Chapter 107

Episode 107

What kind of harsh message could he be sending?

I gestured for the messenger to be brought in.

A moment later, a knight I had seen once before appeared. Was his name Hineskel?

He was the very knight who had almost suffered a terrible fate for lying to me while I was using “Mind’s Eye.”

He flinched as I rose from my seat.

He must have remembered that incident.

“I… I am Hineskel, a knight of House Gerard. I bring a message from the Baron.”

“How rude. A mere messenger dares to skip the formalities? Do you have a death wish?”

“Pa… Paris? What are you doing here…!”

Hineskel’s face turned pale. He and Paris had once served together, so they knew each other.

He was surprised because he thought Paris was a member of the Kalisto Knight Order.

If that were true, it meant the Kalisto Knight Order was involved in this war.

“If you’re here as a messenger, just deliver the message. What are you so curious about? Show some respect!”

“Ugh…”

Paris was imposing. Hineskel flinched and slowly saluted.

“I shall deliver the Baron’s message. Now that the war has begun, he requests that you escort Lady Lucia to a safe place.”

“What? Escort her to a safe place? Hahahaha!”

This time, it was Jericho who burst into laughter. Everyone turned to look at him.

“See? Roman is a truly amusing fellow. Why would he ask us to evacuate the Lady when he could just stop the war? This isn’t even a threat. Hey, messenger! Do you even realize that your side declared war first?”

“Th… that war is—”

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to blame us? Those who mock the territorial and imperial laws have such long tongues. As the scribe of House Walker, I express my deep regret over this matter. You’ll see what happens when the war is over.”

I raised my hand to stop Jericho. He bowed his head obediently.

“He might be our enemy, but he’s still a messenger. Don’t be disrespectful. Sir Hineskel, it seems like my vassals have already said everything I wanted to say. Do you need any further response?”

“No, sir. I’ll relay your message.”

“Since you’re here, I have one more message for you. Tell your master that I’ll spare his life if he surrenders now. It’s not too late.”

Of course, I had no intention of sparing him. And I knew Baron Roman wouldn’t surrender. I was just trying to provoke him.

“And I have something to send back. Deneve, bring a gift box.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Deneve returned with a small box, about the size of my palm. I gestured, and Deneve handed it to the messenger.

“Don’t open it. Deliver it to your master.”

“U… understood…”

The messenger left.

“What’s in the box?”

Jericho asked, voicing everyone’s curiosity. I answered as I placed the pieces on the map.

“It’s nothing special. Just a piece of gold we dug up yesterday.”

“A piece of gold? Ah, from that gold nugget? Hahahaha! You’re telling him to take it and scram? Roman will be furious!”

Some laughed, while others were impressed. Sir Paris’s admiring gaze was particularly overwhelming.

“It’s not difficult to deal with someone who’s easily provoked. But remember, we could also be easily provoked, so be mindful of your actions.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Now, I’ll explain the strategy I’ve prepared. Feel free to voice your opinions if you have a better plan.”

Everyone focused on the map. There were four blue pieces and one red piece.

“Our forces are outnumbered by about five to one. We have no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation. So, we’ll lure the enemy into a false sense of security and use an ambush to crush their main force.”

I placed two blue pieces on both sides of the canyon. There were also wagons there, loaded with materials for the fire attack.

“Fire is the most effective way to instill fear in humans. We’ll use a fire attack to break their ranks and wipe them out. I’ll give you four hundred soldiers, Sir Ferguson. You’re in charge.”

*Gulp.*

I could hear the knights swallowing nervously. I placed a piece on the plain near our castle.

“Knight Selendis will command the main force. Engage the enemy with five hundred infantry and buy us time. The battle shouldn’t drag on for too long.”

Some knights tilted their heads in confusion.

It was a plain, so the enemy would definitely launch a swift attack with their cavalry. It would be difficult to defend with only infantry.

But they continued to listen to my plan.

The last remaining blue piece was the protagonist of this war. I placed it on the enemy’s castle, bypassing the battlefield.

“Deneve, Lady Ionia, and I will lead a hundred cavalry and infiltrate the enemy’s castle. Our objective is to capture the castle and force the enemy’s main force to retreat. Once they start retreating, Knight Selendis and Sir Paris will lead a pursuit unit and drive them into the canyon.”

“Oh! You’re planning to annihilate the retreating enemy with a fire attack in the canyon!”

Jericho, who knew I was a mage, was optimistic. But the others weren’t.

“Can we really siege a castle with only a hundred men? Wouldn’t it be better to use the cavalry against the enemy’s main force?”

“It’s too risky. We don’t know how many troops are left at their headquarters.”

“You have valid points, but it’s crucial to reach their headquarters as quickly as possible. Selendis can handle the enemy’s main force with only infantry. And capturing the castle won’t be a problem. We won’t be attacking head-on.”

