Lord: Starting with Summoning the Regular Army of Earth

Chapter 100 A Frustrated Renault

Inside a camp tent on the southeastern border of Iron Rock City.

"Where have those damned bastards gone?" Renault gripped his glass tightly, a surge of pent-up anger raging within him, with nowhere to vent it.

Since that bandit group made a feint in the direction of Giethoorn and Black Valley, keeping him on the run, they have disappeared without a trace.

There were no attacks on villages, no raids on caravans, and in the last ten days or so, not a single trace could be found. It was as if they had vanished into thin air, which was extremely unusual.

"Could it be that it has retreated back into the Tully family's turtle shell again, or simply wandered off to another place?" Renault was extremely agitated. This feeling of being "the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light," of being made a fool of, made him feel so frustrated that he was about to explode.

He felt like a fool, being manipulated by a group of peasant bandits he had always looked down upon.

His father had sent people to inquire about the progress of the bandit suppression efforts multiple times, each time with an increasingly impatient tone. He could imagine how the other family members were mocking his incompetence behind his back.

What upset him even more, and what made him feel incredibly pained every time he thought about it, was the "generous gift" he sent to Jinshiling that led to his failed attempt to steal a chicken and ultimately resulted in a loss.

That included one hundred sets of chainmail, two hundred longswords, fifty hard bows, a large quantity of arrows, five cartloads of grain, cloth, salt, and sugar, as well as five hundred gold coins and gold and silver utensils that he personally paid out of his own pocket.

These supplies are enough to arm a small army and sustain a border town through the entire winter.

Now look what's happened! The robbers weren't lured out, and all this stuff is probably gone for good—gone forever.

The thought that Matthew's illegitimate son might be using the gold coins and supplies he sent to recruit refugees and accelerate the construction of his territory made Renault's heart bleed.

The feeling was like a gambler who meticulously planned a scheme, only to lose all their capital and become a laughingstock to their opponents.

"Useless! Harold is useless too! The spies he sent out have all disappeared without a trace, and the twenty laborers he finally planted have not sent back a single useful message after all this time! They don't even know what the situation is like inside Emberstone Ridge."

Reno felt even more frustrated when he thought about Harold's report last time, in which he mentioned that Emberstone Ridge seemed to have a lot of manpower and that the city wall construction was quite large-scale. Those walls were built with his blood.

If they actually finish building it, the bandit group will be even less likely to venture into Emberstone Ridge.

Renault was getting more and more frustrated. The only good news was that the goblins that had been appearing and disappearing mysteriously and attacking his scouts and caravans had stopped for the past two weeks, and there were no new reports.

"Looks like those damned beasts stole something and retreated back into the depths of the Misty Mountains? Or—were they driven away by those guys from Emberstone Ridge?" Harold did mention it, saying that Matthew had hinted that they were capable of dealing with goblins.

The current situation has left him in a dilemma.

Should the large-scale crackdown on the bandits continue?

The man and horse were fed and fed, which was a huge expense, yet they were just wandering around the mountains like headless flies, a complete waste of time and resources.

My father wouldn't agree either.

Should we simply abandon the city and retreat to Ironrock?

If those bandits were to launch a surprise attack and slaughter another village, he would be unable to face his father and would become a laughingstock in the entire aristocratic circle.

Moreover, the gifts sent to Jinshiling were completely wasted.

"Is this... just going to be the end of it?" Renault clenched his fist tightly, his nails digging deep into his palm. The stinging pain calmed him down a little.

No, we absolutely cannot let this go!

He, Renault Kress, had never suffered such a great loss before!

The money, food and supplies that had been sent out were like thorns stuck in his heart, and he had to find a way to get them back with interest!

"How about I have my soldiers play the role of bandits—" an idea popped into Renault's mind, "or some other method—"

Renault's mind raced with thoughts, but whatever the plan, the prerequisite was that he needed to have a clearer understanding of the true situation at Emberstone Ridge.

"That idiot Harold didn't figure it out last time either—" Renault mused, "We need to send someone to Emberstone Ridge again."

He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Someone come here!"

A servant entered in response.

"Go, bring Harold to me." Renault's voice returned to its usual coldness, but the resentment and calculation deep in his eyes grew even stronger.

Meanwhile, back at Emberstone Ridge, the carriage, guided by Conrad, finally stopped in the relatively flat small square in front of the lord's manor.

With Lina's help, Eleanor gracefully stepped down from the carriage.

She quickly straightened her skirt and took a breath, a polite smile on her face.

Conrad strode in to report.

A moment later, Matthew, accompanied by Will, walked out of the lord's manor.

He wore a simple linen robe, stood tall, and wore a calm and aloof smile.

"Your Excellency," Eleanor spoke first, her voice gentle yet dignified, and she performed a standard noblewoman's bow, "Eleanor of the Goldfinch Merchant Guild, I apologize for the intrusion and for disturbing your peace."

