Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent-Chapter 170: Ch : The Tribute- Part 2

Chapter 170: Ch 170: The Tribute- Part 2

The two guards stationed at Venuce’s gate had never seen a noble act the way Kyle just had.

One of them lay dead in a pool of his own blood, his head nearly severed by the sharp glint of Kyle’s sword.

The other stood frozen, his mouth trembling as he pointed a shaking finger at Kyle.

“You… you’ll pay for this.”

The guard stammered.

Kyle didn’t reply—he simply turned his eyes on the man, and the intensity in that gaze made the guard flinch.

“Wait! I-I mean… I’ll go and bring you permission to enter. I’ll get Sir Veldom’s word. Please wait!”

The guard quickly corrected himself, stepping back.

Bruce narrowed his eyes and leaned in toward Kyle.

“Young master, he’s lying. He has no intention of coming back.”

The guard heard him and waved his hands defensively.

“No! I swear I’ll return. I’ll give him your message.”

Kyle sighed as if tired by the whole affair.

“I know. That’s why I’m making sure you do.””

He said calmly.

Before the guard could react, Kyle placed a hand against his shoulder and channeled a thin stream of mana into his body.

The man gasped as his eyes widened in panic. Kyle withdrew his hand, stepping back.

“There’s now a foreign mana seal inside your core. If you don’t return to me by sundown, or if you try to remove it without my permission, your body will begin to tear itself apart from the inside out. Now go.”

Kyle said coldly.

The guard, realizing just how serious the noble in front of him was, paled considerably.

He nodded quickly and ran back toward the city, his feet thudding against the stone path.

Melissa stepped closer and spoke in a hushed voice.

“Young master… was that truly necessary? You might’ve just terrified the entire city guard. This impression might be too much, even for Venuce.”

But Kyle only looked toward the city with a neutral expression.

“Sometimes words are not enough. The merchants here only understand power and fear. If we walk in like sheep, they’ll think we’re prey. But now… they know better.” ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Queen let out a low grumble from within the carriage, clearly bored with the delay. Bruce folded his arms and grunted.

“Still… I wouldn’t have guessed that guard would actually go.”

“He will. If only to save his own life.”

Kyle said.

Kyle stood quietly, his arms folded behind his back as he observed the city beyond. Melissa and Bruce stayed close, both alert and tense.

“You think he’ll get to Veldom?”

Bruce asked, not hiding his skepticism.

“If he doesn’t, he dies. And if he does, we’ll have our audience.”

Kyle said with a calm certainty.

Melissa tilted her head slightly.

“And if Sir Veldom decides to retaliate?”

Kyle’s lips curved faintly upward.

“Then I’ll deal with him too.”

Queen snorted from inside the carriage, clearly approving of the idea.

It wasn’t long now. One way or another, the gates of Venuce would open—for Kyle, or for fire and blood.

—

Inside the city, the panicked guard ran through the streets, shoving past confused citizens.

His destination was clear—Sir Veldom’s manor.

It was a large estate nestled behind high stone walls and guarded by men in dark uniforms with golden trim, marking them as the elite of Venuce’s merchant guild security.

“Halt! What’s the panic?”

One of them barked, stepping in front of him.

“I need to speak to Sir Veldom. Now. It’s urgent.”

The guard said, panting and desperate.

The guards looked at each other and scoffed.

“And who are you to speak with the head of the merchant guild? You’re not even from this estate.”

The city guard gritted his teeth. He didn’t have time for this.

“There’s a noble at the city gate who killed a guard—just like that! And he says he wants to see Sir Veldom. If we ignore this, he’ll burn Venuce to the ground! I swear it!”

The guards shifted uncomfortably, exchanging glances.

Normally, they’d have turned him away, but something about the urgency in the man’s voice and the sweat on his brow made them hesitate.

If this was true, and a noble really did kill a city guard so brazenly, ignoring it would bring disaster down on them all.

One of the guards nodded at the other.

“Wait here. I’ll inform the master.”

The city guard let out a shaky breath, silently praying that he’d done enough to live through the day.

Sir Veldom’s guard moved quickly through the lavish halls of the merchant’s estate, his boots echoing on polished marble floors.

Upon reaching the grand door to Sir Veldom’s private quarters, he paused only long enough to catch his breath before knocking.

From behind the door came the light giggle of a woman, followed by the sound of muffled shifting fabric.

A moment later, a pudgy hand reached out and pushed the door slightly ajar.

The guard immediately lowered his gaze and bowed, waiting respectfully even as irritation twisted his face in silence.

‘Disgusting old man. Three wives and still chasing after every hopeful girl who wanders into his grasp. He should be ashamed, not proud.’

The guard thought, jaw tightening.

He didn’t dare look up, but the sound of soft footsteps approaching told him the girl was leaving.

He glimpsed her out of the corner of his eye—young, radiant, barely older than sixteen.

She looked flushed, dazed even, as she stepped past him and walked down the corridor with an unsteady gait.

The guard’s stomach churned with pity. He knew how these stories ended. Girls like her didn’t last.

Sir Veldom’s wives wouldn’t allow it.

The girl would vanish by the end of the day—either bribed into silence or spirited away to some unknown fate.

Unfortunately, his brief glance didn’t go unnoticed.

The door slammed open, and Sir Veldom’s voice barked out, sharp and furious.

“You dare look at what’s mine? Do you have a death wish? Or, would you rather lose your eyes? I can arrange that to happen any time you want.”

Before the guard could react, a ceramic vase came flying toward his head. It shattered on the wall beside him, shards spraying over the floor.

“You forget your place!”

Sir Veldom roared, stepping out in a loosely fastened robe, his face flushed from drink and indulgence.

“Speak before I decide you’re worth less than the trash I just threw!”

The guard quickly dropped to one knee, his forehead nearly touching the floor.

“Forgive me, my lord! I came with urgent news from the city gate. A noble has appeared, and he’s not one to be taken lightly!”

Sir Veldom narrowed his eyes, folding his arms.

“A noble?”

“Yes, my lord. He’s killed one of the gatekeepers already. He demands to see you. He… he left a mark of foreign mana in me. Said if I didn’t deliver the message and return, I would die.”

The guard said quickly.

That seemed to catch Veldom’s interest. His rage faded slightly, replaced with a calculating look.

“Interesting. A noble with that kind of boldness… Fine. Take me to him.”

He muttered.

The guard swallowed hard and rose to his feet, careful not to make eye contact again.

“Yes, my lord.”