears, like ice piercing his bones.

The dagger was caught between two fingers.

The smile froze on Ronnie's face.

The beautiful dream shattered instantly!

No!

This can't be!

"How is this possible!"

Ronnie screamed in disbelief: "How could you block my full-force attack!"

Tang En looked at Ronnie with a half-smile.

He really didn't expect Ronnie to have the nerve to try to kill him.

He's fine?

Lord is fine!?

Elsa's heart, which had been on edge, finally relaxed, but a bitter taste spread through her.

"Why did your dagger stab the lord?"

Elsa's voice was bitter, as if she couldn't believe what she saw: "Ronnie, did you mistake the lord for a bandit? Ronnie, explain to the lord!"

At this moment, others also looked over.

Explain? Is there even a need to explain now?

Ronnie was full of regret. He couldn't turn back now!

"Why! Why didn't you die!?"

Ronnie roared with red eyes: "Die! Just die! Die, die, die, die! You must die!"

Ronnie let go of the dagger, drew his sword, and slashed at Tang En's neck!

Combat skill—Heavy Slash!

I risked everything for this chance, how could you not die!?

How could you not die!?

You must die!

The sword approached, and Tang En could see the rough patterns on the blade, even having time to mock the backward metallurgy of this world.

Because, even if this sword were to slash at him for a hundred years, it wouldn't hurt a single hair on his body...

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