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

Chapter 162 Direct Arrest
……

……

On a hillside of Eagle Ridge.

The golden rays of the setting sun shone on the pristine white snow.

The light reflected off the snow was like a layer of gold, adding a touch of warmth to the cold winter day.

Three horses slowly made their way along the winding mountain path.

Behind the horses followed well-equipped soldiers and militia.

There were not only infantrymen, but also longbowmen, totaling nearly fifty men including militiamen.

"Lord Frank, if we get to Barren Hill Village at this speed, those bandits will probably be long gone."

Hornier, on horseback, asked.

Frank is a knight of Eagle Ridge and also a garrison commander in a village near Eagle Town.

Frank was tall and burly, with a sharply defined face, and wore a suit of armor covered in tiny scratches, clearly having endured countless hardships.

Frank himself is also nearing fifty, and the years have etched fine lines around his eyes and on his forehead.

But Frank still possessed a strong physique, and his calm face carried the dignity of a knight.

Frank responded calmly to Honnil's urging.
"Not in a hurry."

"But if you do this, we won't be able to complete the task Lord Zane gave us!"

Honnil's voice trembled slightly from the cold, or perhaps from the excitement of being eager to arrest the robbers.

Frank narrowed his eyes slightly, staring straight ahead without turning his head: "I have my own pace. If you're in a hurry, then you can go ahead by yourself."

"Lord Frank, you can't do this!"

Honnil's fat cheeks trembled with rage as he shouted, "Lord Zane is the future lord of Eagle Ridge, the great Earl of Falcon!"

"Does Lord Frank intend to betray the Falcon family?"

"If I had betrayed you, you, as the messenger, would already be dead."

Frank spoke calmly, but his gaze was sharp.

"you!"

Honnil's face flushed red, and he was about to curse when he saw the attendant beside him already had his hand on the sword, so he could only hold back his outburst.

Honnil could only snort in the end, flick the reins and accelerate, leaving Frank behind.

After he left, Sir Frank's squire lowered his voice and said, "Sir, won't we offend Zane by doing this?"

"So what? He's still Earl Falcon."

Sir Frank remained expressionless. "It's still too early to say who the future Earl of Falcon will be."

The servant visibly stiffened, cautiously glancing at Frank's profile, unsure how to respond to this almost rebellious statement.

"You must have heard the news too, right?"

Frank continued, "The witness that Baron Harlan found was convinced that Earl Falcon had personally pushed his brother off the cliff."

The attendant hesitated before saying, "Because one witness doesn't seem to prove anything..."

"is it?"

Frank's voice suddenly turned cold.

"After the count ascended to the throne, all the guards who had accompanied him on hunts disappeared without a trace."

"And the witness we have now is one of the guards who has already disappeared. Doesn't that say it all?"

The attendant was slightly taken aback. "You...you believe this rumor?"

Frank took a deep breath, slowly exhaled a cloud of white mist, and said nothing.

But the thoughts in my mind kept turning.

Frank remembers being recruited into the knight training camp by Baron Harlan's father when he was young.

He was a handsome young man with a warm smile, and he cared for every knight who had just learned the breathing technique.

Frank recalls that everyone thought Baron Harlan's father would surely become a virtuous lord.

Unfortunately, he ultimately perished.

Frank served the Earl of the Falcon solely out of loyalty and duty as a knight.

Now, the rumors of a usurper have shaken his resolve.

If proven true, he would prefer to support Baron Harlan as his successor.

In fact, many knights in Eagle Territory, like him, had not yet decided who to pledge allegiance to.

The crimes of the usurper are too heavy for anyone to easily ignore.

Many of the old knights were loyal to the Falcon family as a whole, rather than to any particular individual.

They preferred to be led by a legitimate successor rather than a usurper who might seize power by murdering his brother.

Similarly, the other two barons of the Falcon family, Baron Red Feather and Baron Claw, have not yet shown any willingness to support Lord Zane as the new earl.

This means that one-third of the Falcon family's power has already fallen out of control.

If even a garrison commander like Frank doesn't obey Zane, then whether Zane can become the new Earl of Falcon is truly an unknown matter.

Frank's silence made the attendant understand his meaning, and he then asked in a low voice:

"Lord Frank, then why did you still obey Zane's orders to come here and wipe out the bandits?"

