CHAPTER 65: NIGHT OF CHAOS INSIDE ROCKVALLEY

When he saw the chaos peak, the entire villagers inside the tavern came out carrying their weapons, from knives, wood, sickles, axes, to pitchforks.

The torches were the only light among them. Their presence in such large numbers startled the Manor Baron’s soldiers.

Among them, Gideon arrived at the residence after sprinting from the tavern, avoiding the mob’s rage.

"What’s happening, Lord Gideon?" asked the gate guard.

"Close the gates and call all the soldiers to be on alert," Gideon ordered firmly.

"They know Nozel is dead. They plan to destroy this place and take everything."

"Y-Yes, Lord Gideon," the guard answered.

The northern and southern gates of the residence were shut and locked. They reinforced the doors with wooden beams and iron chains.

Gideon’s preventive measures worked, the furious villagers failed to break into the residence grounds.

The residence door opened, and Viviene came out alone after hearing the noise outside the gate. She was shocked to see the large crowd gathering outside, shouting insults at her and threatening to destroy the Baron’s residence.

A total of fifty of the Baron’s soldiers arrived, fully dressed in iron armor with shields and swords.

They were divided into two squads, guarding the northern and southern sides of the residence. One man came forward, the commander of the Baron’s household guard, Lucas.

"What’s going on, My Lord?" Lucas asked, standing beside Gideon.

"The villagers are furious. They’ve learned of Nozel’s death. Now they’re using this moment to take over the Baron’s residence," Gideon replied.

"I knew this would happen, they’ve been holding back their resentment for too long."

"What’s your plan?" asked Lucas.

"Negotiate with them. That’s the only way to handle this chaos without a fight."

"I understand."

"Use your shields, never draw your swords on them. Push them back if the gates are breached, but don’t let them enter the house," Gideon commanded.

"Yes, My Lord."

He went to inform the soldiers of Gideon’s absolute orders. At first, they were confused by his decision, but as soldiers, their duty was only to obey what their Lord and Commander told them.

Gideon looked toward the entrance of the residence, seeing Viviene and the other maids panicking, their faces pale.

They had never witnessed such rage from the villagers before. They were afraid the residence would be destroyed and that misfortune would fall upon them.

"Go back inside and take shelter," Gideon ordered.

"Y-Yes, Lord Gideon," Viviene replied.

She and the other maids left the spot in order, returning inside the house and hiding in their rooms. Now, only the men remained outside while the women were safe inside.

"They won’t listen!" Lucas said firmly.

"I’ll handle this," Gideon replied.

Gideon removed the suppressor from his SIG M17 and raised the pistol toward the sky. When the safety was released and the trigger pulled, the sharp crack echoed throughout the residence, loud enough to shake everyone.

Inside the house, Sheilla and Isabella couldn’t sleep, crying in fear as they clung tightly to Viviene.

The uproar outside turned into silence, all attention at the southern gate shifted forward, staring at Gideon holding the black iron weapon that had made the loud noise.

"Who are you?" one man from the villagers shouted.

"I am Gideon. The new Baron of this place. I was appointed directly by Viscount Duncan," Gideon declared.

He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the Baron’s badge he carried. The villagers were shocked.

They had thought the new Baron might be someone they knew, someone close to Nozel. But Gideon was a stranger. They had no idea who he was or what he was capable of.

"Put down your weapons and go back. I’m not Nozel and I will not act like Nozel," Gideon said.

"How do we know you’re not the same as him? All nobles are the same! Always squeezing the people for money!" they shouted angrily.

The uproar grew louder, filling the place with noise, and Gideon was stunned. The stubbornness rooted deep in them was the result of Nozel’s evil deeds all this time. Now Gideon had to face the chaos caused by that pig Nozel.

Damn you, Nozel! You’re dead, yet you keep troubling me!

The gates were hard to break, but the villagers didn’t give up. They helped each other climb the walls of the residence. More followed, leaving Gideon overwhelmed.

Luke and the others are at Nemora. It takes an hour to get here from there. Besides, they’ll stay there according to my orders.

I have to think of something to stop them.

