Viscount Kenmays broke into a cold sweat, staring at the spot on the map where his father's fist had struck…
"F-Father, have you gone mad? That is Count Lopez's fiefdom. He is His Majesty the Great King's trusted confidant and favored minister. Have you forgotten His Majesty's words? He wanted our family and Count Lopez to cooperate sincerely—we would operate in the open, drawing Duke
"His Majesty the Great King? You mean that idiot, the
"As for Count Lopez, did you really think he was a loyal servant of the Second Prince? The Second Prince wanted our family to be the bait in the open while Lopez operated in the dark, but what did Lopez actually do? Once he got his fiefdom, he paid lip service to the Second Prince while defying him in practice, only ever demanding this and that from our family. When we asked for his help, he kept making excuses about the rampant mountain barbarians in his territory, claiming he couldn't spare any troops to assist us. Well, wouldn't you know it—the mountain barbarians he was always blathering about finally put him on his deathbed. His Silver Knights are all dead, too. Look at this." The Kenmays Family head produced a letter.
"This is a distress letter written by Count Lopez. With this letter, we can march openly into his territory and castle. Once we arrive, Count Lopez can conveniently die from his grave injuries. Then, we can absorb his territory and his forces, and begin attacking the surrounding lords until we control the entire eastern part of the Northland."
"But Father, the eastern region borders the Demon Dragon Mountains. The mountain barbarians are a great menace… Didn't we previously discuss abandoning the plan to occupy eastern Northland precisely because of Count Lopez and the mountain barbarians?" the Viscount said.
"The current situation has changed drastically from our earlier estimates. The
"Father, even if we unify eastern Northland, the mountain barbarians will still be a major threat to us. The barbarians in the eastern region are very active, and they will be the greatest obstacle to our future development of the east…" The Viscount still wasn't convinced by his father's proposed strategic shift.
"Heh heh, have you forgotten the mountain barbarian slaves I bought in the past? You used to question why I treated those barbarian savages like honored guests, giving them whatever they asked for. Now is the time for them to earn their keep. I can offer tribute to the mountain barbarian tribes of the Demon Dragon Mountains, trade with them, and even hire and organize a mountain barbarian army to wage war on our behalf. I promised those mountain barbarian slaves that if they met my demands, they could continue living their lives of luxury. With them working for our family, I believe the mountain barbarian tribes of the Demon Dragon Mountains will become a new source of wealth for our clan." The Kenmays Family head pointed to the map.
"Look at the map carefully. If we follow the original plan and make the Norton Family submit to us, then proceed with the Morgan Hills development plan, our only external passage will still be controlled by Grand Duke Lukins. He'll cling to our Kenmays Family like a leech, sucking us dry endlessly. But if we pursue the eastern Northland plan and seize the entire eastern region, we can build a new iron-chain bridge upstream on the
"But our family's armed forces may not be capable of carrying out your plan. Those soldiers still refuse to obey my orders..." The Viscount looked somewhat dejected.
"That's because you were ordering them to their deaths!" The Kenmays Family head seethed with frustration at his son's incompetence. "I'm actually glad they refused to obey. What's left in that head of yours besides women and your private stash? Did you really think two thousand family soldiers could breach fortifications that solid? If that were possible, the Second Prince would have swept across the land and become invincible long ago. I originally thought we were incredibly fortunate—our family's armed forces had already reached the Northland before the Second Prince's defeat. Otherwise, those two thousand-plus retired soldiers would have been ordered to the front lines as cannon fodder by the Second Prince. And then I arrive only to learn the worst news: over five hundred men! A quarter of our forces, squandered in a single afternoon. I... I really want to beat you half to death..."
The Kenmays Family head took two deep breaths to calm himself. "From this moment forward, this family armed force is no longer under your command. Mubad..."
"Present, sir!" One of the two attendants who had entered the tent with the Kenmays Family head stepped forward and answered loudly. He was a tall, imposing man in his thirties with a strong military bearing.
"Mubad, I am appointing you as the captain of the Kenmays Family armed forces. You will command that unit."
"As you command, my lord. I will not disappoint your expectations."
[He was a] regiment commander, Silver Three-star, whose entire family fell into misfortune simply because he offended the powerful. I brought his entire family back, and he is willing to pledge loyalty to our Kenmays Family and become our Family Knight."
"Asu, come here."
The other attendant stepped forward. He was a dark-skinned giant, at least two meters and twenty centimeters tall—more than a head taller than Viscount Kenmays. His muscular build was particularly striking, every inch of it as solid as iron.
"His name is Suraimos, a gladiator from the Kingdom of Haneabada, Silver Two-star, undefeated in a hundred life-or-death battles. I paid a heavy price and called in two major favors to purchase him, and hired someone to teach him the etiquette of knighthood. He is also willing to become our Family Knight. Perform the knighthood promotion ceremony for both of them now," the Kenmays Family Head instructed the Viscount.
After the knighthood promotion ceremony, the Kenmays Family Head asked the Viscount why he had been throwing a tantrum and smashing things when he first arrived.
The Viscount explained the reason.
The Kenmays Family Head shook his head: "You still lack foresight. The more things are this way, the more you should participate. You don't have to fight, but you should go see whether you can select some of these wandering knights and free knights of the Northland to serve our family. To the people of the Northland, we are outsiders, unfamiliar with the land and its people. But if we have these wandering knights serving our family, it will help our family gain a foothold in the Northland more quickly and integrate into the noble circles of the region…"
"Father, I believe these wandering knights are nothing but a pack of dogs that can never be tamed. Wherever there is meat, they'll pounce and fight over it—no different from mercenaries. Their martial skills aren't even outstanding. I don't think we should recruit wandering knights into our family," the Viscount strongly opposed his father's suggestion.
