Dragged along as if bound, Kane had been put through hellish training over the past few days.
Ghislain was having the time of his life pushing him to the limit.
Resistance was futile. Against overwhelming, justified force, there was nothing Kane could do.
Training together was one thing, but the way things were going, it seemed like he would be dragged to the battlefield as a common soldier. This made Claude deeply worried.
Taking the heir of a territory and treating him like a regular soldier was a dangerous move.
But Ghislain dismissed it without a second thought.
"Not paying back my money is a serious crime. If I don't collect what's due, I'd be a pushover. If he doesn't have the money, he'll have to repay with something else."
"What if he dies in the war? That could cause quite a headache."
"No worries. That guy won't die so easily."
"Why? Does he have some hidden ability?"
"Think about it. He still has the audacity to live after swindling me. That means he's incredibly lucky. A guy like that won't die in a small war like this. It's just not logical."
"…Ah, I see."
Claude clicked his tongue a few times, giving up on convincing Ghislain. As expected, he couldn't wrap his head around the lord's way of thinking.
"Well then… If you're going to do this, make sure to crush them completely. Leave everyone stunned."
"Don't worry. I'll sweep them thoroughly. That's what I do best. You know my win rate is 100%, right?"
"Of course, one win out of one. Let's hope it becomes two wins out of two. I really hope that crazy strategy works. Please be careful out there."
Claude had been horrified when Ghislain first laid out his strategy during the planning meeting. But if it succeeded, it would undoubtedly bring victory with minimal losses.
For that reason, the plan was kept under absolute secrecy. It was a strategy that could only be used for this war.
'If the plan fails… the lord will definitely die. Should I stop him even now? It's too dangerous.'
Claude closed his eyes, lost in thought.
The time to object had already passed. He hadn't been able to stop Ghislain during the preparations, and now that the army was ready to march, it was even less feasible.
All he could do now was trust in fate and pray for victory.
While Claude was consumed with worry, Ghislain inspected the knights one by one, nodding in satisfaction.
Even though they were about to head into battle, none of them showed fear or tension.
If anything, they seemed brimming with confidence, likely a result of the grueling training they had endured.
It wasn't an incorrect observation. While many of their expressions reflected pent-up frustration and a desire to vent it on the battlefield, they weren't afraid.
And Ghislain liked those expressions very much.
'Perfect. Once this war is over and their equipment is upgraded, they'll be even better.'
Currently, the knights wore under armor made from the hide of the Blood Python beneath their armor.
This alone would make them hard to kill for ordinary soldiers.
With the other planned upgrades to their gear, their strength would undoubtedly increase.
As each unit completed its preparations, Gillian approached and bowed.
"Preparations are complete."
"Good. Let's get moving…"
Just as a brief departure ceremony concluded and the march was about to begin, a commotion erupted in one corner, and a group of people rushed over.
It was the dwarves and mages.
Galbarik, on the verge of tears, shouted,
"My lord! You're taking us to war? What do you mean, out of nowhere? We've done everything you asked! We made everything! We agreed we wouldn't be part of any vanguard!"
Next to him, Alpoi outright cried as he yelled,
"We've done everything you asked! We don't want to go to war! Can't we just stay and guard the home?"
Ghislain smirked at their tearful protests.
"No can do. You're critical to this operation. Don't worry; I won't make you part of the vanguard."
Galbarik pleaded desperately.
"You promised us a vacation when the urgent work was done! We're supposed to be on vacation now! You liar!"
"What are you talking about? We didn't set a date."
"…"
"I never lie, so don't worry. Your vacation will come after the war. There's a process to follow, after all."
Galbarik was left speechless. Thinking back, he realized they had indeed fled the discussion without setting a specific date for their vacation.
They had simply assumed it would begin as soon as the urgent tasks were finished. Not securing a firm date had been their mistake.
But hearing Ghislain, arguably the most reckless man in all of Lutania, talk about "processes" made Galbarik feel like his blood pressure was about to burst.
"Ahhhh! We're going on strike! Strike! We're not going! We refuse! Respect our rights!"
"We mages aren't going either! Even slaves have rights!"
The dwarves and mages made a commotion, but Ghislain dismissed them with a single nod.
"Take them away."
"Waaahhh! Nooo!"
