Chapter 119: Face Slapping
After listening to Benur’s account, Duane had a general understanding of what had happened.
It turned out that Garrot’s men had been active in Lingang Village this morning, trying to buy grain from the villagers at a price of 2 Copper Coins per pound.
Some families, who perhaps had a surplus or could make up the difference from other sources, were willing to sell a few dozen or even a hundred pounds.
Garrot and his men were making fairly smooth progress with their purchases.
However, these households were ultimately in the minority.
When fewer and fewer people were willing to sell, the hot-tempered Cameron, with no one there to hold him back, resorted to threats and coercion.
The family was wailing and crying for help, and their pleas happened to be heard by Jack, who was leading a patrol.
As the head of the Police Department, responsible for public order in all areas outside of Broken Wave City, he naturally had to intervene when he encountered such a situation.
Not only did Cameron refuse to listen, but he also began berating the local people in a contemptuous tone.
Jack lost his temper and demanded that he take Cameron to see Raymond to sort things out.
And that’s when Cameron attacked.
Jack was only a Basic-level Warrior, and even with his two subordinates, they were no match for an Advanced Warrior.
The three of them were knocked to the ground in a single exchange.
Then, Michele, who was stationed in Lingang Village, arrived, followed shortly by Raymond and Gaius.
The commotion grew, drawing in Cameron’s men as well...
By the time Duane arrived, the two groups had gathered and were facing each other.
Cameron was loudly blaming Jack’s group, while Raymond, Gaius, Simone, and the others were shouting back in anger.
The atmosphere was tense, but both sides were exercising restraint and hadn’t come to blows.
Apparently, Benur had reported the situation based on his own speculation.
He couldn’t be blamed. After all, the scene was chaotic when he left, and a fight could have broken out at any moment.
As Duane approached with Kaelon, the crowd automatically parted to let them through.
"My Lord!"
Seeing the Baron arrive, everyone instantly felt like they had found their pillar of support.
This was especially true for Raymond and the other two Camp Commanders. If they hadn’t held their men back, a fight would have broken out, jeopardizing the Baron’s plans, and they wouldn’t have known how to deal with the aftermath.
Duane rode into the center of the crowd and looked at Jack and his two men, who were being shielded by others as they sat slumped on the ground.
His face was grim as he asked, "What happened?"
Jack quickly explained what had occurred. His account was largely the same as Benur’s.
However, since Jack and his men were directly involved, their version had more detail.
For example, Cameron had also hurled insults, calling Duane the most foolish noble he had ever seen.
Duane shifted his gaze to Cameron.
Cameron snorted. Not only did he deny Jack’s accusations, he lifted his chin arrogantly and said:
"Baron, you can’t blame me for this. It was they who—"
CRACK!
Like a bolt of lightning, Duane’s riding crop lashed across Cameron’s face.
Instantly, a bright red welt appeared. Blood trickled down, staining half of his face.
"You bastard!"
Enraged, Cameron’s Fighting Qi flared as he lunged forward.
But in that instant, Kaelon, Raymond, and the others swiftly moved to block the way, drawing their longswords in front of Duane’s horse.
The furious Cameron’s momentum died in an instant. At the same time, Garrot reached out a hand to stop him.
"Baron Duane, what is the meaning of this?"
Garrot said, displeased, "Your men made the first move. Not only do you not punish them, you attack one of mine. Is this your idea of hospitality? Or do you think Viscount Freddy’s Gale Corps is a pushover?"
Duane didn’t mince words. Without even dismounting, he looked down at him and asked, "What are you going to do about it?"
"I demand you apologize for what you just did and punish your men!"
Garrot said bluntly.
Apologize?
’Apologize for what?!’
’If I back down now, I’ll lose all respect from my subordinates.’
He snorted coldly. "You dare to purchase my subjects’ property within my territory without my permission. Garrot, tell me, what do you call that?"
Garrot froze for a moment, quickly realizing the question was not to his advantage.
But just as he was about to press the issue of the fight, Duane cut him off forcefully.
"That is a violation of my sovereignty!"
Duane said coldly, "I could report this to King Eric and demand that your master, Viscount Freddy Yalvis, give an explanation to me and to the Pruck Kingdom!"
Garrot was stunned by these words, and his aggressive posture faltered.
