Translator: Cinder Translations
...
The Restoration Army—this is the name given to themselves by the rebel forces led by Giles. It originates from a small kingdom that existed before the establishment of the Aldor Kingdom, and Giles's family has some connections to the royal family of that state. However, according to the current propaganda of the "Restoration Army," this long-gone royal family is not merely a local faction. In any case, Giles believes that his family has a legitimate claim over the entire Aldor Kingdom.
The rebel camp is filled with noise and chaos, which is typical for armies of this era. In the outer areas, vendors are shouting loudly to sell their goods, while heavily made-up prostitutes roam around to attract customers.
Fighting, gambling, and drinking are rampant here.
However, in the central part of the camp, there is strict security and a tense atmosphere. Fully armed guards meticulously check everyone entering or leaving, and anyone wandering aimlessly will be immediately apprehended.
In the very center stands a wooden fortress, the residence of the supreme commander of the rebels.
Inside the fortress, a banquet is currently underway.
"Duke Giles has arrived!"
With the servant's loud announcement, everyone in the hall immediately stopped talking and stood in silence.
A man dressed in a crimson cloak, with a sword hanging at his waist, ascended to the main seat.
This man is tall and broad-shouldered, with a beard that seems sculpted, giving him an imposing presence. Although his hair is graying, his eyes shine brightly, and his expression exudes authority.
This is none other than Duke Giles, the instigator of years of rebellion against Aldor, a thorn in the side of the kingdom's government, known as the "Greedy Wolf."
Duke Giles faced the crowd and raised his hands slightly, saying, "Please take your seats!" He then sat down himself.
Everyone followed suit and took their seats.
Giles raised a glass of wine and boldly declared, "Next week marks our decisive battle against the False King's army. The swords on the battlefield are merciless; I hope everyone can receive the blessings of the Lord of Light, so that we can gather here again after the war! To everyone, let's raise a toast!"
After speaking, the duke tilted his head back and downed a full glass of wine.
The hall erupted with sounds of hearty drinking.
"The duke's capacity for alcohol is truly impressive!"
A sycophantic voice rang out from the table.
A person dressed distinctively stood up—unlike the others in military garb or simple attire, he wore an extravagant noble robe.
Confidently, he said, "Next week, we will definitely annihilate the False King's army and then swiftly advance north to take Crystal Glare!"
Giles squinted, smiling slightly as he replied, "Haha, Sir Abel, with your confidence, we will surely capture Crystal Glare and take control of the whole country... [if your Vibern family's army isn't as useless as expected.]"
If it weren't for the relationship with his allies, Giles would have really wanted to say that last sentence.
According to the original plan, the Restoration Army would advance from south to north, while the Vibern family's army would strike from east to west, preventing the royal army from being able to assist each other. It was supposed to be a solid strategy to reach the city of Crystal Glare.
However, despite all the calculations, they hadn't anticipated how ineffective the Vibern family's army would be. Facing the main forces moving south, the royal army's eastern defenses, which were already weak, suffered continuous defeats.
In the end, they shamefully ran over to pick up the pieces on their side—what a disgrace!
The one leading the troops was Sir Abel, the youngest son of the Vibern family. Just looking at Abel, it was clear why the Vibern army was so weak. This wastrel spent his days chasing after prostitutes and drinking, appearing to be more like a tourist than a soldier. His troops were a joke as well; they couldn't fight properly, bullied the commoners, but were excellent at that—truly a disgrace to warriors.
With such an ally, it was good enough that they didn't cause more trouble. Every time there was a battle, Giles would make them stand aside under the pretext of being a reserve force, treating them as mere cheerleaders.
After a few casual exchanges, Giles no longer paid attention to Abel and turned to a young man on his right, saying, "Mr. Scott, we will need you to take more care in this battle!"
Scott stood up and placed his hand over his chest in salute. "Rest assured, Your Grace. A new batch of aid from the Arcane Order will arrive soon, including supplies of the elixir for the undead army and a large quantity of armor and magical devices. On the day of the decisive battle, our overall combat strength will definitely rise to a new level."
As Duke Giles stroked his beard, he nodded slightly. However, a hint of worry seemed to linger between his brows, never easing.
The general sitting to his left, Samal, noticed his lord's concern and inquired, "Mr. Scott, can your organization provide more weapons and armor in the coming days? As you can see, the False King's army has a much higher rate of armor among their troops. Relying solely on our limited undead army, it may be difficult to achieve a decisive advantage!"
"Well…" Mage Scott hesitated, pondering before he finally responded, "I will report this to the higher-ups."
Scott felt troubled as well. When he first arrived, he had ambitions of achieving great feats as a wizard—overthrowing a powerful kingdom. But halfway through the battle, the opposing kingdom's army had suddenly gained immense strength, particularly in terms of equipment. Almost every front-line soldier was armored; although it was just basic iron breastplates, it was far superior to Giles's side, where only a few elite units had access to armor.
When did the Aldor royal family become so wealthy? Did the nobles of Crystal Glare realize the gravity of the situation? What a joke—those parasites couldn't possibly have such awareness! Even if the nobles were willing to donate money, where would the kingdom find so much iron to produce weapons? Would other regions not be utilized?
Scott could sense that the organization's interest in Giles was waning. It seemed that supporting him in establishing a small territory was the limit. The Arcane Order's attention had shifted to Horns Bay, where a great upheaval was about to unfold. Nathan had already been dispatched there, which was truly infuriating.
Samal noticed Scott's evasiveness and a look of dissatisfaction appeared on his face.
To escape the awkwardness, Scott quickly changed the subject, "Have you found out where the False King's army is sourcing their weapons?"
Samal frowned tightly and said, "According to intelligence from the north, it seems they are all purchased from the Northwest Bay."
Many in the hall showed puzzled expressions—Northwest Bay, where was that? It was a place they had never even heard of.
Samal raised his voice to explain to everyone, "It refers to the various territories in the northwest of the kingdom, named for the large bay there. In recent years, a large high-quality iron mine has been discovered, and with the ongoing turmoil in the kingdom, the production of weapons has surged."
One general slammed the table angrily, "How infuriating! How could such good fortune occur on the side of the False King?"
Scott asked, "Can't the lords there be persuaded? Through your covert influence…"
He knew about Northwest Bay; a senior member of the Arcane Order had gone there and had not been heard from since.
A man in plain clothes—seemingly responsible for intelligence—shook his head and said, "Although the lords in Northwest Bay have their disagreements, they are generally loyal to the royal family, and the distance to the southern borders is considerable. Our influence is truly limited."
As the crowd was murmuring, Duke Giles waved his hand, silencing everyone.
The "Greedy Wolf" had a cold light glimmering in his eyes: "There's no point in discussing this further. Let's focus all our attention on next week's battle! Those who owe us and those who have plotted against us, I will settle accounts with them one by one!"
"Battle!" "Battle!"
His generals shouted in unison, shaking the entire hall.
Abel and Scott shivered involuntarily under the duke's gaze.
(End of the Chapter)
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