The complications from this accident were too severe, especially for those who were involved in the development of the territory. It's fine if they resist heroically before everything is destroyed, and it's fine if the culprit is known so everyone can understand the difficulty of the situation.
There would be at least an explanation.
But now, even if the Kennel Family was influential, what sort of explanations they could come up with to appease the dissatisfaction of the king when the countermeasure they came up with clearly couldn't trace any of the proof of the culprit?
Fredrinn was too clean in his raid; the unique aura a Grand Knight would leave after the fight was nowhere to be seen. He's just a squire, after all. So the things that narrowed everything down were too few, too insignificant.
Although it was just a small town, the fact that nothing could be caught was proof of their incompetence!
With the ambiguous element of this accident, everyone could come up with absurd speculations and no one would be able to refute, and the range wouldn't be small, as the sight of the exposed lungs and heart of the branch family head along with his hanging intestines was too terrifying, and it was especially too controversial.
"Did the branch family head make a deal with a devil and fail to fulfill its demands?"
"I fear that he somehow offended someone he shouldn't and it would implicate us all. Hell, it might even implicate the whole kingdom!"
"What if that force was dissatisfied and took this offense as an opportunity to do something more than just destroy a town?"
These are pure speculations, and most of them were said to agitate the kingdom. After all, people like to let their imaginations run wild, and some of them just like to cause unrest and chaos.
Noticing the potency of these seemingly harmless actions, the Kennel Family decisively executed those who ran their mouth carelessly.
Mysteriously, most people who ran their mouths carelessly disappeared before the authorities could catch them all. The higher-ups were alerted by this, and it wasn't hard to guess the origin of these people.
The king was furious by the chaos that ensued in his kingdom, and he could only suppress it by sending many experts and officials across the kingdom to appease the unrest.
The Kennel Family was the first to bear the brunt of his rage, and over 6 territories were confiscated from their grasp. It was estimated that their annual income had decreased by over 20%!
It was devastating. The Family Head of the Kennel Family, Grenchz Kennel, smashed his fist against the armrest. He felt like he was bleeding tons of blood even though he had no wounds.
"Useless! So useless! I gave you all the territories you didn't, don't, and won't deserve; I even let you gain some benefits, but what did you guys do? Can't even solve a case of a little town?! Get out and do everything you can. I'll be satisfied if you can even get a word out of this accident!"
His advisor, Hler, stood beside him and closed his eyes. The branch family heads, along with their people, fled with their tails between their legs. Their eyes are filled with resentment as they curse the dead branch's family head.
You're so useless, and we were the ones who must bear the brunt.
Afterward, Grenchz Kennel's agitated face turned ice cold, as if his rage was just an illusion. He cupped his chin, "Who could possibly make such a move? By destroying a town, they could directly decrease my family's income by 20%. Hler, do you think the king did this?"
His advisor shook his head. He didn't refute it, but he just showed that it was unlikely.
"If that was the case, he didn't have to mobilize so many experts to appease the unrest. The king was tyrannical and decisive, but it was this exact reason that he kept overlooking the small details of his conduct."
"If everything is under control, why did he directly jump into the mess? It would be more beneficial to watch as the unrest unfolded while he calmly mobilized his people to seize benefits in this turmoil. It's obvious that he was caught unprepared."
Of course, from the perspective of a ruler, Hler could understand the King's anxiety. Many aspects of a kingdom require people to flow naturally, and if disrupted, the loss would be significant enough for his heart to bleed.
Besides, it's true that the king didn't expect any of this, so he had few comments about his moves.
"Do you think it was our neighbors who did it?"
"No, that's unlikely. If they did, the unrest wouldn't be this insignificant, which the king could appease by sending minor officials and experts. Besides, the borders which we shared with them were too scrutinized and protected by each side, especially when there are about 4 Supreme Commanders that guard it."
Grenchz creased his eyebrows. His eyes glinted eerily as he glanced at Hler, "Do you think this is the perfect moment?"
"If that mysterious variable could be discovered, then yes, it would be perfect."
Grenchz was about to retort when Hler slightly tilted his body, "Don't underestimate this variable, my Lord. The fact that they caused such turmoil without leaving any hints behind proved their meticulous ways. I suspect that they were one of the hidden Grand Knights that was indifferent to the matters of the kingdom. However, I could not be sure of this speculation, so I do not wish for us to initiate such a reckless mobilization without knowing anything about our opposition."