Dragged off by Gillian, they were placed behind Kane, who looked like death warmed over.
Finally, with all preparations complete, Ghislain was flanked by Gillian and Kaor.
Behind him stood Belinda, the only one wearing a black robe.
Ghislain glanced at his entourage and slowly spoke.
"Let's get moving."
Fergus, who was standing next to Claude, grabbed Ghislain's hand tightly and said,
"Young Master, please take care of yourself. Are you sure I can't come with you?"
Seeing Fergus's worried expression, Ghislain laughed awkwardly and replied,
"It's fine. Please stay home and rest. Coming with me would be too much strain on your heart."
Before Fergus could respond, Kaor cut in.
"Hey, old man. There's nothing to worry about. I'm crazy strong now, you see."
Though Kaor had indeed become stronger, there was something unconvincing about his confidence. Still, Fergus smiled kindly and said,
"Alright, alright. I'll trust you. Take good care of the young master."
"Of course, leave it to me."
Having learned Ghislain's new mana cultivation techniques and swordsmanship, Kaor radiated confidence.
Belinda, watching Kaor, clicked her tongue a few times before straightening Fergus's collar and saying,
"Sir Fergus, make sure to eat properly and take your medicine. Don't worry too much. You know my skills."
"Of course, of course. I know how capable you are. You take care of yourself too."
Fergus also left several parting words for Gillian and the others, urging them to return safely.
With Fergus's unusually long farewell complete, Ghislain led the knights forward.
News of the lord personally leading the campaign had drawn a large crowd of citizens.
Their faces were filled with concern.
Things were finally improving in the territory, and now there was talk of war. It didn't make sense to them.
On top of that, the lord himself was leading the charge? If anything were to happen to him, their newfound happiness would vanish.
"What should we do? He'll be alright, won't he?"
"If I'd known, I would've volunteered as a soldier."
"The lord said he'd recruit once the construction was finished. Who would've thought there'd be a war already?"
The murmurs grew louder.
This was nothing like the time when the previous lord had marched to attack Perdium.
Back then, no one cared whether the lord lived or died. In fact, many hoped he wouldn't return.
At the time, people had watched the army march out with dead eyes, indifferent to their fate.
But this lord was different. He was their hope, the pillar supporting them all.
Overcome with emotion, some began to shout.
"My lord! Return safely!"
"Knights and soldiers, take care of yourselves!"
"Goddess, bless Fenris!"
What began as a few voices quickly turned into a thunderous chant that filled the entire territory.
The heartfelt worry and support were overwhelming. The knights and soldiers, unaccustomed to such sincere encouragement, were initially taken aback but soon stood taller with pride.
Ghislain, too, raised a hand and smiled at the crowd.
"Waaaahhh! Please bring us victory!"
Amid the fervent cheers, Ghislain rode out of the castle gates, gripping his reins tightly.
"All units, advance at full speed from now on. We must strike before the enemy is ready."
"Yes, sir!"
The knights and soldiers, their morale soaring, answered energetically.
Hiiiiinnnng!
With a piercing cry from Ghislain's horse, the Fenris army charged toward the Cabaldi County like the wind.
***
Count Cabaldi had heard rumors that Fenris was stockpiling food.
Given that his territory was also struggling with severe food shortages, he couldn't deny being tempted by the rumors.
With a heavy expression, Count Cabaldi began discussing the situation with his vassals.
"What did Count Desmond say?"
"He asked for a little more time. It seems managing internal affairs is proving difficult."
"And the Duchy?"
"They promised to send food as soon as possible. They asked for patience…"
"For how long!"
Count Cabaldi slammed his chair in anger.
Even now, they were scraping together every last bit of hidden food from the people just to feed the soldiers. They couldn't hold out much longer.
His subjects were already burdened with forced labor in the iron mines, and their discontent was at a boiling point.
Count Cabaldi was barely keeping them in check with military force.
But now even the army was close to starving. If this continued, the situation would spiral out of control.
If the army turned against him, he would have no way to recover.
"I heard Fenris has plenty of food. Isn't there a way to attack them?"
The vassals were horrified by his suggestion and immediately shook their heads.
"We don't have enough food to wage war. Supplies would be impossible. The soldiers are starving, and morale is at an all-time low."
"Didn't the Duchy warn us not to act rashly?"