"You're wrong. One dog or two dogs may not be useful, but when dogs multiply into a pack, even the fiercest demonic wolves will give them a wide berth. Our family cannot rely on a single family armed force alone—it's like a person needing two legs to walk. These wandering knights may not have outstanding individual skills, but they are the ideal candidates for forming a knightly order. Later, take Asu to watch the knights' challenge duels, and have Asu help you pick out any promising candidates for Family Knights. Additionally, spread the word that our Kenmays Family is preparing to form a small knightly order, and that wandering knights are welcome to sign up and join."
"We accept everyone who signs up?" the Viscount asked.
"No, we only accept Silver-rank knights. In the future, when we unify the eastern part of the Northland, having a Silver Knightly Order will ensure that the Hill Barbarian tribes won't easily turn against us. The wandering knights who come to sign up should be told to stay in the camp first. I'll take Muribad and Asu and depart tomorrow afternoon for Count Lopez's territory. I'll leave you two hundred soldiers to handle guard duty and look after the wounded. You'll stay here and deal with those lords, recruiting wandering knights. If anyone asks, just say that you received a distress letter from Count Lopez and dispatched Family Knights with troops to the rescue," the Kenmays Family Head said.
"Understood, Father. I get it—your meaning is to recruit those wandering knights into the knightly order rather than having them become our Family Knights, correct?"
"Yes, and you can also tell them that those who perform exceptionally will have the chance to be promoted to Family Knights." The Kenmays Family Head nodded.
…
Lord
"My Lord, I really don't enjoy watching these scenes of fighting and killing..." Compared to young Winnie beside them, who was watching with an excited expression, Lady Tess had very reluctantly accepted Lorist's invitation to come and watch the spectacle.
"Dear Tess, you can't always stay indoors, either reading books or studying models — it's bad for your health. It does a world of good to come out for a walk and soak up some sun now and then. Don't say it's a waste of time. If you were to fall ill and be bedridden for days, that would waste far more time," Lorist said.
"Tch..." Lady Tess frowned as she looked down at the scene below the wall. "Why do men always have to be so competitive? Wouldn't it be better to just sit down, brew a few cups of tea, and have a chat?"
"Now that's a real idea. I have some fine tea back in my quarters. How about I invite the beautiful Lady Tess over for a cup of good tea and a little conversation about life?" Lorist said with a grin.
Lady Tess shot him a look, all feminine charm. "You're scheming again — I'm not falling for that..."
Well, having a beautiful woman by his side to flirt with was certainly a pleasant thing. Lorist was about to continue when Patrick hurried over with a serious expression on his face. "My Lord, a messenger has arrived."
There was nothing to be done — business came first. Lorist had no choice but to apologize to Lady Tess, take his leave, and follow Patrick back to his quarters.
The messenger was a pale-faced, sweat-drenched mercenary. Anyone who had ridden three horses in rotation for six or seven hours straight would look the same. Lorist recognized this mercenary — he had crossed swords with him when selecting the site for the military camp.
The moment the messenger laid eyes on Lorist, the news he delivered gave Lorist quite a fright: "My Lord, an army bearing the banners of the Northland legion and Grand Duke Lukins appeared outside Northfield Town this morning. Northfield Town threw open its gates to welcome them. The army is estimated at three to five thousand strong, and they've set up camp outside Northfield Town. Big Brother Halsky has already taken men to investigate the route by which this army arrived, and he ordered me to rush here and report to you..."
"What did you say?" Lorist could hardly believe his ears. He was no stranger to the terrain of his family's territory — Blade Ridge, Black Mud Swamp, the Demon Dragon Mountains, Black Forest, the Morgan Hills. Apart from
The mercenary acting as messenger actually thought Lorist hadn't heard clearly, so he repeated himself.
"Bring me the map of the family's territory."
"Did you notify Maple Forest Manor?" Lorist asked the mercenary.
"I did — it was right on the way. I shouted up to the guards at the base of the castle without going inside, then came straight here," the mercenary said.
"Sedkamp, take this brother to rest. Make sure he eats and drinks his fill, then gets a good night's sleep. He should probably take a hot bath first..." Lorist pulled out a small coin purse, tossed it to the mercenary, and addressed Sedkamp, who stood waiting nearby.
Patrick spread the territory map across the table.
Lorist and Patrick leaned over the table, examining the map carefully. Although they couldn't find any place where several thousand troops could pass through, Lorist suspected there existed a hidden path leading into the family's territory.
"My Lord, I heard since I was very young that Northfield Town always had smuggling caravans passing through, but I never once saw them or caught any trace of their movements. I believe Northfield Town must control that secret path to the outside world. Otherwise, to reach the outside they would have to go through our Maple Forest Manor. If that army of Grand Duke Lukins didn't fly over, then someone from Northfield Town must have guided them into our family's territory," Patrick said angrily.
Lorist nodded. "Northfield Town's rebellion is all but confirmed. The question is, when did they first make contact with Grand Duke Lukins? Also, it takes a messenger six to seven hours to ride from Maple Forest Manor to here. We have no idea what the situation is at the Manor right now — is that army heading straight for Rock Castle? Pat, have Paul Binns take the scouts out immediately to investigate. They're not to stop until they've laid eyes on that army. I'll go round up the men myself. The first order of business is moving every last soldier from the encampment outside the rear wall into the castle."
…