Chapter 126 : Chapter 126
Chapter 126. With Swords Pointed at Storm City, Merit for the Taking
Eli’s earth-shaking shout of “I object!!!”
instantly plunged the clamorous Thorne Cathedral into a strange silence.
All the lords seemed stunned by his audacious declaration.
Though they were inwardly extremely dissatisfied with Sir Lucius’s order, they had only dared grumble below and complain among themselves.
As nobles, they all understood one thing: in a setting like this, the first person who dared step forward and openly oppose the highest authority rarely met a good end.
That person would inevitably be made into an example for the rest, and the consequences would be unbearable.
The lords of the Royal Domain around Eli were especially dumbfounded.
Velin and the others beside him had gone pale, hurriedly reaching out to tug at his arm, trying to pull him back into his seat.
“My Alliance Lord! I’m begging you! Sit down! Please calm down first!”
“Eli! Don’t be rash! This is Sir Lucius we’re talking about!”
Connor, standing nearby, was completely stunned as well. His mouth hung open, yet his eyes involuntarily filled with boundless admiration.
What kind of reckless... no, heroic courage was this?!
Even if someone gave him ten times the courage he had now, no, even a hundred times, he would never dare speak to a royal governor who commanded an entire frontier and wielded such overwhelming power in this manner.
On the high platform, Lucius himself seemed momentarily taken aback by Eli’s sudden opposition.
He was silent for a moment, those calm and unreadable eyes fixed straight on Eli.
Only then did he slowly speak in a low voice.
“Eli... Pendragon... you seem... to have some objections to my decision?”
At that moment, it seemed as if everyone had stopped breathing, their hearts lodged in their throats.
Some silently mourned for Eli. Others secretly hoped he might say something more.
Eli straightened his back and, meeting Lucius’s gaze, spoke with “agitation.”
“Yes, my lord! I do indeed have objections! Your order completely restricts our freedom!
The lords of the other regions may not mind at all, but the Royal Domain is different!”
He raised a hand and pointed behind him, toward the Royal Domain lords.
“The Royal Domain lies closest to the royal capital!
Our family foundations, our relatives, and our dear friends are mostly in the royal capital and its surrounding areas!
Now that the royal capital has undergone a drastic upheaval and the situation remains unclear, this is precisely when our families are most likely to need us!”
When the lords from the other regions heard that, they could not help cursing inwardly. What did he mean, they did not care? Did they not have families too?
But to the Royal Domain lords, those words had struck directly at the heart.
The lords around Eli were utterly stunned at first, then overwhelmed by a feeling they could scarcely describe.
No way, Alliance Lord? You said you would protect our interests... and you actually meant it?!
And you were doing it in a way that was practically suicidal?! That was far too loyal of you!
Behind him, Gulas had turned pale with anxiety, clutching the hem of Eli’s cloak tightly.
“Eli! My good brother! Please, stop talking!
I’m begging you! Hurry up and apologize to Lord Lucius!”
“That’s right, Alliance Lord! We understand your good intentions! But please stop! You’re completely the target of everyone’s attention right now!”
“Alliance Lord! Actually... actually, we don’t want to go home that badly...”
“Yes, yes! The Western Frontier is great! We’re willing to stay!”
Everyone whispered over one another, trying to persuade him, terrified that he might say something even more rebellious.
Feeling the anxious pulling from behind him, Eli knew the timing was about right.
He gave the faintest, almost imperceptible nod in Lucius’s direction.
Lucius suddenly raised a hand and rubbed his temple, a trace of weariness and confusion appearing on his face.
His voice softened slightly.
“My apologies. I’m getting old, and it seems my hearing is no longer what it used to be...
Baron Eli, what did you just say? Could you repeat it? I don’t think I heard clearly.”
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere, which had been tense to the extreme, abruptly loosened.
Velin reacted the fastest. Overjoyed, he hurriedly bowed and scraped before Lucius, his face full of eager smiles as he spoke before Eli could.
“No, no! Lord Lucius, you misheard!
Baron Eli didn’t say anything just now! Not a word at all!
Please continue! Please continue! Heh, heh...”
The Royal Domain lords around them immediately caught on as well and quickly seized the chance to haul the still-standing Eli back into his seat by force, pressing him down as if afraid he might leap up again.
Eli struggled twice, but in the end he sat down “helplessly.”
Watching this scene, Lucius gave a slight nod, as though he truly believed Velin’s explanation.
“Oh, I see. Then it seems I misheard.”
His gaze swept across the hall, lingering especially on the faces of the lords in the other sections.
“Then, regarding the order I just gave... none of you have any objections now?”
The expressions of the crowd were complicated, their thoughts varied.
But seeing that even the Royal Domain lords, who were clearly the most affected, had already “lowered their banners and silenced their drums,” the others naturally found it even harder to say anything more. They could only remain silent.
Thus, a seemingly perilous little episode ended with astonishing speed in a manner that was almost farcical.
Lucius nodded in satisfaction and continued, “Very good. It seems everyone can understand my good intentions.”
Then his tone shifted, and he cast out another piece of thunderous news.
“In addition to that, there is one more matter I wish to announce today...”
The hearts that had only just settled instantly rose again.