"Moving now would give the Royalists an excuse to retaliate. We need to focus on stabilizing the situation."
Count Cabaldi bit his lip.
His vassals were right. Moving now would mean going against both the Royalists and the Duchy, effectively inviting mutual destruction.
Even if they won, it would be a pyrrhic victory. There was no guarantee other lords would support them.
Reluctantly, Count Cabaldi proposed another plan.
"Offer iron in exchange for food from Fenris."
His vassals expressed their concerns.
"Baron Fenris is a Royalist. Providing them with iron might anger the Duchy."
"The Duchy and Count Desmond have promised support. It would be better to wait a little longer…"
Frustrated by their hesitation, Count Cabaldi growled.
"Who are you loyal to? With the military provisions almost gone, how much longer do you expect us to wait? Should I start seizing all your assets instead?"
Intimidated by his outburst, the vassals fell silent.
Cabaldi was the largest iron producer in the north, giving the Count significant influence within the Ducal faction.
However, Count Desmond had suddenly cut off his support.
Unbeknownst to Cabaldi, this was because Desmond had sold his surplus to Ghislain. Now Desmond's own resources were stretched thin.
Although Cabaldi had also appealed to the Duchy for aid, the sheer number of territories affected by the famine meant he was not a priority.
Cabaldi, being politically astute, quickly grasped the situation. He was aware that, despite his territory's significance, the Duchy viewed him as just another northern provincial lord.
"Think about it. No matter how much we excel, to the Duchy, we're just backwater northerners. Iron isn't exclusive to our territory."
His vassals had no rebuttal.
While the Cabaldi territory was significant, the Duchy had many other, more important territories to prioritize.
If the Duchy wouldn't help, there was no point in starving out of loyalty.
Count Cabaldi was infamous for his ruthlessness, even among northern lords.
Though his territory was relatively safe due to his strong military, it would be catastrophic if his soldiers were incited to rebel.
"Ultimately, it's us supporting Desmond. He might be annoyed if we trade with Fenris, but he can't afford to cut us off over a few trades."
Desmond had first approached Cabaldi when trying to consolidate northern lords under the Ducal faction.
The Cabaldi territory was strategically crucial, making them a priority.
Confident in his position, Cabaldi believed the Duchy and Desmond would tolerate minor transgressions. He also felt capable of staying within acceptable limits.
"Baron Fenris is doomed anyway. Giving him a bit of iron won't change anything. His military is weak, so it's not a problem."
The vassals nodded in agreement.
When they thought about it, Baron Fenris was already a dead man walking. Trading a small amount of iron for food seemed harmless.
Even between rival factions, trades like this happened frequently. Unless they were mortal enemies, total isolation was rare.
The issue was that iron was a strategic resource, and the Duchy strictly controlled its distribution.
One vassal asked cautiously,
"But won't Baron Fenris demand a high price, given his advantageous position? We've blocked most iron supplies to him."
"Promise to loosen the restrictions on iron in the future. And if he acts arrogant, threaten to cut him off entirely. He has no other options."
"Understood. A mix of promises and threats should force him to accept."
"Exactly. A smart man would use this as an opportunity to ingratiate himself with us if he wants fair prices for iron in the future."
Cabaldi and his vassals were confident that Ghislain wouldn't refuse their offer.
The Cabaldi territory controlled most of the iron production and distribution in the north. Fenris likely hadn't had easy access to iron.
While food prices were currently sky-high, once the famine ended, iron would again be more valuable.
If Ghislain overstepped, he'd face significant difficulties later.
"Leave immediately. If Count Desmond hears about this, it'll become a hassle."
Just as the vassals nodded and prepared to leave, the doors to the audience hall burst open, and a knight rushed in, shouting urgently.
"The enemy is attacking!"
The shocking news left Count Cabaldi and his vassals blinking in disbelief.
There had been no declaration of war, no warning signs, no communication from their border outposts. What was this about an enemy attack?
The only plausible explanation was a rebellion.
Count Cabaldi stiffened and asked coldly,
"What do you mean? Speak clearly. Are you saying there's been a rebellion?"
The knight swallowed dryly and, wearing an expression of disbelief, replied.
"Ghislain Perdium… no, Baron Fenris's army is camped right outside our castle."
[T/L: Please support me and read 105 extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]