Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest
Chapter 128 - 30: Guardian Family

Chapter 128: Chapter 30: Guardian Family

Iron Flower County.

Earl Moya had arranged a reception ceremony.

The visitors were Gael, the eldest son of the Riptide Grand Duke, and Makor, the eldest son of the Fury Grand Duke.

At dusk.

A flood of hundreds of Conquest Knights formed the visiting party and surged into the large iron gate.

Makor was still young; his skin was somewhat rough, and his dark blue eyes were terrifyingly formidable.

Gael County Duke was not so young anymore; wrinkles crawled up his face, and his brown-black hair had turned somewhat gray.

He appeared very gloomy, and the aura surrounding him was filled with oppressiveness and quite stifling.

Iron Flower County and Gold and Silver Flower County were adjacent, very close to each other.

Iron Flower County produced iron and was one of the traffic throats that connected the Duke Domain with the outside world.

It was an insurmountable natural barrier, good for attack and defense.

As the right-hand man of the Grand Duke, Earl Moya believed that as long as the flag of Iron Flower County did not fall, Dragon Castle would face no threats.

However, Gold and Silver Flower County was a fertile land, reputed to allow seeds to be sown and gold to be harvested, with soil so rich it was almost oozing oil.

Everyone knew that Gold and Silver was the flag and emblem of Gael.

The Riptide Grand Duke had a particular fondness for his eldest son.

Gold and Silver Flower County was a specially authorized county, the previous Black Iron King had personally titled Gael as County Duke.

In Gold and Silver Flower County, Gael County Duke enjoyed various privileges.

The latter did not disappoint, managing it meticulously, making it one of the richest and most fertile lands within the Riptide Grand Duke’s domain.

Earl Moya considered himself well-acquainted with the grand duke’s son’s character.

He had become the lord of Iron Flower County twenty years ago and had had many dealings with Gael County Duke, also hearing certain rumors that had spread from Gold and Silver Flower County—

To the public, Gael County Duke conducted himself with full nobility, but secretly, he had a terrifying personality; if anyone made a minor mistake in his presence, he would skin and debone them.

He ordered everyone to act according to their status, not overstepping in the slightest.

He once ordered the legs of a Conquest Knight, who he saw being intimate with his wife, the younger daughter of the previous Black Iron King, to be broken. He then had the knight crawl around the castle of Gold and Silver Flower until he tragically died. His wife cried every day until her death, never overcoming her grief;

His children feared their father, and grandsons feared their grandfather;

Maid and servants were replaced batch after batch;

Everyone lived in constant trepidation... including the originators, which was horrifying.

To outsiders, the reputation of Gael County Duke was surprisingly good, with well-taught family morals, generosity, and kind-heartedness.

He remained unmarried for his official wife for life, had no illegitimate children, was loyal to love, and tolerant to his subjects, almost like a paragon of nobility.

As the neighbor of Gael Prince, Earl Moya had his own opinion about the grand duke’s son.

...

The dinner was exceptionally lively.

Overlooking the hall from a high platform, Gael County Duke sat at the head, followed by Earl Moya, and lastly, Makor Fury.

The three sat in a row.

Earl Moya waved away the serving men and personally poured a glass of wine for Gael County Duke.

He appeared somewhat aged, tall and thin in stature, with a firm and upright personality, yet his movements were agile as he poured wine for the Gael County Duke. He was a renowned strongman from Iron Flower County and once mounted, he became a famous Conquest Knight.

Thieves, roaming bandits, and pirate Barbarians were rising in number, while Iron Flower County remained immovable as a mountain.

"Has the Grand Duke still not given in?" asked Earl Moya with some constraint.

There was an unshakable gloom and suppression on the face of Gael County Duke, who was rumored by outsiders to have a kind and approachable appearance, but not everyone could meet this person of such noble identity.

Some say that the face is a reflection of the heart, but Earl Moya believed it was better to judge by actions rather than intentions.

Gael said, "You have made a great mistake, even sounding the alarm. Do you know how shocked and furious father was when he heard the bell?"

