Chapter 46: Rescue
Monica and Yam walked quickly toward the training grounds.
Yam could clearly see the flustered and helpless expressions on the servants within the Marquis’s Estate.
"Several servants are dead." Monica, noticing Yam's expression and knowing what he was thinking, simply stated, "One was killed in a fit of anger by Grandfather, and the others died unfortunately during the conflict."
"What conflict?"
Monica's face darkened, and she gritted her teeth slightly as she said, "The Tinsk Family isn't completely dead!"
Yam’s heart trembled.
He knew the Tinsk Family had belonged to the original Baron of the Red River Territory. Just like Baron Ster, his current father-in-law, they had once served Count Shuvaric.
However, unlike the Bole Family, the Tinsk Family hadn’t been lucky enough to immediately pledge allegiance to Marquis Visen after their defeat.
On the night of the city's fall, they had been the first to be surrounded and hunted down.
According to Baron Hess, the Tinsk Family should have already been annihilated.
"Where did they get the courage to attack the Marquis’s Estate?" Yam frowned, suddenly realizing that the situation might not be as simple as he had imagined.
"I don't know!" Monica replied, her face clouded. "But their attack succeeded, and now Grandfather can’t act. He has to hold his position within the Marquis’s Estate."
Yam looked shocked. "Did the attack succeed? Someone’s helping them?"
"Yes." Monica did not deny it. "In Red River City, and even now in the Marquis’s Estate, there are still many who are loyal to the Tinsk Family!"
Now Yam finally understood why the servants in the Marquis’s Estate were so terrified.
Maids, manservants, butlers, stewards, those responsible for maintaining a noble household weren’t just randomly hired. The more established and long-standing a noble house was, the more particular it was about its household staff.
So when Marquis Visen moved into the City Lord's Manor, the servants he brought from Eaglehead Territory weren’t sufficient.
In order to maintain daily operations and cleanliness within the Marquis’s Estate, it was inevitable that some of the original manor’s staff were retained, while the rest were recruited from Red River City.
But now, after this incident, that group of servants could no longer be trusted.
And they didn’t know whether they would be executed over this event, so naturally, they were trembling in fear, perhaps not all of them still sympathized with or supported the Tinsk Family, but even if one among them held such sentiment, Marquis Visen couldn’t risk another unexpected incident. Thus, execution was certainly the most straightforward solution.
However, this approach effectively declared to the people of Red River City the cruelty of Marquis Visen, or rather, of the Kasein Family. This would undoubtedly be detrimental to their rule over Red River City and even the Red River Territory.
For Yam to realize this much already demonstrated his impressive growth.
But he didn’t know that the plan Monica had proposed to Marquis Visen for absorbing the Gem Territory was equally unscrupulous.
Combined with Marquis Visen’s ongoing frustration at the Red Soil Territory’s refusal to submit, once actions against those two territories began, it wouldn’t just be a matter of waiting for the dust to settle, other lords of the Marquisate of Red Eagle would likely become estranged from the Kasein Family.
That was why Monica looked so grim now, and why her grandfather, Marquis Visen Kasein, would vent his anger on others.
Simply put, in the eyes of the other nobles, the Kasein Family appeared far too greedy.
With different thoughts in mind, the two quickly arrived at the training grounds.
Sure enough, Akar was practicing there.
Outsiders like Monica might assume Akar was training in archery, but Yam knew better. Akar would never waste time on something so meaningless.
His real strength lay not in archery, but in his extraordinary mastery and control over fire. He didn’t even need Flame Stream Strike to replicate techniques and combat applications similar to those described in the Secret Art Chapter, only lacking the explosive effect recorded therein.
"Akar!" Yam called out immediately.
"Brother?" Akar turned his head and smiled upon seeing Yam. "Why are you here?... Miss Monica, good afternoon."
"Something’s happened." Ignoring Akar’s greeting, Yam spoke in a serious tone. "Miss Anna and Sir Joshua were attacked. Both have been abducted. The Marquis needs your help."
Upon hearing Yam’s words, Akar froze momentarily, and his expression quickly turned grave and cold.
"Half an hour ago, Joshua had a servant prepare a carriage. He was taking Anna out for some air."
"But just after the carriage left Whitespring Avenue, it was attacked by multiple Bloodline Users. Of the two accompanying Bloodline Knights, one was killed and the other severely injured. Joshua and Anna were both abducted. Fortunately, this happened near the intersection of Whitespring Avenue, not far from the Marquis’s Estate, so upon hearing the commotion, a Bloodline Knight immediately rushed to help. But the enemies were cunning, they split up, and most of our people chased after Joshua."
"So no one went to rescue Anna?" Akar’s voice grew urgent.
"Only two people abducted Anna. Three Bloodline Users have gone after them," Monica said, looking deeply at Akar before continuing, "Both enemies are Second-Tier Bloodline Users. The rescuers include two Second-Tier Bloodline Users and one First-Tier Bloodline User. Their strength should be sufficient."
"The real problem lies in the group that took Joshua."
"More?" Yam frowned. "How many people?"
