Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest
Chapter 138 - 10: Ringing the Bell and Keeping Watch

Chapter 138: Chapter 10: Ringing the Bell and Keeping Watch

The Guardian Family was no more.

The Iron Flower County had fallen into the hands of the Gael County Duke.

Half of the Moya Family’s vassals refused to pledge allegiance to the Gael County Duke, and they were subsequently suppressed, a joint effort by the Gael County Duke and the Fury Duke’s eldest son, Makor.

Most of Iron Flower County was ablaze with war.

By the time this news reached Sige Town, the rebellion in Iron Flower County was probably completely eradicated.

After all, without a leader, the legitimate descendants of the Moya Family were killed to the last man, and the murderers were none other than the sons of two Grand Dukes.

"What the hell is my Grand Duke father doing? Even a pig would be more useful in his place!"

Roman wished he could soundly punch Riptide Grand Duke in the face.

You old fool, you’re really out of your mind!

The Iron Flower County is a strategic point, and yet you’ve managed to dig your own grave by collaborating with outsiders!

Not even Song Gaozong’s twelve gold plagues were as outrageous as this!

"Lord Roman, there might be more to this than meets the eye," Seth said, thinking there were many suspicious points. Even if the Grand Duke was incompetent, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to the point of executing his vassals.

This incident was too much; it would severely affect the prestige of the Riptide Grand Duke.

No matter what kind of scheming lay behind this, the extinction of the Guardian Family was a solid fact.

The Moya Family had fortified Iron Flower County tightly from within and made it unassailable from without. Yet, it was betrayed by its own loyalists.

If disaster befell the Split Armor Domain, who would suppress and intimidate in the future?

Without the power of arms to enforce control, who would care about you being a Grand Duke?

The Split Armor Domain had its military forces, but compared to the other two Grand Dukes... it could only be described as pathetic.

The Fury Grand Duke sealed off Divine Mysterious and the Church Court.

The Oak Grand Duke confronted the Nether Sea and the Demon Clan.

The Riptide Grand Duke spent his days in indulgence and pleasure in the fertile lands; the quality of his troops was indescribable, so if not he, then who else was rotten?

The prestige of the Riptide Grand Duke had been on the decline for years, now it was too late for recovery.

Internal strife might be supplanted for now.

But what about external strife?

Pirates were holding the Pirate Conference, and the eastern Barbarians were sharpening their knives.

Roman didn’t care about those pirates and Barbarians, and he had always held Gael and Makor in contempt.

What Duke’s eldest son, just a parasite of the old era.

A bunch of bastards, what skill is there in plotting the murder of a loyal vassal? If you have the guts, come to Sige Town in three years, I’ll ensure your face is swollen and I’ll pluck out every hair on your head!

Turning to Aaron, Roman shouted, "Aaron, I’ll take you with me to fight over there in the future, to Iron Flower County, and we’ll shatter that bunch into pieces, I promise you that!"

He watched as his Knight left, not pausing for a single step, nor looking back, as if it had nothing to do with him.

"Lord, Aaron, he..." Seth, with his extensive knowledge, recalled that the original Earl of the Guardian was named Aaron Moya.

He had thought the two shared the same name coincidentally, or that Aaron was named after the original Guardian, but seeing how Roman spoke now, he realized things were not so simple.

Roman shook his head, "I don’t know, Aaron never answers that question, but I think he is related to the Guardian Family."

...

Aaron slowly moved away from Origin Manor.

He reflected on the words he had just heard, finding them somewhat abrasive to the ear.

The family of the loyal was accused of betrayal, and the honors bestowed by the Riptide Grand Duke were personally retracted. The flag of the Heavy Shield, sparking with flames, thunderously fell, and with it vanished the oath of guardianship that once echoed through Red Dragon Castle.

Aaron knew there must be more to the story; the Moya Family didn’t have treasonous intentions. He knew it, he had seen it, he was certain of it.

Suddenly looking back, he found himself unable to recall the original appearance of Iron Flower County.