The Earl bitterly said, "It was our fault, but it was never our intention! We only seek the Grand Duke’s forgiveness and urge him not to indulge in pleasures now. Instead, he should be assembling troops and preparing horses to face future contingencies."

"Moya, do you know why father does not want to see you?"

Earl Moya remained silent. As a subject, he could not bear to see his lord fall into decay, and had to give daily advice, which only brought about the Grand Duke’s annoyance.

And the mistake from over a decade ago had completely alienated them from the Grand Duke.

Earl Moya’s mind was at unease. His grandfather had passed away in his prime, and his father also died of illness, making him swear on his deathbed to henceforth guard at the Grand Duke’s bedside.

Now he could not even enter the Grand Duke’s Dragon Castle.

Over the years, he had been forced to communicate through Gael County Duke, begging for favor, but to no avail.

The Moya Family had caused trouble and naturally had to bear the consequences.

But what would become of Iron Flower County?

"I know you are loyal, but no one can persuade father. He utterly disregards the comparisons made by some people, equating him with the King of Plateau of Eagle City," Gael’s brows were tightly furrowed, his face showing some disgust.

Earl Moya took it that the Grand Duke son loathed the King of Plateau.

The landscape of Highland Kingdom was fractured, Barbarians sent troops to plunder, as if entering an uninhabited realm.

The ruler of Eagle City, although a king, did not send out his troops to suppress the invaders, indulging instead in pleasure, which naturally tarnished his reputation.

Yet to be compared to him...

For a subject, this was an utter disgrace!

"Duke Domain will not fall to such a state!" declared Earl Moya firmly.

Grand Duke Fury had sealed off Divine Mysterious and Church Court, while Grand Duke Oak kept watch over Nether sea, confronting the Demon Clan.

Only Grand Duke Riptide was situated in the heartland of Black Iron Kingdom, a true rear, where no battles could ignite.

Which naive Barbarian or pirate would dare to invade Grand Duke Riptide’s domain?

Who would dare to cause trouble?

Who would dare to defy?

Self-proclaimed as the Grand Duke’s right hand, he could also strike a punch on behalf of them.

No one on this land should underestimate the Guardian Family!

"You misunderstood me. I mean, do we just continue like this? Sitting ducks?"

Earl Moya suddenly realized the grim face of Gael County Duke looked as if it was about to drip with water.

"What we need now is not stability! We’ve been stable for decades! The layout of this land has remained the same from decades ago, always stagnant like still water. Wars rage everywhere else, and yet we can only turn a blind eye, acting as mere decorations?"

Gael County Duke’s eyes somberly stared directly at him.

A sudden chill ran down Earl Moya’s back as he noticed Makor also quietly watching him with his dark blue eyes. The gaze was like surging waves, engulfing him whole in the sea water, the streams in the air winding around his neck, giving him an indescribable feeling of suffocation.

He suddenly had an ominous premonition, trembling at the profound implication in Gael County Duke’s words.

"The Moya Family will always be the most loyal guardians of the Riptide Grand Duke!"

These were the last words his father said before passing away, and decades later, they remained as clear as ever.

Thus, he swore again, "Should the Riptide Grand Duke command, Iron Flower County will deploy its entire force!"

"But can my father still issue commands? His eyes are blurred with age, he withdraws from all affairs of state, he cannot even stand, let alone lead us through brambles and thorns," Prince Gael clenched his teeth, suppressing his rising anger, a sense of oppressive stuffiness enveloping him.

"He’s no longer capable! He’s no longer fit! This land needs a new ruler, a Riptide Grand Duke that fits the tide of the times! Let my father rest!"

He looked at him with a sinister gaze, his appearance quite aged, but now his expression was relaxed, and his wrinkles unfolded, like a wilted bud blooming anew in the spring.

And in those fiery red eyes, there emanated a greedy heat, like the legendary, greedy eyes of a dragon.

A foreboding feeling abruptly intensified in Earl Moya, giving rise to an unprecedented fear.

The hands that could steady a fifty-pound heavy sword began to tremble, unable to hold steady even a knife and fork.

He thought he was hallucinating.

