CHAPTER 59: BARON GIDEON

***

The next day.

As agreed the night before between Gideon and Nozel, Gideon stood near the village gate wearing a tactical shirt and carrying a SIG M17 at his side for precaution. Luke stood next to him in the same attire.

"Will he come?"

"He’s a sex addict. Of course he’ll come," Gideon replied, glancing briefly.

Lena and Lyra were also ready, though Lena was not given any special task because she had the important task of guarding Alanar. Lyra was inside the tent with Liam and Norton.

Gideon’s plan was simple. He would lure Nozel into the tent, where Liam would strip him of his title. Luke’s task was critical, to eliminate the guards that came with Nozel.

Lyra was inside the tent to secure the situation. Once Nozel became a commoner, he would be banished from the village and possibly executed immediately, according to the nobles’ tradition.

That prevented rebellion from nobles who had been stripped of their title and status.

From afar, Gideon squinted when he saw Nozel arriving in a single horse-drawn carriage. He stopped in front of Nemora’s village gate and stepped out in his finest noble clothing, followed by two bulky guards.

Gideon smiled as he stepped forward, greeting Nozel with a handshake, acting friendly toward the man.

"Welcome, Baron Nozel. I’ve been waiting for your arrival," Gideon said.

"Really? Haha!"

"Enough with the small talk. Show me the woman. I want to see her," Nozel answered, eager with a flushed face.

Gideon turned and pointed toward the grand tent in the middle of the village, guarded by no one. He made it clear the woman Nozel desired was inside.

"I’ve arranged a romantic setting for the two of you. A fluffy bed, soft fragrance, flowers, and the best bottle of wine," Gideon added.

"HAHA!"

"Are you telling me to just sleep with her right away?" Nozel asked.

"No one can resist her beauty. That’s why I’ve prepared all of this just for you, Lord Baron Nozel."

"Let’s go," Gideon said.

He stepped forward with Nozel following behind. Nozel’s two guards looked cautious, but Luke reassured them their master would be pleased with Gideon’s gift.

Before entering, Lyra came forward with a strip of red cloth to cover Nozel’s eyes. Nozel grew even more excited, especially since the woman who came to blindfold him was beautiful in his eyes. Still, he grew impatient to finally meet Gideon’s woman.

Once done, Lyra held his hand and guided him inside. Gideon nodded and entered with Nozel.

Just as Nozel’s two guards were about to enter as well, Luke acted quickly.

BANG!

With the suppressor on the muzzle of his SIG M17, Luke disengaged the safety and pulled the trigger. In an instant, bullets tore through the left chest of both guards.

"AAAKKH!" one of them screamed, the sound reaching Nozel inside.

Nozel struggled, trying to pull off the blindfold. Gideon moved fast, punching him in the stomach and sending the fat man sprawling in pain.

Nozel’s two guards were dead within seconds, leaving him alone in the village and vulnerable. Gideon pulled off the blindfold and let him see what lay before him.

"WHAT ARE YOU—"

PUNCH!

Gideon’s fist smashed into Nozel’s face, leaving a bruise and a cut on his lip. His expression shifted instantly, from friendly to cold and deadly serious.

He crouched near Nozel, pulled him up, and forced him to raise his head and look ahead.

Nozel froze in shock, pale, his eyes wide and trembling as he saw two high-ranking nobles standing inside the tent.

Right! There was no woman. Gideon had lured him here only to face trial before Liam, the man who had once raised him to Baron.

"Baron Nozel. It’s been a while," Liam greeted with a smile.

"V-Viscount Duncan...?"

"W-What is going on?" Nozel stammered.

"I’ve been here since yesterday when you arrived. Captain Gideon told me everything. It seems you’ve abused your power, Nozel," Liam said.

"N-No... I always followed the rules."

"Neglected villages, famine, disease outbreaks, poor sanitation, broken infrastructure," Gideon cut in, making Nozel whip his head around angrily.

"You know what, damn you? You’re just a commoner. I’m a Baron!" Nozel shouted.

Gideon sighed. He looked back and ordered Luke to pull open the tent’s curtain. Nozel glanced quickly and saw his two strongest guards, undefeated until now, lying dead in pools of blood.

"W-What ... what’s really happening?" Nozel asked in shock.

"I’ll get straight to the point," Liam said firmly.

"Nozel!"

"By my authority as Viscount of Mischo City. I, Liam Duncan, hereby strip you, Nozel, of your Baron title!" Liam declared, pointing at him with a loud, steady voice.

Noelle and Silva, watching from their home nearby, could hear Liam’s words clearly, as could the villagers outside.

"With this decision, you have no right to return to your manor, no right to your money or your slaves, no right to govern or tax this village!" Liam continued.

"From now on, you are nothing more than a commoner."

"BUT YOU CAN’T—"

PUNCH!

Gideon struck Nozel again in the face and kicked his stomach. He was no longer a noble. Each strike brought Gideon an odd sense of satisfaction.

"Watch your tone. A peasant like you has no right to speak so loudly before a noble," Gideon said coldly.

"Y-You...?"

"I’m only showing you your own arrogance, that’s all."

"In return, Gideon, I now appoint you as Baron of the southern territory in Nozel’s place. You inherit everything Nozel once had," Liam declared.

"You may use his wealth, his soldiers, even the slaves he bought," Liam added.

Gideon nodded, saluting Liam and promising he would do his utmost not to disappoint the Viscount.

"This meeting is over. Take him out," Liam ordered.

They dragged Nozel out of the tent, where he screamed and resisted, refusing to accept the loss of his title. But Liam’s decision was absolute and final.

Gideon and Lyra exited the tent, joining Luke who was still standing outside awaiting the next order. When Gideon turned, he saw Nozel being dragged helplessly.

"So, what about him?" Luke asked.

The noise around the tent had already drawn many villagers. Noelle ordered everyone to gather and witness Nozel’s downfall.

The villagers had long despised Nozel’s rule. Now they were relieved to finally see a new Baron. Jack and Sora also arrived to see what was happening.

"Do it, Luke."

Gideon tossed Nozel’s body forward. Luke nodded, understanding. Orders were orders, and he would carry them out.

"Please, forgive me... I’m not guilty" Nozel pleaded, crying.

"No. You are."

BANG!

A single bullet pierced Nozel’s head, blasting through his brain. His body twitched violently and then went limp, dead on the spot. Liam was stunned. It was his first time witnessing the power of Gideon’s weapons.

"That’s enough," Gideon said. Luke re-engaged the safety and holstered his SIG M17.

Liam approached Nozel’s body, removed the Baron’s badge from him, and handed it to Gideon, now the new Baron.

"Long live Baron Gideon!" the villagers shouted.

"Long live Baron Gideon!"

"Long live Baron Gideon!"

Gideon watched them and smiled. Norton patted his shoulder with congratulations.

"So, what will you do now?" Norton asked.

"Noelle, Silva. Come here."

The two women looked shocked, the villagers’ attention shifting toward them. Slowly, they stepped forward to Gideon.

"Do you need something, Baron Gideon?" Noelle asked.

"You two will come with me to Rockvalley. In this village, you’re the only ones who truly understand its needs," Gideon answered.

"What do you mean?" Silva asked.

"Counting his money, analyzing the problems of other villages, taking stock of his soldiers, and so on."

"How many villages are under my watch?" Gideon asked Noelle.

"Four villages."

"Then let’s go see what problems each one is facing."