The feudal lord laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that filled the small space.

"I like your attitude, young man. And I can feel that no one with something like this would lie when his family and loved ones are in danger. However, I need solid evidence against the city lord."

He looked back at his two most trusted men. "You two will investigate those who are involved in this. Make sure no one gets wind of this."

He ordered his men, who left immediately with Belar, who would help in the investigation.

The feudal lord then turned his attention back to Ray. "Astban, so you have two sacks of these grains. But what are the chances of increasing that number in the future?" He paused, a serious expression on his face.

"I'll let you in on the truth. Whatever I collect as tribute, only a small amount stays with me. The majority is delivered to the lord of the province and then to the emperor's royal depository.

This means that once I send these items, it will cause a huge uproar that will shake the whole empire."

Ray understood the feudal lord's meaning. "I can't say an exact number, my lord, but with enough resources, I can promise 100 sacks a year," he said with a confident smile.

The feudal lord was surprised but also wanted to take the gamble. "Okay, then we'll discuss things later after the city lord's matter is finished."

The rest of the day was filled with a tense calm. The city lord's men were still waiting outside, growing more anxious with each passing moment.

The feudal lord, however, seemed completely at ease. He sat with Ray, asking him about his life, his dreams, and his family. He was trying to get a read on the young man, to see if he was a man of his word.

Ray, for his part, answered every question honestly, revealing just enough to keep the feudal lord interested without giving away the truth of his Skill.

He spoke of his love for Manoban, his dreams of a quiet life, and his desire to protect his loved ones from the city lord's cruelty. The feudal lord listened, his expression unreadable, but a flicker of respect could be seen in his eyes.

…

Later that evening, the feudal lord's guards returned, their faces grim. They had questioned a few of the city lord's men and found that a conspiracy was indeed in play.

The guards hadn't been able to get a confession, but they had found enough evidence to make them believe Ray's story.

The feudal lord listened to their report, his face hardening with each word. He now had the motive and the means. All he needed was the proof.

The next morning, the feudal lord, his guards, and Ray went to the stables. The city lord's men, who had been waiting for this moment, was already there, a triumphant look on his face.

He was confident that the horses would be sick, that his plan would go off without a hitch. He looked at Ray with a sneer.

"Well, Astban look what you have done to the horses. It seems you and Belar have poisoned the feudal lord's horses, and for that, you will both pay with your lives."

Ray simply smiled. "We will see about that."

The feudal lord walked over to the horses, who looked as healthy and strong as ever. They pranced in their stalls, their coats shining in the morning sun. The feudal lord looked at the city lord's man, a cold fury in his eyes. "They look perfectly healthy to me."

The man's triumphant smile faltered.

He rushed over to the horses, his eyes wide with disbelief. He examined each horse, looking for any sign of sickness, but there was nothing. He had been outplayed.

"This... this is impossible," he stammered, turning to others, who looked just as bewildered. "The poison! It should have worked!"

The feudal lord's cold fury was now visible to everyone. "You dare accuse a man of treason, only to have your own words prove to be lies?" he thundered, his voice a low rumble that commanded respect.

He stepped closer, "My guards have already found evidence of a conspiracy, and now your own actions have confirmed it. You are dares to misuse your power."

The feudal lord's words, 'You dare to misuse your power,' were directed at the man who represented the city lord.

As the man who had blurted out the plan was already caught in his own lie, the guards pulled forward a servant who had been missing since yesterday.

The man from the city lord's mansion glared at the servant, realizing he must have confessed everything.

The servant, bruised and battered from a sharp beating by the guards, could only stand there silently, his head bowed.

"Let's go see the city lord," the feudal lord declared, his voice a low rumble. "He will have to answer for his crimes."

The whole city erupted in an uproar, the news of the city lord's conspiracy spreading like wildfire.

The feudal lord's horses were safe, but the people's anger burned hot against a leader who would stoop to poisoning and framing innocent people.

…

Meanwhile, in his opulent hall, the city lord sat anxiously.

For the past day, the feudal lord had ignored him, instead spending his time with Astban.

The city lord's triumphant grin from the morning had long since faded into a worried frown. Just then, a servant burst into the hall, his face pale with terror.

"We are doomed!

We are doomed!"

He shrieked, stumbling forward.

"What are you shouting for? Do you want to die?" the city lord yelled, his own anxiety boiling over into rage.

"The feudal lord… and a large number of people from the city are gathering at the front gate!" the servant stammered, pointing a trembling finger toward the massive oak doors.

Just then, the doors flew open, and the feudal lord's guards stood in the entryway. "City Lord, you have been summoned by the feudal lord!" a guard yelled.

The city lord, his face a mask of confusion and terror, stood up.

He walked toward the guards, trying to maintain an air of authority, but his bravado crumbled as he saw the feudal lord, surrounded by a large crowd of angry citizens.

The feudal lord's guards were holding the man who had blurted out the truth, as well as the bruised servant.

"What is the meaning of this?" the city lord demanded, trying to sound outraged. "Why are you gathered here, interrupting my day with this nonsense?"

The feudal lord stepped forward, his eyes burning with fury. "Nonsense? Your servant and your man have confessed to everything.

They admitted that you hired them to destroy a family's livelihood, all to get your hands on a young woman.

And you planned to poison my horses to frame them. Your actions are not nonsense; they are a crime against the kingdom and a betrayal of my trust."

The city lord's face went white. He knew he was caught, but he wouldn't go down without a fight. "Lies! All lies! They must have been tortured! They are just trying to get a reward from you!" he yelled, trying to turn the crowd against Ray and Belar.

But the crowd was no longer on his side. They had seen the feudal lord, a man of power and authority, personally leading this charge.

They knew about the city lord's greed and cruelty. They believed the feudal lord and were ready to see justice served.

"The horses are perfectly healthy," the feudal lord said, his voice cold. "Your poison has no effect on them. It seems your plan was a failure."

The city lord's bravado completely evaporated. He looked at the feudal lord, then at Ray, who stood confidently among the crowd.

The city lord knew he had been outsmarted, and for the first time in his life, he felt a sense of utter defeat.

The feudal lord, satisfied, looked at the crowd. "Citizens of this city, you have seen the truth with your own eyes. Your city lord is a fraud, a monster who would ruin your lives for his own gain. He is no longer your leader. He is a criminal."

How could the city lord accept his downfall so easily? Just yesterday, he was dreaming of having Manoban, and now he was facing public humiliation and arrest.

In a final act of desperation, he pulled a dagger and lunged toward the feudal lord.

He felt that if he could just kill the feudal lord, he could somehow turn the tables. But before he could take more than a few steps, a sharp, thin blade pierced his head, killing him instantly.

Everyone's eyes darted to the person who did this. It was none other than Ray, who had saved the feudal lord's life.

With the city lord dead, his remaining men were arrested. The feudal lord then addressed the crowd, telling them to return home. It all happened so suddenly that it felt unreal.

Ray, however, knew that with this victory, his time to leave Manoban and this world was drawing to a close.

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