"Lady Eleanor's presence is an honor to my humble abode, Emberstone Ridge. There is no question of disturbing you." Matthew nodded slightly in return, his tone calm, his gaze fixed on Eleanor and the several heavy-looking gift boxes carried by the maids behind her. "Madam, you have come from afar. You must be tired."

"Your Excellency is too kind," Eleanor said with a gentle smile, gesturing for a maid to present the gift box. "This is a small token of my appreciation for your first visit. I've heard that it hasn't been easy for you to establish your territory here, so this is a small token of my appreciation from the Golden Bird Merchant Guild, totaling one thousand gold coins. I hope it can contribute to the development of the region. In addition, there are some specialty snacks from Ironrock City for you and your entourage to enjoy."

One thousand gold coins.

This is definitely a generous gift, enough to demonstrate the "sincerity" and financial strength of the Golden Flower Merchants Association.

Matthew's eyes flickered slightly, his mind filled with more vigilance as he pondered what this shrewd woman's purpose was.

Her sudden visit today was unusual in itself, not to mention that businessmen are profit-driven and wouldn't do a losing business out of kindness, so he had to be careful.

Although his mind was racing, Matthew remained expressionless: "Madam, your gift is too kind for me to accept."

"Please don't refuse, my lord," Eleanor said sincerely. "This is not only a small token of the merchant guild's appreciation, but also my deepest admiration for your ability to manage Emberstone Ridge so well in such a short time—so orderly and vibrant. To be honest, what I've seen with my own eyes far exceeds my expectations."

Her gaze swept over the surrounding scenery, her tone filled with undisguised admiration: "These walls, these roads, and the spirit of the people—Eleanor is deeply impressed. The abilities of a great man are truly astonishing."

Eleanor knew her sweet words wouldn't work on the lord before her, so she changed the subject: "Of course, I also hope that once Emberstone Ridge develops, Your Excellency will reserve a place for our Golden Bird Merchant Guild in the city."

Matthew smiled and nodded, knowing full well that this lady's purpose was far from simple.

He smiled faintly and stepped aside to make way: "Madam, you flatter me. It was nothing more than my best effort. It's windy outside, please come inside. Will, prepare some tea and refreshments."

"Yes, sir," Will replied.

Matthew gestured for Eleanor to enter, but this simple gesture caught her eye.

When she gave Morpheus the Black Crystal Card in Ironrock City last time, she paid special attention to Morpheus's movements and the details of his hands as he received the card.

For others, a simple action or a single hand might be difficult to discern, but for Eleanor, recognizing a person through details of their hand and certain subconscious body movements is one of her survival skills.

Seeing Matthew raise his hand and the details of his palm, she became even more certain of her guess.

Eleanor smiled and returned the greeting, then followed Matthew into the lord's manor.

Matthew led Eleanor and Lena to his office/study, which was simply and neatly furnished.

A heavy wooden table, a few chairs, several thick books on the desk, and a roughly drawn map of the area around Jinshi Ridge on the wall—otherwise, there were no other decorations, exuding a utilitarian and austere atmosphere.

Matthew invited Eleanor and Lena to sit down, and Will served hot tea made with local herbs, the steam rising gently with a slightly bitter aroma.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, a short silence fell over the room.

Eleanor held the rough ceramic cup, feeling the warmth emanating from its walls with her fingertips, while her gaze subtly swept over Matthew's calm, expressionless face and Conrad, who stood beside her with sharp eyes.

She knew that Matthew and Conrad were wary, which was understandable. Her sudden visit and offer of gold coins would easily lead them to associate her with that despicable fool, Renault.

Therefore, the only way to gain someone's trust is through sincerity. For a shrewd lord, any pretense will only exacerbate their suspicions and backfire.

Matthew was also observing Eleanor.

The beautiful chamber of commerce president was elegant in demeanor and had a proper smile, but the shrewdness and scrutiny that gleamed deep in her captivating eyes did not escape his notice. The "generous gifts" she brought and her humble attitude only heightened Matthew's wariness.

Offering unsolicited favors is either a sign of malice or theft.

Finally, Matthew put down his teacup, his gaze calmly fixed on Eleanor. He decided to break the facade of tranquility, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority: "Lady Eleanor, I am deeply grateful for your long journey and the generous gift you have brought. But please forgive my frankness, Eleanor Ridge is a remote and impoverished place, and I fear it does not deserve the high regard of the Golden Flower Merchant Guild. If you have any other matters to discuss, please feel free to speak them."

His directness caused Lina to frown slightly, while Eleanor's eyes flashed with a knowing smile.

She gently placed the teacup on the table, her smile fading slightly and replaced by a more serious expression: "Since you, Baron, are so straightforward, Eleanor will not beat around the bush either."

She leaned forward slightly, meeting Matthew's scrutinizing gaze with candid honesty. "I've come here not just to pay a visit and express goodwill. I also want to confirm something, or rather, verify a suspicion."

Matthew raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.

"If I'm not mistaken, the black crystal card I gave to Mr. Morpheus last time is at your residence right now, sir." Eleanor's words caused the room to fall into silence.

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