Information is more than just a key to open the chest of victory; one needs it to find the chest itself in the first place. So without information, one couldn't even cast a glimpse of victory, unless they have overbearing might and power.
Within the darkroom of the Kennel Family's manor, Grenchz's eyes gleamed eerily in the dark. Hler stood calmly by his side.
"If not for that damn person, I could subdue everything with my might."
"Now, I'm just a rat scruffing around just to find a hint of food."
Hler remained calm, "The time will come, my Lord. We just have to be patient enough for it to give us the golden hours."
In a peculiar forest, the Village of Peace, despite its humble size, was bustling with vitality. Everyone was in vigor as they harmoniously talked with each other while separating midway to do their parts.
In a building beside the field of wheat, Lez was conducting a throughout observation of a single seed. His murmurs moved the seed occasionally as if they had some sort of influence towards the seed.
Many villagers who worked in the agriculture field were amazed; so this is why Leader Lez was called the Field Preacher by their Lord!
In another establishment near the main hall, Ryly was patiently explaining to the adults about numeric addition and subtraction, to which they scratched their heads. On the other side, the ones who taught the children were surprisingly Rea and Mattel!
Rea was petite, beautiful, and kind, earning the children's admiration, while Maltel was cold and distant but held a motherly aura for the children, receiving their respect and awe.
Perhaps because the children were raised by their mothers, but the efficiency of their learning process increased by over 40% since they began teaching them. This was a pleasant surprise for Fredrinn, and he smiled so wide even his mother was concerned.
Perhaps this is what they called 'heaven lends a hand'? He brainstormed multiple times to tell his wife about Maltel, but they naturally became acquainted with each other.
If an opportunity arises, then he won't hesitate!
The most significant improvement obviously lies in the Combat Group along with the Construction Department! Not to mention the dozens of Purification Potions, even many miscellaneous treasures could benefit the village.
These treasures, which do not have much effect on experts, were crucial for mortals to improve their physical bodies!
Medicines are abundant, and there are many Coal-grade scriptures. There are even Iron-grade scriptures that could support his men to create a stable foundation for their breakthrough toward the knight realm!
The reason they are unspecified is the fact that the realms before the Grand Knight were very simple. They only required the practitioners to build a stable, strong body and foundation to build a system that could accommodate more pure energy.
It was only when one entered the Grand Knight that the attributes, classes, and other specifications would appear.
There's a reason why a mere branch family could have a bunch of knights defending their turf; there was also the fact that it was an overlord of the Greenwood Forest.
Greenwood Forest could be considered a province, and the territories under the watch of the 16 duchies are on par with countries. It was not strange that the Mystyr Kingdom could have the size of a continent.
Unlike the distribution of lands and authorities of the classic feudal system, here, it was mixed with the bureaucracy system. Barons must report to a viscount, viscounts must report to a count, and so on.
The one that sat at the top of this system was naturally the royal family.
The Grand Knight realm is a sublimation of one's system, the next degree of existence one must achieve to be a beginner in the transcendent path.
As for ability books, they are created by Grand Knights by imbuing the books with their insight through a special form of energy that was sublimated when they broke through called intent. Only a Grand Knight could 'comprehend' abilities and techniques; squires and knights required an ability book to learn abilities.
An ability book that contained 5% of a Grand Knight's insight is a Coal-grade ability, equivalent to the squire level, while one with 20% is considered an Iron-grade ability and could be used by a knight.
As for why a Grand Knight is willing to share them all, there's only an answer: interest! There are so few Grand Knights, but hundreds, potentially thousands of knights in the Mystyr Kingdom, not to mention squires. They directly monopolize the market, racking millions of gold coins just by imbuing a meager amount of their insight.
Fredrinn was immersed in his plans for the future. However, an urgent voice called him out of his inner thoughts.
"My Lord! The Outcasts have gone mad and launched a desperate attack, sending hundreds of knights to overthrow the border. Viscountess Nemhil is in peril!"
"Received. I'll handle it!"
Lutto, who had already become better since the destruction of the Kennel Branch Family, sighed in relief. Although he couldn't understand how his Lord could destroy it without leaving any traces behind, Lutto decided to spare the small details.
His Lord, Fredrinn, is very powerful!
His trust in his Lord is absolute!