Soldiers walking along a narrow mountain trail.
The creaking of a carriage, likely loaded with something, echoed among the mountains.
"...But lately, a strange rumor has been circulating."
"What rumor?"
The march was not only peaceful but also boring.
The supply convoy heading to Deirmar had traveled a very peaceful path, and everyone found themselves in a situation where tensions were decreasing one by one.
"They said that the supply detachments heading to Deirmar were being plundered."
"Plundered?"
One of the soldiers seemed bored with the walk and began to talk to the man beside him.
However, the soldier who heard this simply snorted and laughed as if it were nonsense.
"They say that some bandits are robbing a supply detachment full of soldiers."
"And it's real. The last time I was in the city, I heard what the people there were saying."
Who would dare to attack armed soldiers?
Even if the supply unit is weaker than the general military procession, it would be a burden for regular bandits to attack it.
"Don't talk nonsense. If it were a group capable of robbing soldiers, rumors would have started a long time ago."
"...That's true."
The soldier who was speaking seemed to realize that his concerns were unfounded, so he simply scratched his head and kept his mouth shut.
Furthermore, it's currently a situation of war.
Even if there are bandits capable of robbing the supply depot, now is the time to hold one's head and hold one's breath as the soldiers come and go.
"Eh?"
However, the existence of misfortune has always been beyond knowledge and common sense.
"It's an arrow! Fire arrow!"
"The carriage is on fire!"
A sinister being would draw near when called its name.
"The tree is falling!"
From the bushes, arrows filled with murderous intentions shot out, and at the same time, trees began to fall in front and behind the group.
"It's an attack! Attack!"
"Everyone, take up arms!"
The road was blocked in an instant.
A black horse rose from atop the carriage along with the screams of frightened horses. It was the moment when the malice of Bayezid, deeply rooted in the West, bared its teeth.
"Everyone, calm down!"
It was a sudden and unexpected situation, but the leader of the supply convoy quickly tried to calm the situation by encouraging his knights and soldiers.
"Calm down! Protect the cargo!"
A middle-aged knight looking solemn.
As experienced as he may seem, he quickly tried to control the situation and prepare for the impending surprise attack.
"...!"
However, the rushed malice was faster and sharper than he expected.
Formidable speed.
But when he saw it, it was already too late, and when he reacted, it had already passed.
"Look, gag!"
The hot liquid throbbed along with the cold sensation.
The leader of the supply unit clutched his throat and writhed as if he couldn't believe the current situation, but the beats of his heart were already pumping continuously through his throat.
'...I couldn't even react.'
While the soldiers were frozen in surprise at the sudden situation, someone smiled behind the splatters of blood.
A battle, not a duel.
However, the technique of killing in a single blow was applicable on any battlefield.
"If this is enough... I suppose it's worth it."
Where am I and how far can I face it?
The young and inexperienced engineer tried to determine his position through numerous cross-checks, so he was now sure.
"You two, try it too."
Now I know I've become strong enough for someone.
"This is crazy! Captain..."
"Bastard! Who the hell are you!"
Two knights, furious at their captain's death, quickly surrounded Vlad with their drawn swords.
Two against one.
However, it was the one opposing the two who actually dominated the battlefield.
"Who am I?"
A calm yet resonant voice.
With everyone paying attention, a ray of world began to slowly flow from the blond-haired man.
"I am a person who has received legitimate authority from a noble person."
A clearly shining aura began to flow from his closed left eye.
The flag, the name, and the world.
Now Vlad was a man qualified to forge his own world in this world.
"I am Lady Alicia's knight, Vlad."
A shout silently resonates in the middle of the forest.
The forest began to shake as if it had been waiting for the shout.
"Now!"
"Kill them all!"
Fierce mercenaries, hungry barbarians.
With Vlad's call, unidentified men began to rush out.
Among the distorted tattoos, clearly visible were white and gleaming teeth.
"Bastards! Why did you arrive so late?"
"Now, instead of trees, I'll cut down some people!"
A shout followed by a scream.
The soldiers' helmets were split open under the enormous axe.
