12: Chapter 12 Count Farrell's Plot!

Meanwhile.

On the other side of the manor, far from the Sea of Golden Flowers.

Inside a quiet camp meticulously surrounded by tall hedges, the atmosphere was completely different from the clamor outside.

A dark gray tent stood here, patterned with inconspicuous dark markings.

Inside the tent, three nobles clad in knightly armor sat around an ironwood table, drinking wine and chatting.

At the head was an elderly noble with a narrow face and high cheekbones, Ravenna Farrell.

The current ruler of the Gino Territory, Count Farrell.

He wore plate armor as black as night, with dark, flowing cloud patterns etched onto the plates.

Because of his family's "Shadow Breathing Technique" and his style of conduct, people more often referred to him as "Knight Shadow".

At this moment, a polite smile hovered at the corners of his mouth.

The two sitting opposite him were equally impressive.

On the left was a knight clad in fire-red armor, the armor ornate and decorated with exquisite maple leaf reliefs.

He looked to be around forty, with a resolute face and short dark red hair like burning embers.

He was the "Maple Leaf Knight" Andre Mesa, Viscount of Maple Flower Territory.

The Red Maple Breathing Technique granted him Blazing and irritable Battle Qi, which also influenced some of his temperament.

The knight on the right wore deep purple armor; the plates were heavy, and the surface had countless tiny, spike-like protrusions, appearing ferocious and sturdy.

He was the "Iron Thorn Knight" Gavin Mercer, Viscount of the Purple Thorn Territory.

Like his title and his family's "Iron Thorn Breathing Technique", he was known for his tenacity and powerful defense.

"Thank you both for gracing me with your presence at my small spring ball." Knight Shadow spoke first, his voice steady and elegant as he raised his glass in a gesture.

Maple Leaf Knight Viscount Mesa clinked glasses and drank it in one gulp, then knitted his thick eyebrows together and said bluntly:

"Enough, Ravenna. Put away that noble tone of yours. Who doesn't know that you people of the Farrell Family have more twists and turns in your bellies than the corridors of a maze."

"Just say it straight. Why did you call us here alone? I don't like riddles."

His tone was straightforward, even somewhat rude, but those who knew him understood that this was his consistent style.

Practicing the Blazing Red Maple Breathing Technique for years made his Battle Qi and personality carry a flame-like directness and violence.

"Ha, Andre, it's been so many years, and you really haven't changed a bit." Iron Thorn Knight Viscount Mercer laughed, his voice deep and resonant.

He raised his glass, drank it in one gulp, and swept his gaze over the simple furnishings inside the tent, saying:

"Speaking of which, why are there only the three of us? What about the others? Viscount Willis, and that one from Black Creek Territory…"

Knight Shadow gave a light cough, interrupting the question, his smile unchanging: "The others… had some temporary business and declined. However, it doesn't matter."

He put down his glass and pressed his fingertips together gently. "I invited you both here today to discuss something that concerns the future fate of our three houses. For this reason…"

He paused, a glimmer flashing in his eyes, "I have also specifically invited a… heavyweight guest."

Before he finished speaking, he clapped his hands lightly.

The heavy tent flap was silently lifted.

Immediately after, a tall figure stepped into the tent.

He was covered from head to toe in pale white armor without any patterns, giving off an ominous vibe.

Hanging at his waist was a broad-bladed knight's sword of the same pale color.

Most chilling was his face.

It was completely covered by a pure white faceplate with only narrow slits for the eyes.

Sunlight leaked in through the gap in the curtain and shone on him, yet the white armor did not reflect any light.

Behind him stood four knights clad in dark red armor, also with their faces covered by masks, silent as stone.

"What is this?!"

Maple Leaf Knight and Iron Thorn Knight changed color almost simultaneously, jumping up from their seats, their hands instantly pressing onto their sword hilts.

The temperature inside the tent seemed to drop suddenly, the majestic aura of the two Great Knights rising faintly, silently colliding with the cold, sinister aura emitted by the visitor.

"Gentlemen, please calm down." Knight Shadow remained seated, his voice calm, as if introducing an ordinary friend:

"This is the Pale Knight of the Crimson Vagabond Knights. He has come today to discuss an important matter."

"Pale Knight?!" Maple Leaf Knight Mesa's pupils constricted, his voice filled with disbelief and rage:

"Ravenna Farrell! You dare to collude with people from a fallen order of knights! Do you know what this means? If the Imperial Inspection Bureau or the Church of Dawn finds out…"

"It means our three houses will be uprooted and nailed to the stake!" Iron Thorn Knight Gavin's voice was low and taut.

He stared fixedly at Knight Shadow, then glanced at the figure standing immovable as a mountain at the door, his muscles already tensed, Iron Thorn Battle Qi flowing faintly beneath his armor.

"The only people who know about this are the ones in this tent." The smile on Knight Shadow's face finally faded, replaced by a cold calm.

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze slowly sweeping over the faces of his shocked neighbors, "As long as you don't speak, how would the Church… know?"

