Chapter 347 - 345: Punishment Judge
Duane and his men did not attack immediately. Instead, they rested in Red Earth City for two days.
For one, the warriors needed to rest their tense nerves. More importantly, Count Kais also needed time to gather his forces and replenish supplies.
The walls of Fire Source City were high and sturdy, and assaulting it would be a battle of high attrition.
Having received intelligence that enemy reinforcements had landed by ship at Fire Source Castle, the Count transferred eighty percent of the forces stationed at Silver Scale Port to the front lines.
At the same time, the three hundred men sent by Baron Uriel, as well as the two hundred-plus men led by Simone and Ross, also entered Red Earth City.
Although the number of men from these two groups was small, Baron Uriel provided a batch of Magic Potions.
Meanwhile, the Magic Energy Arrows and Siege Crossbows brought by Simone and the others compensated for some of the battlefield losses.
During these two days, news that Red Earth City had fallen gradually spread.
King Eric, who was monitoring the battlefield situation most closely, received the intelligence on the evening of the second day.
"Duane finally couldn’t resist making his move."
A smile appeared on Eric’s face when he heard the news. He had been watching for Duane to make a move, and now it had finally happened.
’Making a move just as Count Kais was stuck between advancing and retreating—the timing was perfect.’
"Next, we just have to wait for Kudro to arrive, and then there will be a large-scale battle."
’This battle will involve people from the Silent Shore and vassals of Marquis Sean and Earl Orlando. Plus, with the battlefield being in Fire Source Territory, it’s an excellent opportunity to wear them all down.’
But...
Eric’s expression darkened as he looked at another piece of intelligence on his desk—Marquis Sean had reinforced Pigeon Tail Town.
At the tournament two years ago, Duane had severely injured Tara, preventing her from competing for third place. This allowed Sean’s son, Keldert, to secure it by default.
Pigeon Tail Town was the reward for third place.
The town was located on the Three Realms Lakefront, near the Hassa Clan’s territory, and it also bordered Duke Hughes’ Territory and the Akutas Kingdom.
Marquis Sean had reinforced Pigeon Tail Town while the war in the South was raging. Although the Marquis claimed it was to threaten the Akutas Kingdom, King Eric felt it was not that simple.
He could never bring himself to trust the Marquis, as intelligence reports indicated he had grown rather close with Marquis Hoffman Anglu of the Kasa Kingdom.
This was despite their territories being separated by a sea and the fact they once despised each other, wishing for nothing more than the other’s total annihilation.
’But in this world, nothing was impossible.’
He let out a soft sigh. The Pruck Clan had only been able to establish this Kingdom with the support of these other great families.
His father, Joseph, had possessed the charisma to unite these great nobles. But after Joseph was defeated by King Tyron, succumbing to his severe injuries, the Royal Family’s standing in the eyes of these people had diminished considerably.
Especially since he, Eric, was only a Celestial Tier Warrior who had ascended to the rank less than two years ago.
’After this next battle, the war in the South had best come to an end.’
He had changed his mind about a long war of attrition, especially after the people from the Holy Radiance Court arrived in the Royal Capital.
’It’s better to expand outward than to be consumed by internal conflict.’
Only through external expansion could the Pruck Royal Family’s predicament be eased, and only through expansion could he find more opportunities to strengthen his own position.
Meanwhile, although Fire Source Castle had lost nearly a fifth of its territory, a lively welcoming banquet was still held upon the arrival of Count Kudro and the reinforcements from Viscount Ugo’s sons-in-law.
After the banquet, Viscount Ugo met privately with Count Kudro, only to find the Count was accompanied by a man the Viscount had never seen before.
"And this is?"
Ugo had initially assumed the man was merely one of Kudro’s officers, but now it seemed that was not the case.
Even Kudro, with his fierce, bear-like appearance, was extremely respectful toward the man beside him.
"This is the Holy Radiance Court’s Criminal Law Judge, Lord Severus Blackthorn!"
Kudro paused, then raised his voice slightly, "An Ascension-level Warrior, even more powerful than the Scorching Sun Level!"
Viscount Ugo’s eyes went wide. ’Ascension Level? He wondered if he had misheard.’
"Why would the Holy Radiance Court..."
A faint, elegant, and polite smile touched Severus’s lips. "Due to Thomsen’s failure, the Holy Radiance Court has sent me to assist Mitchell and Clement in spreading the faith."
He looked at the Viscount. "This time, I have come for the sake of peace in Fire Source Castle."
Viscount Ugo was stunned, then asked, "You mean to mediate for peace?"
’After all, the doctrine of the Holy Radiance Court was love and peace.’
"No!"
Severus gave the opposite answer. "I have always believed that only those who have been baptized by war can truly appreciate the value of peace. Therefore, this battle must continue."
Viscount Ugo was once again lost, but he quickly recovered. "You’re going to deal with Duane for me?"
’An Ascension-level Warrior! With someone this powerful on my side, how could I possibly lose?’
Viscount Ugo’s heart began to burn with excitement.
However, Severus once again gave a negative reply. "Count Kudro will be the one to deal with Duane. I will only intervene at a critical moment. And once I make my move, the war will be over. That will be the time for both sides to sit down and talk of peace."
Viscount Ugo felt as if his brain suddenly was not working right. He subconsciously rubbed the bridge of his nose and sat in his chair, thinking quietly for a moment.
"So... this is His Majesty’s will?" he asked.
Severus nodded.
At that, Count Kudro added, "His Majesty wanted Lord Severus to represent the Royal Family and quell this war. It was only at my pleading that Lord Severus agreed to delay the negotiations."
He snorted coldly. "You know of the enmity between me and that brat Duane. I’ve been waiting for a chance to face him on the battlefield with all my strength!"
Kudro looked at Ugo. "So, what’s it going to be, Your Lordship? Do you want to surrender and negotiate now, or do you want me to fight a battle for you first, and then talk?"
’Surrender now, or fight?’
"We fight, of course!"
Viscount Ugo said without hesitation, a determined light igniting in his eyes.
"Silver Scale Port and Green Shade Manor have been occupied, and my son nearly became a prisoner. Now Red Earth City has been taken, and my soldiers have suffered heavy casualties. If I just open the gates and surrender, where would that leave the honor of Fire Source Castle?"
’Surrendering without a fight would have an extremely negative impact on the subsequent negotiations and would also weaken our internal unity.’
’I wouldn’t even know how to face my sons-in-law. After all, they came from far and wide, baying for blood one moment, only for me to open the gates and surrender the next. It would be simply indefensible.’
Count Kudro grinned, revealing a flash of stark white teeth. "Well said! Now that’s what a Warrior sounds like!"
Severus gave a slight nod, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. "War is but a means; peace is the goal. Rest assured, Your Lordship, I will intervene at the critical moment to ensure the situation does not spiral out of control. This, too, is a sign of His Majesty’s care for you."
Viscount Ugo rose to his feet and bowed slightly. "Thank you, and thank His Majesty!"
Severus returned the gesture with a smile.
’Once this affair is concluded, Fire Source Territory will surely be devastated. The Holy Radiance Court can then use the opportunity to begin infiltrating this land that once only paid us lip service.’
Kudro stood up and said, "Well then, let us prepare properly for the coming battle!"