"According to reports, at least five," Monica said in a serious tone. "Their leader claims to be the son of Baron Will Tinsk."
"Wait a minute!" Yam’s frown deepened. "Weren’t the lord of the Red River Territory and his son both killed on the night the city fell?"
"Not the eldest son." Monica shook her head. "There had been no prior mention of Baron Will Tinsk having two sons. I suspect he is either an illegitimate child or a collateral relative trying to claim Baron Will’s title... But that doesn’t matter! What really matters is that there are two Third-Tier Bloodline Users among them!"
"That’s impossible!" Yam denied it instantly.
He still remembered when Baron Ster had intervened in the Red River Territory war, even with the three Bloodline Users sent by Count Shuvaric, the combined forces of Red River Territory and White Mountain Territory only had slightly over ten Bloodline Users.
Among those, only Baron Ster, Baron Will, and Baron Will’s eldest son were Third-Tier Bloodline Users. There were only six Second-Tier Bloodline Users, including the three sent by Count Shuvaric.
But now White Mountain Territory wasn’t siding with the Tinsk Family, and the people sent by Count Shuvaric were no longer available.
How could the Tinsk Family alone gather so many Bloodline Users? If they had this strength from the start, they wouldn’t have lost the previous war.
"This is a conspiracy!"
After a moment of thought, Yam immediately understood the key issue.
"Exactly!" Monica nodded. "Previously, when all the lords were gathered at the Marquis’s Estate, no one dared stir up trouble in Red River City. But now, after Third Uncle organized a hunting event, the lords have all left, and the enemy suddenly struck. This is a conspiracy aimed at the Marquisate of Red Eagle... My grandfather must hold the line at the Marquis’s Estate and cannot act, so only the other Bloodline Knights of the estate can be mobilized."
This incident was different from the previous wars involving Gem Territory and Red River Territory.
Since someone had attacked members of the Kasein Family, it was natural for the family to retaliate. Sending out Bloodline Knights under the Kasein Family’s command was entirely reasonable.
From what Yam knew, this time, Marquis Visen had brought along seven Bloodline Knights from Eaglehead Territory.
Among them were two Third-Tier Bloodline Users, three Second-Tier, and two First-Tier. Joshua and Monica themselves were Second-Tier Bloodline Users, Wade Kasein was a Fourth-Tier Bloodline User, and Marquis Visen was a Sixth-Tier Bloodline User.
With such deep reserves, who would dare provoke the Kasein Family?
Not to mention, the Marquis’s Estate had previously housed four lords and their retainers.
"Have any other Bloodline Knights joined the battle?" Yam asked.
"Only one Bloodline Knight left behind by Viscount Swan and Lord Atork have helped at Grandfather’s request."
At this point, Monica looked at Yam with some helplessness.
Viscount Forest of the Forest Territory had six Bloodline Knights under his command.
Three had been killed at once by Yam and Akar, even helping Akar earn the name of Blazing Bow.
This time, Viscount Forest only brought a single Second-Tier Bloodline Knight to maintain presence, and he had already left the Marquis’s Estate with his lord.
Baron Hess Billy of Gem Territory had come to the Marquis’s Estate this time without even bringing a Bloodline Knight, just his son and daughter. His son had already been sent back home by Yam, and his daughter had been abducted. Truly unfortunate.
Baron Ster Bole of White Mountain Territory had only brought Yam and Akar.
But Yam had yet to fully recover from his injuries, and his grandfather had explicitly forbidden him from joining the fight, so Akar was their only available option.
Viscount Agley Senels of Bayor Territory had brought quite a few people, two sons, one grandson, and two Second-Tier Bloodline Knights.
But now, aside from his grandson Atork Senels and one Bloodline Knight left behind for protection, the rest had followed the Viscount out to the hunting grounds outside Red River City.
As for Marquis Visen, if he personally made a move, unless there was a Sixth-Tier Bloodline User among the enemies, resolving this wouldn’t be difficult.
But if even small matters required the direct intervention of Marquis Visen, the Marquis of Red Eagle would soon become the laughing stock of something like “Gem Joke.”
Akar silently calculated the balance of power, then asked, "So there are six people going to rescue Sir Joshua right now?"
Two Third-Tier Bloodline Knights of the Kasein Family, one Second-Tier, one First-Tier, along with Second-Tier Bloodline User Atork Senels and a Household Knight of the Senels Family.
"Yes," Monica nodded. "Including you, that makes seven."
Among the five enemies who abducted Joshua, only two were Third-Tier Bloodline Users. Even if the remaining three were all Second-Tier, the rescuers from the Marquis’s Estate still had a clear advantage on paper.
"I understand." Akar nodded. "I’ll head out immediately."
"Akar!" Just as Akar picked up his longbow and was about to turn to leave, Yam suddenly reached out and grabbed his hand.
Akar said nothing and looked at Yam.
The two brothers had lived together for over a decade. They had long developed a deep mutual understanding. When their eyes met, they understood each other without the need for words.
Yam gently let go of his hand and sighed. "Be careful."
"I know." Akar smiled briefly, then swiftly departed.