Roning smiled slightly, sat down on the stool beside him, and looked calmly at the once high and mighty Viscount of Crescent Island.

Although Patridge looked embarrassed and unwilling at the moment, he was still an aristocrat at heart and retained some majesty and arrogance.

"ransom?"

Ronin's voice was a little amusing. "My dear Viscount, you know that in my eyes, you are just a pirate who attempted to attack Rapids Island. You are my prisoner."

Partridge froze for a moment, then suddenly became alert, "Why, do you want to kill me directly?"

Roning said the most threatening words with a smile on his face: "Many nobles have died in my hands over the years. There is the baron of Swamp Town and the earl of Moonlight Valley. It doesn't seem to matter if you are one more."

Patrich's eyes widened: "You killed Jesus? Are you crazy? You even dared to kill His Majesty the King's brother??"

"If you commit an unforgivable crime, of course I can kill you."

Ronin restrained his expression and said, "Just like you, Patrich, bringing so many knights and magic cannons to try to destroy my Rapids Island. This is also an unforgivable sin."

“No, no, no…”

Patrick began to panic. He began to think that the young man in front of him was an impulsive guy. He might not abide by the constraints of the nobility and kill him directly.

"You misunderstood, Your Excellency the Baron. I just wanted to discuss business with Waiheke Island. I had no intention of attacking you."

"Talk about business? Are you going to talk business with me using your powerful ships and cannons?"

Luo Ning couldn't help but find it a little funny. "Okay, Patridge, you probably don't know your situation yet, do you?"

"You disguised yourself as a pirate and attacked my territory. Even if I really killed you, the Fleming family would not stand up for you and ask me for an explanation. They don't want to publicly admit their intention to attack me."

He spread his hands and said, "So I won't pay any price for your death."

Patrich suddenly calmed down, he knew that Roning was right.

Putting aside the arrogance in his heart, he had to take another look at the young nobleman in front of him.

The other party has a giant dragon that can gallop across the sea and leave him powerless to resist. At the same time, it is said that the other party himself is also very powerful.

"You said you wanted to kill me, but you didn't do anything to me. So, what do you want from me? Or, what do you want me to do for you?"

The other party did not continue to make threatening remarks, but instead made such a change, which made Roning quite satisfied.

"It's simple. I need you to switch to me."

Karada and Reese, who were standing next to them, were a little surprised to hear this.

Partridge is a retainer of the Earl of Screaming Island. Is it really okay for Ronin to poach his people like this? Moreover, even if the other party agrees, can it be trusted?

Partridge looked directly into Ronin's eyes: "You want to defeat the Fleming family and replace it as the overlord of the sea?"

Overlord of the sea?

Luo Ning did not express his opinion, but it must be said that the other party had a narrow mindset and thought too simply of him.

The Fleming family was indeed an enemy on his way forward, but not the final enemy.

Today, Roning has stood at the top of the extraordinary people in the Orlant continent. The enemies he will face in the future are the Holy Storm Organization and even the demons of the Crescent Continent.

When facing these people, individual strength is indeed crucial, but the strength of the force is equally important.

Roning needs a group of powerful subordinates.

Partridge has good ability and is only in his fifties, so he still has room for improvement. He is a good talent.

Seeing that Ronin did not answer, Partridge asked again: "Even if I am really willing to be loyal to you, do you really believe that I will not rebel?"

Roning is very confident about this.

"You can rebel, but you should have known the power of my dragon. As soon as you rebel, not only you, but also your family and your castle will all be reduced to ashes under the dragon's flames."

"Your dragon is indeed very strong, but I was captured by mistake. If it happens again, as long as I am alert, I can avoid its claws! Moreover, as long as we are prepared, with the help of magic cannons, magic arrows and spell scrolls, we can definitely achieve the feat of slaying the dragon!"

Luo Ning spread his hands and said, "Maybe, but I don't think Crescent Island has such strength."

Well, Ronin was right, the Fleming family had the ability to slay a dragon, but Crescent Island certainly didn't.

"What can I get by serving you?" he asked.

"It's simple. You can survive."

Luo Ning did not intend to give anything to the other party. "You should know that you have no bargaining chips to negotiate with me now. On the contrary, even if you surrender to me, your family still has to hand over 30,000 gold coins, plus five warships!"

Patridge was stunned. He didn't expect that even if he chose to compromise, he would still have to pay the ransom.

But he didn't dare to refute because he really didn't have any bargaining chips to support the negotiations.

"Paying the ransom allows you to continue to be a vassal of the Fleming family."

Patridge knew that Ronin was trying to make him a spy.

The spirit of chivalry and nobility made him not want to do such a thing, but between life and death, after a series of inner struggles, he finally chose to compromise.

"Okay, Lord Luo Ning, I am willing to switch to you!"

Roning smiled and nodded with satisfaction. "Very good, Patridge. One day in the future, you will be glad for your decision today."

He stood up and ordered, "Karada, write a letter of surrender in Partridge's voice and put his handprint on it."

Although this thing is useless, it can at least make Screaming Island no longer trust Crescent Island, and it still has some deterrent effect on Patridge's psychology.

"Also, write another letter and have someone send it to Crescent Island, asking them to bring the ransom. The 30,000 gold coins will be used as support for the construction of Rapids Island."

Karada laughed. He didn't expect that the 30,000 gold coins he had just promised would come from Crescent Island.

"I understand, sir. I'll do it right away!"

He immediately turned around and left the room.

Roning took out a scroll of powerful healing magic from the space ring.

"This is a powerful healing spell from the arm of a great magician. It can greatly help your injuries. Consider it a reward for you."

As Ronin's magic power was injected into the scroll, a soft light shot out and enveloped Patrich's entire body.

Bathed in the light of the powerful healing technique, Patrich suddenly felt an indescribable comfort all over his body. The pain that had been tormenting him these days quickly subsided.

He closed his eyes and could feel his bones healing and his injuries recovering.

"It is indeed a rare and powerful healing scroll!"

When the treatment was over, he leaned against the head of the bed and asked, "How do you want me to help you deal with the Fleming family?"

"Now is not the time."

Roning motioned for Reese to take out a pen and paper to record: "However, you can tell me the details of Screaming Island in advance."

"Also, I haven't seen Alfonso much in recent years. I want to know if he has made any breakthroughs?"

Patridge still hesitated, after all, this was information that betrayed the lord.

But soon, he changed his mindset.

"Count Alfonso is indeed retreating from the world to practice asceticism, but unfortunately, he is still a great magician and has not made any breakthroughs."

"Not even a mage?" Roning asked in surprise.

Partridge shook his head. "He has already started to decline. I'm afraid he will never be able to advance in this lifetime."

At this moment, the combat effectiveness of Howling Island in Roning's mind dropped sharply.

Perhaps dealing with Screaming Island in the future would not be as difficult as he imagined. (End of this chapter)