I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Get Chapter 148 out for me.

……

……

"That count from Eagle Territory?"

Vivian thought for a moment, then said to Rhodes, "So, should we take revenge on them too?"

"I'll go and kill him."

Vivian's eyes sharpened. "It's a good opportunity to test whether the stealth and assassination techniques I've learned are effective."

"He's definitely had enough of living."

Rhodes's expression turned cold.

Assassins have come knocking?

Why isn't Rhodes retaliating?

Rhodes is generous to his own people, but he will retaliate against his enemies by any means necessary.

Even if it's just a suspicion.

Since everyone is already hostile, there's no need to consider a complete chain of evidence when it comes to retaliation.

"No problem, I'll go prepare now."

Vivian readily agreed, "Prepare a map of Eagle Ridge for me."

"Yes, Chris drew me a simple map."

Rhodes nodded, then frowned.

"Don't rush, let me think about it."

Rhodes suppressed his emotions and calmed down.

Vivian asked, puzzled, "What's there to think about in terms of fighting back?"

Rod waved his hand, signaling her to be quiet.

A counterattack is inevitable.

But Vivian went all that way just to kill Earl Falcon in revenge, which didn't seem to bring her any benefit.

On the contrary, killing Earl Falcon seemed to be paving the way for Baron Harlan's success.

The Earl of Falcon is dead, but the biggest beneficiaries are his heirs.

Rhodes gained nothing but venting his anger.

The key issue is that Rhodes cannot use this as leverage to gain benefits from anyone.

Otherwise, the assassination attempt on Earl Falcon would inevitably be used against him.

"With Earl Falcon dead, Baron Harlan is unlikely to stay put, so Eagle Ridge is bound to descend into chaos..."

That would be a good opportunity to try and fish in troubled waters.

Rod smiled slightly and said to Vivian, "Tomorrow I'll have Durant make some preparations first, and then you can take action."

After Eagle Ridge descends into chaos, perhaps Rhodes could send someone in to "scoop up some soup."

Even if you're unlucky, you can still capture some slaves to work for you.

"You are the lord, so you have the final say."

Vivian shrugged indifferently.

"Go and rest first, we have other things to do tomorrow."

Rod waved his hand, urging him on.

The three returned to the house, but none of them could sleep.

The outside was brightly lit.

All the guards were awakened, and Durant, Gunn, and Ryan all came to the manor.

They learned the general information from the captain of the guards at the manor, but not the specific details of what happened inside the house.

This unknown assassination attempt has everyone deeply worried.

But no one dared to enter the house and disturb Rhodes; they could only send their own men to strengthen the security of the manor.

Furthermore, Durant had to instruct his guards not to spread the news of what happened that night, lest it cause panic.

The next morning.

When Rhodes saw these people appear before him all at once, their faces grim, he realized they hadn't slept all night.

"Cheer up, everyone! I'm not dead, am I?"

Rod gave a command and then recounted what had happened the night before, leaving the three of them dumbfounded.

“This kind of assassination could easily break through our defenses, sir.”

Durant solemnly said, "So from now on, please let Miss Vivian accompany you at all times."

"Correct!"

Gunle exclaimed from the side, "We can't lose you!"

"Ah."

Rhodes nodded slightly. "That's the arrangement for now."

However, the extraordinary individuals within the territory need to be trained in advance to deal with those unknown enemies.

“I’ve already written the letter to the Dawn Society, Durant. Have the previous guard make another trip.”

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Durant responded respectfully.

"in addition,"

Rod looked at the three of them and gave the order.

"Organize a team of 100 men, requiring high mobility and speed of action, with the main task of looting."

"This matter is best kept to the three of you; do not publicize it for now."

Rhodes specifically instructed, "Assemble it as soon as possible and be ready to deploy at any time."

"Yes, Your Excellency/Lord!"

The three responded in unison.

"Alright, you don't need to be too nervous."

Rhodes instructed, "Avril will give you a portrait of the assassin from last night in a while. Check if anyone in the territory has seen him."

"But there's no need to be too conspicuous; investigate quietly."

Rod said casually.

In fact, Rhodes didn't think he could find any clues.

He saw Avril's first sketch, and it didn't look human at all.

The deformed face was covered with fine red lines, resembling everted blood vessels.

His forehead was swollen with a large bump, his mouth was crooked and his eyes were slanted, and his nose drooped on his face.

If such an abnormal person had ever appeared in the town, it would definitely have attracted attention.

After giving all the instructions, Rhodes told the three of them to leave and go back to rest.

Three days later, Millie awoke from her deep sleep, and Rod breathed a sigh of relief.

