Chapter 315

The central region of the empire was a vast area surrounding the capital, the Imperial City.

In this temperate and hospitable land, numerous lords ruled their respective territories, each wielding varying degrees of power.

Some lords governed small territories consisting of only a few villages, while others, like the Celtrine family, commanded larger territories capable of raising an army of five to six thousand soldiers.

The Celtrine territory was located in the northwest of the central region.

Max planned to gather allies from the western part of the central region as he moved south.

He could have headed east, but that would have put him in a strategically disadvantageous position against the Crown Prince’s forces.

There was no reason to choose a more difficult path.

“I believe you mentioned something about showing them the power of reputation.”

Camian, who was riding beside Max, spoke up.

“Yes, I did. Why?”

“I’d like to see it in action.”

“Is that so?”

Max grinned.

“You know,” he said, “people might think the first time was a fluke. They might even think the second time was just luck. But not the third time. I, along with the Celtrine family, have repelled the patricide’s army more than three times now.”

He deliberately mentioned himself first, not just because he had played a crucial role.

He needed to establish himself as a heroic figure in this civil war.

That was the only way he could stand against the insane princess.

That was the meaning behind his words.

“That’s certainly impressive, but…”

“I’ll show you.”

Max smiled, his gaze fixed on someone.

“Duncan.”

“What is it, Savior?”

Duncan approached him.

The red-haired beastman who had survived hell.

He had also played a major role in defending the castle walls during the recent siege.

“I need you to go on a mission.”

“A mission?”

“As an envoy. To deliver a surrender ultimatum.”

It was the first time they were sending an envoy to demand surrender since the civil war began.

The situation was different now.

They hadn’t had the opportunity to do so in the past, but now they did.

“Why do I have to be the envoy?”

Duncan glared at him, his eyes narrowed.

He had spent his entire life on bloody battlefields, both aboveground and underground.

He was the furthest thing from an envoy.

But Max had a clear reason for choosing him.

“Because you have the most intimidating face here.”

“W-What?!”

Duncan’s face contorted in disbelief.

But when the others nodded in agreement, he was speechless.

“W-What does that have to do with being an envoy?”

“Threaten them. I think you’d be good at that.”

“…”

A short while later, Duncan reluctantly headed towards Wharton Barony as an envoy.

* * *

“My lord, we must send an urgent message to the Imperial City requesting reinforcements and prepare for a strong defense.”

The knight captain of Wharton Barony pleaded with a grave expression.

Baron Wharton, a portly man with a piggish face, was trembling with fear, his forehead covered in sweat.

“T-The Crown Prince’s army couldn’t even defeat them. H-How can we possibly stand a chance?”

“Don’t say that, my lord! You must be strong! The Celtrine army has just fought a major battle. They won’t be able to stay here for long. They must be exhausted.”

The knight captain tried to encourage Baron Wharton with his sharp analysis.

But it didn’t seem to be very effective.

“E-Even if that’s true, will the Imperial City even have the resources to send us reinforcements…?”

There was no point in defending if reinforcements weren’t coming.

That uncertainty was what worried Baron Wharton the most.

“Well…”

The knight captain was about to say something when a messenger rushed in.

“A-An envoy! An envoy from the Celtrine family has arrived!”

“An envoy?!”

Baron Wharton’s eyes widened.

“W-Why would an envoy… N-No, let him in!”

The knight captain said hurriedly, “He’s probably here to demand our surrender. Don’t be swayed!”

“I-I know what I’m doing. Just be quiet.”

“My lord, please! If you make a wrong decision, the Crown Prince’s army will annihilate us!”

“I’ll think about it! I’ll think about it!”

They were arguing when the envoy entered.

The envoy was, of course, Duncan, the red-haired beastman.

“My lord, the envoy has…”

“Out of my way!”

“Ugh!”

*Thud!*

Duncan shoved the messenger aside and strode into the room as if he owned the place.

