novelraw Chapter 39: Father and Son Confrontation
Chapter 39: Father and Son Confrontation
In Iron Pit City, Obiken was waiting for his youngest son to arrive.
It wasn't until afternoon that Fabio finally rushed to Iron Pit City.
"Grown quite capable, haven't you! Making me wait for an audience with you now!"
Facing his father's sarcasm, Fabio replied calmly, "My military affairs keep me busy, unlike you lofty lords who have nothing to do all day!"
Obiken glanced at his youngest son: "What? You think having ten thousand troops under your command gives you the right to speak to me like this? Do you truly believe the Duchy has no one who can restrain you? Or perhaps you think that with the main legions away, your army can sweep through all remaining forces?"
Fabio showed a cold smile: "Earl, I certainly don't consider myself formidable. And my Ironwall Legion isn't the most powerful force in the Duchy, even in its current state."
Obiken sharply tapped his cup, his expression grave as he corrected in a deep voice: "It's the Duchy's Ironwall Legion!"
Fabio's gaze didn't waver in the slightest as he looked up to meet his father's eyes, emphasizing each word: "That! Is! Mine!"
As the two confronted each other, the old steward behind them moved to intervene, but Obiken withdrew his gaze first, rubbing his temples: "Do you understand your current situation?"
"Of course! The Grand Duke considers me a rebel, you think I'm disobedient, and other nobles see me as a usable weapon! Everyone treats me like a jumping clown, all wanting to use me to gain sufficient benefits from this incident."Fabio's tone shifted abruptly: "But! This is my best opportunity now! The Allied Forces are preparing to negotiate! If the Duchy falls into internal chaos now, all these people will have died in vain, all this national strength spent on two years of war will be wasted. Even our allies will only watch and laugh, seizing the chance to carve off a portion of the spoils, and when necessary, even cutting pieces from the Duchy itself!"
"Since you know this! Why are you still doing it? Where are you placing the Duchy? Where are you placing our family? This will ruin the Duchy's rise to power, will turn our family's century of planning into empty dreams!"
Fabio shrugged: "Yes! But what does that have to do with me? I just want what I rightfully deserve—is that so difficult? When you won't give me these things and still try to control me! I've fought battles for this nation! I've spilled blood for this family! Now! I'll take what I deserve! If you won't give it to me, I'll seize it! I broke through the eastern border of Ika Kingdom and escaped encirclement—I can just as easily cross through the Duchy to find someone willing to give me what I want!"
Obiken picked up his tea and took a gentle sip: "Then do you know the consequences? If you do this now! Even if the Duchy agrees to your conditions, what will you do after the six-nation negotiations conclude?"
Fabio pointed around them: "This place isn't bad! I'll stay right here and not leave! If the Duchy besieges me, I'll simply defect to Ika Kingdom! If the Duchy still finds me useful, I'll guard the border for them! Anyway, I'm not leaving! Just give me this territory!"
Obiken: "This is your plan? The Duchy won't set this precedent—they'll definitely send troops! Not just the Duchy—after the local nobles petition, those aristocrats will seize the opportunity to crusade against you. Are you prepared for all this?"
Fabio grinned: "Father! What do you think I've been doing all this time? Chasing women, throwing banquets? Of course I'm prepared! My Ironwall Legion has expanded to eighteen thousand men, training without rest for five months! I want to see for myself whether my Ironwall Legion can truly fight! Whether it's the fleeing army you all mock or a genuine iron wall—I need to verify this myself!"
Obiken stood up: "Very well! The Duchy will mobilize troops in half a month—the noble allied forces will probably be slower!"
"Farewell, Earl!"
As he reached the door, Obiken turned back and asked: "You're not doing this out of spite, are you? Not because I took away your little friend?"
Fabio had maintained his composure throughout, but finally broke upon hearing his father's words: "What right did you have to take my man! That was my Knight of Honor! I promised he would grow up safely! He saved my life! Not just once! You've shamed my honor! I don't even dare look my subordinates in the eye now. How do I explain it to them? That I couldn't even protect a child! What right do I have to demand their loyalty!"
Obiken: "You know the Shadow Guard has always been in the Ironwall Legion protecting you! You know he had orders! You also knew he intended to target that boy! Yet you didn't stop him either, did you?"
Fabio roared: "I strictly ordered the Shadow Guard not to touch him! I was always on guard against him! I thought the Shadow Guard would make his move during the river crossing battle! I sent my personal guards to protect him! But I never imagined you would act after returning to the Duchy. Why? We were already back in the Duchy—hadn't you accepted him? Why still move against him? Just because of his background? He's from Ika Kingdom! But I could sense he genuinely wanted to follow me! Otherwise, during the great penetration through eastern Ika Kingdom, he had plenty of opportunities to leave!"
Obiken said calmly: "Fabio! You already know why! Don't you? You understand perfectly well that I wouldn't let him stay with you permanently. He has talent, but it's not something you can control! You anticipated this too—otherwise you wouldn't have taught him our family's Lion Sword Style during the journey! Rest assured! I didn't kill him! I've arranged things for him—his mind isn't mature yet. After ten years, if he still possesses such remarkable talent, I won't prevent his loyalty to you anymore! As for where he is? That I cannot tell you! But I can guarantee he'll grow up healthy and safe for several years!"
Fabio glared at his father: "You always want everyone to follow the path you've arranged! First Brother was like this, Second Brother was like this, and so am I! Now even outsiders—you want to control them too! This time I won't listen to you! I'm going to make some real trouble! I want to see for myself whether I'm really as worthless as you say!"
Obiken shook his head with a smile: "Son! There's one thing you're wrong about! I don't think you're disobedient! I feel quite proud! Go ahead and do it! Go crush those jumping-upstarts, annihilate their combined armies completely! I'll handle the rest!"
With that, Obiken left without looking back.
The old steward bowed to Obiken: "Youngest Young Master, your mother misses you greatly! She's grown quite thin since what happened to Eldest Young Master!"
Fabio's expression turned complex: "Lazio, tell my mother! After I fight this battle, I'll return to see her amidst flowers and cheers!"
While father and son were conversing, within Ika Kingdom, the "well-arranged" Henwil who had been sold for seventeen silver coins was waking up...