Wizard: I Have a World of the Dead

Wallenberg, study.

The fire in the fireplace was burning brightly, its orange flames flickering and casting shifting shadows on the tapestry hanging on the wall.

Lin Qi sat behind his desk, holding a letter in his hand.

His brows were furrowed tightly.

A moment later, he looked up at Cliff, who was standing in front of the desk.

"You mean," Lynch tossed the letter onto the table, his voice so calm it betrayed no emotion, "that Margaret was kidnapped by the Asdokians on her way here, and they're demanding a ransom?"

Cliff nodded. "Yes, Your Excellency."

"A messenger from the Hollenfield family arrived this morning, saying that the young lady's caravan was ambushed by the Asdok in the riverside forest. Four of the guards were killed, and the rest scattered."

"Miss... has been taken away."

Lin Qi didn't reply. He leaned back in his chair and asked, "How much ransom do you want?"

Cliff said, "Five hundred gold coins, thirty barrels of wheat, and twenty bolts of linen."

Lin Qi remained silent for a moment.

Then he chuckled: "Ha, five hundred gold coins, thirty barrels of wheat, twenty bolts of linen... When did those Asdok barbarians start using these tricks?"

He sneered, "Is this ransom demanded by the Asdok people, or by the Hollenfield family?"

The social structure of the Asdok people differed from that of the Lolund Kingdom. They were more like a nomadic people, with a loose social system based on tribes.

They do not trade with the Lolunt, so gold coins are completely useless to them. Grain does have some value, but they usually just rob people outright, so they don't bother with paying ransom.

This offer is clearly unlikely to have come from the Asdok people; it's more likely something that came up from the Hollenfield family.

To put it bluntly, she was upset because the agreed-upon marriage contract had gone awry and her dowry was gone, so she made up an excuse to ask Lin Qi for some compensation.

Cliff began by asking, "Baron, what do you think of us...?"

Lin Qi pondered for a moment.

He definitely had to deal with the matter. After all, according to etiquette, since the marriage was already arranged, the other party was now one of Wallenberg's people, and he had to be the one to handle it.

The world of the aristocracy has its own rules, many of which may seem insignificant, but crossing the line can make it impossible for someone to gain a foothold in this circle.

of course,

The matter will definitely be handled, but Lynch will not pay a single cent of the ransom.

Putting aside the fact that this money is unlikely to be used to save people, 500 gold coins is equivalent to one or two years' worth of taxes for Valen.

Since that's the case, let's resolve it by force!

Thinking of this, Lynch asked, "What about Sir Foster and Sir Gale? Have they been notified? What did they say?"

These are two knights from Valenland who are loyal to Lynch.

Valen Territory originally had eight knights, but most of them died while following Lynch's father to explore the Misty Forest, leaving only these two.

A barely perceptible look of unease flashed across Cliff's face.

He paused for two seconds before speaking, "I sent someone to inform them. Sir Foster's squire reported that the knight injured his back during training a few days ago and is still bedridden..."

"Knight Gael has gone hunting and is not currently at the manor. He has not replied yet."

At this point, Cliff sighed, his face clearly showing anger.

These knights were all cultivated by the old baron, who personally taught them the knightly breathing technique, knighted them, granted them land and farms, and invested a great deal of resources in the Valen territory.

The Baron has only been dead for a short time, and they're already acting against his wishes. It's outrageous!

Lin Qi seemed quite indifferent to this.

After all, the rule of power is the most fundamental and supreme rule in the human world.

People support you only because you are stronger than them.

In the eyes of these knights, Lynch is nothing more than a greenhorn, and even his title is something he obtained by luck.

To think that a single imperial edict could make them willingly fight to the death... is simply wishful thinking.

Lin Qi nodded: "Understood."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Summon all the apprentice knights in the castle. Also, go to the storeroom and prepare five sets of the finest armor, full-body suits!"

If your fiancée is stolen, then you'll take her back yourself.

Although his fiancée's safety may not be important to Lin Qi at the moment.

But wiping out this bunch of scoundrels is very important to Lynch!

...

At dusk, in front of the gates of Wallenberg.

As the sun sets, its last rays fall upon the ancient city walls, turning the gray stone bricks a warm red.

The castle gates were wide open, and in the open space in front of them, more than twenty figures were lined up in the twilight.

Lin Qi slowly walked past the front of the line.

His gaze swept across everyone's face.

There were twenty-seven people in total, twenty-seven apprentice knights. The oldest looked to be under twenty years old, and the youngest was probably only fifteen or sixteen.

Lynch approached them and said in a loud voice, "Just two days ago, a group of Asdok people crossed the border and entered our territory. They ambushed a convoy in the riverside forest, violated our land, and plundered and killed our people."

He raised his voice: "Answer me, what do we need to do?"

There was a moment of silence.

"kill!"

"kill!"

"kill!"

The shouts echoed in the twilight, startling the crows roosting on the city walls, which fluttered into the darkening sky.

Lynch nodded: "Very good."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Everyone will be rewarded with 10 gold coins upon returning from this expedition!"

Everyone's eyes lit up immediately.

Lynch continued, "In addition, one Asdok head and one gold coin. Cash on the spot."

"Long live the Baron!"

Someone shouted first, and the others immediately joined in: "Long live the Baron!" "Long live Wallenberg!"

The shouts were louder and more enthusiastic than before.

Lin Qi nodded, mounted his horse, and a servant hurriedly handed him a helmet.

Just then, the old butler, Cliff, rushed in through the doorway.

"Your Excellency..." he gasped for breath, "Sir Gael...has not replied yet."

Cliff looked up at him, his cloudy old eyes filled with worry: "Baron, perhaps we should wait a little longer?"

"Sir Gael was handpicked by your father; he is always loyal. He must have just been out hunting and didn't receive the message. He will surely come when he returns."

Lin Qi shook his head: "No need to wait."

He put on the helmet and fastened the straps. The helmet covered his face, revealing only his eyes and chin. His eyes were exceptionally calm in the twilight, revealing no emotion.

He tightened the reins and looked into the distance: "If Sir Gael comes, let him prepare a victory celebration."

He paused, then added in his mind.

If he doesn't come...

Then go back and prepare your own funeral!

"Set off!"