Chapter 51: War
In the year 1250 of the Starlight Calendar, at the beginning of the month of Winter Harp.
Not long after the New Year, Flashing City accused Blackstone City's lord, Kyi Yanest, of colluding with the Starfire Church, demanding that he come to Flashing City to confess and accept punishment. After Kyi refused, they brazenly mobilized troops to attack Blackstone City.
Crack! Crack!
The sound of metal armor clanking echoed.
Kyi climbed the city wall, taking a brass telescope from Braid and scanning the distance.
Under the night sky, the entire plain outside the city was dotted with the glow of campfires.
Shadows flitted around the campfires, and dense rows of tents spread across the plain.
"Owen has truly committed everything this time. It's not just his troops; the armies of the traitors Devon, Zolf, and Norwood are also involved, and on top of that, they've recruited over a thousand mercenaries!"
Braid observed the enemy forces with a heavy expression.
Owen's contingent alone numbered nearly four thousand, and with the mercenaries, their total exceeded five thousand—almost four times that of Blackstone City, making this war a daunting challenge.
"Mercenaries are not a significant concern. Those undisciplined folks are merely a mob. They might hold some value in a direct confrontation on the plains, but their impact will diminish in a siege," Kyi replied, lowering the brass telescope. Yet, the slight furrow of his brow revealed he wasn't as calm as he pretended.