"Eagle Town is too chaotic right now. I hate intrigue and suspicion."

Frank looked ahead.

"Suppressing bandits is much simpler than those power struggles."

"That is it."

The attendant nodded slightly, agreeing with Frank's opinion.

The struggle for power is always the most troublesome thing.

Frank remained silent, his gaze fixed on the village ahead.

The two fell silent, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing through the woods.

Frank calculated the distance perfectly.

Just as the sun was setting, the group entered the desolate hill village.

At a time when smoke should be rising from chimneys, the village looked deserted, with only a few chimneys emitting smoke.

Frank was not surprised.

This is what a village that has been raided by bandits looks like.

Soon, the scouts sent out in advance reached Frank.
"Lord Frank, more than half of the people in this village have been taken away. Many houses have been emptied, and only a few elderly people are still here."

"Those bandits have long since left; there is no trace of the enemy in the village."

In fact, Frank had already sent out scouts before the team set off.

The fact that the scouts hadn't returned to report meant that no trace of the robbers had been found, so Frank wasn't worried.

Frank disliked being bossed around by the messenger Honil, so he didn't explain to him.

As a knight, Frank had no need to explain to Horner.

Frank nodded slightly, pointed ahead, and asked,

“What is that place? I see smoke coming out of the chimney.”

"The village's run-down tavern is empty except for the tavern owner," the scout reported.

"Alright, let's stay there tonight."

"Yes, my lord."

The scouts led the way.

Soon, Frank saw the wooden sign for "Barren Hill Tavern".

The signboard swayed and creaked in the cold wind, almost falling off.

It's really dilapidated.

The servant stepped forward and pushed open the wooden door.

The tavern was deserted, with dim lights illuminating a few empty tables.

The creaking of the wooden door startled the tavern owner, who was slumped over the table.

The boss was an elderly man of similar age to Frank, who sat up straight with a start upon hearing the voice.

When he saw Frank, his eyes immediately filled with terror.
"We're all gone! They've robbed us of everything!"

"I am Frank Woodhammer, a knight under Earl Falcon, and I am here to wipe out the bandits."

Frank introduced himself in a calm manner.

"So it's you, esteemed knight!"

The old man breathed a sigh of relief, his fear replaced by fawning.
"Welcome to the Barren Hill Tavern, esteemed knight."

The old man bowed and saluted, then rubbed his hands apologetically, his voice trembling slightly with nervousness.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, but we've just been robbed and have nothing to offer you. We only have half a barrel of liquor left, the cheap ale that the robbers didn't want..."

"Are there still clean rooms and braziers available?"

Frank asked.

The old man hurriedly nodded and bowed, "Yes, yes, we have all of these!"

"That's good."

Frank waved his hand slightly, and the soldiers immediately brought over a bag of rations, which was full of baked flatbreads, and gently placed it on the table.

Frank then instructed, "We have food. Prepare ten braziers, boil a pot of hot soup, and heat some water."

"If you're hungry, you can eat with us."

"You are the most generous knight I have ever met!"

The old man's face lit up with joy. "Don't worry, I'll prepare a brazier and hot soup for you right now!"

The old man immediately ran out and quickly came back in carrying two braziers.

Frank found a seat, took off his heavy gloves, and rubbed his red, frozen fingers.

He looked at the old man running around and asked, "Why are you all alone? Where are the others?"

"Ugh--"

The old man sighed, "They were all taken away by the robbers. They don't even want a useless piece of trash like me."

Frank nodded slightly; the old man had said the same thing as the scout.

"Have you seen the robbers? How many of them were there, and what did they look like?"

Frank pressed on with the question.

There were so many people, I couldn't count them all.

The old man recalled for a moment, a hint of fear in his eyes, "The leader was a man as strong as a bear, with a face full of scars, he looked very frightening..."

The old man paused for a moment, then said, "Sir, let me prepare some hot soup and a brazier for you first, and I'll explain everything to you in detail later, okay?"

"Well, let's go."

Frank waved his hand and said to the servant beside him, "Elan, take two men and go help out."

"Yes, my lord."

Ilan immediately got up, called two soldiers, and followed the old man to the kitchen and woodshed.

The soldiers had traveled for most of the day and were exhausted. They leaned back in their chairs in twos and threes, pretending to doze off.

