Chapter 129:Before the Council Meets
Chapter 129:Before the Council Meets
The next morning, Raven woke early.
After completing his morning exercises, he spent an hour practicing his spearmanship before gathering his knights in the main hall.
“First, we need a better place to stay and train,” Raven said, folding his arms.
“This house is sufficient for lodging, but it lacks space for proper practice.”
He looked at Roland.
“Rent another house similar to this one using our own funds. Also, rent a piece of land where we can build an indoor training ground. Hire enough servants as well so we can focus on training instead of daily chores.”
He paused briefly and continued.
“War may break out at any moment, but that doesn’t mean we must remain tense every second. Until then, we should use this time to strengthen ourselves.”
Raven took out a pouch of gold coins and tossed it to Roland.
“You will handle these arrangements.”
Roland caught the pouch and nodded.
“Yes, My Lord.”
Raven then turned toward Jacob.
“Did Augustus or Westin report anything, Mr. Jacob?”
“Augustus came early this morning and left a letter, My Lord,” Jacob replied, handing him the envelope.
Raven opened it and read the contents.
“Oh?”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“George didn’t only meet Rodrigo Amell… he also visited Edwin Sinclair and Baronet Ares.”
He skimmed through the report.
“In each house, he stayed for more than thirty minutes.”
Raven folded the letter and handed it back.
“Tell Augustus to continue monitoring him.”
Then he looked at Jacob again.
“And Westin?”
Jacob immediately took out a stack of documents.
“Westin investigated Inn Lane, Crow’s Road, and Mud Street last night. According to the administrative records, thirteen outsiders have settled in Oakvale during the past year. There are still lots more places to investigate.”
He handed the documents to Raven.
“These are the personal records he managed to obtain from the town office.”
Raven quickly flipped through them.
“Among the thirteen,” Jacob continued, “six have somewhat suspicious backgrounds.”
He picked one document and explained.
“Westin found this man particularly strange. He came from a village within Duke Warfield’s territory, yet he purchased five acres of farmland outside the town wall and even bought a house in the main district.”
Jacob frowned slightly.
“Why would a villager from such a prosperous region move all the way here to farm? Land in Duke Warfield’s territory is cheaper and far more fertile because of the irrigation system supplied by the Hope River.”
Raven’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Spies?”
He continued scanning the remaining reports before speaking calmly.
“Tell Westin to investigate the rest of the streets as well. I want records of every outsider currently living in Oakvale.”
Jacob bowed his head.
“Yes, My Lord.”
“Anything else?” Raven asked.
“Nothing, My Lord.”
“Good. Inform me if George comes to see me.”
After giving the orders, Raven returned to his bedroom and decided to focus on crafting another artifact.
“Among the twelve members, each of them needs a proper weapon first,” he murmured.
Although he possessed the skill to create rare artifacts, he was still short on elemental crystals to create all the equipment for his knights.
He still had enough Rank-3 crystals to craft several rare weapons.
‘Fiona already has the Starchaser. Sam has the Starflare-3R…The rest still lack proper artifact weapons.’
After thinking for a while, he decided to start with Augustus.
“A shortsword will suit him best.”
Raven began crafting the artifact.
While he remained in his room forging weapons, Roland busied himself arranging the purchase of a new house and training grounds. Jacob managed other affairs, while the remaining knights focused on training.
Two days passed.
Only after completing the artifact did Raven finally leave his room.
As he walked downstairs, he noticed Jacob speaking with Inspector George and two men wearing knight armor.
“What happened?” Raven asked as he approached.
“My Lord.”
Jacob immediately stood up and bowed before answering.
“Inspector George came to inform us that Baronet Ares wishes to meet you.”
Raven frowned slightly.
“When did he arrive in town?”
“Yesterday evening, My Lord.”
Raven nodded and glanced briefly at George.
I told Jacob to inform me if George came to the house… but this guy never came.
So he chose them instead, huh?
“Hm.”
Raven folded his arms calmly.
“I still have some matters to attend to.”
He turned to George.
“Mr. George, summon the town’s senior officials and have them gather in the mansion’s meeting room at two in the afternoon.”
He continued calmly.
“Also send official invitations, under my authority, to Baronet Ares, Rodrigo Amell, and Edwin Sinclair.”
“You may go now.”
George hesitated as if he wanted to say something.
At that moment, one of the armored knights stepped forward.
“Lord Ares has summoned you to meet him.”
Raven looked at the man calmly.
“I don’t have time to meet whenever he pleases,” Raven said coldly.
“Tell him to wait until two o’clock. We can talk after the meeting.”
The knight’s expression darkened instantly.
His hand moved to the hilt of his sword.
“He ordered you to come, Sir Thomas. I don’t think refusing his order is a wise decision.”
Raven’s gaze turned cold.
He could immediately tell that both knights were Radiant Walkers.
Baronet Ares must have sent them to intimidate me, Raven thought.
For a baronet, such men were likely part of his core forces.
“Sir Jacob,” Raven said calmly as he turned around and began walking upstairs.
“Please escort them out. I’ll go take a bath.”