He knew Duane wasn’t lying; their actions were indeed an infringement of Duane’s rights as a lord.
If their relationship had been amicable, the other party might have been willing to turn a blind eye.
But now that things had escalated like this, he was unlikely to let it slide.
The thought that this could blow up and damage the Viscount’s reputation...
Garrot, the new commander of the Gale Corps and a newly appointed Knight, quickly changed his tune.
"Purchasing the grain was indeed our mistake. We should have notified you in advance. We had absolutely no intention of violating your sovereignty, please forgive us!"
The corner of Duane’s mouth twitched. ’They’re the ones who need something from me, yet they still dare to act so arrogant. Where do they get the nerve?’
"I will allow you to purchase grain, but the price must be what we discussed last night: 4 Copper Coins per pound. And there will be absolutely no coercion!"
It was his subjects’ right to sell their surplus grain, and Duane had no desire to interfere.
After all, the money they earned would be spent within his territory.
Besides, the price of 4 Copper Coins per pound was something Duane had set slightly higher, guessing at their desperation for grain.
Garrot relaxed slightly. The fact that Duane was willing to negotiate meant he was calm enough to avoid an open conflict.
"Thank you for your understanding."
But Duane immediately shifted the topic back to the fight.
"Cameron injured my men. He must apologize for his actions. Furthermore, he will compensate each of them with one Gold Coin for their medical expenses!"
Cameron demanded angrily, "Didn’t you just whip me? And you still want me to apologize? And pay compensation?"
Garrot didn’t stop him, clearly sharing the sentiment.
"The whip was your punishment for daring to use force in my territory."
Duane narrowed his eyes. "If it weren’t for Garrot’s sake, you’d already be crippled. Do you believe me?"
"I don’t believe you!"
Cameron wiped the blood from his face. "Apologize and pay compensation? Impossible!"
Duane slowly drew the longsword from his saddle. A chilling aura seemed to drop the surrounding temperature.
"Did you think I was negotiating with you?"
His tone was laced with menace.
’Garrot’s men are strong, but I’m no pushover.’
’Besides, this is my home turf.’
"Cameron, apologize!"
Garrot ordered in a low, firm voice. "Now!"
"Commander, you..."
Cameron looked at him in disbelief.
Garrot’s expression was unyielding.
’If it were any other noble,’ Garrot thought, ’I might doubt they’d actually dare to make a move.’
’But I have no idea what this young man is capable of.’
’This is the man who killed an Earth Tier Warrior, a Level 3 Mage, and even that beautiful Female Mage, Kalina.’
’If we truly angered him, in a fit of rage, a real battle might break out.’
Cameron looked as if he had swallowed a fly, utterly disgusted.
But faced with his commander’s insistent glare, he could only lower his head and apologize to Duane.
Duane, however, turned aside. "I’m not the one you should be apologizing to. They are."
Cameron gritted his teeth, the veins on his forehead throbbing.
Suppressing his rage, he apologized to Jack and his men, then pulled out three Gold Coins and tossed them over.
Only then was Duane satisfied.
"Commander Garrot, I’ve heard that only a well-disciplined unit can display its true combat strength. Your Gale Corps seems to be... lacking."
He pulled on his reins, turning his horse around. "You’d do well to keep them on a tighter leash."
Then, he shot a glare at Jack and his two men. "Now do you see the price of being weak?"
The three men quickly lowered their heads in embarrassment.
But in their hearts, as well as in the hearts of the other people of Black Forest Island watching, they all felt that the Baron was protecting his own.
The crack of that whip on Cameron’s face had been satisfying for everyone to witness.
"Kaelon, you stay and handle things here. It’s a mess. Get this crowd dispersed."
He gently kicked his horse’s flanks and rode away.
This group still needed to be watched, which was why he had left Kaelon behind.
He had also instructed Kaelon on the way here that it was best to avoid a large-scale conflict unless absolutely necessary.
After the Baron left, Kaelon stepped forward.
"Commander Garrot, you heard the Baron clearly. I don’t want to see anything like this happen again either."
Kaelon threatened, "Otherwise, you won’t be taking a single grain of food from Black Forest Island!"
Garrot was in a foul mood, but he had to force a smile.
"Rest assured, Commander Kaelon. I guarantee this won’t happen again. And please, convey my apologies and my assurances to the Baron once more!"