However, Frank was strict; their helmets were set aside, and their weapons were held tightly in their hands, ready to deal with any potential dangers at any time.

The brazier and hot soup were brought out one after another.

The soldiers warmed their hands and feet around the brazier, broke off pieces of dry bread, soaked them in hot soup, and enjoyed a delicious meal. This hot food instantly dispelled the chill of their journey.

……

……

into the night.

The cold moonlight shone on the snow, reflecting a faint, chilling light.

Frank personally arranged for the soldiers on night watch, dividing them into three shifts to ensure no corner was missed.

"Remember, don't just focus on the main gate; pay attention to the back gate and the village as well."

Frank cautioned, "The situation here is very unusual; no one can afford to be careless."

"Yes, Lord Frank."

The soldier on watch answered.

Frank told the others to get some rest before returning to his room and locking the door behind him.

He was still wearing heavy armor, placed his sword within easy reach of the bedside, and then assumed a strange posture to begin practicing his breathing technique.

Although Frank has no hope of breaking through to become a high-level knight, he still hasn't stopped training.

He has been doing this for over thirty years, and it has become an ingrained habit, just like breathing.

Frank's chest rose and fell slowly, his breathing gradually becoming even and deep.

His face, glistening with oil, appeared calm and resolute, the usually taut lines gradually relaxing.

Just as Frank entered a meditative state, two shadowy figures were whispering among themselves in a dark corner outside the tavern.

"Don't forget what you're supposed to do!"

The short, stout figure's voice was deep and low, yet it carried an unyielding authority.
"Tonight is the perfect opportunity to make our move!"

"Lord Frank has not betrayed the Falcon family; he simply... simply needs to consider it!"

The other shadowy figure spoke a younger voice, with a slender build and a slightly trembling voice: "I think we should wait a little longer."

His attitude today says it all!

The short, stout, dark figure commanded, "You must make your move!"

"But I cannot betray Lord Frank..."

The young, dark figure struggled to say, "He taught me everything. I was able to become a knight's squire entirely thanks to Lord Frank."

The short, stout figure said menacingly, "So you're going to betray your family? Betray your father and mother, and your brother?"

He took a step closer, his voice like a venomous snake:
"Don't forget how much tax they owe Lord Zain."

"Either you pay back the money, or you do the work, or you watch your family become slaves."

This is your last chance.

The young figure fell silent instantly, his shoulders collapsing as if bearing a heavy weight.

Under the moonlight, you could see his clenched fists and the fine beads of sweat on his forehead, despite the biting cold of the night.

After a long while, he sighed and said, "Fine."

As soon as he finished speaking, the young figure said weakly, "But I am no match for Lord Frank at all."

"Even when he's asleep, he'll be woken up by my footsteps."

The short, stout figure reached into his pocket, pulled out a leather bag, and handed it over.

"It has no strange taste, and you only need half a bag."

A somber voice rang out, "He will soon lose his strength after drinking it, like a pig waiting to be slaughtered."

The young figure slowly reached out and took the bag.

"remember,"

The short, stout figure warned finally, "You can't afford the price of failure."

After saying that, he turned and disappeared into the deeper darkness, leaving the young man standing alone in the cold wind.

……

……

Frank's knightly talent is not good.

As we get older, our physical strength gradually declines.

After just one hour of practice, Frank's face was covered in sweat, and his breathing was heavy and rapid.

"Dong dong dong."

A knock sounded at the door, followed by the voice of the servant, Ilan.
"My lord, are you still cultivating?"

Upon hearing the sound, Frank stopped practicing his breathing technique and exhaled deeply.

"come in."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door was pushed open.

"My lord, you must be tired from your cultivation."

The servant Ilan pushed open the door, carrying a wooden tray, and walked in with a respectful smile on his face.

"I have prepared some meat soup for you."

Yilan placed a large bowl of meat soup on the table. "Please drink it while it's hot."

Frank, who had just finished his training, stretched his muscles and bones, and the aroma of meat soup made his stomach rumble.

Frank was not embarrassed by this.

Breathing exercises are very physically demanding, so hunger is normal.

He was still a little confused, though, "This shop actually has meat to make soup? Didn't the owner say it was all sold out?"

"It's made from our dried meat..."

"It might not taste very good, but it should help you regain your strength," said Yilan somewhat awkwardly.

"Well, you are interested."

