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

Chapter 212 Leave no one behind

……

……

noon the next day.

Inside the manor, Rhodes' private treasure vault.

Raine stood in the doorway, nervously rubbing his hands together.

"Sir, am I alright?"

"If you can make leather armor from the hide of a wyvern, you can certainly make it from other materials as well."

Rhodes patted Raine on the shoulder encouragingly, "You only need to make the bow, you don't need magic, don't worry."

"Then let me try!"

Renn nodded vigorously, determined to walk into the warehouse.

The skin and bones of the wyvern and the fire-breathing bear hadn't been touched until now, but they've come in handy.

Raine selected two wyvern ribs and a complete back tendon from a giant bear, while the arrow shafts came from the wing bones and ribs of a wyvern.

Thicker bones can also be polished into arrow shafts, but the specific effects are unknown, so only five more suitable materials have been selected for the time being.

Before selecting the materials, Ryan's face was full of trepidation, but after he finished, his eyes were filled with seriousness and fervor.

"This rib is very light and extremely flexible,"

Renn gripped both ends of the ribcage and tried to pry it off a few times.
"It's a bit too intense, drawing the bow might require a lot of strength... Would you like to give it a try?"

"it is good."

Rod took the rib.

Because of Ryan's suggestion, Rhodes deliberately used some force when he tried, and his ribs immediately deformed.

"it should be OK."

Rhodes nodded.

Rhodes isn't a longbowman who needs to fire in bursts; a bow with a strong draw and high destructive power is more suitable for him.

"Then I'll use this material!"

With a face full of excitement, Ryan prepared the materials and tools and headed to the workshop.

The ribs also need to be cleaned of impurities, dried, polished, sealed with animal oil, and then the main trunk is preserved before drilling holes and slots are made.

Bear tendons also require a series of processing steps, such as degreasing, twisting, and weaving.

This was a long process, and Rhodes didn't rush him. He simply prepared the magic steel arrows, tempered by flames, and waited patiently.

Rhodes then went to the blacksmith's shop, had the sword forged for Durant, and brought it to the training ground.

—The blacksmith shop no longer has anything to test swords with.

Perhaps spurred on by Rod, Durant and Gunner trained even harder.

Even when handling official business, messengers would relay the orders back and forth.

Upon entering the training ground, Rod called Durant over directly.

"Try this sword."

Rhodes pointed behind him to the longsword held by the guard.

Durant stepped forward, took it, and carefully examined the pattern on it, his eyes filled with surprise.

"Is this a magic steel longsword?"

Rhodes nodded. "While the enchantment effect isn't particularly special, its sharpness far surpasses that of an ordinary sword."

"Let's see how it goes."

“Thank you for your gift!”

Durant bowed respectfully, then hastily stepped back, waving his arms in the air a few times.

The sword blade sliced ​​through the air, producing a soft hum.

He walked to the stones in the corner of the training field and, as before, channeled his body's energy into them.

"puff!"

The stone was instantly split in two, the cut surface as smooth as a mirror, no different from an ordinary frozen meat block.

"It's too sharp!"

Durant was full of praise.

Rhodes smiled and took the sword from Durant's hand.

Then Rod called out to Gunther, who was not far away.
"Bring me a shield, please."

"okay!"

Gunle threw down the stone block he was holding, grabbed a shield from the weapon rack, and charged forward.

"What are you doing, lord?"

"I'll strike you with my sword, and you'll parry with your shield."

Seeing Gunle's increasingly pained expression, Rhodes added with a smile, "I won't use too much force, I'm just testing the sword's power."

"no problem!"

Gunther stepped back two paces and raised his shield.

Rhode channeled scorching energy into his longsword and casually slashed down at the shield.

clang--

The sound of the collision exploded instantly, followed by a series of piercing echoes that reverberated in the ears like ripples on water.

At the same time, the shield slipped from Gungle's hand and fell to the ground, causing Gungle to stagger backward and nearly fall.

"What, what's going on?!"

Durant was momentarily stunned.

It's not surprising that the shield was cut off, but the handle was intact, so why did it fall?

What happened to Gunther again?
"I want to clarify in advance that I didn't use any force."

Rhodes smiled and handed the sword to Durant, explaining, "This is its enchantment effect, 'Shockwave'."

"The shock will cause the opponent to lose control of the part of their body that is hit, and as the effect extends, their body will also lose control."

"Unfortunately, the scorching energy can only stimulate but not amplify. If I had injected the earth's energy, Gunle wouldn't have been able to stand up at all."

"This……"

Upon hearing these words and glancing at the sword in his hand, Durant felt a mix of emotions.

The same sword.

It was incredibly powerful in the hands of the Baron, but became quite mediocre in my own.

It felt like a waste of a treasure.

"I... I'm still too weak."

Durant murmured softly.

He had never imagined there would be such a gap.

I don't know how it turned out like this.

Durant's voice was soft, more like a sigh.

But Rhodes still heard it.

