Starting as the Baron of the Lonely Island

King Eric was exceptionally generous this time, promoting Duane, Kais, and Uriel all at once without stipulating any conditions beforehand.

Although Duane and Kais didn’t exchange words, they both knew this was out of character for the King.

Or perhaps, the Kingdom had reached a point where the King had no choice but to ensure the stability of figures like Duane and Kais.

So, after the announcement was read, the three of them did not leave the fortress hall. Instead, they sat down at the long table in the center.

“Your Highness, what is the situation on the Kingdom’s other fronts?” Duane was the first to ask.

Although Otto did not command troops or participate in the war, he was still the Second Prince of the Kingdom. As such, he had a relatively clear understanding of the war’s progress.

Moreover, having been ordered to the Starfall Islands, he had also been given a detailed briefing on the current situation by Eric.

“Alas, none of them are ideal.”

A cloud of worry appeared on Otto’s otherwise calm face. Duane and Marquis Kais knew the conversation was about to turn to what His Majesty the King wanted from them.

“On the northwestern front, not only do we have to face His Majesty Tyron of Akutas, but we must also be wary of a potential betrayal from Prince Wagner of the Kasa Kingdom. The situation is extremely tense, especially since the recent injury of the Punishment Judge, Lord Severus, which has only heightened the anxiety.”

Marquis Kais clicked his tongue in astonishment. “Severus was actually defeated by Tyron? To think, when Tyron fought the late king, he was still just a Silver Moon Warrior. I never expected him to reach the Ascension Level.”

“That was thirty years ago. Tyron’s aptitude was always extremely high; it’s not impossible for him to have reached the Ascension Level after all this time.”

Thirty years ago, the Elemental Tide was not yet prominent. For Tyron and the late King Joseph to have reached the Silver Moon Level back then was a testament to their monstrous talent.

However, Duane did not share with Marquis Kais that King Tyron had likely been corrupted by a Fel Energy Secret Realm and become an Ancient God Incarnation.

‘With his status as an Ancient God Incarnation, it wouldn’t be surprising if Tyron became a Flying Level Warrior, let alone reached the Ascension Level,’ Duane thought.

“What about the situation with Sean?” Duane asked.

At the mention of this, Otto couldn’t help but frown.

To be honest, he also felt that using the Four Nations Alliance’s attack on Akutas as an opportunity to retake the Lintao Territory was a poor idea. After all, the Smith Clan and Pruck were related by marriage. They hadn’t had a complete falling out, so there was no need to resort to drawing swords on each other.

But when he had expressed this thought to his father, the King had silenced him with a single sentence.

Eric had said, “Sean has sent very few troops to this war. If the Kingdom ignores him, what happens when the fighting on the front lines intensifies and he allies with Marquis Hoffman of the Kasa Kingdom to launch a sneak attack on us from the rear?”

Traveling south from Pigeon Tail Town to the Royal Capital would take ten days at most.

By then, it would take the Kingdom’s army, deep in the heart of Akutas, at least ten days to return. They would probably arrive in Pruck City only to find Eric already imprisoned.

Otto had to admit that the scenario his father described was a real possibility.

“A prolonged battle is not the solution.”

Otto’s tone was grave. “His Majesty had Jennifer persuade Peter, and with Peter taking the lead, we have now reached a ceasefire agreement with Marquis Sean.”

Jennifer was the eldest princess, and Peter was Marquis Sean’s eldest son. Their relationship was awkward in this war, but it also served as a bridge to de-escalate the conflict.

“Currently, Count Kudro is defending the border of the Lintao Territory with one of the Kingdom’s legions, while the forces provided by Earl Orlando and other nobles have been sent to the front lines.”

Duane nodded slightly. ‘His Majesty likely moved Orlando to the front lines to prevent him from being persuaded by Marquis Sean to rejoin the so-called Iron Blood Faction.’

Marquis Kais seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “With Orlando and so many other noble armies joining the battle, the western front should be stable now.”

Otto shook his head. “The biggest worry now is when the Kasa Kingdom will enter the fray against us. And…”

He paused, seeming to hesitate.

Duane and Kais were curious. “And what?”

Otto sighed helplessly. “The two Ascension-level Warriors from the Fidun Kingdom and the Asando Kingdom are actually blaming my father for the front line’s lack of progress. Tell me, is that reasonable? Who could have possibly expected Tyron to have a bizarre Sun Stealer Legion up his sleeve?”

