The fat Grand Duke Loggins charged about his study like a maddened boar, leaving the floor in complete disarray. The furious Duke had just smashed every movable object he could lay his hands on—the only things that remained intact in the study were the heavy furniture and bookcases he couldn't lift or move...
"Send the army! Deploy the Northland Corps immediately! I want the
When Baron Camorra reported from his diplomatic mission that the Norton Family refused to hand over the 100,000 gold furtas, the Duke had begun to grow angry. When he heard that the Norton Family refused to acknowledge the Duke as their overlord and would not surrender the supplies they had seized from the Kemers Family, his rage erupted and he started smashing things. But when Baron Camorra went on to say that the Norton Family's new head had stripped Golden Knight Tabek of his rank, killed seven Silver Knights from the Northland Corps who had accompanied the mission, robbed everyone of their money pouches, and even confiscated their mounts under the guise of compensation—the Duke had completely lost his mind.
The Duke lifted a chair and brought it crashing down upon his desk again and again, mumbling incessantly, "How dare they... How dare they defy my orders..."
Three people stood pressed against the wall near the study door—a strategic position that kept them clear of the objects flying around the room and gave them a good vantage point, so that should anything come their way they could dodge calmly and spare themselves from being caught in the crossfire.
Along with the expressionless Baron Camorra, the other two were tall, brawny knights clad in full armor. The bearded one was Wison Chevani, Grand Duke Loggins's chief Family Knight and one of the five Golden Knights. He also served as commander of the Northland Corps. The younger one beside him was another of the Duke's Golden Knights—Hunned.
Hunned watched the Grand Duke, who had smashed his chair to pieces and collapsed panting upon a heap of scattered books on the floor, and muttered with a gleam of excitement in his eyes, "I'd love to trash a study like that too—it must be incredibly satisfying..."
"Don't be ridiculous..." Chevani snorted through his nose, then turned to ask Baron Camorra, "His Grace seems to be growing more and more short-tempered these days. That's not a good sign."
Baron Camorra, entirely unfazed, replied in a low voice, "He's been like this ever since he came back from his meeting with the
Chevani sighed with bitterness, lowering his head in self-reproach as he said, "It is our incompetence, our inability to grasp the key to advancing to Great Swordmaster, that causes our Lord to be constantly mocked and ridiculed before the Second Prince..."
"You cannot blame yourselves. You have done your best and performed well. If not for the two Great Swordmasters backing the Second Prince, he would be the one begging for our Lord's favor..." Baron Camorra consoled Knight Chevani.
When Duke Lujins raised his head again, his eyes had regained their clarity. He surveyed the study, which he had reduced to the aftermath of a tornado, and laughed at himself with self-deprecation. "I'm getting old. My temper is becoming harder and harder to control. Let's go. We'll use the small conference room. Camorra, recount the details of what happened once more so we can discuss how to deal with the Norton Family."
Baron Camorra's memory was extraordinary. He recounted the embassy to the Norton Family in perfect detail, even mimicking
"How is Tabek's condition?" Duke Lujins asked.
"It's nothing serious. The main issue is the severe bruising and sprains to both arms. The apothecary says it will take about a year for them to recover fully and gradually," Knight Chevani replied.
"Then, do you think that new head of the Norton Family is formidable? What is his tier? Why was Tabek utterly powerless against him?" the Duke asked.
The two knights exchanged a glance. Knight Chevani bowed slightly and answered, "My Lord, after receiving the guards' notification last night, I went to see Tabek immediately. According to him, that Norton Family head should be at the
"What nonsense! Tabek is still making excuses? Is it possible for a Black Iron tier to inflict such severe injuries on a Gold Knight? He lost, plain and simple. Stop making excuses!" Duke Lujins angrily struck the small tea table beside him with his fist.
"No, my Lord, it is entirely possible. Legend has it that during the Age of Magical Civilization, there existed a profession called monks. They were clergy who served gods, masters of unarmed combat techniques, whose strength was comparable to dragons. They were all killed after the war between mages and gods began. A few centuries ago, the combat cultivation techniques of these monks were discovered in some excavated ruins and were treasured by every temple. Now, the ascetics within some temples practice these refined martial arts. I have heard their unarmed combat skills are formidable, often allowing them to defeat opponents of a higher tier. Therefore, I suspect that the Norton Family head has obtained the legacy of an ascetic and cultivates this type of unarmed fighting technique. Caught off guard and unprepared, it's no surprise that Tabek stumbled so badly," Knight Chevani explained.
