CHAPTER 530: BABOR VILLAGE

TL: Rui88

At the entrance to Babor Village, several men dressed as knights sat on their horses, gazing far down the main road to the east.

“Lord Ferguson.”

A younger knight asked the man in the lead, “Do you think Paul Grayman will come?”

Ferguson glanced at him. “Chakon, Lord Grayman is a man who strictly keeps his promises. Since I received his reply, and it was an affirmative one, he will definitely come on the appointed date.”

The young knight said no more and continued to watch the end of the main road.

At that moment, a cloud of dust rose in the furthest distance their eyes could reach.

Gradually, the swirling dust grew thicker, as if a troop was heading in their direction.

“They’re coming, they’re coming! They’re flying the lord’s family banner,” someone with good eyesight shouted in confirmation.

Ferguson’s heart sank, as if a stone that had been hanging high above had finally crashed down, landing heavily on his heart.

He said in a low voice, “Gentlemen, the lord is coming. Hide your intentions for now. Be careful in your reception in a moment, and don’t give anything away prematurely.”

“Don’t worry, Lord Ferguson.”

The men patted their chests and replied one after another.

The troop drew closer and closer, and everyone could finally see its size. Ferguson made a rough estimate…good heavens, there were more than fifty people.

His heart was gripped tightly once more. What was going on? Why had so many people come?

Had the lord come to hunt, or had he come to… to… to arrest someone?

He knew that the lord’s guards were all highly skilled fighters. These fifty men, if it came to a fight, could take on five hundred of his own men.

But the arrow was already nocked on the bowstring; he had no way out.

Ferguson steeled himself and gently shook the reins. His mount, as if sensing its master’s complex mood, did not obediently step forward as usual, but instead paced restlessly on the spot.

“Shak! Easy now, listen to me.”

Ferguson stroked the horse’s neck, calming his restless mount. Finally, the horse started to move, trotting forward.

When he was about a hundred yards from the troop, two knights galloped out from their ranks.

“Halt, you ahead! State your identity,” one of the knights shouted towards Ferguson.

“I am Ferguson, a knight of the Grayman family! The lord knows me.”

Ferguson shouted back in reply, feeling slightly displeased. But he had been away from Lakeheart Town for several years; these two were probably new and didn’t recognise him.

The troop had stopped. Paul recognised Ferguson and called out, “It’s alright, let him approach.”

Only then did the two knights move aside, clearing a path for Ferguson.

Ferguson spurred his horse and soon arrived before Paul. He dismounted and bowed to Paul, using the traditional etiquette of a knight meeting his liege lord.

“Thank you for coming to keep the appointment, Lord Grayman. My friends and I will be honoured by your presence today.”

“It’s been a long time, Ferguson!” Paul laughed heartily. He had intended to dismount and embrace Ferguson, but he immediately received a sharp, warning glance from his Captain of the Guard, Victor.

For some time now, the Head of Intelligence, Cecil, and the Captain of the Guard, Victor, had repeatedly reminded Paul not to get too close to people he did not interact with regularly, no matter how familiar or trustworthy they had been in the past.

Considering that what he had been doing recently was somewhat sensitive, Paul decided to follow their advice.

He gave his former family knight a slightly apologetic look.

“It is I who should thank you for inviting me to such an interesting event. Ah, I have been extremely busy lately, so I had to decline your previous invitations. My deepest apologies. Hahaha!”

“Not at all!” Ferguson replied with a laugh. “Your presence, Lord Grayman, is the greatest honour you could bestow upon me. It’s just…”

He glanced at the long column of men, his words betraying a hint of confusion.

“Oh! It’s all Victor’s fault.”

Paul unhesitatingly placed the blame on the Captain of the Guard next to him. “I said we were just taking a trip within my own domain, not going to Crystal Shrine to have an audience with the king. There’s no need for such a grand display. But he wouldn’t listen and insisted on doing it this way.”

His tone even carried a hint of indignation.

Victor, his expression unchanged, dismounted and gave Ferguson a bear hug.

“It’s been a long time, Lord Ferguson.”

“It really has been a long time, Victor. You’ve matured. Are you in charge of Lord Grayman’s security detail now?”

“Yes!”

“And Russ?”

“Lord Hayden is now the head of the Department of Public Safety, so I was pushed into this position by him.”

Victor and Ferguson were old acquaintances. He explained the reason for bringing so many guards. “Lord Ferguson, you’ve been living in the countryside and haven’t had much contact with the outside world, but the Alda of today is not the remote and dilapidated Alda of the past. Who knows how many people out there, openly or secretly, covet Lord Grayman’s power and wealth, and of course, his life. That’s why I have no choice but to arrange for so many men whenever Lord Grayman travels.”

He put on an expression of grievance. “Sigh, you know, the pressure on me is immense now.” He then ruffled his hair. “Look at my hair now. Isn’t there much less of it than the last time we met?”

Ferguson’s anxious heart relaxed a little. Hearing their words, it seemed they hadn’t brought so many men specifically for him.

“This way, please, Lord Grayman. First, to my manor. I will host a reception for you to wash away the dust and fatigue from your journey.”

Ferguson invited Paul with a smile. “Oh, by the way,” he said, pointing to the people still waiting at the village entrance.

“There are a few other friends who have come with me to welcome you. Let me introduce you in a moment.”

Paul nodded. “Good! Take me to your manor for a visit, my dear Ferguson.”

Ferguson then remounted his horse and led Paul’s troop towards the village.

…

“Grayman is here!”

At the village entrance, the remaining knights watched the entire exchange as Ferguson rode out to meet the lord’s troop.

The young man Ferguson had called Chakon said with some trepidation, “Why did he bring so many men? Could it be that he already knows something?”

“We’ll act according to Lord Ferguson’s lead in a moment.”

The one who answered him was another young man, slightly older than Chakon. “Hmph! What’s the use of bringing so many men? This is our territory. Once he’s here, he’s at our mercy. More men just means more to accompany Grayman to his grave.”

The young man’s eyes were icy cold as he looked at the troop.