novelraw Chapter 182 : Accident, Overt Plot and War
Chapter 182 : Accident, Overt Plot and War
Chapter 182: Accident, Overt Plot and War
The torrential rain poured down, showing almost no sign of stopping. Instead, it seemed to be getting more and more intense.
Watching the downpour outside the window, Yam and Akar looked uneasy.
「This rainfall doesn’t seem right。」 Lily frowned tightly. 「The rainy season in the Southern Region usually only starts after May, and such large-scale torrential rains usually don’t appear until June. Even then, they wouldn’t last this long. Three to five days is the limit。」
They had already been in Red River Territory for almost five days.
When they first entered Red River Territory and saw the rain falling continuously, they had found it strange but didn’t think too much about it.
After all, the period of the Baptism of Rebirth often coincided with climate shifts in the Southern Region, so the occasional rainfall was quite normal. Moreover, the early rains weren’t particularly heavy and still within understandable limits.
But from their entry into Red River Territory to their arrival in Red River City and these past days, they had personally witnessed the rainfall expanding and intensifying一At first, the downpour only appeared in certain areas of Red River Territory, like scattered showers. But as time passed, the rain spread across the entire territory, and then the downpour itself kept growing stronger.
Now the torrential rain could last for three days and nights straight without stopping.
The entire Red River Territory had already suffered serious disruption: people’s livelihood and the economy were affected to varying degrees一River trade had been suspended for a week, as the river water of the Red River Canal had risen to an absurdly high level, overflowing the newly built flood dikes three times. Especially the harbor docks of Red River City—all were shut down, and every incoming ship had to be fixed with a three-stage hull anchoring to prevent further damage.
「Marquis。」
「Lady Monica。」
In the dining hall, a string of greetings suddenly rang out.
Seated in a corner, Yam and the others realized then that Monica had arrived in the dining hall.
While returning greetings to the others, Monica walked straight to the table where Anna, Yam, Lily, and Akar sat, and took a seat.
At present, those gathered at the Lord’s Manor were mostly members of the Kasein Family. Interestingly, according to Anna’s explanation, these were all traditionalists who supported Monica. Meanwhile, the Bloodline Faction, who supported Wade and Arsenes, had not lodged in the Lord’s Manor at all. They merely came to formally greet Monica, the new lord, before renting an inn in the city instead.
This alone showed how awkward Monica’s current position was.
「Lady Monica。」 Yam and the others quickly stood up to greet her.
「I told you, just call me Monica。」 Monica shook her head slightly, showing her usual approachable demeanor. 「What were you discussing just now？」
「We were talking about this rainstorm。」 Yam replied.
「This rain…」 Monica also gazed at the scene outside the window.
The torrential downpour was like the heavens collapsing, shrouding the world in darkness. Visibility was less than five meters. Even though Monica had already ordered urgent drainage at the Lord’s Manor, the rainwater still rose over two steps. If it continued, flooding the first floor was only a matter of time一The foundation of the manor had been built about a meter higher, so in reality, the first floor was over one meter above ground.
「The Aust Empire’s long-term invasion offensive was blocked, so now they have split forces toward the Northern Region and the Southwestern Region。」 Monica said in a deep voice. 「I don’t know about the north, but the Gaulta Family was caught off guard by the sudden assault of the Aust Empire. They crossed the border before defenses were ready, cutting the entire Southwestern Region in half。」
「When did this happen?!」 Lily asked urgently.
Yam and Akar weren’t skilled in military strategy, so they hadn’t realized the gravity of the problem. Anna was only adept at managing internal affairs, her military knowledge even weaker than Akar’s. Thus, only Lily in the room truly understood the weight of this report.
「Have Fesha Territory and Garris Territory both fallen？」
To the northwest of Bayor Territory lay the Southwestern Region ruled by the Duke of Gaulta.
The duke’s lands stretched in an oval from south to north. Garris Territory bordered Bayor, and further north lay Fesha Territory. Beyond Fesha to the northwest was Tyrella Kingdom’s Western Region, held by the Duke of the Black Hawk.
So, if the Aust Empire wished to march south, they had to cross Fesha’s border.
The Baron of Fesha had already died in battle, and the whole of Fesha had fallen. Now, the Aust Empire and the Gaulta Family were fighting mainly in Garris Territory and Heyel Territory.
