Lord of Rot

This person’s name was Beck Little Bill.

His grandmother was Annel Little Bill, the paternal aunt of the ”old monkey,” Wells Bill.

The woman was quite capable. When she married, she chose a man who was not yet a noble. As she expected, the man soon performed meritorious deeds and was granted a noble title.

Annel successfully married him, and they were bestowed the surname ”Little Bill.” This signified that they were part of the Bill family, just a ”little” less significant—a status they would hold for life.

The Little Bill family successfully continued its line, though their numbers never grew large.

The related memories were long and unpleasant. Leech only confirmed one thing: this man, who bore some resemblance to La Bill, was in fact La’s cousin and also his follower.

Moreover, Leech uncovered a shocking piece of information from Beck’s later memories.

Wells Bill had suddenly recovered his health, going from a near-death state to being full of vitality.

And Beck had also repeatedly heard Wells chanting simple, fragmented phrases.

”Oh, Apostle of the Moon God...”

A troop of soldiers arrived outside Longship Castle.

Leech and Yi Lin quickly went up to the walls of Longship Castle.

”Lord Leech!” Outside the walls, on the land across the river, were a dozen or so cavalrymen.

The white-haired old general in the lead looked up and saw Leech on the wall, his expression immediately turning to one of pleasant surprise.

”Lord Tyler,” Leech said in surprise. ”What are you doing here?”

The visitor was none other than Tyler Rose. Just a few months ago, he had helped Leech conquer Iron Valley. It was unexpected that he would appear in Waterfall Land.

”I’ve come on the Duke’s orders.” Tyler Rose raised a message tube in his hand and gestured with it toward Leech.

At such a distance, Leech couldn’t have seen clearly even if Tyler had opened the letter for him, let alone just waved it.

Leech turned to Yi Lin, who nodded and said to a soldier beside her, ”Lower the drawbridge and invite Lord Tyler Rose in!”

The drawbridge was slowly lowered, and Leech went down from the wall with Yi Lin to greet him at the main gate.

Having rushed here, Tyler Rose looked to be in poor shape and utterly exhausted.

Leech first gave Tyler Rose a warm embrace.

He had a great fondness for the old Baron.

’Did the Duke save his life at some point?’ Leech wondered.

’Otherwise, why would he be saddled with every thankless, grueling task? And why would he accept them all without complaint, even gritting his teeth and taking on jobs with no reward?’

Of course, he couldn’t ask this out loud, so he could only suppress his curiosity.

”This is Miss Yi Lin,” Leech introduced her to Tyler Rose. ”Her sister is Lady Jie Lin, and she is currently managing the affairs of Waterfall Land in her stead.”

Tyler Rose bowed slightly. ”Good day, my lady.”

”Good day, Lord Tyler Rose,” Yi Lin immediately returned the courtesy.

Among the nobility, the title of Baron of Steel Domain carried great weight. Tyler Rose’s myth of being undefeated, in particular, was a story known to all nobles.

However, being undefeated... didn’t necessarily mean winning.

”How is Lady Jie Lin’s condition?” he asked.

Leech smiled. ”She has given birth successfully, and the child just completed their baptism at the church.”

”May the Four Gods protect us!” Tyler Rose let out a long sigh of relief.

”I was wondering, Lord Tyler, the reason for your visit this time is...?” Leech asked.

”News of the conflict between Monkey Territory and Waterfall Land has reached the Duke,” Baron Tyler said. ”His Grace is not well, but he sent me immediately upon hearing the news.”

Leech had wanted to ask why Pine, the ’Golden Stallion,’ hadn’t been sent. But then he considered it. ’With Pine’s personality, he’s good for snatching benefits and picking up scraps, but useless when it comes to serious business.’

’If the ’Golden Stallion’ were sent to mediate a fight, probably no one would even pay him any mind.’

In contrast, Tyler Rose, as an old-school noble with age and extensive connections, was actually a very suitable choice to mediate the conflict.

”What’s your plan?” Leech asked.

Tyler glanced at Yi Lin and noticed she had no intention of interjecting.

’Has Longship Castle already fallen under Leech’s control?’

’Probably not!’

Tyler silently chided himself for overthinking. ’It must be that Lady Jie Lin went to great lengths to bring in reinforcements of considerable strength. To deal with Monkey Territory’s large army, she’s deliberately giving Leech enough face.’

”I am here mainly to mediate this war,” he said. ”Rest assured, I will make the monkey soldiers retreat to Monkey Territory.”

”They won’t necessarily give you face,” Leech said, shaking his head bluntly.

They might give face to the Duke.

But Tyler Rose’s face didn’t carry the same weight.

”That’s why I brought this,” Tyler said, producing the message tube from before.

”What’s this?”

Leech saw the golden rapier wax seal on the message tube.

”This is to be delivered into the hands of the Bill family,” Tyler Rose said. ”Using this will surely make the monkey soldiers retreat, but Waterfall Land might have to cede some of its interests.”

Ceding land for peace.

’This was the Duke’s solution?’

Yi Lin’s expression darkened as well, but she knew full well that if Leech hadn’t appeared like a Divine Weapon descending from the heavens, even ceding land for peace would have been an unattainable luxury.

Leech said, ”I don’t think that will be necessary.”

”Hm?” Tyler Rose asked, puzzled. ”Why not?”

He had actually noticed something strange as well. Before arriving, he had heard that the monkey soldiers had already surrounded Longship Castle and were about to breach the walls.

But when he arrived, he didn’t see a single monkey soldier.

After entering Longship Castle, he found that the soldiers here all wore relaxed smiles, completely lacking the distressed look of a besieged army.

Yi Lin finally spoke up, explaining, ”Lord Leech has already crushed the monkey soldiers.”

”What!!!”

Even someone as composed as Tyler couldn’t help but raise his voice upon hearing this news.