His memories were blurring, the scenes were fading, like an aging, yellowed scroll.

He only remembered living in a towering castle, where the doors clad in iron sheet were mostly closed.

He climbed the bell tower, sometimes it was the watchtower, standing beneath the flapping flag to gaze into the distance.

The sky was azure, the clouds thin, and the pale orange sun bright and splendid. From the highest point, he could see the distant mines and vast fields, the miners and farmers bending over their work appeared as tiny as ants in his field of vision...

He remembered being full of expectations, always hoping to leave that strong and towering castle, yearning to turn into a crow or an eagle, to soar over the walls and see the outside world.

As a child, he was mischievous and even dared to touch the massive bronze bell that weighed tons and was big enough to house him.

Standing beneath the bell, he pulled the rope with all his might, and the immovable bronze bell rang, resonating with his bloodline, resulting in a grave mistake. His father, the City Lord, was furious and rushed over to slap him. The slap was heavy, causing his mouth to bleed, yet his father then embraced him with pity.

They talked throughout the night, speaking of family honor and pledges, the foundation on which they stood. He too made a vow, but when he fell asleep, he no longer remembered.

The next day he woke up in the cold embrace of a family knight, riding swiftly on horseback. He only managed to glance back once, and the castle with its great iron gate disappeared from his view as if an adult awakening from a childhood dream.

Since then, he no longer wished to be an eagle or a crow, no longer desired to survey the land from above. Instead, he wanted to become a dandelion seed, drifting on the wind above that great iron gate, floating back to the body of that child who always looked into the distance with a spark in his eyes and excitement, returning to those carefree and innocent days.

But that was an extravagance.

He made a grave mistake, lost his surname, his origins, left only with a small shield to accompany him.

He received a promise that once he made a name for himself, echoing throughout Dragon Castle and awakening the memories of the Duke of Split Armor, he would then be able to return home in glory.

The blood of the Guardian Family flowed in his veins, but the brand was not deep. He spent twice as much time in Dragon Castle as in Iron Flower County, growing increasingly silent and reserved. He even mixed with the Grand Duke’s illegitimate children, settling into his circumstances.

He abandoned the glory, the past, the meaning represented by that surname, and came to this remote, barbaric land.

However, when he heard Seth speaking of Earl Moya’s dying roar, while others believed he was calling out to his father, Aaron knew he was calling to his child...

And in that moment, Aaron felt no sadness, only an indescribable sensation.

He didn’t know if he was naturally cold-hearted or if he really just didn’t care.

Aaron knew that the past he had abandoned... had caught up with him...

Just as it did that night a month ago when he awoke in alarm, as if on the eve of departure, during that night-long conversation, the family maxim running in his blood rang out once again –

"Ring the bell, keep watch!"

...

The fall of the Guardian Family was a major earthquake for the Duke Domain, signifying a change in the power structure.

But life in Sige Town must go on as usual.

Those who breed pigs breed pigs, those who build houses build houses, and those who pave roads pave roads.

Roman was uncertain whose Skill to enhance for the time being.

After some thought, using the two blue gems, he improved Yaki’s breeding Skill and Vic’s hunting Skill.

As for why Roman gave Vic the hunting Skill instead of the Manufacturing Skill, one would have to ask why the hunting Skill included memories of making all sorts of Crossbows.

Roman was certain of it.

Of course, utilizing the resources of the Gem System and Crystal System, one could spread one’s knowledge as a Skill — with direct enlightenment or teaching in dreams.

But the enhancement of Skills was limited, dependent on the quality of extraordinary resources.

When Roman tried to overlay more knowledge onto the Apostle Realm interface, an interruption occurred.

How much one could absorb was purely a matter of the individual’s perception.

Naturally, Roman didn’t expect them to blaze new trails or innovate; it was enough to excavate the knowledge from their brains and enhance production efficiency.

If he imparted the Forging Skill to someone ignorant of metallurgy, who then didn’t engage with the smelting industry, there’d be no chance to put it into practice.