Baron Wharton’s face turned pale, and the knight captain’s face was filled with rage.

“How dare you! What do you think you’re doing?!”

“How dare you?! How dare you speak to an envoy of the great Celtrine family like that?!”

Duncan roared at the knight captain.

His roar was filled with aura.

It wasn’t a force that a mere knight captain of a barony could withstand.

“Ugh…!”

The knight captain’s face turned white, overwhelmed by Duncan’s aura.

He stumbled, barely managing to stay on his feet.

The soldiers were also frozen in fear, their faces pale.

“S-Stop it.”

Baron Wharton said in a trembling voice, and Duncan finally withdrew his aura.

But everyone was still terrified.

It wasn’t just because of the overwhelming aura he had unleashed.

His face was incredibly menacing, like a demon.

He was a giant of a man, his body a mass of muscles.

And his unkempt red hair made him look even more intimidating.

“W-What is the meaning of this rude behavior…?”

The knight captain tried to protest, but,

“Shut your mouth and get lost, you insolent fool!”

*Thud!*

“Ugh!”

Duncan punched the knight captain, sending him crashing to the ground, unconscious.

The atmosphere in the room turned icy cold.

Normally, an envoy would never behave like this.

But,

‘Baron Wharton is a timid man. Be aggressive. That’s the answer.’

Max had emphasized.

Duncan was simply following his orders.

‘This feels wrong, but he’s never been wrong before.’

He would have ignored anyone else, but Max’s words were different.

Duncan trusted Max implicitly.

‘Let’s see how well this works.’

Duncan approached Baron Wharton, his steps heavy and deliberate.

Baron Wharton trembled.

He looked like a rabbit before a wolf.

Duncan suppressed a smirk and glared at him.

“You’re Baron Wharton?”

“Y-Yes.”

“I’ll say this only once. I won’t repeat myself.”

“W-What?”

“This is your only chance. Listen carefully.”

Baron Wharton’s eyes widened, and he leaned forward.

“If you surrender, your life will be spared. But!”

Duncan roared.

“If you choose to resist, you will die! And so will your family! Do you understand?!”

“Eek!”

Baron Wharton’s legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the ground, terrified.

“Resist if you think you can win! But do you really think you can win against the great Celtrine army, the army that defeated the patricide’s forces? Against the invincible Young Master Max?”

“U-Ugh…”

He was completely overwhelmed.

The reputation of Max Celtrine and the Celtrine family, built on their consecutive victories,

It was a weight that Baron Wharton couldn’t bear.

“I won’t wait long. I’ll count to five. If you don’t make a decision by then, I’ll assume you’ve chosen to fight. Five! Four! Three!”

“W-Wait! I-I surrender! I surrender!”

Baron Wharton finally surrendered, his voice filled with terror.

* * *

A white flag was raised above Wharton Castle.

The gates were wide open.

The Celtrine forces, who hadn’t expected such an easy surrender, were dumbfounded.

“What? What just happened?”

“T-They surrendered so easily?”

Max, on the other hand, was beaming.

“What did I tell you?”

“H-How did it happen so quickly…?”

Camian was still in shock.

He couldn’t comprehend such a swift surrender.

“Do you think everyone’s like you? You need to open your eyes and see the world.”

Max chuckled.

He had deliberately chosen Baron Wharton as his first target to demonstrate the power of reputation.

Because he knew him well.

He was a timid man who surrendered at the drop of a hat whenever the situation became even slightly dangerous.

And the first surrender was important.

Because surrender was contagious.

It was a difficult choice to be the first to surrender, but once someone else surrendered, it became easier for others to follow suit, thinking, ‘If they can save their lives by surrendering, why can’t I?’

“This is the power of reputation. And this is just the beginning. Watch closely.”

The Celtrine army’s advance began in earnest.

* * *

The Celtrine army swept through the western part of the central region like a storm.

Of course, there was some resistance.