In the bustling castle hall, where guests clinked glasses and intermingled, and the intoxicating aroma from the cups made heads spin,

those two gazes, however, never wavered from him, as if sharp daggers were pressed against his back.

Like the scorching flames of desire that could burn a man alive, or like the cold, damp seawater that could drown a man.

"This is a tremendous act of treachery!"

Who is the disruptor?

Who is the defiant one?

These intense emotions clouded his mind, and he felt a profound sense of guilt.

He knew Gael County Duke’s plans and was willing to be loyal to him, but only upon the Grand Duke’s passing.

By then, Gael County Duke’s ascension would be justified, and Iron Flower County would look up to their only sovereign!

But was it possible now?

Too soon!

This admonition came too soon!

He wished he hadn’t heard anything, considered it a mere illusion created by an evil wizard whispering in his ear, set as a trap to stoke conflict between him and Gael County Duke.

"Let’s eat, let’s eat..."

Earl Moya ignored the tricks of the evil wizard and resolved to swear that after the meal, he would tear that wizard into pieces!

Gael County Duke awaited a response from the Lord of Iron Flower County but saw him brushing it off so sloppily and couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

Earl Moya reached for the roasted food, and suddenly, a flash of cold light streaked past.

He was initially startled, then saw a silver dagger pinning his hand to the wooden table.

The hand holding the dagger was also somewhat aged.

"By order of the Riptide Grand Duke! Iron Flower County holds excessive power and scorns the Grand Duke’s authority! We are commanded to strip the Moya Family of all its honors and put them to death!" Gael County Duke roared, his dark voice echoing throughout the entire castle hall.

"No!!"

Upon realizing what Gael was saying, Earl Moya cried out, his heart wrenching with a searing pain!

In this unprecedented emergency, he didn’t know why he shouted no!

Was it defiance? Indignation?

Or was he rejecting the order that insulted the honor of the Moya Family?

He had to clarify the truth to everyone!

They had been loyal!

The honors belonging to Aaron Moya could not be taken away!

They were the guardians through generations!

Earl Moya pulled out his hand, the shimmering silver dagger reluctantly sliced his entire palm in two, spilling blood everywhere.

He had to rush to the bell tower and ring the alarm bell, just as his child had done fourteen years ago. The power of that bronze bell must awaken the sleeping Dragon Castle, making the Riptide Grand Duke reconsider his duchy and territory, and clear up everything!

The troops of the Guardian Family would don their armors and march!

To suppress all traitors!

He had so much left to do, so very much...

But it was too late!

Merely because Makor Fury behind him suddenly stood up, and the time only allowed him to let out a sorrowful and desolate scream.

"Aaron!!"

Earl Moya shouted out his grandfather’s name.

The grand duke’s eldest son drew his sword and struck fiercely, and with a thud, that blood-drenched head tumbled down the steps!

Warm, red blood sprayed out, splashing over the steps up to five meters away, dyeing the entire banquet in scarlet!

The gathered guests froze for a long while, and upon witnessing this turn of events, they finally let out various screams, cries, grief, and panic.

Gael County Duke and Makor led the attacking Conquest Knights.

There were deaths, resistance, weeping, and despair.

The entire hall was thrown into chaos.

No one knew who knocked over the brazier, nor who lit the curtains, nor who burned down the beams.

The whole castle blazed fiercely.

The flag that had been standing for decades atop the castle tower, embroidered with large shields sparking flames, crashed down amid the chaos and fire!

The towering bell tower, with the large bronze bell hanging silently, watched it all.

It emitted a silent, deafening tremor, as if crossing oceans and mountains, piercing the barriers of space.

That silence was deafening!

BONG!!

A young knight thousands of miles away suddenly awoke from his sleep, drenched in sweat, his expression one of terror.

It seemed he had heard a bell toll from the depths of his soul.

Tearing apart that blood-drenched scar.

Meanwhile.

Inside Dragon Castle, the sleeping Riptide Grand Duke opened his eyes, as if he heard something.

But the sound was distant and unclear.

Quickly, he fell back into a lethargic sleep, his corpulent body still as a mountain of corpses.