Legacy of a Benevolent Lord
Chapter 40: We are going to spread a ‘Message’...

Chapter 40: We are going to spread a ‘Message’...

The moment he looked towards the young man’s eyes, his heart nearly froze. Then he saw the veiled woman.

Sweat beaded on his forehead.

He had already assessed everyone onboard. The four elite guards radiated authority.

And as for the calm nobleman and veiled woman in front of him? He couldn’t see through them at all!!

It was like standing before a mountain. With every step closer, he felt smaller.

By the time he reached five feet from Riven, his head had already lowered.

The man felt like Magma. One look could burn his soul.

The woman felt like Midwinter. One look could freeze his soul.

He cursed himself for encountering a couple of monsters.

He never would have thought that he would encounter Innate ascendants... not one but two! While he was on his routine toll patrols.

Yes.

He thought they were Innate.

There was no other explanation why he... a man who cultivated to the peak of Fetal breathing would feel a suppression of the life level.

To this extent, at that!

’And I asked for tolls!! Argh! Why me??!’

He wanted to cry, but no tears came.

His back was already drenched in cold sweat. He didn’t even dare to breathe too hard.

He saw a steward respectfully handing a couple of notes to the young man.

The young man perused them and gave an imperceptible nod.

The moment the pirate had landed on the ship, he had let go of Aura’s restraint, explicitly focusing on the guest.

Riven stayed quietly looking at the man with his head bowed now for a couple of moments. Then-

"These are ten silver notes issued by the Public Gold Bank," Riven said lightly. "Each worth a thousand taels. Use them to help the disaster victims."

This money was a part of what had been given by the City Lord, essentially buying his life.

Using it to help others was a fitting outcome.

Riven’s tone was calm and gentle.

But to Wave Dragon, his voice sounded like thunder, full of authority that left no room for refusal.

With his head bowed, he reached out with both hands and accepted the banknotes. "Yes, sir."

Everyone watching was shocked.

The most shocked were the capable Pirates on the ships. With their trained eyesight, they could see what was happening.

Just moments ago, Wave Dragon had been bold and arrogant. Now, he was like a subordinate following orders.

"Brother Cole, I’m sorry to trouble you to go with him," Riven said. "Make sure the money reaches the people."

Cole Hart blinked.

He hadn’t expected Riven to choose him; he had tried to avoid involvement.

But then he remembered: the case that brought him to Sundawn State involved the Thirty-Six Pirates of the Great Lake.

Maybe this was a lead.

He could follow this pirate and find more information.

So he nodded.

He, Iron Hand, one of the New Four Great Constables, had come to Sundawn under his true name and not his title.

It was not to protect some Governor, but for this mission.

He boarded the large pirate ship with Wave Dragon.

Back on his own deck, Wave Dragon finally exhaled.

Like a fish thrown back into water, he breathed in deep relief.

He ordered his men to blow the conch shell three times.

Dozens of small boats were scattered and retreated at full speed.

His ship faded into the darkness.

Far from the river, on Wave Dragon’s main ship.

The pirates looked towards their captain, speaking with the man who came from the luxurious boat.

Second in command, he was itching to ask his big brother about what the heck happened.

Wave Dragon finally asked, "Master Cole, who - who is that man?"

Cole replied evenly, "The heir to the Duke of Sundawn State."

"Duke of Sundawn State?" Wave Dragon’s expression changed. "You mean... the one whose wife cheated on him?"

Bad news always spreads fast.

The story of Silas Ashvale, who is now ’Duke,’ almost dying at the hands of his wife and her lover, had circulated all over the lake region.

Story tellers love to exaggerate the stories after all.

Among pirates, it was a joke about the royal family’s incompetence.

The head of Returning Cloud Manor, Cloudren Lockwood, who was a relative of the late Patriarch Lockwood...

No wonder he returned from Sundawn quietly and never spoke of revenge.

[A/N: Cloudren Lockwood is the guy who came to Sundawn with his son and watched the celestial manifestation of the Yang and Yin Divine bones. He’s kinda a big shot relative to the border towns]

After chatting with Cole, the Pirate assigned him a cabin and invited his second in command to a meeting.

"Listen... we are going to spread a ’message’..."

Meanwhile, back on Riven’s ship.

Riven, Selene, and Azira returned to their cabin.

The ship sailed onward, as though nothing had happened.

Later, Azira went to rest. The little girl was much too tired after all that hubbub.

[Ding! You gave Wave Dragon ten thousand silver in silver notes!]

[You triggered a thousandfold critical return!]

[You obtained Emperor Nocthar’s treasure map!]

Inside the gauze canopy of the bed, Riven read the system prompt and raised an eyebrow.

"Selene," he said, "Have you heard of Emperor Nocthar’s treasure?"

She blinked. "A little. My cousin talked about it once."

"He ruled during the chaotic and warring times before Ashenvale conquered these lands... a couple of thousand years ago, I think. A strong person, but unfortunately, he was the founder and the only king.

He went to war with multiple neighboring kingdoms and stayed at war with them until the end.

At that time, he hid a vast treasure.

Gold, silver, precious jade, and mineral stones, everything, so he could escape if needed."

"He slaughtered all who helped him hide it. The builders, soldiers... all of them.

Then he was killed in the war, and the treasure was lost."

She added softly, "My cousin was sending people to search for it."

The Murong Clan wanted rebellion. They needed wealth, grain, and manpower.

So naturally, they hunted the treasure.

But they weren’t alone. Treasure hunters, Martial Artists, and even nobles were also in pursuit.

’One thousand times ten thousand...’, Riven thought.

Since it was a thousand-fold reward.

At least ten million taels of silver.

According to the books, that was a quarter of the Ashenvale Dynasty’s entire revenue last year.

And not in copper or iron or notes—pure silver and gold.

Selene spoke without much interest.

Riven smirked. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, we’ll cause a stir."

"Huh?" she tilted her head.

Riven chuckled. "Think my actions have no consequence? News of that ten thousand taels will spread fast among the lake pirates."

Selene thought for a moment.

"Once they hear about a ’fat sheep’ this generous," Riven said, "who wouldn’t want a bite?"

She suddenly understood.

"You’re evil," she said, giving his arm a light pinch.

"I’m a kind man. Clearing out scum is charity. This is god’s work."

Sure enough.

When the Wave Dragon fleet reached their hideout, word of the ten thousand taels had already reached the other pirate leaders.

That night, the Great Lake didn’t sleep.

Everyone was thinking about how to catch this juicy prey.

While all this was happening, Wave Dragon dipped in a hot spring with a mischievous smile on his face.

’Thirty-six Pirate fleets are a bit too much. Why not take some out? Those fuckers are much more arrogant than me. Hehehehahaha...’