Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest

It was a haughty, indifferent voice.

The Riptide Family was abundant in martial virtue, originating from the First Generation Grand Duke who nearly set a record for slaying a dragon and swept across the world with the Conqueror Emperor. The descendants of the Riptide family all possessed commendable archery skills.

And Roman was the cream of the crop among his peers.

If he used the Crack Armor Great Bow, his archery's power would increase three to fivefold, enough to make anyone shudder, even the top knights wouldn't dare to face such an arrow with just their flesh and blood.

Shasta's heart sank.

Roman Riptide's speed was too fast.

Shasta could only calm herself down, and she said, "Are you going to attack me? Attack a witch from Witch Forest?"

Roman put away his bow and arrow.

"Witch! Daring to come to my territory to kidnap my people, you must be tired of living!"

Shasta said firmly, "This child is also a witch."

But Roman unapologetically said, "I don't care whether she is a witch or not. Everything on my territory is my property, and you want to take her away? Take away my property?"

Shasta, furious, laughed, "You can accept witches as your subjects? Ha, then the matter is easier to resolve. I'll have all witches from Witch Forest come and visit you then."

Roman frowned, "Are you threatening me?"

Shasta said, "You started joking first, Roman Riptide. If you don't want to see the witches destroy your land, then let me and this child leave."

Witch Forest was a secret society composed entirely of witches, existing to defy the Church and secular persecution.

Although most of the time, they hid from the Church's searches, like stray dogs.

But facing a small Sige Town, Witch Forest still had the capacity to completely destroy it.

However, Roman did not believe Witch Forest would go to great lengths for two witches.

If they lacked even that kind of tolerance, those gutter witches wouldn't have survived until now.

Roman stepped forward. He gazed at this witch wrapped in a black robe, rather striking in appearance, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with black hair and black eyes.

"You have no right to negotiate with me, nor does Witch Forest. I forbid you from taking anyone from Sige Town. My people should stay on my territory, and that is not up for discussion!"

When Roman saw Dota, he understood everything.

The Angels he had drawn from the pool were all from the subjects of his territory.

Although he hadn't figured out what star level meant yet, judging by Four Stars Aaron and Three Stars Green, the higher the star level, the better.

These two's talents were rare even in all of Sige Town.

Most people were probably One Stars. Dota, as a more outstanding Hunter capable of conversing with him, only had two stars.

This indicated that high-star-level Angels were scarce, and the awakening ratio of witches was extremely low—meaning Gwivelle was most likely a high-star-level Angel, even likely the highest in Sige Town.

After all, although Aaron and Green were meticulously selected Conquest Knights who underwent special training from a young age, they hadn't shown exceptionally outstanding talents as children; otherwise, Roman wouldn't have been able to take them out.

Gwivelle was a Potential Card, thinking of taking her away?

Simply a joke.

Although he hadn't drawn Gwivelle's Apostle Card yet, it didn't matter, the meat rots in the pot and the riches do not flow into outsiders' fields.

With time, he would definitely draw this high-star Angel.

Shasta was left speechless by Roman's aggressive stance.

She emitted smoke from her body, angrily said, "Do you think as a Lord you are stronger than those high-ranking Conquest Knights?"

Roman said, "If you are confident you can kill everyone present, then why don't you? In that case, others would only think we died under the claws of a Demon Beast."

"Is a Fifth Rank Transcendent really that strong?"

Roman sneered at the notion.

A Fifth Rank Conquest Knight was still a mortal flesh, and there were too many ways to kill them.

If I took down ten Fifth Rank Transcendents with an AK, does that mean I am stronger than all of them combined?

Shasta gritted her teeth, realizing the noble before her truly felt no threat.

And she indeed dared not kill a noble in public.

Should anyone here escape and spread the news to the outside world,

the Witch Forest would not only face the Church's forces but also the noble forces that were at odds with the Church.

The two most dreadful powers on this land would join hands to exterminate the Witch Forest, leaving the witches with no hope at all.

The situation was more powerful than individuals, Shasta had to admit that.

But... should she just give up?

Give up her companion and sister, hand her over to a luxurious noble—who knows what he would do to her? What could he do? What sort of depraved desires might a greedy noble possess? Just thinking about it made Shasta's skin crawl, unbearable.

She stared hard at Roman, her hands gripping the short sword even tighter.

She thought, escaping was easy, no one here could stop her, but taking Gwivelle with her was another difficulty.

Aaron stood in front of Roman with a round shield, adopting the best defensive posture.

Roman too noticed Shasta's subtle movements, cursing her silently for not knowing what was good for her.

If she gave up Gwivelle, the latter could leave this place and he wouldn't interfere, nor would he inform the Church.

He had no biases against witches himself, it was just that Gwivelle was important, so he wanted to keep her.

If it indeed came to a fight with this witch who claimed she had killed Fifth Rank Conquest Knights, Roman believed that the guards and hunters he currently led might very likely suffer six, seven, eight, or more casualties, which would definitely be a heavy loss.

And Aaron could only ensure his own safety.

Of course, if Shasta indeed chose to do that, once he escaped this mountain forest and called in everyone from Sige Town, immediate retaliation would ensue. Unless Shasta avoided water routes and managed to cross the harsh, complex terrain of the mountains to the outside world, she would undoubtedly die.

Shasta hesitated, Roman awaited Shasta's decision.

He wouldn't give in to this witch—you think you can just take Gwivelle?

Thus, the mountain forest fell into an increasingly tense atmosphere.

Many guards and hunters also sensed the looming battle between their noble lord and the witch.

They felt extremely uneasy, especially the hunters, who had just decided to pledge their loyalty to Roman—were they really going to risk their lives for a noble in battle?

After all, those were two witches!

Witches who knew evil spells!

They didn't have the habit of carrying salt with them—it was too expensive!

Even though they had two Conquest Knights on their side, that didn't put them at ease.

They prayed in their hearts that this battle wouldn't start.

But just then, a wolf howl from the depths of the mountains broke the standoff,

then, both Roman and Shasta got a bit panicky.

...

"Kill the evil dragon! Kill you all! Heeheehee!!"