"If you really want this residence, then one of you can come in and challenge me directly here!" Gideon shouted.

"If your champion wins, then the residence and everything in it belongs to you."

"If I win, you must obey my word!" Gideon declared.

"How about it?" Gideon asked.

His voice reached them. One man raised his hand, quieted the crowd, and accepted Gideon’s challenge. But he demanded the fight be with weapons. Gideon didn’t object.

The man climbed over the wall, carrying an axe as his weapon. Gideon smiled and told Lucas to hand him armor, a shield, and a sword.

The villagers were shocked, but the soldiers already knew Gideon’s skill with weapons.

"Hmm... you look confident with that small weapon of yours," the man said, introducing himself as Jacob.

"Of course. With this pistol, I drove off a large Moko force in the south."

"The Moko army in the south?" some villagers whispered.

"Wasn’t the rumor that they were defeated by the ghost team?"

"Is this Baron part of the ghost team?" they asked from beyond the southern gate.

But to Jacob, the ghost team was only a fairy tale, a lie from the kingdom to cover the foolish death of the southern Moko commander. He didn’t believe Gideon was one of them.

"You’ll see. There’s a reason Nozel died by my hand," Gideon said firmly.

The fight began. Jacob, clad in iron armor, charged forward swinging his sword down from above. Gideon saw his weak stance, his trembling hands gripping the blade.

Gideon aimed his SIG M17 forward, not at Jacob’s head or chest, but at his unarmored thigh.

BANG!

With a loud crack, the bullet shot from Gideon’s SIG M17 into Jacob’s thigh, piercing flesh and crippling his movement. Jacob instantly fell, groaning in pain, unable to stand or walk.

The fight was over. Gideon had won easily. Jacob refused to yield, but every time he tried to rise, the pain in his thigh surged, turning his face pale. Blood poured from the hole in his thigh where Gideon’s bullet had struck.

"It’s over."

"N-No... way," Jacob muttered.

Gideon turned, walking closer to Jacob while still holding his SIG M17. Just as he stood before him, a hoarse voice came from beyond the gate.

"P-Please, Lord Gideon. Don’t kill my son," said Clark, falling to his knees, begging.

Not only Clark arrived, but the Baron’s carriage came from the north. One of the soldiers on the northern front came to report something to Gideon.

"Report, My Lord. Three people arrived and neutralized several rebels in the north."

Gideon smiled, relieved to know those three were his teammates. He engaged the safety and holstered his pistol again. He crouched in front of Jacob, startling him.

"Stop," Gideon ordered.

He tore Jacob’s pants and tied a strip of cloth around the bullet wound on his thigh. Jacob was shocked, not knowing how to respond. His mind was in chaos over Gideon’s actions.

"Stand up, Chief Clark."

"Y-Yes, Lord Gideon," Clark replied.

From the north, Luke arrived holding his SIG M17. Lyra and Lena were still at the gate, securing the surrendering villagers.

"Captain, are you alright?" Luke asked with worry.

"I’m fine. Why did you come late? I almost killed them all," Gideon replied jokingly.

"You’re the one who came here without us. Noelle told us you might need backup," Luke answered.

"Sorry for troubling you," Gideon said.

"Don’t be. We’re one team, remember? We stick together."

The northern soldiers brought the surrendering and wounded villagers to the front yard of the residence.

Lyra and Lena joined them, and Princess Alanar had already been secured inside the Baron’s house.

"Captain!" Lyra and Lena greeted, rushing to Gideon.

Jacob saw Gideon’s comrades arrive. He grew curious about Gideon’s true identity, noticing they all carried the same black iron weapons.

"Who are you really?" Jacob asked weakly.

"I already told you. My friends and I are the ghost team."

"We’re not like Nozel. I offer change for all of you!" Gideon declared.

Gideon extended his hand to Jacob, trying to help him up. At first Jacob resisted, but Gideon’s face and manner were unlike any noble he knew. In the end, Jacob accepted his hand and stood up on one leg.

"In the next week, you will see the changes in my rule."

"If anyone disagrees, you’re free to protest all you want!"