"Rest assured, this kind of bare-handed combat technique is only effective in one-on-one situations. On a battlefield, that Norton Family brat would be no match for Tabek in full armor on horseback,"
"So that's how it is. Very well, consider this a lesson for Tabek. I've been hearing lately that he's grown increasingly arrogant. After taking such a severe beating, hopefully he'll change his temperament and stop offending people left and right, stirring up trouble everywhere," the Duke snorted twice through his nose.
"Chevani, if I gave you a battalion, could you take down the Norton Family?" the Duke asked.
Knight Chevani shook his head. "I couldn't, my Lord. I've examined the maps, and from what Lord Camora told me, the Norton Family has built a castle checkpoint in the Morgan Hills region. Based on his description of the fortifications, I believe a single battalion of two thousand soldiers would be unable to seize that wall."
Duke Lujins examined the drawings Baron Camora handed over with great care, and in the end could only concede that the terrain was treacherous and easy to defend but hard to attack. As Chevani had said, a single battalion of two thousand soldiers would be unable to seize the walls of that castle checkpoint.
"So we just let the Norton Family go like that?" The Duke was deeply unwilling. If the Norton Family's resistance became a model for the other Northland nobles to follow, it would be very detrimental to his control over the Northland. He had to make the Norton Family pay the price — use their fate as a warning to those Northland lords who harbored dissatisfaction with the Duke, keeping them obedient to his rule as before.
"My Lord, there is actually another route leading into the Norton Family's territory that bypasses this castle checkpoint," said Baron Cavani.
"Oh? Where is this route?" The Duke carefully scanned the map once more but couldn't find it. He could only conclude that the Norton Family's territory occupied an exceptionally advantageous position. To the north lay the Black Mud Swamp — impassable. To the west were the Blade Peak Mountains and the sea. To the south, the Morgan Hills and the Black Forest. To the east, the Dragon Demon Mountains. Besides the castle checkpoint the Norton Family had built, which locked down the only major transport route to the outside world, the Duke could see nowhere else that could accommodate the passage of a large force.
"To tell you the truth, I don't know exactly where that route is," said Baron Camora. "However, on the night before I left the Norton Family's main stronghold, Maplewood Manor, I received several visitors. They were a few elders and the Garrison Captain from Beiyé Town — the only settlement within the Norton Family's territory. The reason for their visit was to lodge a complaint: they claimed that the new head of the Norton Family had unilaterally altered the rules passed down by his ancestors and was treating Beiyé Town unfairly. They came seeking help and expressed their willingness to stand on your side when you punish the Norton Family, assisting you in defeating them."
"They said this new head of the Norton Family was already extremely cruel from a young age — vicious and ruthless to the core, even pushing his seven-year-old brother down a well and nearly drowning him. Eventually, everyone had had enough, and the family exiled him for ten full years. It wasn't until a few months ago that he returned to the territory and became its lord. After taking the helm of the Norton Family, he only grew worse — instigating conflicts everywhere and treating the residents of Beiyé Town even more brutally. The people of Beiyé Town can no longer endure his tyrannical rule and are secretly plotting to resist. If Your Grace is willing to send troops to punish the Norton Family for their disrespect but finds your path blocked by the new castle checkpoint, the residents of Beiyé Town are willing to guide Your Grace along a hidden route into the heart of the Norton Family's territory, catching them completely off guard..."
"Oh, so that's how it is." Duke
The Duke had always been quite interested in the methods by which territory nobles squeezed their subjects dry. He believed such knowledge broadened his horizons and inspired his thinking, helping him find ever better ways to wring the last copper coin from the hands of his people.
Baron Camora's face twisted for a moment, taking on a rather peculiar expression. "Well, you see..."