Duane couldn’t help but be surprised.

‘Is this… internal strife?’

‘No wonder. No wonder King Eric agreed so readily this time. He probably needs me and Marquis Kais to act as a counterbalance to that group from the Holy Radiance Court.’

Seeing that the two men were silent, Otto’s tone became incredibly solemn. “Duke Duane, Marquis Kais!”

He stood up, his voice earnest. “The Kingdom needs your strength!”

Duane and Kais understood.

The oaths they had just sworn still echoed in the fortress hall. Having accepted the Kingdom’s rewards and honors, if they continued to stand by and do nothing as before, their reputations would suffer.

However, this was not a difficult decision for them. After all, Howard had already rejected Duane’s proposal, and Duane was planning to show Howard that he possessed the power to tip the balance of a battlefield.

“I understand the Kingdom’s predicament.”

Duane said, “However, Black Forest Island’s resources are limited. Occupying such a large area as the Starfall Islands has already taken seventy to eighty percent of my forces just to maintain control. It would be difficult to dispatch more troops to Twin Bay at this stage.”

Otto’s expression changed slightly. He hadn’t expected Duane to refuse so completely.

He quickly said, “His Majesty has already stated that as long as you are willing to act, Your Grace, the Holy Radiance Church Headquarters at Lakefront Manor will be relocated as soon as possible, and the Lakefront Secret Realm will be yours! In addition, if you both join forces, the Kingdom is willing to grant each of you a Magic Crystal Stone Secret Realm and an Elemental Ore Secret Realm!”

Three Secret Realms in exchange for his and Marquis Kais’s intervention… ‘King Eric really must be getting desperate,’ Duane thought.

Duane suspected that Severus of the Holy Radiance Court might also be pressuring the King.

The Pruck Kingdom was ostensibly leading the Four Nations Alliance this time, but the Holy Radiance Court played an indispensable role.

If the three Punishment Judges of the Holy Radiance Court simultaneously expressed their dissatisfaction with Eric, he would undoubtedly feel threatened.

But this was all just Duane’s speculation; His Highness Otto had said no such thing.

“What are your thoughts, Marquis?” Duane asked, looking at Marquis Kais.

The Marquis smiled. “Since His Majesty places such importance on the power of the Silent Shore, I will certainly not disappoint him! My navy will land on the Golden Coast of the Flowing Silver Fjord and coordinate with Duke Kelvin to attack inland.”

His Highness Otto was surprised. “Why not Twin Bay? If we could capture Twin Bay, we could advance up the river and threaten Sun Stealer Castle!”

The Marquis replied, “We’ve scouted the defenses at Twin Bay. Too many troops are concentrated there. Plus, we’ve used up all our Fel Energy Bombs, so we can’t use the same method we used to capture the Crown of Tides. Taking it would come at an enormous cost!”

Otto frowned slightly. This outcome was not what his father had hoped for, but he had no good reason to refute Kais.

He couldn’t help but look toward Duane. “And your intentions, Duke?”

“I will fly directly to the northwestern front to have a meeting with His Majesty Tyron.”

Duane continued, “At the same time, I’ll intimidate those two Punishment Judges from the Holy Radiance Court. Not just anyone can threaten the King of the Pruck Kingdom!”

Although he was talking about intimidating the two Ascension-level Warriors from the Fidun and Asando Kingdoms, he was actually trying to read Otto’s expression to see if Severus had also expressed dissatisfaction with His Majesty.

And just as he’d hoped, upon hearing this, Otto’s pupils contracted sharply before a brilliant smile spread across his face.

“Excellent, excellent!”

He said with a laugh, “I’m confident that with you joining the battlefield, even someone as strong as His Majesty Tyron will be defeated!”

Duane had previously inflicted heavy wounds on Tara, Count Kudro, and Chief Judge Thomsen, and had also crippled Orisien. Now, he had gone so far as to kill an enemy Ascension-level warrior.

This long list of glorious achievements had earned him the clandestine nickname “No-Holds-Barred.”

‘If Duane actually manages to kill His Majesty Tyron on the border battlefield this time,’ Otto thought, ‘it would create a massive shockwave. It might even be enough to shatter the Akutas Kingdom’s will to fight, causing it to collapse from within.’

‘That’s far more valuable than capturing Twin Bay!’