The implication of these words confirmed the suspicions of the Maple Leaf Knight and the Iron Thorn Knight, and their expressions changed drastically.

And that Pale Knight, who had remained silent all along, turned slightly at this moment, squarely and perfectly blocking the only exit.

The four red-trimmed knights behind him also moved silently, surrounding the two.

"Gentlemen, I am sorry." Knight Shadow sighed softly, "For the future of the Farrell Family, I… have no other choice."

"Bastard!" Maple Leaf Knight laughed in extreme rage, his crimson Battle Qi erupting, rising around him like invisible flames, the air in the tent suddenly turning scorching hot:

"Ravenna! Do you think you can keep us both here with just you people?"

"Clang!" "Cling!"

Two clear metallic ringing sounds erupted almost simultaneously.

Maple Leaf Knight's fire-red longsword and Iron Thorn Knight's purple-black heavy sword had already been unsheathed.

The Great Knights' scorching and heavy sword qi surged within the confined space.

The silent Pale Knight let out a very faint chuckle at this moment.

He spoke, his voice coming through the faceplate, hollow and cold, "Do you think… you still have much strength left now?"

"What?!" Maple Leaf Knight and Iron Thorn Knight were stunned for a moment, then their expressions changed wildly!

They suddenly felt that the Battle Qi in their bodies, which had been surging like a river, had become sluggish and heavy!

A shadow that seemed to have a life of its own was quietly spreading from the depths of their limbs and bones, wrapping around their life seeds.

Their heartbeats had become slow and strange, and a strong sense of weakness and dizziness washed over them.

"Poison… the wine is poisoned!" Iron Thorn Knight looked fiercely at the almost untouched silver pot on the table, his eyes splitting with rage.

His Iron Thorn Breathing Technique had extremely strong resistance to toxins, yet he hadn't detected it at the first moment!

This poison was definitely not ordinary!

"It's the Shadow Bind! Ravenna, you despicable villain!" Maple Leaf Knight roared.

His Red Maple Battle Qi was particularly sensitive to cold-type toxins, and he felt it even more strongly now.

But his personality was resolute, and in this desperate situation, it instead incited his ferocity, "Even if I'm poisoned, I'll drag you all to the grave with me!"

Red Maple: Prairie Fire!

Maple Leaf Knight bellowed, disregarding the sharp pain and sluggishness in his Battle Qi circulation, and forcibly stimulated his life seed. The fire-red longsword transformed into a roaring whirlwind of flames, fiercely slashing toward the Pale Knight blocking the door!

This strike was made with the resolve to die together.

Iron Thorn Knight also made his choice at the same time; he knew that breaking out was the only path to survival.

Battle Qi condensed into tangible thorns on his purple-black heavy sword, carrying a heavy power that could tear through anything, and instead of attacking the Pale Knight, he slashed fiercely at the side wall of the tent!

He wanted to break through the tent and escape!

"Gavin! Let's charge out together! We must get the news…" Iron Thorn Knight's roar came to an abrupt halt.

Because he saw that, facing Maple Leaf Knight's desperate Prairie Fire slash, the Pale Knight merely raised his right hand, which was covered in pale armor, slightly.

At the same time, a strange and complex blood-red Battle Qi formation lit up under the feet of the four red-trimmed knights behind him, as well as the Pale Knight himself!

Crimson Hand: Seize!

The Pale Knight chanted in a strange tone with his hollow voice.

A giant palm made entirely of dark red Battle Qi appeared out of thin air before Maple Leaf Knight's flame sword light.

The flame sword light slashed into the blood-red palm like a clay ox entering the sea; the scorching, violent Battle Qi was easily swallowed and annihilated by that dark red palm!

Not only that, a suction force filled with an evil aura suddenly came, acting not only on his Battle Qi but directly on the knight's life seed!

"Crimson Hand?!" Maple Leaf Knight was horrified.

He had heard rumors of this signature evil battle formation of the Crimson Knights.

But seeing it with his own eyes, its power and strangeness far exceeded his imagination!

With the Shadow Bind as a conduit, he felt his blood, Battle Qi, and even his soul being forcibly extracted!

"You planned this long ago!" Iron Thorn Knight witnessed this scene, and his heart sank to the bottom.

His heavy sword, which he had slashed at the tent wall, was blocked by an invisible force field—it was a magic barrier set up in advance!

He turned his head sharply, looking at Knight Shadow, who had remained seated throughout, his eyes filled with uncontrollable rage.

Knight Shadow just watched all this quietly, seemingly having no intention of intervening at all.

"Andre! Don't fight head-on! Let's…" Iron Thorn Knight roared, simultaneously gathering all his remaining Battle Qi, preparing to launch his strongest strike, desperate to open a gap in the barrier.

He had to get the news of Knight Shadow's collusion with the fallen order of knights out!

However, his words were interrupted again.

Because an irresistible, strange power suddenly erupted from within his body!

"Urgh—!"

Iron Thorn Knight also let out a painful and suppressed groan, his body suddenly freezing in place.