Chapter 31: Jade Territory
Jade Territory.
Count Barton's knuckles tapped on the desk. Once, then again.
Tap. Tap.
The sound echoed in the study, forming a fixed rhythm with the clamor coming from outside the window.
It had been a week.
Ever since the first batch of refugees poured in from the direction of Iron Fortress Territory, this buzz hadn't stopped.
"My Lord."
The butler stood before the desk, head lowered.
"The porridge sheds outside the city have distributed three rounds today. Food reserves can last another five days at most."
"The temporary camp set up outside the East Gate is full. Sanitary conditions are terrible, and minor outbreaks of illness have already appeared."
"The Public Security Squad arrested forty-seven people for theft and brawling amidst the chaos. The jail is full too."
With every sentence the butler spoke, Count Barton's knuckles tapped a fraction heavier.
"And Viscount Andrew's family..."
The butler paused.
"Madam Lino refused the independent courtyard arranged for her. She only took Young Master Reinhard to stay in the guest wing used for envoys."
"She said she didn't want to occupy excess resources during Jade Territory's most difficult time."
Count Barton's tapping stopped.
He raised his head, looking past the butler's shoulder at the massive map of the Empire on the wall.
His finger found a dot on the map: Iron Fortress Territory.
Then, his gaze moved next to Iron Fortress, to the green area representing his own territory.
Jade Territory.
"Andrew..."
Count Barton spoke, his voice somewhat dry.
"He was always doing the right thing, but he was too rigid."
The butler didn't respond.
He knew the Count wasn't asking him.
Count Barton's gaze returned to the desk, where an opened letter lay.
The edges of the paper were slightly crumpled, bearing dried stains.
That was Andrew's final letter.
Count Barton could already recite the content word for word.
Undead Scourge.
Incomprehensible monsters.
To buy time, the entire army is bait.
Count Barton knew Andrew. That was a junior who valued honor more than life, but would never exaggerate.
If Andrew said there were monsters, then there must be monsters.
"Any reply from the Duke?"
Count Barton asked.
"Just arrived this morning via highest-level magic transmission."
The butler took out a scroll of parchment from his chest pocket and presented it with both hands.
"The Duke has already reported your letter, along with his opinion, to the Imperial Capital."
"He asks you to ensure the refugees are pacified and to hold Jade Territory. Until orders from the Capital arrive, do not act rashly."
"Do not act rashly..."
Count Barton repeated these words.
"Of course he can say that. The Duke's territory is far away in the West, separated by three or four Earldoms."
Count Barton stood up and walked to the window.
He pushed it open.
The wave of sound mixed with sweat, dust, and despair immediately poured in.
He saw the streets packed with people.
Those people wore tattered clothes, their faces wearing the same numbness and terror.
They used to be residents of Iron Fortress.
Blacksmiths, farmers, merchants.
Now, they were just refugees.
"Pass my order."
Count Barton didn't turn back.
"Open the Second Granary in the South City. Ensure everyone gets a bowl of hot porridge and a piece of black bread every day."
"Clear out all the reserve barracks of the Knights. Let the women and children move in. Send physicians over to control the sickness."
"Tell the Public Security Squad: special laws for special times. Anyone causing trouble again doesn't need to be jailed—expel them from the territory immediately. In special cases, execute on the spot."
The butler's body moved, seemingly wanting to say something.
"My Lord, doing this, our reserves will..."
"Execute the order."
Count Barton interrupted him.
"Yes, My Lord."
The butler bowed and exited the study.
Only Count Barton remained in the room.
He looked at the tide of people outside the window, silent for a long time.
Andrew was the young man he favored most.
Capable, bold, and possessing an innate sense of responsibility.
Count Barton even once thought Andrew would be the next Duke, the future pillar of the Empire's Eastern Border.
Now, this pillar had collapsed.
Smashed to pieces by a bunch of bone racks that popped out of nowhere.
Count Barton closed the window, shutting out the noise.
He returned to the desk and sat down.
Waiting.
This was the only thing he could do now.
Waiting for the Capital's reaction.
He knew this massive machine of the Empire needed time to turn.
The Council would bicker, the Military Ministry would mobilize, the Minister of Finance would cry poverty.
But would those things mentioned in Andrew's letter wait?