The little girl, relieved, immediately asked Rod for candy.

Rod could not go back on his word.

Rhodes had Lawrence clear out a room, kept the temperature comfortable, and then brought in three barrels of wheat and seven barrels of rye, along with plenty of clean water.

The slaves were instructed to wash all the wheat and rye thoroughly and soak them in warm water for two days, changing the water three times a day.

After soaking, all the wheat was taken out and spread out on a wooden board covered with straw mats, and water was sprayed on it and turned over continuously every day.

This process will take a week, and Rod doesn't have time to wait indefinitely.

Rhodes instructed Otto and Avril to oversee the slaves' handling of the wheat, while he led Vivian, Gunle, and Raine straight to the underground ruins of the salt mine.

Rod needs to verify as soon as possible whether the order Millie provided is correct.

three days later.

After a long journey, Rhodes returned to the ruins beneath the salt mine, accompanied by Vivian and five captured soldiers.

It is worth mentioning that the soldiers who captured Musen and others later stayed to work in the salt mine.

Now that Rhodes is back, they have been given the mission to scout ahead again.

"These patterns are so beautiful!"

Vivian held up the torch, her eyes filled with surprise.

"Can you understand?"

Rhodes stared at Vivian curiously, but she shook her head.

"Art is interconnected; not understanding it doesn't prevent me from appreciating the beauty of these patterns."

Vivian pouted and retorted.

Rhodes smiled, his gaze returning to the runes on the stone gate, and then he took out his scrap paper to check them one by one.

Rhodes had already memorized the order, but just to be on the safe side, he checked it again.

He then took a deep breath and placed his hand on the first rune.

A surge of scorching energy coursed through his body, and the dull, aged indentations on the runes began to glow faintly, spreading outwards along their trajectory.

A moment later, the palm-sized rune was fully illuminated, emitting a deep blue light.

"First."

Rhode nervously placed his hand on the second rune, then channeled his energy into it. Then the third, the fourth…

Until the ninth rune was lit, all the patterns on the stone gate glowed blue!
With a crisp "click," the stone door popped open a crack on its own.

"Success!"

Rhodes' eyes lit up with surprise!

It really worked!
Millie's abilities are simply amazing!

Damn it!
The code to the wizard's ruins was deciphered immediately!

Rhodes was thrilled. If he had this ability in his previous life, he would definitely have become rich!
However, judging from Millie's reaction, this should be considered her limit for now.

"Open the door!"

At Rod's command, Musen and the others immediately stepped forward and easily pushed open the stone door.

A musty, damp smell of earth wafted towards me.

Without needing Rhodes's reminder, Musen and the others went inside first and placed torches on the surrounding walls.

After doing all that, Rhodes led Vivian inside.

Rhodes and Vivian were awestruck by the sight before them as they gazed at the underground ruins illuminated by torches.

The extremely spacious circular hall, with a diameter of fifty meters, is supported by only a few scattered pillars.

The three-meter-high dome was covered with various intricate patterns. Rhode glanced at it briefly and was basically certain that it was all runes.

The ground was paved with neat and smooth stone bricks, just like the ceramic tiles in Rod's previous life, but all with natural reef patterns.

In the center of the hall was a fountain, but it had long since dried up.

At the center of the fountain stands a sculpture with a fish head and a human body, holding a staff, and with a ferocious and terrifying face.

Rod stepped forward, glanced around casually, and was surprised to find several green gems embedded in the pool.

"Ok?"

Rod's eyes widened as he stepped into the pool in disbelief.

Vivian, curious, also came closer.

"This is... the Life Gem?!"

Rhodes quickly crouched down and felt around for a bit. The faint, warm energy instantly confirmed to him that this was the Life Stone!
The fountain is actually inlaid with gemstones of life as decorations?

Rhodes counted them; there were six in total!
Even in ancient times, such extravagance wouldn't be possible, would it?
Rhodes sensed something was wrong, picked up a torch and pressed it close to the bottom of the pool, where he vaguely noticed some patterns surrounding the Life Gem, which looked like runes.

However, the patterns in many places are broken and dilapidated.

Is this not just a garden fountain, but also a wizard's magic circle?

Rhodes was both curious and shocked.

How powerful was the ancient era?

No wonder they could rival the gods.

"Here, Vivian, I'll give you a job."

Rhodes turned and ordered, "Pull these six gems out for me."

"What reward?"

Vivian pulled out her dagger and asked casually.

"You're still asking me for a reward?"

Rod's eyes widened. "Don't think I don't know, you stole my whole jar of honey."

