Lord of Caldera - Chapter 299

Chapter 299: Chapter 299 Baston & Kozellek Relation

“What kind of magic have you pulled this time, my lord?” Toby asked.

“Magic? Such an unkind thing to say. Call it skill and talent,” Sylas replied, smirking.

“Let’s go with that, then. You never fail to surprise us,” Max said, shaking his head.

“It’s my specialty,” Sylas said with a grin. “And I plan to surprise you a few more times yet.”

“Please take it easy on us. At this rate, we’ll grow numb to the world’s surprises,” Ray joked.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to keep things fresh for you,” Sylas quipped.

Laughing, Sylas led them from the office to a guest room, where Lydia and Matthias were already waiting. Toby, Ray, and Max were startled to see the Saint herself.

“Saint Lydia? What brings you here?” Toby asked, his eyes wide.

“It’s been a while,” Lydia said with a warm smile. They had met briefly during the demon incident, and the group exchanged pleasantries before sitting in a circle to discuss the aftermath of the recent events.

Sylas turned to the two church representatives. “What are your plans now?”

“We’ll return to the church,” Matthias replied. “Now that the matter has been resolved and there’s no connection to demons, there’s no reason for us to remain.”

Sylas nodded. “Understood. Still, I can’t let you leave empty-handed after all the trouble you’ve gone through. Please accept a donation to support your work.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Matthias said, frowning slightly. “We acted according to our beliefs. Accepting money might give the impression that we expect payment.”

Lydia nodded in agreement, but Sylas simply chuckled. “Oh, it’s not from me. It’s compensation from the bedridden lord for deceiving the church.”

“Pardon?” Matthias blinked.

“Who said I’d pay out of my own pocket? It’s a penalty for his crime of manipulating the church,” Sylas explained with a sly smile.

The two were momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter as the implication sank in.

“In that case, we’ll gratefully accept,” Matthias said, finally relenting.

“Please put it to good use,” Sylas said, smiling.

“Of course,” Matthias replied. “By the way, the church plans to conduct a thorough investigation of this incident. However, we lack the manpower to handle it right now.”

“That’s unfortunate. What will you do?” Sylas asked.

“We’ll leave it to you, Lord Sylas. You’ve proven your sincerity and judgment. If the current lord recovers and attempts to reclaim his position, you’ll assess whether he remains a heretic and inform us.”

“That’s quite a responsibility,” Sylas said lightly. “What if I make a mistake?”

“Then notify the church. We’ll return to reassess the situation ourselves,” Matthias said evenly.

In essence, Christoph was now entirely bound to Sylas. Even if he regained his position, a single word from Sylas could bring the church down upon him again. Christoph, upon realizing this, would likely faint from despair.

Sylas inclined his head toward Matthias with a grin. “Thank you. Should I falter, I’ll rely on your guidance.”

That same day, Matthias and Lydia departed the estate, citing the church’s endless need for their service. Sylas escorted them to the gates and returned to the lord’s manor, where he addressed his retainers.

“There’s something I haven’t told you yet. We’ve gained a new ally,” Sylas said.

“A new ally?” Ray asked, tilting his head. “Who might that be?”

“Issac, come in,” Sylas called.

Isaac, who had been waiting outside, entered the room. He bowed stiffly, his expression tense. “My name is Isaac. I lack formal training in etiquette and hold no title, though I come from a noble family—albeit one that fell long ago.”

His awkward introduction reflected his nerves, and Sylas chuckled before introducing him. “He’s not a knight yet, but I plan to grant him knighthood soon. Treat him as a fellow comrade.”

“A knight? Did you just say a knight?” Toby asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Why? Is there a problem?” Sylas replied casually.

Toby glanced at Isaac briefly, his expression caught between curiosity and caution. “It’s not that…” he began, then paused, looking to Sylas for confirmation. “Every knight you’ve appointed so far has shared a certain…trait.”

Sylas nodded, his expression amused. “Yes, you’re right. Another ancient bloodline.”

“Unbelievable,” Toby muttered, dragging a hand down his face. Ray looked equally surprised.

“Do these ancient bloodlines just appear out of nowhere for you?” Ray asked.

“It was a matter of circumstance. Luck, mostly,” Sylas replied with an enigmatic smile. His vague answer made Toby roll his eyes.

“Fine, fine,” Toby said, giving up on prying further. He stepped forward and extended a hand to Isaac. “Regardless, welcome aboard. Let’s work well together.”

“Thank you for the welcome. I’m Isaac Kozellek,” Isaac replied, shaking Toby’s hand.

“Toby Baston. The stoic one over there is Sir Ray, and the other is Max, the lord’s attendant,” Toby introduced.

“Wait a second…Baston?” Isaac said, his eyes widening. He seemed taken aback.

“Yes, why?” Toby asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

“You wouldn’t happen to be related to the Black Spear, Kurt Baston, would you?” Isaac asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

“My father. How do you know him?” Toby asked cautiously.

Isaac smiled faintly. “Because he killed my father.”

The room fell silent. The tension was palpable as everyone processed Isaac’s statement. Even Sylas froze for a moment, his eyes darting between the two men. He had never asked Isaac about his father’s death.

Sensing the weight in the air, Isaac chuckled nervously. “Don’t look so grim. I hold no grudge.”

“No grudge? Really?” Toby asked skeptically, his eyes narrowing.

Isaac sighed. “As much as it might sound strange, my father wasn’t a good man. If he crossed the Black Spear, it was probably because he was trying to harm someone undeserving.”

The explanation eased some of the tension. Toby frowned thoughtfully. “What kind of man was your father, then?”

“Ever hear of the Mad Dog Knight?” Isaac asked, his tone dry. “That was his nickname.”

Toby stiffened, his expression darkening. He remembered the Mad Dog Knight—an infamous figure with a reputation for cruelty and chaos. “You’re saying you’re related to him?”

“Yes, though I’ve inherited little beyond the name. And the title of a demon hybrid,” Isaac added, his voice bitter.

Toby’s eyes widened. “So you are…?”

“Enough,” Sylas interrupted, stepping between them. “Isaac was a demon hybrid, but the demonic energy is gone now.”

“What? How?” Toby asked, his confusion evident.

“Thanks to the Saint,” Sylas said calmly. “I’ll explain everything. Sit down.”