The knights were confused once again.

But they didn’t question me.

It made sense. After all, I was the one who had defeated Prince Arthur, the master of the Bellatrix swordsmanship.

“Knight Selendis, Jericho, do you have a better plan?”

They both shook their heads.

“Alright. Then, this is our strategy. Sir Ferguson, the four hundred soldiers I’m giving you are the residents who have suffered directly under Roman. Use their thirst for revenge wisely. And Sir Deneve, Lady Ionia, form a suicide squad immediately. We’re leaving now.”

“As you command!”

“Wait a minute, my lord. Where do I go? What do I do? I haven’t received any orders.”

I dismissed everyone else. I had a separate task for Jericho.

“You’ll lead all the investigators and infiltrate Gerard Castle. Find evidence. Gather all the incriminating evidence you can find. Focus on anything related to Grand Duke Hylix.”

“Um… wouldn’t that be considered the Inspection Unit interfering in the war?”

“Just say you accidentally entered the castle because the gates were open.”

Jericho sighed. Even I thought it was a bit far-fetched, but since he had received permission for a concurrent position, it shouldn’t be a big problem.

“If you’re really worried, you can enter after we’ve captured the castle.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ve been stressed lately. I might as well release it all. Hehehe.”

Jericho cracked his knuckles.

He might not be able to use magic openly, but he could convert his mana into aura. A single punch infused with aura could send an ordinary person to the afterlife.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes, sir!”

A while later, I received a report that all the troops were ready for deployment. I ascended to the highest point of the outer castle, my cape billowing in the wind.

About a thousand soldiers stood in formation below, looking up at me.

It was an awe-inspiring sight.

Their morale was sky-high. Their faces were filled with a desire for glory and a determination to end Roman’s tyranny.

“All troops, advance!”

At my command, the four hundred soldiers led by Paris departed stealthily. They had to reach the ambush location undetected.

Selendis’s main force followed. It was our turn next.

“My lord, let’s go.”

“What about the soldiers?”

“They’re the elite troops I’ve been observing. You don’t have to worry.”

I descended from the castle tower with Deneve and led the hundred-strong suicide squad towards the plain, galloping without hesitation.

***

“The Walker Knight Order’s main force has set up camp on the Hartan Plain! They have about four hundred men, and their commander is Selendis!”

“Where’s O’Brien?”

“He’s nowhere to be seen!”

Baron Roman smirked at the scout’s report. As expected, their forces were pathetic.

The knights of House Gerard felt the same way. They looked like they had already won the war.

“Tsk, the coward must have run away with his tail between his legs. He thinks hiding behind Lady Lucia’s skirts will change anything. Foolish boy!”

He had already made up his mind. He would capture the Walker castle and inflict unforgettable humiliation on the Lady.

And then, he would brainwash her and force her to marry him.

Roman looked at the map and said, “If they’re stationed on the Hartan Plain, it means they’re trying to defend their castle and the gold mine simultaneously. Sir Donovan, can you break through their lines?”

“Leave it to me. They’re just a disorganized mob. I’ll wipe them out with my cavalry.”

“O’Brien humiliated me. And not only that, he betrayed Grand Duke Hylix. As his loyal vassals, we must win this war. And we must present the traitor’s head to the Grand Duke!”

The tent flap opened, and Hineskel, who had been sent as a messenger, entered. He was holding a small box.

“Report, my lord. O’Brien refused our offer of surrender. He even suggested that we surrender to him.”

“That madman! I’ll tear his mouth apart!”

“But there’s something that bothers me.”

Hineskel reported that he had seen a knight named Paris from the Kalisto Knight Order in the Walker family’s meeting room.

“What? What do you mean? Is the main family’s knight order involved?”

“I don’t think so. I didn’t see any other knights from the main family. He must have left the Kalisto Knight Order and joined House Walker. As far as I know, he’s been stuck in a dead-end position for a long time.”

“He must have wanted to end his life with his own hands. Why would he join a family that’s about to be destroyed?”

“And O’Brien told me to give this to you…”

Hineskel handed him the box. Baron Roman, tilting his head in confusion, took it. The box was sealed with the Walker family crest.

“What’s this?”

“I don’t know. He just told me not to open it and deliver it to you.”

“My lord! It might be poisoned! Don’t open it!”

“I’ll open it!”

His loyal knights stepped forward, but Roman shook his head.

“If I’m too afraid to open a box, I’ll be a laughingstock. That bastard O’Brien thinks he can make a fool of me.”

*Click.*

He opened the box. His face turned red as he saw the shiny gold fragment inside.

The meaning was clear.

“You… you damned bastard!”

*Crash!*

He threw the box, sending the gold fragment flying. The knights finally understood the situation.

“What are you waiting for! Deploy immediately! Kill them all! Kill them! But capture O’Brien alive! I’ll tear him apart myself!”