Under the constantly waving West flag, the grains loaded in the carriage began to quench their dry thirst by swallowing bright red blood.
"Let's start quickly. If this continues, all your men will die."
"This bastard..."
Contrary to Vlad's relaxed expression, the two knights were simply confused.
Unceasing screams coming from behind.
However, that's why the knights cannot easily extend their swords towards the intruder in front of them.
"Aren't you coming?"
Because this was now Vlad's battlefield.
Because the world that flowed naturally was slowly coloring this world with its colors.
***
"Good job."
"Yes, father."
A city with the history of Bayezid. Sturma.
The two men from Bayezid who were there looked at each other.
"As you ordered, I brought soldiers from all the fortresses on the Northern Boundary Line. There are approximately 1,000 soldiers."
"Good job."
After hearing Rutiger's report, Peter nodded satisfactorily and accepted the map handed to him by advisor Ragmus.
"The enemy is currently moving north, towards Deirmar. They have an approximate size of 5,000."
Peter explains the battlefield in detail with a map.
If the soldiers were moving openly as they are now, there would be no reason not to notice.
"The total number of Hainal troops opposing them is about 3,000."
"...Yes."
Gaidar didn't come alone.
As they came with direct and indirect support from the six families that followed him, it was safe to call them the Allied Forces of the West.
"What does the master blacksmith say?"
"He said he would ward off any threat from the barbarians, but... As expected, direct involvement in the war seems difficult."
However, despite the strong provocation from the West, the protector of the North, the blacksmith Timur Baranov, could not participate in Gaidar's advance northward.
His most urgent task would have been to resolve the wicked existence of Baron Utman.
The forces in the center, still clustered and protruding like thorns, were tying down the limbs of the blacksmith lord.
"On the surface, it's a battle between Deirmar and Gaidar, so apart from us, who are direct allies, other lords of the north may not have justification to participate."
Peter couldn't help but frown at the appearance of a disadvantage that seemed as if someone had set it up.
A war between 7 families and 2 families.
Looking at the simple numbers, it would seem that the direction of the game is already decided.
"But there are definitely gaps that can be overcome."
Peter's finger pointed to one side of the map.
The back of the West.
It was a place where West families that had not yet decided on a clear route were settled.
"Gaidar is still not the complete ruler of the West, and his allies are like bundles of straw tied by loose bands. So our target is this."
The main reason Gaidar aims north is for system stability.
The main goal of this war will be to acquire scarce resources and at the same time solidify his system through strong military power.
"I'll give you 800 soldiers."
"Agreed, father."
To win, you must know your enemy and know yourself.
And in addition to his strengths, Peter had already seen Gaidar's fatal weaknesses.
"Take the soldiers I've given you and descend by boat."
"...By boat?"
Sudden direction southward.
Unlike Rutiger, who was perplexed, Peter's finger was firmly pointing to the river starting in Soara.
"Enemies are like grains of sand, that's why we fill the gaps."
The direction of war is decided from the preparation stage.
From the start, Peter had no intention of deciding the outcome of this war in a giant slalom between 5,000 and 3,000 men.
"Lead your soldiers and occupy Nassau, the city of Baron Iznik's Barony."
"…!"
Peter's fingers pointed towards the sea along the river.
No one would expect it.
In the current situation, it's unlikely that Bayezid would pull out his soldiers and launch a preemptive attack.
"It's okay if we don't occupy it. Instead, destroy it completely."
It won't be possible to directly enter the port of Iznik, where there are many ships.
However, it was clear that Nassau city would have no way to stop Rutiger's soldiers if they successfully fell upon the nearby area.
The remaining land forces were busy directing a supply detachment for Gaidar.
"It's okay, father."
Rutiger, who finally understood Peter's intentions, took the order handed to him and bowed his head.
"Maybe we can get an immovable port through this war."
"...It's not yet time to consider the benefits."
A war that no one can help.
It was clearly an unfavorable condition, but if you think about it the other way around, it also meant that all the loot from this war belonged to Bayezid.
Bishop Pedro was a bishop who prepared not only for the worst but also for the best.
"Go. Be careful."
