Lord: Stripped of My Inheritance from the Start

Chapter 545: Chapter 518: Ibn’s Ambition

When Ibn left Double Peaks Ridge, he never expected to find Golden Feather City in such a chaotic state.

However, he had been a Border Count for many years, and he quickly recognized the opportunity within the chaos.

Garrett had committed such a grave crime that he had no chance of ascending to the throne. Even if some supported him, the nobles led by Ronin would surely oppose it.

He keenly realized this was an opportunity.

With Garrett gone and Ference also disqualified, the throne would unexpectedly fall to his wife.

’The Tolansky Clan might actually produce a queen?’

With his Power, enough to challenge a Proud Sun Knight, coupled with his years of experience on the border and his excellent relationships with renowned and powerful nobles like Gushan, supporting Sharon’s ascension to the throne should have been no problem.

But he was equally concerned about Ronin’s attitude.

Although Wubei Territory had only been developing for a few years and Moonlight Valley was still in a state of rebuilding, Ronin was simply too strong.

Silver Moon Knights were no match for the Proud Sun Knights, but with sufficient numbers, even the Proud Sun Knights wouldn’t dare to act recklessly.

But a Legendary was different.

When Ronin was ambushed this time, annihilating his opponents was secondary. The crucial point was that he emerged unscathed, without even using his full strength.

’A man like that couldn’t be offended lightly. If pushed too far, he might resort to assassination, and I would be completely defenseless.’

’One must be alive to fight for the throne, but more importantly, one must be alive to keep it.’

That was why he wanted to gauge Ronin’s stance.

If Ronin openly declared his intention to take the throne, with no room for negotiation, then Ibn would settle for the next best thing: securing greater benefits for the Tolansky Clan.

’A dukedom and its lands would be the bare minimum, right?’

Of course, if Ronin had no intention of having Blanche contend for the throne, Sharon would gladly accept it.

In any case, revoking Garrett’s right of succession was the first step.

Ronin nodded slightly. "From my personal standpoint, I agree with you. However, the specifics will have to be decided in a trial by Texas and the other legal officials of the Kingdom, along with the nobility."

He continued, "Arsenno and the others have already set the dates. The nineteenth and twentieth will be for His Majesty’s funeral. After that is the noble assembly, where we can discuss the matter."

Ibn smiled. He knew that while Ronin’s statement was cautious, it supported his view, and many other nobles would likely feel the same.

’The first step has gone smoothly.’

"If Garrett is punished and loses his right to the throne, and the same applies to Ference, then according to the laws of the Kingdom, the right of succession falls to my wife, Sharon."

At this point, his tone shifted. "However, in all these years, there has never been a case of a daughter inheriting the throne, so the laws regarding this are incomplete. Sharon is eligible, but so is her younger sister, your wife, Blanche. She also has a claim."

Ronin chuckled. "That’s certainly a novel way of putting it... Why don’t you just say what’s on your mind?"

Ibn spoke bluntly, "Ronin, I’ve said all this mainly to make you understand. Although Garrett and I spent many years together on the border, there is no enmity between you and me, nor are we competitors."

He paused, then continued, "If you want the throne, Sharon and I will step aside and support you. Of course, as your supporters, I would hope the Tolansky Clan could replace Ferrensburg’s current position and become a great noble house on par with the Wushan Clan and Gistana."

Ibn was being very direct. He would support Blanche’s ascension, but after the fact, he, Ibn, would become a Duke, and his domain would be the current Ferrensburg Duchy.

’The man is ambitious,’ Ronin thought. ’If I weren’t so powerful, he would have definitely supported Sharon directly to become the new monarch.’

’But it’s also undeniable that he’s decisive, abandoning his designs on the throne as soon as he saw the potential risks.’

However, Ronin did not want a new Duke to emerge, much less one with such a large fief.

As mentioned before, he could ennoble his own subordinates, but the rights of nobles needed to be restricted, not left as they currently were.

"I’ve already asked Blanche. She isn’t interested in the throne."

Ronin shook his head. "She just wants a quiet life."

Ibn’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly realized something. "Then your intention is..."

"Although His Majesty Bruno is dead, as the Kingdom Guardian Knight and Duke of Conqueror he personally ennobled, I will still resolutely carry out his will."

