As Justinian entered his throne room, Lucan was already there, prepared, arms crossed as he waited.
Behind him were three prisoners, cloaked in black and tied up and made to kneel before the throne, their faces filled with irritation and disdain, but surprisingly no fear.
'What's the point of bringing them to me...?'
It didn't make sense. Lucan should already know how to interrogate them and have them spit out the information for him.
Nevertheless, they could be useful, and if Justinian interrogated them personally, efficiency would increase.
"Now then, what is your business, Marshal?"
Justinian asked, now sitting on his throne, his full attire finally making him look like a true duke, something Lucan himself respected.
"I have finished your orders; most have been killed, these three are the ones I handpicked to be brought to you."
Lucan stepped aside, showing the full forms of the prisoners.
"And what will I do with them?"
"Interrogate, my lord."
'Interrogate? That isn't really a duke's usual job.'
Justinian looked at Lucan with a calculating gaze. Lucan himself knew that he should have handled it, but a part of him wanted to test Justinian, to see his skill firsthand.
"Interrogate?"
"Yes."
Lucan nodded, smirking through his thick beard. Justinian already knew what he was up to.
He had already interrogated the men and searched the capital for all the traitors; he just wanted to see if Justinian could interrogate them better than he and reveal more information.
A test, basically.
But Justinian only chuckled purposefully, making sure Lucan knew that he knew.
'Damn... the new duke's more perceptive than I thought.'
'Doesn't change my plan though... I need to know how he managed to learn the location of their HQ.'
He wanted to see if Justinian was either omniscient or if he was just a good interrogator who got the information out of his assassin.
'Yeah... I knew this would happen.'
Justinian sighed, standing up from his throne. While proving himself to Lucan would prove useful, it would also be a major waste of time.
[The Book of War Responds]
[40 Cavalry is currently en route to Herdrin through Northwatch Road.]
'What...?'
'Through nortwatch? That's the direction of Elberich's city...'
Justinian bit his lip; he knew they would counterattack eventually, but he didn't expect this fast.
'I guess I made too much progress in one day.'
Forty cavalrymen, on route to one of the small towns he controlled, it was obvious what they were up to: to burn a village and lower his legitimacy, to prove to people he couldn't protect anyone.
That would usually work, but only if Justinian didn't know of the plan in advance.
"Marshal!"
Lucan raised a brow; he didn't expect such a commanding voice.
"Herdrin is currently being attacked!"
Justinian didn't even bother having an excuse; he needed to act fast. Northwatch Road was just a few hours away from Herdrin, and from Snowkeep to there was thirty minutes.
"Wait... what!?"
Lucan and Cassia shouted, confused at the sudden proclamation.
"Prepare my men! This shall be their firsthand experience on the battlefield!"
Justinian knew it was risky sending freshly trained cavalry to fight, but it was also a chance to get his soldiers battle-hardened quickly. A few will fall, but the rest will strengthen.
"Knights! Defend the capital and take the prisoners away! I'll take care of them later!"
He didn't need to depart as well, a duke doesn't have to fight on the frontlines, but if he was to build more trust to ensure the future night raid's success, then he needs to fight with his men.
Justinian left quickly, walking towards the courtyard, now a temporary stable and barracks.
"Justinian... where did this come from!?" Cassia, following him, asked.
"I'll explain later."
He'll make up an excuse later, revealing that he has an omniscient system isn't really an option.
BANG.
As he opened the courtyard, the men were already there, Lucan arriving before him as soon as he heard his command.
Mobilizing the army as quickly as he can.
'The ride there will be thirty minutes... the attackers will arrive in an hour, good thing Lucan moves fast.'
"Ride your horses! All of you will soon see bloodshed! But I will come with you all!"
Justinian shouted for the men to hear, most of them surprised.
"The duke's coming with us?"
"Really-?"
"Enough! Wear your armor, and mount your horses, we'll be departing soon."
Lucan reprimanded the soldiers before looking at Justinian.
"If this is a joke, my duke, then-"
"It isn't."
Justinian replied quickly and confidently, Herdrin is a major farming town; losing it would cripple him and his future plans.
Matthias then suddenly entered the courtyard himself, sweating and in a rush.
"My lord! My scouts have told me that cavalry came from Northwa-"
He stopped, seeing the army already mobilized and ready to leave.
"What...?"
"I'm already on it."
"Huh!? We don't even know where they'll attack."
"They're heading to Herdrin."
The conviction in Justinian's voice was enough to convince Matthias; after all, he had heard about the raid from Lucan, and with the rest that Justinian had done, he only had to trust him.
"I see... I'll have the servants prepare your armor quickly, my lord."
Matthias bowed, leaving in a rush.
Cassia only looked in sheer awe, an army mobilized at such speed, Matthias obeying his duke without argument, and the sheer efficiency of Justinian.
She wasn't sure if she was in a court of a failing duchy or a regional superpower.
"...What in the..."
"I get your confusion, trust me."
Justinian saw her confusion and decided to reassure her, but also to make her used to it, since Justinian himself needed blind loyalty for now; he couldn't reveal his system after all.
"Just trust in my omniscience for a while..."
He laughed.
"...You leave me with no other choice than to trust you really..."
Cassia replied with an anxious laugh.
To all, it felt like Justinian had a divine proclamation just in the middle of his throne room, and one that unintentionally made Justinian more legitimate. To all his knights, Lucan, Cassia, and even Matthias, this was divine intervention.
[The Book of War Responds]
[Those under you start speculating about your connection with the divinity]
'Yeah... I don't blame them!'