Marquess Grimvale
"He is finally attacking the Baronies," I said with a smile on my face, but I would have preferred it if he had taken a little longer. Giving me a chance to convert more people.
"It is a good chance; the monster tide that is to come is substantial this time. They needed to bring extra forces from Lauryl to deal with it," replied Dasir.
The baronies are in a conundrum; the trade is slowing down due to the monsters.
It is on that trade that they depend most: the taxes it provides run their economy. So, they have to make sure no monster slips through, and for that, they will need a greater force.
They have resisted pulling more forces from Lauryl until now; they know Dane is looking for the chance.
This time, they did; the merchants were pressuring them for the safety of the routes, and they had to listen, as they are the biggest sources of revenue for these people.
There was resistance in the council, but the northern group won.
"We have been waiting for this since we came here," I said. I had a plan for every city in the region—especially the Mirador Hold and Nakar Baronies. If I get one of them, getting the other would be much easier.
"Ask Martas to leave with his group, and Vesbeil to ready the army," I ordered, and my mage nodded.
I had placed people and the army in the Brimbale for this opportunity, and now it has come.
Dane is finally leaving his big fort. I want that fort; it will open another front for me against the undead of Navr, but it will also provide massive benefits.
Most importantly, the trade route. I need it.
I have a small slice of the river route through Riverbell, and it is already proving tremendously helpful. It will be more useful if I get my hands on Mirador Hold.
This is a trade route, and unlike the river route, I would not have to share it with others. I will be in complete control of it.
I would be able to cut the access to Navr of any city in the region. There is also the money, which will lessen the financial pressure I am under.
I have a massive army, and that costs a lot of money.
The energy crystal and metal mines are helping, and I am opening new ones, but it will take time before I will need to stop borrowing from my fortune.
Mirador Hold will speed that up fast.
"I will ready the army," said Imerla and walked out of the office. I could only send thirty thousand from Brimbale, but that's far from enough to conquer the fort.
Even if Dane only kept ten thousand in there, it would be very hard for us to breach through it.
Our main goal is to conquer it from within.
"Sir Martas had left Brimbale," informed my mage. Mastas is leaving with a small group of riders. The army will wait until Dane leaves the fortress before moving.
I could send it now, but I don't want to spook him. However, he might be expecting us.
"Any movement from Silver, Summerfield?" I asked. I am not that worried about Summerfield, but Silver. He has been trying to do the same as me.
If anyone hinders my plans, it would be him.
"Yes, some movement from Silver's barracks, quite in Summerfields," he replied. I would have been worried if I hadn't seen any movements from Silver.
As for quite from Summerfield's, I am not surprised.
"Keep an eye, I want to know everything that happens. Also, inform me immediately if our people call from the Hold," I ordered, and the mage nodded.
….
Deerpond
"Grimvale and Silver are acting," I said, looking at the conference room full of my general and advisers, whom I had called as soon as I got the information.
"It's not surprising, both of them eyed the fortress," replied General Silva.
"I wish we could try for it, father," said Darius, and my mood turned sour.
Until a few months ago, I had been trying for the fortress as well, but after that man's betrayal, I had stopped all those efforts. Focusing more on strengthening my defenses.
I have been betrayed and lost my jewel, Riverbell. In return, I conquered Almin, which seemed like a money pit given the damage the undead brought to it.
Riverbell used to earn me a lot of money, but Almin only takes. I bloody hate it.
So, I am careful not to make any move that would make me suffer as I did a few months ago.
"Do you think Dane will succeed this time?" I asked. "It's hard to say, even when most of their powerhouses are standing against monsters, they still have a pretty good force left to defend Baronies," Silva replied.
"Also, Lockridge and that General of theirs is not weak," added Ronda, to which many officers nodded.
"So is Dane. He breached Lv. 40," said Darius.
"Lv. 40 is not guaranteed, my lord. If Dane used the same strategy as the last time, I am thinking that he would likely suffer the same result," replied Silva.
Everyone opined on it before I opened my mouth.
"It would be in our favor if the status quo remains as it is. Dane at his fortress, nobles in the forest, while Grimvale and Silver stay in their territories," I said.
Especially Silver and Grimvale. I don't want them to grow stronger. If they do, it will be terrible news for me.
…
Baron Homer
I watched the army of ten thousand leaving Lauryl from the roof with Baron Husk and Baron Rose.
Now, Laural only has the army of ten thousand to protect itself, which is nothing.