Ronin stood up and said with a smile, "As for the specifics, let’s wait for the noble assembly. I will present my proposal then."

With that, he gave a nod and returned to his room.

Ibn frowned, secretly pondering what Ronin’s true intentions could be.

The days passed, and more and more nobles arrived in Golden Feather City. After paying their respects at His Majesty’s ice-casket, they went to Wushan Manor to see Garrett.

Fortunately, the men guarding Garrett came from various families, so outsiders wouldn’t think Ronin had used some trick to make Garrett go mad.

During this time, Lurans was making the rounds. Many nobles gave him face, but they gave even more face to Ronin.

Everyone knew that the words of the Thunderbolt Marquis very likely represented Ronin’s own intentions.

Besides Wushan Manor, the manor where Ibn was staying was also frequented by nobles of all ranks.

According to the laws of the Kingdom, Sharon was next in line to be the monarch.

If Sharon insisted, Ronin would have no reason to stop her, unless he killed her.

But Ronin was a Legendary expert, after all, and he was seeking to punish Garrett for a similar crime. He wouldn’t be so shameless as to follow in Garrett’s footsteps.

Turmoil was brewing in the Royal Capital, and the same was true for Ferrensburg and the Villa Duchy.

One of their Lords was imprisoned and facing trial, while the other had been killed outright, yet no one dared to speak up for them. The families of both men knew what this meant.

They had only two choices: accept being purged and punished, becoming lowly slaves or even being killed, or defect to the enemy and seek asylum.

At this moment, an emissary from His Majesty Tyrone gave them a better option—to defect en masse.

While transferring their family members and assets, they began organizing forces to launch attacks on the Gistana Duchy, Wushan Territory, and Purple Thunder Territory respectively.

Soon, His Majesty Bruno’s funeral was held as scheduled.

Unlike the funeral for Jesus, this one was marked by a solemnity, gravity, and sorrow that enveloped all of Golden Feather City.

Banners throughout Golden Feather Palace hung low, and the very air seemed heavy with remembrance for Oduin V.

Bruno had reigned for twenty-four years. He had reversed the decline following a defeat over thirty years ago, maintained a balance of power between all parties, and ushered in a period of decent development for the Oduin Kingdom.

Eldest Princess Sharon read the eulogy, while the nobles, dressed in dark formal wear with solemn expressions, paid their final respects to the late His Majesty Bruno.

After the two-day funeral came the second event that had everyone’s attention—the noble assembly.

Oduin Hall had been destroyed and could not possibly be repaired in a short time.

The location for this meeting was chosen to be the banquet hall of the Royal Palace.

Since the notice had been properly delivered, nearly all the Kingdom’s direct Vassals were present. There were at least two hundred people in the banquet hall.

Of course, at least half of them were honorary nobles, possessing no actual territory.

However, their Power could not be ignored for that reason.

Their lack of territory wasn’t because the King wouldn’t grant it, but because they didn’t want it.

Take Honorary Count Gushan of Red Pine Castle, for example. If he wanted a fief, would the King deny him one?

It could only be said that everyone has their own ambitions and preferences.

The bell for the noble assembly rang out melodiously, echoing in every corner of the banquet hall, as if raising the curtain on the power game that was about to unfold.

Sharon entered the hall slowly, arm in arm with Ibn.

As Bruno’s eldest daughter, her status was extremely high in the current circumstances, even though she was already married.

The host of this noble assembly was also Princess Sharon.

After them, Blanche entered the hall, arm in arm with Ronin. Compared to Sharon’s regal and mature presence, the younger princess had a gentle and more youthful disposition.

However, everyone knew that although Blanche was young, she was soon to be a mother.

"My lords,"

Sharon’s voice echoed through the hall, clear and powerful.

"We have gathered here today not only to mourn His Majesty Bruno, but also for the future of the Kingdom. Though His Majesty has passed, we cannot allow his Kingdom to fall into decline with him!"

Her voice was tinged with sorrow and hoarseness. "And the first order of business is to pass judgment on the murderer of His Majesty—the former Crown Prince, my brother... Garrett!"

As if her strength had failed her, she sat down. "Next, I call upon Arsenno, Broel, Ronin, and the others to state what happened that day."