"……I don't."

Vivian shook her head in denial, then turned around, sticking her butt out, and began to pick at the gemstone.

The hall used to be surrounded by plants, but now it's completely ruined.

At the base of the wall grew rings of moss-like plants, emitting a faint, soft blue fluorescence, which was very beautiful.

But Rod didn't recognize it and didn't touch it.

If it's toxic, then it's not worth it.

Musen and his group did not act rashly.

Before coming in, Rod had repeatedly warned that if you didn't want to die, you had to obey orders.

There were a few broken stone benches in the corner, but they looked like ordinary furniture and nothing particularly noteworthy.

"My lord, shall we continue deeper into the territory?"

Musen asked cautiously.

There are five corridors on the four sides of the hall. The largest corridor in the middle is five meters wide and can be seen to be a main road leading underground.

The other four corridors are all less than three meters wide and are quite narrow, clearly side streets.

"Let's go check out the main road first."

"Yes, sir."

Musen nodded and stepped into the corridor with his companion.

This is a series of downward-facing stairs. After walking for nearly twenty meters, a five-meter-high dark purple stone gate appears at the end.

Rhodes stood behind and watched as Musen walked to within a meter of the stone gate, when a burst of purple light suddenly erupted!

The next instant, Musen knelt down on the ground!
"what!"

Musen let out a shrill scream, and his companions immediately pulled him back!
In just three seconds, Musen was foaming at the mouth and his eyes rolled back!
As soon as Musen was pulled back, the dazzling light on the stone gate disappeared instantly!
Musen was carried out by his companions. Rod frowned as he looked him over, then glanced at the stone door in the corridor with lingering fear.

"what happened?"

Rhodes asked the others, "What did you feel just now?"

The prisoners of war looked at each other, and one of them stammered, "No, sir, it was just that Musen suddenly collapsed... We don't know what happened..."

"Then go up and try again."

Rhodes ordered, "You guys follow him and bring him back if needed."

"what?"

The prisoners of war looked distressed and somewhat timid.

"I don't want to say it a second time."

Rhodes had a cold face.

"Alright, alright, sir."

The prisoner soldier turned around and took careful steps.

Almost in the same spot as Musen, this prisoner soldier also knelt down and screamed, and his companions immediately pulled him back.

This time, however, Rhodes saw it clearly.
—At the center of the dazzling light was a round, purple gem the size of a goose egg.

The soldier prisoner was in a worse state than Musen; he was foaming at the mouth and blood was flowing from the corners of his eyes.

Fortunately, he is still alive.

Rod waved his hand, signaling for someone to carry him out to rest.

Just then, Musen's body suddenly trembled as if he were having a seizure, and then he burst into tears!
"Ok?"

Rod looked at Musen, while Gunle stepped forward and kicked Musen in the butt.

"Wake up! Wake up!"

As Gunle's command rang out, Musen jolted awake again, stopped crying, and slowly opened his eyes.

He just stared blankly at everything around him, his eyes glazed over.

Gunle reached out and helped Musen up.

Rod looked at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I...I just fell into the deep sea, and suddenly something sticky crawled all over my body, and then,"

As he spoke, Musen shivered again.

"A monster the size of an egg with a hideous face suddenly appeared right in front of me, face to face. It was terrifying!"

After Musen finished his description, Rod frowned slightly.

Recalling the glowing purple gem in the middle of the stone gate, Rhode deduced that it must have been a mental attack.

The manual Linda gave me explained that this type of attack is extremely deadly to people with weak mental fortitude.

In severe cases, they may die on the spot; in milder cases, they may become mentally disabled.

It's very fortunate that Musen was able to regain consciousness.

Either he has great talent and high mental strength, or the mental attacks on this stone gate are relatively weak.

Proving this is quite simple; just look at the reaction of the soldiers who were just sent away.

"Let's go check out the other four corridors first."

Rod looked at Musen and asked, "Are you alright?"

Musen let out a long sigh and composed himself. "Yes, sir."

"Very good, you won't have to mingle with these prisoners when you go back this time."

Rod looked at Musen and said calmly, "Find an opportunity to bring your family here, and then you can join the army and serve me."

"Really, really?"

Musen's eyes widened in surprise; he hadn't expected happiness to come so suddenly!
Army soldiers and prisoners of war are worlds apart!
The other soldiers and prisoners couldn't believe it either, staring at Musen with envy in their eyes!

Gunle went up and kicked Musen in the butt.
"Nonsense! Would the lord lie to you?"

Musen immediately knelt down and shouted excitedly.

"Thank you for your kindness!"

(End of this chapter)