But those territories became harsh examples.

They would first crush the territory with a fierce attack.

And then, they would mercilessly execute the lord and his family, showing no mercy.

They were making it clear to everyone that surrender meant life, and resistance meant death.

The effect was immediate.

More and more lords surrendered.

What would have been a difficult and bloody campaign, facing strong resistance, was now progressing smoothly, like a ship sailing with the wind.

They only had to fight a few battles.

The Celtrine army’s grand march.

Max and the Celtrine family were creating another wave in the civil war.

* * *

The atmosphere in the Imperial City was as somber as a funeral.

It was also tense, like a sheet of thin ice that could crack at any moment.

Because Crown Prince Adolf was furious.

“Max Celtrine! That damn Max Celtrine! That good-for-nothing bastard!”

*Crash!*

He threw a glass against the wall, shattering it.

His face was contorted with rage, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

It was understandable.

The thirty thousand strong army he had mobilized had failed to conquer a single earldom and had even been defeated.

They had suffered a crushing defeat, with ten thousand casualties.

And then there was the mage unit that had been annihilated, and the siege weapons that had been destroyed. The total damage was immeasurable.

“Hmm.”

Even Galbraith, his teacher, couldn’t calm him down easily.

It was a devastating defeat.

It had completely disrupted their momentum.

But there was some good news.

Duke Cavern of the east and Duke Henatus of the south were both marching towards the Imperial City with their armies.

Eighty thousand soldiers from the east and one hundred thousand soldiers from the south.

A total of one hundred and eighty thousand soldiers.

And they were all elite soldiers.

They had been tempered in countless battles against the eastern pirates and the southern desert tribes.

There were still twenty thousand soldiers stationed in the Imperial City, and they could probably gather fifty thousand soldiers from the lords who supported the Crown Prince in the central region.

It meant that they would have an army of two hundred and fifty thousand.

A massive army that could turn the tide of the war.

“Defeat is bitter, but it’s already happened. We must regroup and move forward.”

Galbraith finally spoke up, trying to calm the situation.

Adolf, who had been throwing things around in a fit of rage, finally calmed down and sat back on his throne.

“…Yes, you’re right. I want to give that damn Max bastard the most gruesome death imaginable, but I have to be patient.”

Adolf might be a tyrant, but he wasn’t a fool who was ruled by his emotions.

He was a man who could make rational decisions.

That’s why Galbraith was loyal to him.

“Duke Cavern and Duke Henatus are approaching with their armies. We’ll be able to launch a full-scale offensive soon.”

The true strength of the Crown Prince’s forces.

Once they arrived, the situation would definitely change.

“Yes, let’s wait.”

Adolf replied in a calm voice.

It was then that,

“Your Highness! A messenger has arrived!”

A loud voice echoed from the entrance to the throne room.

“Bring him in immediately.”

A messenger entered, his face pale with anxiety.

“Y-Your Highness! Urgent news!”

“Speak.”

“M-Max Celtrine…”

“What? Max Celtrine?”

The Crown Prince’s face darkened as he heard the name he hated the most.

“What are you waiting for?! Speak!”

“M-Max Celtrine is leading the Celtrine army and conquering the western part of the central region! More than ten lords have already surrendered or been defeated…”

“What nonsense!”

*Crash!*

Another object was smashed against the wall.

“They’re already on the move again? And what? They’ve already conquered more than ten territories? Where did you get this false information?!”

“I-It’s true! It’s really true, Your Highness!”

The messenger was almost executed for his report, but the other messengers who followed saved him.

“T-The Celtrine family has forced Viscount Essex to surrender…”

“Baron Mowbray’s territory has also fallen!”

It was a shocking move that neither the Crown Prince nor Galbraith had anticipated.

The throne room fell silent, as if it were a funeral.

“Max Celtrine! That damn bastard!”

Adolf’s enraged roar echoed through the Imperial Palace.