There were more people to protect the city and fight Dane, who was bringing around fifty thousand, according to our intelligence. Not to mention Dane, who is Lv. 40.
"The bastard was waiting for such a chance," said Rose, before his eyes turned accusing.
"If we had not sent so many people to defend against the monsters. Dane wouldn't have dared to attack us," he accused, looking at me angrily.
"Then, you would have preferred a large number of monsters slipping into the baronies, creating chaos through the territories. Destroying the trade?" I asked back.
Yes, we northern Barons fought for a greater force this time; we cannot bear it.
The number of monsters is increasing. Many of them are slipping into the territories, destroying crops, killing people, and creating terror throughout.
Not to mention the trade.
It is the main reason they sent the force. The merchants had given us a warning. Threatening to cut off the trade route if we didn't bring the things under control.
"My lords, there is no place of division here. It is what our enemies want," said Husk, in his gentle but firm voice. Rose, who had opened his mouth, had closed it.
For a minute, nobody spoke.
"Things are bad, but we have gone through the worst and come out stronger. This time, it won't be different. If we are lucky, our forces will destroy Dane so thoroughly this time that he will never dare to attack us again." Said Husk.
I hope it happens. Dane is like a sword that is always hanging over our heads.
Every decision we make has a Dane factor attached to it.
"Anything from Silver or Grimvale?" I asked. We have asked them for help. "Both of them have given non-committal answers," replied Husk, before his smile turned mirthless.
"They are more focused on the opportunity they got after Dane left the fortress than on helping us," he added.
It made me want to curse. If one had agreed to help, the other would have come automatically, but both are going to target Mirador Hold.
"Do you think one of them will be able to take the fort?" asked Rose, but Husk shook his head.
"Directly impossible with the forces they have. Indirectly, it would be very hard, seeing that he will be leaving his loyal dog Lawson in charge," replied Husk.
I couldn't help but nod at that.
That man is bad; we had many negotiations with him, and we hate his guts. He feels the same for Silver; he had an incident with him when he was in charge of Lauryl.
He hates Silver and curses him openly many times.
With that, keep in mind. If one asks me who has a greater chance of getting the fortress, I would say Grimvale.
…
Harrison Dane
Thud Thud Thud!
The army of fifty thousand hit their legs across the ground hard as I finished my speech.
I am taking them to the Baronies, while eighteen thousand will remain here to protect the Fortress. I wanted to wait until the numbers reached 70,000 or more, but this opportunity is too big to miss.
"A small group of riders left the Greltheaven," informed Lawson as I rode toward the gate of the fortress.
"He acted late, I thought he would act the same time as Grimvale," I said. Grimvale sent his men over an hour ago. It made me feel relieved, because if Silver hadn't sent his men, I would have been more worried.
"Who had he sent?" I asked. "His whore Andria, and Hiren," replied Lawson.
"The cripple?" I asked, and he nodded.
I thought they would send that bastard Cardin. "What about Cardin?" I asked. "Our intelligence saw him in the legacy with Silver," replied Lawson.
It would have made me feel better if he had come. I wanted to teach the bastard a lesson myself.
"Capture that cripple when he comes. I want that artifact he has," I ordered. The artifact is good; it will help me a lot. "It will be my pleasure," Lawson replied with a grin.
He hates Silver since that incident a few years ago, and would do this with a big smile on his face.
Soon, I reached the gate and turned to Lawson. "I will leave the fortress in your hand, Lawson," I said. "I will not let any army breach it, Lord Commander. I swear on it," he replied.
Lawson is a shit general, but he is the most loyal man I have, and he is very good at keeping things together.
Besides, I have kept most of my loyal men in the fort that I could afford to keep. I'm taking many of those with uncertain loyalty with me, rather than keeping them here.
They will not act while I am with them.
"I know, it is why. I am leaving you in charge, Lawson," I said, and he bowed. "Godspeed, Lord Commander. I hope by tomorrow evening. Our flags will be flying in the holds of baronies," he wished.
I smiled and led my army forward.
A few minutes passed, and I looked back at the fort. It is the first time I have left it since leading the army against the baronies, but this time the result will be different.
The strategy is different, and I have a few hidden cards. That will be very useful in the battle.
"Armies have come out of Greltheaven and Brimbale," informed Samit. They are sending the armies to the fortress less than ten minutes after I leave.
"I hope they will fight each other," said Bray. "That would be ideal," I replied, hoping it would happen.
The weaker they are, the more it will benefit us—especially Silver. After I conquer the Nakar Baronies, I will turn my eyes toward him.