"It's alright, I'll help you. Once you become a legendary knight, you'll be able to unleash the true power of this sword."

"My Lord Baron, I would be satisfied if I could become a top-ranking knight."

Durant laughed with a hint of self-deprecation.

Rod didn't say much, turning to look at Gunle.

"How about I forge you a magic steel battle axe?"

Rhodes said seriously, "Actually, heavy weapons like giant hammers and axes can better exert the effect of vibration."

"No need, my lord."

Gunther swung his numb arm, grinning.
"My battle axe is pretty good."

"Besides, I only practiced breathing techniques out of curiosity; I didn't cultivate any special qi."

"The magic steel weapon won't improve my skills much, and it'll just waste your time."

Rod looked at Gunle with some surprise.

"You actually thought about so much today."

"Haha, I know my own strength."

Gunle scratched the back of his head and chuckled sheepishly.

"That's fine."

Rod didn't try to persuade him further, and took off his coat.

"Come on, while we still have some time, you two can practice with me some more."

……

……

Rhodes didn't stay at the training ground for long.

The main problem was that Gunther couldn't stand it.

Rhodes has recently been enjoying the thrill of wielding two greatswords, especially when he's tired and feels exhilarated swinging them around.

After taking a hot bath at the manor, Rhodes returned to his studio and began to concentrate on drawing design drafts.

He revised it again and again, drawing until nightfall.

Vivian was particularly energetic at night.

After Rod finished drawing, he sat down on the table with his firm, powerful buttocks, picked up the draft, and...
"What new and interesting thing are you drawing this time?"

"Hand crossbow."

Rod answered without looking up.

Vivian was clearly taken aback.
"Hand crossbow?"

Rod put down his pen and began to explain, "You can think of it as something similar to a bow and arrow."

"But there is a big difference between crossbows and bows."

He pointed to the details on the blueprint.

"Bows require the use of the arm to pull the string, which demands a high level of strength and skill, and requires long-term training to become proficient."

"The crossbow is fired by a bolt, which is easier to master and can be learned in a short time."

"so smart?"

Vivian pointed to the design drawings and asked in surprise, "This little thing?"

Vivian could read the drawings and knew that the actual size of the drawing by Rhodes was only a few tens of centimeters.

"Of course, crossbows have their drawbacks."

Rod pinched Vivian's bottom, signaling her not to sit on his draft paper.

"This simple crossbow is a bit slow to load, and it can't fire in rapid succession like a skilled archer."

"Moreover, this kind of crossbow only has a range of twenty or thirty meters, which is no match for a longbow." Rhodes pulled out the crossbow blueprints below and sighed, "Even this heavy crossbow cannot match the range of a longbowman."

Vivian nodded thoughtfully, then her eyes lit up.
"That's pretty powerful too. You can use it to defend the city while hiding in battle formations or behind fences. Even ordinary militiamen could use it, right?"

"Okay, you've become smarter."

Rhodes exclaimed in admiration, "The heavy crossbow has strong penetrating power, making it a powerful weapon for defending cities and also a great tool for countering cavalry."

"However, the main thing I want to make this time is a portable hand crossbow for the Lynx people to use."

"What about this?"

Vivian picked up another sheet of scrap paper and asked, "What's this thing that looks like an arrow?"

"It's kind of an experiment."

As Rhodes looked at the blueprints, a flood of memories came back to him.

After a moment, he smiled and introduced, "This thing is called a kunai. If you don't understand, you can call it a short sword, a dart, or an iron awl."

"It can be used for melee combat or for throwing."

"It is not a primary weapon, but it is easy to conceal. The blade is usually blunt, while the head is thick and hard."

Rod pointed to the end of the draft and said, "It can also be considered a tool. It can be used to dig holes, break walls, and pick locks. The ring at the end can be fitted with a rope to turn it into something like a grappling hook."

"Perfect timing. These things were prepared for you and the Lynx Man. See if they suit you."

"If it's really as you say..."

Vivian tilted her head and looked at Rhodes seriously. "Then I think it will definitely work. I'm really looking forward to it!"

"Yes, I'll give these design drawings to the carpenter tomorrow."

Rod stretched vigorously as he spoke.

Seeing this, Vivian stepped forward and placed her slender hands on Rhodes' shoulders, kneading them vigorously.

"Huh? You're working on your sister's side today?"

Rod glanced at Vivian in surprise, then squinted, enjoying the moment.

“You’ve already designed such a powerful tool for us, so what I have is nothing.”

Vivian stopped, wrapped her arms around Rhodes' neck, and slid into his embrace.
"Besides, haven't I done a lot of work for my sister?"

Rod smiled and reached out to hold Vivian's slender waist.

"Dong dong dong."

"My lord, Lord Durant has arrived."

The guard's voice interrupted Rhodes' actions, and Vivian pouted helplessly.

Rhodes gave it a light kiss and said with a smile, "Go open the door."

Vivian sighed softly, got up, and opened the door.

"Okay, let Durant in."

After giving his instructions, Rhodes got up and returned to the hall.

