Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 665: 310 The Face Fruit

Chapter 665: Chapter 310 The Face Fruit

Did news of the operation get leaked?

Listening to the report from the Forbidden Guard Knight to Commander Marcus, Leon halted his warhorse and began to ponder.

The best solution was undoubtedly to control everyone in the post district swiftly, and then identify the lurking enemies one by one.

For Oran to mobilize the army and seal the city within a few hours, such efficiency was extremely quick even by the standards of his previous life.

Yet the enemies in the shadows could still respond so swiftly.

Did the enemy have additional spies who noticed the actions of the Royal City Guards? Or did the mere fact that he dismantled a riding spear alert the enemy?

Putting aside his doubts for now, Leon listened to the report from the Forbidden Guard Knight, but he did not believe that all the rebellious Kantadar Knights were involved in the conspiracy plotted by the Athiasians. After all, this was the heart of Orland, and it was during the Knight Tournament, a time when the elite of the Northern Kingdom were gathered.

To collectively revolt now would be extremely unwise. Since they could realize that the conspiracy was exposed and Orland’s army had sealed the city, confronting this huge army head-on in an enemy country with just these knights and attendants would be seeking death.

Would so many Kantadar nobles truly be willing to risk their lives to serve as pawns for the Athiasians from across the sea and continent, leaving behind their comfortable lives?

Even if there was collusion, it would be wiser to find ways to sever ties than to violently resist in the center of the enemy’s country.

Someone is trying to muddy the waters and escalate conflicts in a bid to fish in troubled waters.

Leon urged his horse forward and urgently asked the Forbidden Guard Knight, “Have both post districts risen in revolt?”

The Royal Knight turned around, recognized the Sword Wing Badge, and immediately replied, “The commotion in the west post district is intense. The Kantadar people have gathered in the garrison and even set up a wagon fort. There’s unrest in the south post district as well, but the reaction isn’t as direct as in the West District. Baron Kellan just arrived with troops and is negotiating with King Caso’s men.”

Leon’s thoughts raced.

No matter who among the other Kantadarians might be colluding with the Athiasians, it was unlikely that King Caso of Kantadar would risk his life to cause trouble in Oran City at this critical moment.

Why would he do it? After successfully preserving his throne from internal chaos, causing trouble now is akin to hastening his own demise.

The risks don’t match the rewards. Whatever conspiracy the Athiasians planned in Oran, if it were exposed, King Caso, as the King of Kantadar, wouldn’t likely survive the wrath of the Orland people and return to the Ustato Territory in the south unscathed.

If the peace rules of the Tournament were violated like this, no one would guarantee the safety of the rebellious foreign nobles and monarchs afterward.

Moreover, if he truly intended to secretly ally with the Athiasians to trouble Orland, why would he personally come to the Northern Royal City and gamble with his life?

Suddenly, recalling his own once-significant standing with the former Kantadar nobles at Sobonitz, an idea struck Leon, and he immediately proposed to Commander Marcus:

“My lord, don’t rush to suppress them yet. Perhaps we should first blockade all the roads here to stabilize the situation. Allow me to visit the post lodge where King Caso of Kantadar is staying. If His Majesty Caso has no ties with the Athiasians, he might help us quell the chaos in the West City post district.”

Marcus pondered briefly and then promptly replied, “I will try to control the situation, but Lord Pendragon, please hurry. If the Kantadar people attempt to force their way, I will have no choice but to let their blood be shed!”

…

……

Under the night sky, one torch after another lit up each lodge within the two Kantadar post districts.

The unrest spread rapidly, waking the Kantadar nobles who had been deeply asleep after relaxing at banquets.

Outside the noisy chaos, in a corner of the garrison courtyard, the sound of wood splintering was continuous.

A group of Black Knights, armed with axes, kept chopping off the riding spears in front of them, extracting the magic crossbow arrows hidden within the shafts and tossing them onto a sturdy carriage hauled by two warhorses’ reins.

No one urged them, yet the well-trained men in black moved swiftly.

A few people in black robes stepped out of the courtyard gate, gazing at the streets engulfed in chaos, their faces under shadow showing anger.

A “knight” emblazoned with the Felcon Family emblem hurried back before them, his expression anxious.

(In Rodoc) “My lord, Orland’s army hasn’t come; they’ve only blocked the street intersections.”

Upon learning of the restrained response from the native kingdom’s army, the leading black-robed man cursed coldly, “…. Damn Pilireno, causing such trouble even in death. If it weren’t for his vile proclivities, how could that bastard Vera still be alive today?”

Annoyed by the fact that the native king was set to leave the palace for the arena in one day, the black-robed man recalled the warning from the Dark Claw spy embedded in the palace and realized that his operation needed to be aborted immediately.

Since the local kingdom had deployed such a significant force to seal off the city, they were apparently aware of the origin of their opponents.

But few people in the Western Continent knew the Empire, so he thought it might have been that Villania bastard who noticed something amiss at some stage.

The Dark Claw by the side of the native second prince hadn’t dispatched any messages for several days now, suggesting that they might not have gone into hiding but rather were likely met with misfortune.

The Black Knight listened to the lord angrily cursing the rank venerable who had been assassinated, bowing his head in fear.

No matter how the mages disputed internally, those of their lower caste, unconnected with magic, never had the right to interfere…

…

Leading the Avalon Knights, Leon broke away from Marcus’s suppression troops and moved separately. Guided by a Forbidden Guard Knight, they swiftly arrived at the city’s southern part.

He saw the Royal City Guards with torches already encircling the smaller city south post district, leaving no gap.

Reining in his galloping horse, Leon saw the crowd in confrontation.

Hundreds of Kantadar knights and attendants were fully armed, adopting a defensive posture within the Tournament post district, creating a tense atmosphere.

Baron Kellan, along with the Deer Family knights and Royal City Guards, was negotiating with the Kantadarians.

By the bright torchlight around, Leon spotted a figure he still remembered clearly, who was leisurely pacing on a horse in front of the Kantadar ranks.

It was that Kantadar Great Knight, the Dragon Slayer of Odo County, Count Valensis Arsene, known among the Northern people as the Dragon Slayer.

Leon spurred his horse forward, and his arrival prompted the Peacock Knight, wielding a polearm, to calmly pause his verbal sparring with Baron Kellan.

“Look at who we have here?…. I’m pleased to see you’re still in one piece, the Griffin of Avalon,” Valensis remarked, his gaze lingering briefly on the arm he had once severed, his voice teasing.

“Likewise, Lord Arsene. Knowing you didn’t end up as a snack for the undead, I specifically opened a good bottle of wine in Avalon to celebrate for you,” Leon replied, reining in his warhorse, with a faint smile.

“Ha, your tongue is as sharp as a sword,” Valensis laughed heartily, hefting his polearm which reflected the moonlight, and said with a smile, “Why have you all come with such pomp tonight? If it’s to invite us to a banquet, this is quite the grand setup. Or are the Orland people planning to flagrantly alter the thousand-year tradition of the Knight Tournament and add more combat elements tonight?”

“We have no intention of violating knightly traditions. By royal decree, we’ve come to thoroughly investigate and apprehend the Athiasian spies among you plotting chaos. As long as you cooperate with the Royal City inquiry, I assure on my honor that no unrelated parties will be implicated,” Leon proclaimed loudly.