Frank nodded, then sat down, his gaze fixed on the broth.
He looked up at Yilan standing to the side and said, "Go get another bowl, let's eat together."

Ilan hurriedly waved his hand.

"No, no, no, I haven't been cultivating, so I'm not hungry."

"You are so hardworking."

Ilan changed the subject, praising, "It seems I should cultivate every day like you."

"That's how it should be done."

Frank tore the biscuits into pieces and threw them into the broth, saying softly, "If you really want to become a powerful knight, you should use all your free time to train."

Once the bread pieces have softened, scoop them up with a spoon and put them into your mouth one by one.

Frank, too, came from a poor background; those elaborate etiquette rules were reserved for the tables of the nobility.

In private, he was no different from an ordinary soldier, eating heartily and moving nimbly.

Before long, the whole bowl of soup and two flatbreads were in Frank's stomach.

He wiped his mouth and let out a long sigh.

Although I wasn't very full, it did help me regain some strength.

Ilan stood beside him, staring intently at him, her expression complex and her gaze shifting.

"Why are you staring at me?"

Frank noticed Elan's unusual behavior and frowned. "Everything's alright here. You can go and rest now..."

Before he could finish speaking, Frank suddenly felt an unusual heaviness in his body, as if he were being pressed down by an invisible boulder.

He tried to stand up, but he couldn't control himself and fell to the ground, his head hitting the wooden floor hard.

"you.……"

Frank's tongue suddenly went out of control, his voice became muffled, and he could only stare wide-eyed at Elan.

Frank, being an experienced knight, had already realized that something was wrong.

Something must have been added to that broth.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Frank."

Ilan's face was full of pain, and her voice was even a little choked up.

But while he apologized, he didn't hesitate to draw the dagger from his waist.

"This year's war has left my family's land with nothing, and I don't want my family to become slaves."

He murmured to himself, tears welling in his eyes.

“You are all alone, but I have so many things to think about.”

As Elan spoke, he pressed Frank to the ground, his knee pressing down on Frank's chest.

Frank tried to struggle, but he had no strength left and could only let Elan do as she pleased.

"Don't worry, I'll be quick."

Ilan sniffed hard, took a deep breath, and suddenly raised the dagger.

"Enemy attack!"

Just at this critical moment, a shout suddenly came from outside!
Immediately following were hurried footsteps from downstairs, followed by the sounds of tables and chairs being smashed and soldiers screaming in agony!

Yilan felt a sudden pang of panic, the dagger in her hand hovering in mid-air, caught in a dilemma.

"Fool...get out of here and get to the enemy..."

Frank urged him angrily, but his mouth was completely numb and he couldn't utter a single complete sentence.

"me……"

Before Yilan could react, the door was suddenly slammed open with a loud bang!

The next instant, a man dressed in full armor, resembling a black bear, leaped in!

"Hey, interesting!"

The burly man carried a battle axe that matched his physique, a cruel glint in his eyes.
"I never expected that you would start fighting amongst yourselves without me even lifting a finger!"

Ilan turned around in terror, her dagger trembling as she pointed it at the burly man, her whole body shaking: "Who...who are you?"

"Who I am is not important. What's important is that if you don't kneel down and surrender now, I'll kick your head off!"

The burly man's face turned cold, and he shouted, "Kneel down!"

Elan trembled with fear. He glanced at Frank on the ground, gritted his teeth, and charged towards the burly man.

"go to hell!"

"court death!"

The burly man approached Yilan and kicked him away with a powerful kick!
"Oh!"

Ilan's body smashed the table to pieces in an instant, and a mouthful of blood gushed from his mouth.

"Be honest, you piece of trash, I'm not interested in you."

The burly man grinned, revealing a row of uneven, yellow teeth. He slowly walked up to Frank.
"This is what I want."

The burly man grabbed Frank by the collar and forcefully hoisted him onto his back.
"Hehe, we've caught a knight this time. The Baron must be very happy."

This guy actually thinks he's the prey!
Frank was terrified, but there was nothing he could do.

He tried to get up, but found that even lifting a finger had become so difficult.

Frank lay helplessly on the strong man's shoulder like a young girl, letting him take her away.

As the drug's effects intensified, Frank's consciousness gradually faded.

He only saw his men being pinned to the ground one by one before everything went black and he lost consciousness completely.

(End of this chapter)