Mount and Blade System: Start from Pioneer Lords

Back in his room, Levi pondered what had just happened.

He had clearly offended Duke Ceylon and Damon, that dissolute knight, today.

Nothing was happening now only because everyone was caught off guard by the Duke's sudden illness, which prevented them from causing trouble for him.

Once they recovered, there was no guarantee they wouldn't settle the score later.

However, Levi wasn't afraid; if he were, he wouldn't have said those things at the banquet.

The chaotic situation in Cologne was now apparent.

The Duke didn't have much time left and hadn't named an heir, so everyone with a claim to the title was eyeing the position.

Once the Duke finally fell, there would inevitably be a battle for the title.

At that time, Cologne would become a meat grinder, and only the victor would emerge.

However, none of this had anything to do with Levi, because he was running away!

Now that he had the development order, there was no need to stay in this vortex; if he didn't run now, when would he?

"I shouldn't have left anything behind."

After packing his valuables, Levi stood in front of the mirror, tidying his appearance.

The person in the mirror was not even twenty years old, with a head of black, choppy hair and a pair of brown eyes, full of heroic spirit, bright as a shooting star.

He was tall, well-proportioned, and his well-maintained leather armor was confined by a wide oxhide belt.

He wore a pair of fine deerskin hunting boots, and the exquisite longsword hanging at his waist, together forming a spirited and valiant demeanor.

"Not bad, not bad for an otherworldy handsome guy."

Levi admired himself for a while, tugged at his waistband, and strode outside.

This place was not suitable for a long stay; running away was the best option.

Just staying for a meal had led to so many things happening; if he continued to stay, Levi was afraid he would waste a lot of time in this vortex.

Although he wasn't afraid, he didn't want to waste his time here for nothing.

However, when he came out of the room and looked at the interconnected corridors, he couldn't help but ponder.

"I think I went...to the right, didn't I?"

Facing three identical paths in front of him, Levi gritted his teeth, decisively trusted his intuition, and walked to the right...the left.

......

Outside the Duke's bedroom.

Only Duke Ceylon's wife and daughters remained here, their faces full of anxiety, but their eyes hid joy.

For them, Duke Ceylon's death would instead cause a reshuffle of power in Cologne, and as long as they seized the opportunity, they might be able to soar.

Lia waited anxiously at the door, wanting to know how her grandfather was, but two of Duke Ceylon's white-robed iron guards stood faithfully guarding the door, preventing anyone from crossing the line.

Everyone was blocked outside; only Grand Scholar Panto was inside, treating Ceylon.

"Mother, will Grandfather be alright?" Lia had to seek a trace of comfort from her mother.

Lia's mother, Oana Martell, had a striking auburn hair, which stood out among the crowd of blondes; this was the standard hair color of the Martell family in the North.

Her face also showed panic, but she knew that she was the mainstay of her daughter.

She reached out and touched her head, comforting her in a soft voice.

"Lia, your grandfather will be fine; even if your grandfather dies...the fact that you are the heir to Cologne will not change."

To take care of her daughter's emotions, she didn't say the words too cruelly.

Her heart was still filled with great unease.

Duke Ceylon fell ill too quickly, and it happened to be when Lia was named as the heir.

Even if Ceylon was so ill that he couldn't lift a sword, as long as he was still alive, he still firmly controlled the power; he was still the iron-blooded Duke who had the final say, and he became even more fearsome as he gradually became more irritable due to his illness.

Even letting Lia, a woman, inherit the title, this absurd order could still be strongly and effectively implemented.

But...at this critical moment, he...fell ill.

Oana couldn't help but worry that this change would allow some jackals to see an opportunity, pounce on them, and fight for benefits.

Especially after glancing at a blonde woman in front holding a seven- or eight-year-old boy.

Oana knew she had to do something; she whispered to a middle-aged man in leather armor with a strong physique beside her.

"Knight Kevin, I need you to mobilize twenty castle guards to wait at the old fort and appear in time when I need them!"

"As you wish, Miss Oana."

Kevin bowed slightly and quietly left here without making a sound.

Oana watched him disappear at the end of the corridor, slightly relieved.

Kevin was a knight she brought from her family; he had been her personal knight since she was a child and was one of the few people she could trust in Cologne.

The old fort was the closest location to here; no matter what happened, they could arrive in time to control the situation.

"Martell's dog, watch where you're going!"

Suddenly, a blunt reprimand came from the end of the corridor; Oana sighed; the situation she least wanted to see had happened.

Damon rushed over anxiously and began to push through the crowded crowd; although everyone looked dissatisfied, they didn't dare to clash with this dissolute knight.

"Lord Damon, please stop your steps!"

When Damon wanted to rush in to see how his brother was doing, two white-robed iron guards guarding the door stopped him.

Damon was silent for a moment, but in the end, he didn't break in and waited outside.

Time passed little by little in silence; when Damon was about to endure the atmosphere of waiting, the door opened.

An old man with gray hair walked out from inside; his fat figure supported the loose white robe, and his full face made him look very amiable.

The atmosphere instantly froze; everyone was afraid to hear the news from his mouth that would be enough to change the world of Cologne.

"Grand Scholar Panto..."

Oana couldn't help but step forward, but unfortunately, Panto only glanced at her and eventually focused his gaze on the blonde woman in the front row, holding a boy by the hand.

"Miss Penny, I think I need you to come in."

This made Penny overjoyed; she quickly led her son in, leaving the crowd with different expressions waiting outside.

When she saw Duke Ceylon, who was breathing weakly on the bed, Penny asked worriedly:

"Grand Scholar Panto, my father..."

Panto interrupted her speech and looked at her seriously.

"Miss Penny, I have been following Lord Ceylon for thirty years; I watched you grow up; I treat you like my own daughter."

"What I want to say is that Lord Ceylon will not survive tonight, and you need to prepare early."

Hearing this, tears welled up in Penny's eyes; although she hated Duke Ceylon for not planning to pass the title to her, he was still her only father.

"Thank you, Grand Scholar Panto."

"No need to be so polite; although Lord Ceylon intends to pass the title to Miss Lia, after serving the Iseli family for thirty years, I cannot watch Cologne fall into the hands of someone with half of the Martell family's blood."

"Now that the matter of the heir has not been settled, you still have a chance."

Panto sighed.

"What I can do for you, Miss Penny, is to delay the time as much as possible; the rest needs to be done by yourself."

"Thank you, Grand Scholar Panto," Penny thanked again.

"These are insignificant," Panto bowed slightly.

When Penny came out of the room, everyone's eyes fell on her, but she ignored them and went straight to Damon.

This time, Panto did not stop her; Oana just glanced at Penny with unease in her heart and hurriedly pulled Lia in first, followed by the crowd behind her.

The entire corridor was left with Penny and Damon.

Looking at his niece, Damon was about to ask her why she had blocked him.

Then he saw Penny raise her head, her eyes red, like a fawn looking for a home.

"Uncle Damon, I need your help."

"Without you, Cao Iseli, your son, would have no chance to inherit the title."