Seething with rage Victor could barely contain it. The man who had ordered those men to try and kill his sister was none other than the brother of his stepmother. "What evidence is there to suggest that?" Victor asked, trying to restrain his rage.
"The two prisoners admitted to it after being tortured. There was a letter in the dead assassin's pocket with instructions bearing the coat of arms of the Cyuff Dukedom," Replied Sebastian.
Victor was convinced that his stepmother Josephine had a hand in Duke Cruyff's reasoning for ordering such an atrocious act. On the verge of exploding with rage, Victor asked Sebastian, "How has Grandfather reacted?"
Sebastian retained his grim look and replied, "It seems he is planning for war." At the sound of this Victor's head began to spin.
"If the Cassell and Cruyff Dukedoms went to war with each other, my territory would be swept up in it whether it was voluntary or not. The worst-case scenario would be Father declaring his support for Duke Cruyff. War right now is not the answer." Victor explained to Sebastian.
"It seems unavoidable without any alternatives my Lord," Sebastian replied in an emotionless tone. Quick to respond Victor said, "Help me get changed Sebastian we are going to see my grandfather at once." With a firm nod, Victor with Sebastian's assistance hastily got ready and made his way to Duke Cassell's study.
Bursting into the study unannounced Victor yelled, "You can not go to war Grandfather!" Startled by his grandson's burst Duke Cassell flinched in hesitation before replying to such a demand. "I can not afford to let this insult stand my child, I will not let Duke Cruyff live after such a treacherous act,"
Panicked by his grandfather's resolve, Victor had to try to dissuade Duke Cassell and stop him from going to war.
"Going to war against the Cruyff Duchy would mean you would be outnumbered. I am confident that Father would offer his support to Duke Cruyff due to the marriage with his sister. You would be sending your soldiers to their deaths." Victor stated.
"What do you suggest? I pretend this incident never happened. I will give that fat arrogant bastard, Harold Cruyff, what he deserves for trying to kill my granddaughter." Yelled Duke Cassell.
Victor knew that the only way he could avoid the destruction of his mother's family and stop his territory from getting caught in the crossfire was to try and get his father to pledge his support to Duke Cassell. However, it would be impossible to convince him. Acting on impulse Victor said something reckless.
"Instead of targeting Duke Cruyff directly how about his Sister and her children?" Victor asked while wearing a slight grin. Confused and alarmed at such an idea his grandfather could only perplexed at what he had in mind.
"How would you suggest I deal with them without dealing with your father?" Question the Duke cautiously. He knew what Victor's father was like and knew that he would not sit back or be idle when something horrible could happen to his wife and precious twins.
Victor was treading dangerous waters. What he was about to suggest was extremely treasonous and could both himself and the Cassells in a political nightmare. Regardless of the consequences Victor still suggested something that left Duke Cassell shocked.
"What if I were to overthrow my father and become the new Duke of the Luxenberg Dukedom?"
Almost jumping out of seat Duke Cassell was panicking. To suggest overthrowing his father and taking control of the territory was absolute madness. Deeply breathing trying to calm himself down Duke Cassell looked at Victor in disbelief.
"Are you mad! I know you do not like your family but to do such a thing is extreme. Do you even have supporters? How would you even take over?"
Bombarded by questions Victor collected his thoughts before pitching his case to his grandfather.
"I have 500 personal soldiers under my command. I have a growing faction that is supportive of my ascension compared to Klaus. With some bribery and extortion, I could march my personal soldiers into the palace and capture my family before turning it into a civil war."
The more Victor elaborated his plan, the more the Duke freaked out. "You crazy bastard you have been planning this?" Taken aback by his grandfather's accusation Victor could only look guilty.
"The thought had crossed my mind. With your support, I could take over the territory in two months. All I would need is some funds to sway the neutrals and convince my faction that my father was failing as a ruler." Victor said trying to persuade his grandfather.
Painting a picture of how he would enact this coup, Duke Cassell began to seriously consider the possibility of supporting Victor. As much as he loved his grandson, he was not too sure that he could help and even if he did he was not confident that Victor would be successful.
"May I make a suggestion Grandfather? Send a man you trust to visit my military camp inside the forest near Hannover. If we aim to meet in a month that will give me time to see what further support I can garner and lay out a viable plan. If your person deems that it would not work you can deny my request for aide and declare war on the Cruyff Duchy," Victor proposed.
With a reasonable proposition, Duke Cassell mulled over the idea for several minutes. It wasn't a bad decision to put faith in Victor. "I accept that suggestion. A person of my choice will arrive at the gates of Hannover at midday in a month." Duke Cassell said with a slight level of confidence in his voice.
With a chance at taking over the Luxenberg Dukedom, Victor could not falter or waste time. After concluding his discussion with Duke Cassell Victor packed his belongings and said goodbye to his mother's family. The party now raced back to Hannover to prepare for Duke Cassell's subordinate's arrival.
During the carriage ride, Victor wondered if it was possible to set a waypoint for his new summons to assemble at. While thinking that a blue screen appeared with a surprisingly convenient message.
'Would you like to select a set destination for your new summons?'
Keen to be able to use his summon immediately Victor tapped the screen seeing what he could do. With a flash a blue screen of a map appeared. It was a detailed Luxenberg Dukedom map. Assuming that he had to tap where he wanted them to assemble he selected a little watchtower icon. This icon represented his military outpost.
'Your new summons will now go to the selected location.' the system screen read.
Successfully selecting the military camp as the new destination for his summons Victor redeemed his 2 100-Man Infantry Unit Summons and 1 30-Man Cavalry Unit Summon. This time around there were a few new selections made by him.
First, he used his 30-man Cavalry Unit Summon and decided to get more Royal Scots Grey soldiers. Next with his 2 100-Man Infantry Unit Summons, Victor selected 1 unit of Russian Jaegers and 1 unit of French Chasseurs.
Then he looked at what the Military Outpost Upgrade Kit was like. In the kit were 2 years' worth of food to feed 600 soldiers, 20 porters, 6 horses and 3 carts. Alongside that were the necessary materials to construct proper palisades, a canteen, 3 20-horse stables and 4 100-man barracks.
Satisfied with the Military Outpost Upgrade Kit Victor also redeemed it. With a grin on his face, Victor muttered under his breath, "I can not wait to see the camp when we arrive in 1 and a half weeks."