chsdbacks Chapter 8 Calvin's Confidence
Chapter 8 Calvin's Confidence
Inside the banquet hall, which was decorated with menacing black thorn emblems, silver cutlery and wine glasses on the table were violently swept to the ground with a jarring sound.
"Useless! A bunch of good-for-nothings!"
Baron Blackthorne of Blackthorne.
A well-maintained middle-aged face, now contorted with anger, turned a deep liver color.
He was slightly overweight and wore a dark green velvet coat embroidered with gold thread. His originally neatly combed brown hair was somewhat disheveled.
His chest heaved violently as he pointed at the three trembling guards kneeling before him.
"You're tasked with keeping an eye on that village!"
"Keep an eye on that girl!"
"What about you guys? Hmm? Went out drinking? Gambling?"
The captain of the guards, kneeling at the front, was drenched in cold sweat, his voice trembling: "Baron... we... we didn't expect that old hunter to dare... run away."
Hearing their words, Baron Calvin laughed in anger, but his voice turned icy: "So what? Is that your excuse for going out to gamble and drink?"
"A bunch of damn bastards."
Hearing that the baron seemed genuinely angry, the guards looked terrified and hurriedly begged for mercy: "My lord, my lord, give us a chance, we promise to bring them back."
"Ha." Calvin scoffed at their words.
He waved his hand and said in an icy voice, "Drag him away and behead him as a warning!"
"My lord...my lord...please give us a chance!"
The captain of the guard and the two guards couldn't understand why the baron was so angry about a concubine.
This kind of thing has happened before. A dozen or so lashes would bring the person back.
Ignoring the cries and pleas of his guards as he was dragged away, Calvin took a few deep breaths, walked to the window, and looked at the still relatively prosperous Blackthorn Territory with a sinister gaze.
"Lia Sias..." he murmured the name, a surge of emotion welling up inside him, a mixture of anger, frustration, and an even stronger longing.
He, Calvin Blackthorn, had earned his baronial title through generations of family business in this conflict zone bordering the Kingdom of Lotharan.
But he knew all too well that the Blackthorn family had no history, no heritage, and none of the bloodline that those ancient nobles were so proud of!
Bloodline!
Yes, bloodline!
On the continent of Galantir, the true core of power and strength always revolves around those families with special bloodlines!
Blazing Sun Bloodline, Abundant Bloodline, Wind-Walking Bloodline, Frosty Plains Bloodline…
And also, the aquamarine bloodline!
This is the royal bloodline of several kingdoms along the Lotharan coast!
Those who possess it are naturally drawn to the water element, possess keen intellect, and have boundless potential.
Those with the blue-green bloodline can naturally master certain water-based magic abilities as they grow older, even without deliberate training, making them excellent candidates to become mages, priests, or high-ranking knights.
When Calvin was young, he had the good fortune to see a Lotharan nobleman with aquamarine blood at a border noble banquet.
That head of pale blue hair that seemed to shimmer even indoors, those clear yet deep eyes that sparkled with every glance, and that natural sense of superiority…
He was moved; he became brave.
But the other party not only refused, but also mocked him—mocked him for being arrogant, mocked him for being of lowly blood, and mocked him for having dirty eyes.
He became a clown at the banquet, mocked and ridiculed by everyone.
That experience deeply wounded him, but it also ignited the ambition deep within his heart.
On what grounds?
Why should we only be able to maintain a baronial position that could be replaced at any time by scheming, arranging marriages, and trying to please all sides in the cracks?
Why should those with noble bloodlines be able to rightfully enter the true power circles, or even be born a cut above them, who are nobles without bloodlines?
So when he saw a girl with rare long, light blue hair and platinum gray eyes in the border village of Greywood, Calvin's heart nearly leaped out of his chest.
so similar!
Even if they are not pure royal descendants, they are very likely to be people of the blue bloodline who have been separated from the royal family!
This was practically a gift from the Seven Gods, an opportunity for the Blackthorn family to rise to power!
It was also Calvin's chance for revenge; he still couldn't forget the mockery he received from that aquamarine-blooded nobleman.
Marry her, make her a lowly concubine, and have her bear children with azure blood... Yes, preferably several!
Treat her like a prolific sow.
Calvin wanted to insult her and mock her.
To avenge his deep-seated hatred.
Then, he would use these bloodline offspring to train them into assassins, control them, and hone their skills.
He intends to use them to train a high-ranking army of knights and mages.
He intends to rely on this army to conquer the surrounding areas and rise to the rank of earl, or even duke, in this conflict zone.
A perfect plan!
But... all of this was almost ruined by those few negligent idiots and that reckless old hunter!
run away?
Hmph, how naive!
Calvin turned around, his anger gradually replaced by a cold, confident air of control.
He walked to the huge oak desk, on which lay a sheepskin map of Blackthorn Ridge and the surrounding area.
He pressed his fingers firmly on several points above.
"Pass on the order."
He spoke to the butler, who appeared silently from the shadows dressed in black.
"First, block all major roads leading out of the territory and conduct thorough checks, especially on groups carrying young blue-haired girls."
Second, notify the border patrol to be on the lookout for any movements of these three individuals along the border.
"Third, whoever provides accurate information about the three men to the village chiefs and knights of all the villages under the territory will be rewarded with 10 silver coins! Whoever captures or kills the old hunter and his son and brings back the girl will be rewarded with 100 silver coins, and granted the status of a free citizen and land!"
"Fourth, contact the knights of the Blackthorn lineage in the surrounding area and ask them to help with the search. If they bring it back to me, the reward will be doubled."
"Fifth, contact my nephew who works at the Iron Mountain Fortress. Here are 10 gold coins. Have him help us patrol and prevent them from escaping."
The butler bowed: "Yes, sir."
Iron Mountain Fortress is a vital passage connecting Blackthorn Territory with other parts of the Conflict Zone.
Most travelers who want to escape Blackthorn Territory need to pass through Iron Mountain Fortress, and Calvin doesn't want the nobles there to help him unless absolutely necessary.
After all, some nobles knew the characteristics of the blue bloodline and the importance of bloodlines.
As for the Monster Forest?
Calvin had considered it, but there were many powerful monsters there, and even he, a mid-level knight, wasn't confident he could survive.
He didn't believe that an old hunter and a weak woman would dare to run that way.
Oh, right, she seems to have an older brother, who appears to be just a lazy hunter apprentice.
After making the arrangements, Calvin felt confident of victory.
As he lay back in the chair, a hint of relaxation appeared on his face.
Three humble civilians, one of whom is such an obvious target, where can they escape to in this web woven by power, money and violence?
"Go on." Calvin waved the butler away, picked up another crystal glass, poured himself half a glass of wine, swirled it gently, and a smile appeared on his face.
He seemed to see himself in the high spirits of ascending to the throne of Duke, and in a daze, he seemed to see the woman with light blue hair at the banquet again.
He took a sip of wine, his expression gloomy. "Why should someone with a bloodline be more noble than me?"