Berserk: The Prophet

Chapter 296 Seranti's Thoughts

Soon, Green and his party followed the mayor to an open space near a river in the east of the city. The river flowed gently, and weeping willows lined both banks, making it an excellent location to set up a dye house.

“Young Master Ryan, this land originally belonged to a nobleman, but the family later fell on hard times and is now being sold at a low price,” the mayor said, rubbing his hands together. “The price is absolutely fair, and the location is excellent, not far from the market, making it convenient to transport raw materials and finished products.”

Green carefully examined the land and had already formed a preliminary plan in his mind. It was indeed a prime location suitable for opening a dye house.

“Hmm… this will do. Ten thousand dinars, I’ll take it.” Green pulled a large bag of silver dinars from his luggage and tossed it to Mayor Pence.

The mayor's fingers darted quickly across his sleeve, his cloudy eyes flashing for a moment in the illusion of Dinar: "Young Master Ryan is indeed straightforward! However, as is customary, the land deed must be stamped with the Duke's wax seal when registered at the town hall—"

"Of course, I will take care of it. These dinars are a deposit. It would be best if you finalized the deal with the property owner before I complete the sealing wax stamping, Mayor Ivan."

“No problem, leave it to me, Young Master Ryan.” Ivan weighed the heavy bag in his hand; it must have contained at least three thousand dinars.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats grew louder as a Holy Dragon Knight rode up. He reined in his horse before the group and called out, "Young Master Ryan! Lord Trunks heard of your arrival in Pence and has sent me to invite you to the castle immediately for a discussion!"

"...We've come at just the right time. We can get the sealing wax stamped by that old man Casarian." Green mounted his horse and led his men away with the Holy Dragon Knights.

Gazing at the climbing stone dragon atop Lord Pence's fortress, it remained as awe-inspiring as when I first saw it. Grimm, his griffin riders, and the Silver Mist Rangers followed the Holy Dragon Knights through three archways; the fortifications here were truly impregnable.

Ever since Green entered the city, Seranti had been able to see him from the highest point of the temple, still dressed as a wandering knight and wearing various kinds of masks.

He had just ambushed and killed a group of suspicious Lion Realm assassins in the city, and his scimitar was now gleaming.

When did that kid get followed by a knight? Seranti looked closely and saw that the yellow and black warhorse robe was embroidered with the emblem of a black griffin, and even the armor and shield were black with a white griffin pattern. It was so conspicuous that it was hard for him not to recognize it!

Unpleasant memories surfaced in Seranty's mind: the Griffin Knights...

...the defenders of the Pande royal family.

The Knights actually found him. Does that mean the child already knows his identity?

Green arrived inside the lord's fortress, dismounted, and said, "Long time no see, Mr. Seranti."

Seranti: "..."

Seranti informed his friend Trunks that he had sent the Holy Dragon Knights to recall Grin, and that the news of his ostentatious entry into the city with the Griffin Knights would likely be spread by members of the Red Brotherhood.

...What a child who always gets himself into trouble.

Seranti's emerald eyes gazed at the silver-armored archers; he knew these men all too well! Silver Mist Rangers!

Grimm noticed Seranty's gaze lingering on the Silver Mist Ranger, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "What? Seeing an old acquaintance?"

Seranti remained silent, but gripped the hilt of his sword tightly at his waist.

"They said they came from the continent of Pendor, from the Fallen Bay of Ravenlands to Barkley, and that they were warriors I recruited in Port Tulai." Green recalled the place in the game where he often saw Silver Mist Rangers, which was Ravenlands.

Thranduil's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his emerald eyes rippled. Memories flooded back—the bloody chase ten years ago, the Silver Mist Ranger's help in finding the legendary prophesied child because of his half-elf identity.

He was the culprit who personally killed the Grand Master of the Griffin Knights, the son of prophecy's father's killer, and also his adoptive father.

"What exactly do you want?" His voice was as cold as ice. "Bringing royal guards from a foreign land into the city in such a grand manner, do you want to die?"

Green froze on the spot. This was the first time he had seen Seranty angry, and he was somewhat at a loss.

Green was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant and quickly defended himself: "Mr. Seranti, I didn't mean anything by it. I just think they are quite capable, and recruiting them would help me develop my dyeing business here better. Besides, I also want them to experience our local customs and culture."

"Do you think I'm an idiot? A bunch of royal knights and silver mist rangers following a little brat around just for fun?!" Seranti suddenly flew into a rage and walked up to Grin, grabbing his shoulder tightly.

What does all that racking his brains and working so hard to intercept those who want to find out the whereabouts of the true prophetic child matter?

Green looked up at Seranty's emerald green eyes, which seemed to be bloodshot again... Had he not slept well? Could it be... because of him again?

“I…” Green was about to speak when he was interrupted by a griffin rider.

"Isn't your behavior somewhat inappropriate?!"

Corribo grabbed Seranti's wrist. It turned out that the moment Seranti grabbed Green's shoulder, the twenty followers behind him immediately assumed a defensive fighting stance.

The guards and dragon knights inside the fortress were also at a loss for what to do, and the originally relaxed situation suddenly became serious.

Seranti's wrist cracked under Corribipo's iron grip, and his emerald pupils contracted sharply—this griffin knight's grip was clearly the "griffin grip" unique to the Pendor royal guards.

"Let go." Green pressed down on Corribibo's wrist guards, the griffin knight's armor gleaming coldly.

“Mr. Seranti is my adoptive father, he won’t do anything to me.” Corribo released his grip, and Seranti rubbed his reddened and briefly powerless wrist, his emerald eyes still churning with lingering anger.

The air inside the fortress seemed to freeze, with only the faint sound of the guards' armor clashing.

“Young Master Ryan, Lord Trunks is still waiting.” The Holy Dragon Knight broke the silence, his voice tinged with caution.

Green nodded, then looked at Seranty: "Let's go, we'll have a proper talk when we see Lord Trunks."

"Wait outside for a while, the castle soldiers will arrange accommodations for you." With that, he headed deeper into the fortress.

“My lord, let the two of us follow you in.” Koripo volunteered, handing his equipment to the fortress guards and pointing to Dui, the leader of the Silver Mist Rangers, wanting to follow Green inside.

“Okay, sure.” Green did not refuse and strode into the fortress to meet his nominal uncle, Trunks.

Seranti stood there, watching their backs with a complicated expression, but then followed them inside.