“You dare—!”
Fury flashed across the knight’s face as he reached for his sword.
But before he could draw it—
A firm hand gripped his shoulder.
Jacob had vanished from his previous spot and appeared directly behind him.
The knight hadn’t even seen him move.
“Please… this way.”
Jacob’s voice was calm but cold.
He lightly tapped the knight’s shoulder with a single finger.
In the next instant—
The knight felt as if an entire mountain had crashed down onto him.
A sharp crack sounded.
Pain exploded through his body as his clavicle fractured under the pressure.
His face instantly turned pale.
What the hell…?!
This man… he’s an Expert Walker!
The other knight had also sensed the terrifying pressure and stared at Jacob in shock.
Realizing the overwhelming gap in strength, he immediately stepped forward and bowed his head.
“We will leave.”
Without another word, he grabbed the injured knight and dragged him outside. But as he reached the entrance, he gave them a deep look and spoke.
“Today’s humiliation, we will pay back tenfold!” His eyes seethed in anger, but he soon walked away.
George followed behind them with a nervous expression.
Although he didn’t fully understand what had just happened, one thing was clear.
The man called Jacob was far from an ordinary knight.
…
Raven went upstairs, took a cold bath, and changed into a black suit. He placed a monocle over his left eye and wore the Shadow Boots before heading back downstairs.
Returning to the hall, he looked at Jacob.
“Tell me the reports.”
Jacob nodded.
“Augustus has been monitoring George for the past two days, My Lord. According to his observations, George appears to have reached some kind of agreement with Rodrigo and the others.”
Jacob paused briefly before continuing.
“He is requesting permission to infiltrate the guest house assigned to the Amell Family to gather more information.”
Raven immediately shook his head.
“That’s too dangerous.”
“Rodrigo is a Peak Radiant Walker. Augustus may already be a Beginner Radiant Walker, but he lacks the experience and skill to infiltrate a place guarded by someone like Rodrigo.”
He leaned back slightly.
“Tell him to continue observing George’s movements from a distance. He should report only if George begins acting suspiciously.”
After a moment of silence, Raven asked,
“What about Westin?”
Jacob answered promptly.
“He has already surveyed most of the town and compiled a list of suspicious individuals. Currently, he is monitoring the most suspicious ones.”
Raven nodded.
“Good. Tell him to continue.”
They then discussed several matters regarding the town’s current situation. When Raven checked the time, it was only eleven in the morning.
Three hours until the meeting.
“I will survey the town myself,” Raven said as he stood up. “Come to the mansion at two o’clock. I will arrive before the meeting begins.”
As he walked toward the door, Jacob spoke again.
“Should we purchase a carriage for personal use, My Lord?”
Raven stopped briefly and shook his head.
“The town is too small to require a carriage. A horse will suffice.”
With that, he stepped outside.
Soon, he mounted the horse tied in the yard and rode out.
He first surveyed Nobles’ Street, then moved toward the market district, quietly observing the townspeople and their conditions.
Finally, he rode toward the town wall.
The wall stood only around five meters high.
Stone and cement construction, Raven observed.
It won’t collapse easily.
However, he knew that against a Radiant Walker using combat techniques, such walls would crumble quickly.
After examining the guard posts, watchtowers, and gates on each side of the town, Raven left through the northern gate to inspect the surrounding terrain.
Oakvale was surrounded by woodlands in the north, a small river flowing from east to west, and farmland to the west and south. Scattered houses and cattle farms could also be seen in the distance.
‘The enemy will most likely use the forest to come unnoticed.’
Raven guided his horse into the forest.
The forest was dense, filled with birds, owls, and thick vegetation. After traveling deeper inside, he encountered a small group of goblins but ignored them.
Among the trees, Raven noticed several Night Ravens perched quietly on branches.
‘Should I tame them?’
However, capturing them without harming the birds was not his expertise.
Better to hire hunters.
After surveying the terrain for over an hour, Raven returned to the town gate.
“Did you enjoy the ride, Sir Thomas?”
The gatekeeper, a rough-looking man with long brown hair, bowed respectfully as Raven approached.
“I was surveying the terrain,” Raven replied.
After a brief pause, he asked,
“Do you know where the hunters live? I wish to capture several Night Ravens.”
The gatekeeper looked slightly surprised but quickly pointed toward a group of houses to the west.
“The Smith and Wills families are skilled hunters, Sir Thomas. If you want Night Ravens, I can ask them to capture some and bring them to you.”
“That would help,” Raven said.
“Tell them not to harm the birds while capturing them. I plan to use them as messengers.”
The gatekeeper looked puzzled.
“But Night Ravens cannot be tamed, Sir Thomas.”
Raven gave a faint smile.
“I will handle that problem myself.”
“Just tell them to capture the birds. I will pay ten silver coins for every raven caught in good condition.”
The gatekeeper’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I will relay the message immediately, Sir Thomas.”
Raven nodded and rode back into the town.
Before long, he returned to Nobles’ Street and soon arrived at the large mansion at the end of the road, where the meeting would take place.
…