"Understood, father."
Rutiger, who acknowledged the contained sincerity in his dry tone, left the office with a small smile.
Crack-crack.
The office where Rutiger left.
Peter and Ragmus, who were quietly looking at the map, were greeted by a raven tapping the window.
Judging by the fact that it was tapping without hesitation, it seemed that it was something it had only done once or twice.
"You're finally here."
"Mmm."
A raven brought the long-awaited news.
It was a letter sent by a covert group that Peter had cultivated as diligently as the Templar Knights.
"...I suppose this time he changed his name to Marcus."
The name would be different each time the letter was sent, but that probably wouldn't matter.
The important thing is whether what is written in it can satisfy Peter.
"Very well."
Peter didn't easily reveal his emotions, but this time he was smiling slightly.
"Ragmus. Get ready to shine the crystal ball on Joseph."
"Okay, Count."
Looking at Peter, who had a satisfied expression on his face, Ragmus could guess what was written in the letter.
The light of the crystal ball begins to shine brighter with Ragmus's low incantation.
Peter's gaze, fixed on the light, gradually drifted away.
"...Since you started it, it's only right that we finish it."
A pillar and noble family of the North. Bayezid.
The eyes of the head of the family, Peter Bayezid, were fixed on the West's usurper, who was approaching the North beyond Deirmar.
The North's cruelty had no intention of letting go of those who invaded it.
***
Suddenly, the battlefield fell silent.
This place was filled with mercilessly cut swords behind the occasional groan.
There, Vlad sat in a half-collapsed carriage, murmuring something.
"Is that good?"
"It's tasty. In its own style."
Hands were busy peeling the half-charred wheat husk.
However, it's a fact that no one can deny that his behavior doesn't match his appearance.
"Hey, lieutenant. Were all the supplies burned?"
"Yes, they were all burned."
"And the arrows?"
"Of course, they were burned too. It's not the first time we've done this."
Agge reported Vlad's question with a sigh, as if he was confident.
After all, looting and burning were one of the barbarians' specialties.
"Did they loot all the money too?"
"..."
"Bring it. Don't leave anything behind."
Agge sighed as he watched Vlad's palm waving as if telling him to leave it.
"However you look at it, I think this suits you better, not like a knight."
"Bring it quickly. Are you saying they'll distribute it all later?"
A dark alley thug naturally preying on the magical meadow bandits.
Joseph's selection was very precise.
Stephan shook his head as he observed the scene where evil was being overcome by evil.
"If you've cleared everything, let's go now."
I don't know which family it was, but Vlad's raiding force managed to attack the supply group according to instructions.
Following Vlad's instructions, the carriages began to ignite in various places.
The fragrant smell of burnt wheat seemed to mask the slightly fishy smell of blood.
"Leader. excuse me. The crow is coming."
"Mmm."
Like a barbarian with keen sight, Agge spotted a crow circling in the sky.
Seeing that, Vlad could only nod his head slightly.
"How the hell do they keep coming to me every time?"
An unknown item. The crow, which must have been sent by Marcus, descended slowly in circles and began to approach Vlad.
The sudden black feathers reminded me of the scarred man.
"...I heard crows like shiny things."
"Is that so?"
Agge shrugged and answered Vlad's question.
"Isn't blond hair shiny? I think even a crow would find it easily."
"...Now I see you're a crow expert."
Vlad, responding to Agge's nonsense with a laugh, drew the sword tied to the crow's ankle with familiar hand movements.
"Where should we go now?"
As soon as the mission was over, another job arrived, but no one complained here.
After all, they were at war at that time and knew that Bayezid would have an advantage every time they kept moving.
And Bayezid was one of the few employers who paid generously.
"Should we follow the crow?"
Two instructions written on a small note.
One will follow the crow.
And one remaining command.
'Is it the last Ravnoma left?'
From there, we will rescue the last remaining Ravnoma.
Unlike before, the bold lettering showed the importance of this mission.
Caw-
After reading the final order, Vlad naturally looked at the crow, which was stealing and eating the wheat it carried.
The look in our eyes seemed to ask if we were ready to depart.
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