Durant quickly pushed the door open and came in.

Rod looked at Durant, cleared his throat, and asked, "What's up so late?"

Good evening, sorry to bother you.

Durant bowed and then presented Rod with a wax-sealed wooden tube.

"It's news from the Night Whisperers, Your Excellency."

Durant looked somewhat serious.

Rod frowned slightly, took the wooden tube, and tore open the wax seal.

He pulled out the letter and scanned the lines of small characters on it.

Rod's brows furrowed more and more, and his face gradually darkened.

Clutching the letter, Rhodes turned to look at Vivian.

"Go and call Vika here."

Luo De's tone was calm, yet it carried a hint of coldness.

“You go yourself,” Rhodes emphasized.

Vivian was taken aback.

Normally, servants or guards would be sent to inform people of such matters.

Why am I suddenly being asked to make this trip myself today?
"Then who will protect you..."

"It's okay, just go ahead."

Rhodes interrupted him directly.

The order is not to be questioned.

"Go quickly."

Vivian's eyes showed some worry.

But under Rhodes's orders, he quickly left to carry out the command.

After Vivian left, Rod waved for Durant to sit down.

He then handed the letter to Durant, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.

There are always people who like to court death.

Rod said this out of the blue.

The cold words made Durant's heart skip a beat.

He hurriedly picked up the letter with both hands, quickly unfolded it, and carefully read through it, afraid of missing a single word.

After reading the letter, Durant immediately understood why the Baron carried a murderous intent.

Avril's stepmother sent a messenger to deliver a letter to Viscount Bear.

They wanted to marry Avril off to the illegitimate son of the Viscount of the Giant Bear, thus forging a marriage alliance between the two families.

However, Viscount Giant Bear refused.

Viscount Giant Bear had a good impression of Rhodes and didn't want to cause trouble after learning that Avril was in Frostleaf.

After being rejected, Avril's stepmother sent the team to Falcon Territory.

They planned to marry Avril to Earl Falcon's youngest son.

Even though Durant wasn't from an aristocratic family, he was well aware of this.
This is a blatant insult.

Marrying Avril to any nobleman would not benefit the Red Griffin family, especially her stepmother.

Because Avril's relationship with her stepmother was not friendly, and was even hostile.

Even if Avril gets married, the two families will not form an alliance because of the marriage.

This is why Avril's stepmother always found her spouses of low social status.

And the sole purpose of doing so.

It's disgusting.

It was the arrogance of the nobility, an extremely despicable and perverse taste.

Avril's stepmother is using her superior power to tell Rhodes that she has complete control over Avril's marriage.

As long as the royal family doesn't interfere, no one can stop it.

Even though Avril had already been granted a fief.

This was both an insult to Avril and a threat to Rhodes.

He wanted Rhodes to break off his relationship with Avril.

"Your Excellency, we..."

Durant cautiously began to speak, but was interrupted by Rod before he could finish.

"No need to ask."

Rhodes calmly gave the order.
"The messenger team was wiped out."

"Then, let the Night Whispers begin investigating Avril's stepmother."

Rod's tone remained calm, but he uttered words that sent chills down Durant's spine:

"Her children, and information about anyone related to her."

"Allocate funds to them and investigate the matter as quickly as possible."

Durant swallowed hard. "Yes, Your Excellency."

After Durant finished speaking, Rod didn't say anything more.

The hall fell silent instantly.

All that remained was the sound of Rod tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

The pace was slow, and it looked very leisurely.

But to Durant's ears, it sounded like the tolling of a death knell.

Durant wanted to speak up and persuade his baron not to be angry about it.

But I didn't know how to start the conversation.

Fortunately, Vivian returned with Vika soon after.

"Good evening, my lord!"

Vika knelt on one knee in greeting.

With the help of the guiding potion, Vika learned the Imperial language very quickly.

In addition, due to the influence of the surrounding environment, he is not fluent in speech, but he can communicate effectively.

Rhodes waved for him to stand up and spoke directly.
"I need you to kill six people."

"They may not be in Black Pine Ridge, but in the human world to the south."

Rod had Durant unfold the map and point to a location in Falcon Territory.
“It’s right here. If you go there, you’ll need to avoid humans and stay in the wild without supplies.”

"Can you handle it?"

"of course can!"

Vika confidently raised her head, her eyes filled with excitement.
"The free things here will never turn us into trash; we can't afford to lose our hunting skills."

“We are the darlings of the wilderness, my lord, you need not worry about our survival.”

"Just tell us your target, and we'll go wherever they are, even if it's a human castle!"

"very good,"

Rod nodded in satisfaction.
"You will set off tomorrow for Baiyan Canyon."

"They will provide you with supplies and maps there. Once you reach your destination, someone will meet you using code words and guide you."

Vika nodded emphatically.

"No problem, my lord, your support is more than enough!"

Rhodes waved his hand. "Then go and prepare now."

"Yes!"

Vika bowed in greeting and immediately turned and left.

(End of this chapter)