Five days later.
A Griffin Knight arrived directly at the Count's castle from the air.
He bowed slightly, then took out an official document sealed with royal wax from the inner pocket of his chest armor.
"His Majesty's Edict!"
Count Barton took the document.
The wax seal bore the personal stamp of Odri V.
He tore open the seal and unfolded the rigorously worded order written by the Court Scribe.
He read quickly.
Article 1: The war plan between the Empire and the Theocracy is suspended indefinitely.
Article 2: All noble lords of the Eastern Border are ordered to enter highest combat readiness immediately. Defend strictly; no active attacks allowed.
Article 3: All intelligence regarding the Undead Scourge is classified as Top Secret of the Empire. Leakage is strictly prohibited; violators will be punished for treason.
Count Barton's gaze fell on the last article.
His breathing paused for a moment.
Article 4: The Royal Family has decided to dispatch the Hero to the Eastern Border to subjugate the undead.
The Hero.
Seeing these two words (in Chinese "Yong Zhe"), Count Barton felt no relief whatsoever.
He handed the document to the butler beside him.
After reading it, the butler showed a look of survival joy.
"The Hero! Great! Is it that Lord Hero of the Empire coming?"
"Since the Lord Hero is mobilizing, then whatever undead they are, they're dead for sure!"
Count Barton didn't speak.
His finger tapped gently at the end of the document.
There was a line of small print.
Specific arrival time: TBD (To Be Determined).
"TBD..."
Count Barton leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
A word full of uncertainty.
Maybe a month, maybe three months, maybe even half a year.
The bureaucrats in the Capital would never understand the situation on the frontline.
Did they think sending a Tier 5 Hero would scare those monsters away?
He opened his eyes, unconcealable exhaustion within them.
"Go invite Madam Lino and Young Master Reinhard."
"Yes, My Lord."
Soon, Andrew's wife and son walked into the study.
Madam Lino wore a plain long dress, her face haggard, but she still maintained her noble bearing.
Her son, Reinhard, that fourteen-year-old boy, followed closely beside his mother.
Standing straight, he sized up the room with a vigilance beyond his years.
"Count Barton."
Madam Lino curtsied slightly.
"Sit."
Count Barton pointed to the sofa opposite.
"I asked you here to tell you one thing."
He looked at Lino, then at the stubborn boy.
"Andrew's sacrifice was not in vain."
"The Capital has received the news."
"The war with the Theocracy has stopped. The entire Eastern Border is preparing for the coming threat."
Lino's body trembled once, but she made no extra movements, merely nodding elegantly.
Reinhard raised his head, looking straight at Count Barton.
"Will someone avenge Father?"
The boy's voice carried a trace of hope.
Count Barton looked at him.
In this child's eyes, he saw Andrew's shadow.
"Yes."
Count Barton answered.
"The Royal Family has dispatched the Hero to crusade against those monsters."
"The Hero... when will he arrive?"
Count Barton fell silent.
He couldn't say the letters "TBD" to this boy who had just lost his father.
"He will come."
That was all Count Barton could say.
"Before he arrives, you are safe here."
"I will protect you, just as Andrew protected his people."
Sending off Lino and her son, Count Barton climbed to the highest point of the castle alone.
He looked east.
Hero. What a distant and radiant word.
Like the sun in the sky.
Everyone knew it was there, believed it could bring light.
But if night fell early, before the sun rose... how many people could survive?
Count Barton didn't know.
He only knew he couldn't wait any longer.
"Pass the order down!"
His voice spread throughout the castle.
"Conscript all blacksmiths in the city! Work day and night to produce arrows and siege defense equipment!"
"Send out the best scout squads, groups of three! Infiltrate towards the East!"
"I want to know what Iron Fortress looks like now! I want to know exactly where those monsters have reached!"
Orders were issued one after another.
The butler standing behind him wore a look of deep worry.
"My Lord, the Capital's order is..."
"The Capital's order is for us to hold this place."
Count Barton interrupted him. His voice wasn't loud, but it revealed unquestionable resolve.
"Rules are dead, but people are alive. We are not attacking."
"This... does not count as disobeying orders!"
Count Barton turned around, looking at his butler, and at the city under his rule.
"Hesitation leads to defeat."