“...I have already made a preliminary decision, and begun preparations... to recover the lost lands of the Western Frontier.”
Lucius’s voice was not loud, yet it exploded in every heart like a thunderclap.
“For all of you, this may also be an unprecedented opportunity.”
A tremendous uproar broke out below the platform once again, but this time it was filled with excitement and shock.
Recover the lost lands?!
Storm City and the surrounding territories occupied by the Federation?!
This was real war in the truest sense of the word!
And in a war of that scale, there would naturally be great merit to be won and endless spoils to be taken!
The frustration of having their freedom restricted a moment ago was instantly diluted by this far more tempting prospect.
Quite a few eyes lit up at once, gleaming with ambition.
Lucius was very pleased with their reaction, and he continued.
“You have all been developing the lands near the lost territory for several months by now. Presumably, you understand the situation there to some extent.
Those scum from the Western Federation still occupy many cities that originally belonged to the Western Frontier, that belonged to the Kingdom of Orlando!
Those friends and companions of yours who failed to answer the summons... perhaps they have already perished at the hands of those beasts!”
Those words immediately stirred up many unpleasant memories. Expressions of hatred and lingering fear appeared on the faces of the lords one after another.
It seemed that quite a few of them really had suffered at the hands of the Federation’s roaming remnants, some even paying a terrible price.
“That’s right! Kill those beasts!”
“Recover the lost lands! Take back our cities!”
“Lord Lucius is right! One of my distant cousins was killed by them!”
The crowd’s emotions gradually turned fervent, their will to fight ignited.
Seeing that the mood had been heated to the point he wanted, Lucius lit the final spark.
“This campaign to recover the lost lands will naturally require all of your assistance and participation!
On the battlefield, merit is there for each of you to seize with your own hands!
Baron, viscount, count... perhaps even marquess!
Any one of those titles... may yet be born from among you!”
Title! Fief!
Those two words instantly ignited the most primal longing and passion in every lord’s heart.
Whether they had come to the Western Frontier willingly or by force, was that not what they had been aiming for all along?!
Compared to proceeding step by step through development, a war on a grand scale was undoubtedly the fastest and most direct path to gaining merit and rising in rank.
That tiny restriction on their freedom from earlier had long since been thrown to the winds.
“OHHH!!!”
“For the title!”
“For the Western Frontier!”
The cheers rose like a tidal roar, and the atmosphere in the entire cathedral reached its peak.
Even the lords who had initially been somewhat resistant to war were infected by the frenzied atmosphere at this moment.
The musicians who had long since prepared themselves inside the cathedral now cooperated perfectly, once more striking up a stirring, majestic martial anthem filled with battle spirit, driving the fervor to even greater heights.
Seated amid the crowd, Eli watched his fellow lords all around him sink into their dreams, yet his expression remained exceptionally calm.
Having already experienced several bloody battles, he naturally understood better than anyone the cruelty hidden behind such tempting promises.
There would be endless bloodshed, sacrifice, and dangers beyond prediction.
Still, even he had to admit that Lucius’s grasp of human nature, and his ability to stir hearts through speech, were well worth learning from.
With a stick in one hand and a carrot in the other, he had effortlessly held this entire group of Frontier Lords in the palm of his hand.
Thus ended a major council meeting that concerned the fate of the future, wrapped in an atmosphere bordering on revelry.
The lords spoke in groups of two and three.
Excitedly, they discussed the enormous flood of information they had just received, along with their bright and profitable “future,” as they gradually left the cathedral.
It was as though noble titles and vast fiefs were already within arm’s reach.
After most of the lords had departed, Lucius kept behind the representatives chosen from the four regions.
Eli Pendragon, representing the Royal Domain; Camilla Russell, representing the Eastern Frontier;
a man named Ruf La Rochelle, representing the Northern Frontier; and Luca Bourbon, representing the Southern Frontier.
The four of them came before the high platform and stood there respectfully.
Looking at them, Lucius spoke in a much gentler tone.
“There is no need to think too much. I left you behind for no other reason.
When you return, you are to convey the spirit of today’s meeting in detail to the lords of your respective regions, stabilize morale, and answer their questions.”
He paused, then revealed his preliminary plan.
“As for the campaign to recover the lost lands, I currently intend to advance it along three fronts.
When the time comes, Lord Luca, you will be responsible for assisting with the coordination of support affairs on the central front.
Baron Camilla and Lord Ruf, the two of you will assist the northern front; Baron Eli, you will assist the southern front.”
“Of course, there is no need for you to feel too much pressure.
The main force in reclaiming the lost lands will naturally be our elite troops of the Western Frontier.
You, along with the lords under your command and your household soldiers, will mainly serve in a supporting role and as surprise forces.
Therefore, the chief task of the four of you is to act as the bridge of communication between the Western Frontier Army and the various Frontier Lords.
You must ensure that orders flow smoothly and that cooperation remains efficient.”
Hearing this, the four of them felt somewhat relieved, and they quickly bowed respectfully in acknowledgment.
“We shall obey your orders, my lord!”
“We will not fail the trust you have placed in us!”
Lucius nodded and waved a hand, signaling that they could leave.
The four bowed once more, then turned and departed from the now nearly empty cathedral, each carrying their own complicated thoughts.