Baron Camora was a shrewd man. He had seen more than his share of deception and treachery among the nobility, and he wielded such arts with practiced ease. That evening, he received the visitors from Beiyé Town with a warm and hospitable demeanor — an amiable smile, patient and considerate attentiveness — that left the visitors feeling as refreshed as a spring breeze. Combined with Baron Camora's subtle, almost imperceptible prodding, it wasn't long before these unsophisticated country folk completely lost their guard and spilled every last thing they knew.
When Baron Camora finished explaining the relationship between the Norton Family and Beiyé Town, he was met, as expected, with three faces frozen in stunned disbelief.
"There are people like this? A lord like this actually exists..." Knight Henneid muttered under his breath.
Knight Cavani slammed his palm on the table. "Outrageous! An ungrateful wretch like that truly deserves to die! Were the ancestors of the Norton Family fools? They should have wiped these people out long ago — how did they let it drag on until now?"
"So the Norton heir paid all the taxes himself and never squeezed a copper from that town's residents. It seems the Norton Family is quite wealthy — after all, two or three hundred years of heritage does build up quite a foundation..." The Duke's attention had fixated on an entirely different aspect of the matter. To him, moral considerations were trivial; what truly concerned him was profit.
"Did those visitors from Beiyé — or whatever the town is called — mention any conditions for guiding us?" the Duke asked in an indifferent tone.
"This, this…" Baron Camora began to hesitate.
"Go on. Let's hear what these heartless wretches want," the Duke urged.
"They—they say the Norton Family's territory is vast, and they're not greedy. They hope that after Your Excellency destroys the Norton Family, you'll grant them a small portion of the Norton Family's land, divided into four baronies…" When Baron Camora relayed Beiye Town's demands, he felt his own cheeks flush. It was utterly delusional.
"They're just guiding us—what gives them the right to make such demands?" Knight Henhed protested from the side.
"They say that among their four families, over six hundred have awakened combat power, with around ten reaching the Silver rank, plus two thousand able-bodied men. If they were to pledge allegiance to the Norton Family instead, then Your Excellency would never be able to punish the Norton Family. Furthermore, that hidden route is a secret the Beiye Town families have guarded for over a century—it's also their smuggling corridor to the outside world. Once they reveal it to Your Excellency, the route becomes useless. So they're asking for compensation…" Baron Camora explained.
"Heh. A century of smuggling, yet they only handed over ten percent of their grain to the Norton Family. It seems Beiye Town is quite prosperous. Accept their terms. Once we enter the Norton Family's territory, have those Beiye Town dogs attack the Norton Family's main castle. Tell them they'll get what they want if they take it. Let them charge in first—reduce our Northland Legion's casualties." The Duke made his decision.
"But Your Excellency—if they actually capture the Norton Family's main castle, will we really grant them the baronial titles?" Knight Henhed asked indignantly.
"You think it's that easy? We're not the Norton Family. Once they take the main castle, it'll be our turn to act…" A sinister smile crept across Duke Lukins's face.
"What if they refuse to attack the Norton Family's main castle?" Knight Cavani asked.
"Refuse? Heh. Then have them all come to the camp. Tell them I'll hold a ceremony to formally invest them as barons. Once they're there, we strike—and bring back Beiye Town's wealth while you're at it. As for the people, old and young alike, kill them all. Leaving any alive would only be trouble. Keep the young women for me. Don't touch the virgins—prices for female slaves have gone up lately. We can sell them for a handsome sum." The Duke spoke with cold finality.
"And how many men do we send? And should we deploy troops to provide a diversion at that fortress pass ahead?" Knight Cavani asked again.
Duke Lugins thought it over. "Just two battalions—four thousand men should be more than enough. You and Henned will lead them. Keep an eye on that gold-tier divine archer of the Norton Family. If he's willing to defect, bring him back to me. As for the fortress pass ahead, we needn't worry ourselves with it. Yesterday, Viscount Kenmais took his family's two thousand armed soldiers and marched out in a terrible hurry—he's scrambling to reclaim his gold coins. Heh. Let's just wait and watch them smash their heads bloody against those castle walls."
"Oh, and Kamora—go contact that liaison from Beiye Town and demand they provide provisions for our expeditionary force. Make sure you haggle with them. If we don't drive a hard bargain, they'll never believe we'd agree to their demands so readily."
"As you command, my lord." Baron Kamora bowed deeply.