Silencing Witnesses, Worthy to Be My Enemy

The Black Riders were Prince Nolan’s ace cavalry. Once given an assignment, they analyzed and planned everything themselves, never needing direct orders. So Prince Nolan had no intention of personally leading the charge on Tyre City.

He entrusted Tyre City to the Black Riders without a second thought.

Prince Nolan led his personal close-guard, along with the three thousand old, weak, and crippled city-guards supplied by the Eastmont Governor-General, out of the city under cover of night. The city gate soldiers were stunned by the massive force. Before they could react, Nolan’s close-guard leaped from their horses, shoved the guards aside, and pressed blades to their throats: “Open the gates!”

Armored and astride a towering warhorse, Prince Nolan radiated not noble dignity but a chilling aura of slaughter. The gate soldiers dared not meet his eyes, frozen as Nolan’s troops forced the gates and rode out.

The thunder of hooves rang out in perfect order, making hearts tremble. Everyone who witnessed the scene inside the city was left uneasy and afraid.

Prince Nolan’s grand show of force was no pleasure ride. Tonight, blood would surely be spilled…

Only the three thousand city-guards from the Eastmont Governor-General went on foot; the rest rode. It wasn’t long before Prince Nolan and his close-guard left the city-guards far behind—their best efforts couldn’t even catch a glimpse of Nolan’s group.

“What do we do now?” The city-guards were left dumbfounded. None were skilled or clever; that’s precisely why the Eastmont Governor-General picked them.

Just then, a rider doubled back. “You there, follow me.”

Seeing the rider’s uniform matched Prince Nolan’s close-guard, the city-guards didn’t hesitate—they followed wherever he led.

In truth, these three thousand city-guards had no idea where Prince Nolan was headed. But their ignorance didn’t mean others were blind—Third Young Master Lewis guessed something was wrong the moment Prince Nolan left the city. Just then, a subordinate reported that Tyre City’s people had visited Blossom Garden earlier that day. Lewis instantly realized the Little Crest Mountain gold mine had been exposed.

“Third Young Master, what do we do now?” Secretly mining imperial gold meant death. If Prince Nolan caught them, the Lewis family was finished.

Lewis didn’t reply. Face dark, he brooded in silence for a long time before finally rising and heading toward the inner courtyard. The others, though anxious, dared not follow—waiting tensely in the main hall for his decision.

Third Young Master Lewis walked through the corridor, across the open courtyard, and along a deserted path until he reached a simple wooden hut deep within the Lewis family estate.

"Master." Lewis stood respectfully at the door, bowing low—even though the man inside couldn’t see him, his face was full of humility.

“What is it?” A low, slightly dissatisfied male voice came from inside, with a clear threat—he’d better have a good reason, or else.

Lewis’s heart clenched. He lowered his head and answered meekly, “Master, the Little Crest Mountain affair has been discovered. Prince Nolan has left the city with his men, likely heading for Little Crest Mountain.”

“Him? What forces does he have in Eastmont? Just a few hundred close-guards.” The man inside sneered, then coughed twice, clearly in poor health.

“Master, Prince Nolan has five hundred close-guards, and he’s taken three thousand city-guards.” Lewis had never faced Nolan directly, but he knew the prince was not to be underestimated.

“Five hundred close-guards? Since when were princes allowed five hundred personal soldiers?” As for the city-guards, the man inside didn’t care at all.

Lewis didn’t dare hide anything. He recounted everything that happened when Prince Nolan entered the city, pushing all the blame onto the Eastmont Governor-General.

“Useless fool. After all these years as Governor-General, he still hasn’t learned how to wield power.” The man inside had nothing but contempt for the Eastmont Governor-General. Lewis kept silent.

The Governor-General’s incompetence was the result of years of suppression by House Lewis. Without that, the Lewis family could never have controlled Eastmont so easily.

Lewis didn’t dare bring up that fact. Instead, he cautiously asked, “Master, about Little Crest Mountain?”

“It’s just a gold mine. As long as it’s in Eastmont, it belongs to me. For now, let my Ninth Brother enjoy himself.” The man was arrogant, then his tone turned cold: “Clean it up. Leave no evidence.”

Lewis’s head jerked up in panic, then instantly lowered. “I understand.”

With that, he turned and left.

After Lewis left, the man inside let out a low, sinister laugh—like a demon from the depths of hell.

“Ninth Brother… Heh. I never expected you to be the first to discover my power network in the capital, and the first to find my lair here in Eastmont. Anyone who survived that fratricidal emperor is no gentle soul. Ninth Brother, I find you interesting. Don’t die too soon!”

...

House Lewis was strong enough to drive out Tyre City’s people. Their forces at Little Crest Mountain were no joke. With only five hundred elite close-guards, Prince Nolan couldn’t possibly take the mountain by force—and he wouldn’t make that kind of sacrifice.

But what Lewis didn’t know was that Prince Nolan had already made his own preparations. The forces he’d originally set up to frame House Lewis now served a new purpose.

Prince Nolan, with his five hundred close-guards, detoured to a village outside the city. He fired a signal into the sky, and from every corner, men in plain clothes carrying broadswords surged out, bowing respectfully to him.

After his close-guards checked the newcomers, Prince Nolan gave the order: “Follow me.”

These men were no old or crippled soldiers. Even running alongside warhorses, none fell behind. Prince Nolan led them straight to intercept the three thousand city-guards.

“Strip them. Change into their uniforms!”

In an instant, the three thousand old and disabled city-guards were replaced by three thousand battle-hardened elites. But the switch, plus the detour, cost several hours—and in that time, anything could happen. For example… everyone at the Little Crest Mountain gold mine was silenced.

By the time Prince Nolan and his men charged up Little Crest Mountain, the entire mountain was engulfed in flames—enough to burn for three days and nights without pause.

A gust of wind carried the stench of roasting flesh down the slope. The whole mountain was thick with a sinister, mournful aura.

“Too late!” Prince Nolan reined in his warhorse and signaled his soldiers to halt.

“Your Highness?” One of the Eight Commanders stepped forward, uneasy.

They’d miscalculated.

“House Lewis has made a grand move—cutting off their own arm. Such ruthless resolve… They’re worthy to be my enemy.” Prince Nolan stared at the raging fire, his battle spirit rising.

This was House Lewis’s formal declaration of war!