Heyel lay north of Fesha and Garris, a vast land nearly one and a half times the size of a standard barony. Behind Heyel was the Gaulta Family’s main base, Gaulta Territory, making Heyel their gateway.
By expanding the battlefield into Heyel, the Aust Empire had effectively blocked the Gaulta Family’s southern advance. This meant that including Garris, four territories一the entire area south of the Southwestern Region一were completely cut off from the Gaulta Family.
But the truly dangerous signal was not this,
Rather, once the Aust Empire occupied Garris, their forces could directly push south into the Southern Region.
Which lands bordered the Southern Region?
They were Longwind Territory, which divided the Marquisate of Red Eagle and Bayor, and the County of Cold Ridge.
「Fesha fell half a year ago。」 Monica’s expression darkened. 「Judging by the situation, Garris might not hold out much longer, since the weather has gone completely abnormal。」 This torrential rain had drifted from Garris.
「Bayor’s flooding is severe, even the War Fortress there has been shut down for a month。」
「Something this serious, why are we only learning of it now？」
「The floods cut off roads, so communication was impossible. Aust soldiers have already appeared sporadically in Bayor. My third uncle couldn’t return, and I only received this news today。」 Monica’s face darkened further. 「Fifty couriers were sent continuously for a month, and only one finally made it through today。」
「Wait, I don’t understand。」 Akar suddenly spoke. 「What does abnormal weather have to do with this？」
「Battles involving high-tier bloodline users can easily trigger abnormal climate phenomena。」 Anna sighed. 「Not Fourth-Tier…
But Fifth-Tier, even Sixth-Tier bloodline users. Whether in combat or upon death, they can cause extraordinary anomalies. —You thought of Marquis Visen first, didn’t you？」
As Anna spoke the last sentence, she looked at Monica.
「Mm。」 Monica nodded. 「My grandfather, after all, was affected by the cold frost of the 【Storm Demon Serpent】. After his death, his body inevitably froze. When that frost dissipated, it was bound to cause widespread heavy rain. That’s why I didn’t suspect at first. Only later did I realize, but I still clung to a bit of wishful thinking。」
「Then if Count Fertile suddenly starts a war now—」 Yam frowned. 「What happens when the War Summons is issued？」
「All wars are immediately halted and enter negotiation. Since this is an internal conflict, as subjects of Tyrella Kingdom, we must prioritize responding to the summons。」 Lily’s face turned grim. 「But under normal circumstances, the invading side gains a great advantage, so they won’t retreat easily. We would need to pay a massive war indemnity to make Count Fertile withdraw。」
「The issuer of the War Summons allows this？」 Akar exclaimed.
Anna nodded with concern and added: 「Rather, to end such internal conflicts quickly, even if we disagreed and insisted on negotiations, the Southern Duke and the commander of the Southern Army would pressure White Mountain Territory, forcing them to comply。」
「So now we must pray the summons is issued before Count Fertile invades White Mountain？」
「Useless。」 Monica shook her head. 「The summons will surely be issued, but it requires the Southern Duke’s seal. Since the summons is for his eight vassals, even a slight delay of a few days allows Count Shuvaric to squeeze more profit. The Fertile Plains will definitely send troops south, and they will do so before the summons arrives, expanding their advantage。」
Although the Marquisate of Red Eagle and the Marquisate of Gondas supported the Karla Family of the Griffin Dynasty, they were still legally vassals of the Southern Duke. So even if the Southern Army wanted to summon them, it required the duke’s approval. At that point, why not also include the other six counts in the conscription?
The faces of Lily and the others grew grim.
They had prepared for all possible responses, but the initiative was not in their hands. At the start of war, they would inevitably be at a disadvantage. If Count Fertile timed his invasion with the War Summons, only White Mountain would suffer. Worst of all, the rain made it impossible for Yam and Akar to return even if they wanted to.
Anna glanced at Monica, whose expression remained calm, and frowned. 「You already suspected this？」
「I didn’t expect the Aust Empire to have invaded the Southwestern Region, and for Fesha to have fallen completely。」 Monica sighed. 「The Aust heavy cavalry corps had too great an advantage on the Garris Plains. Garris couldn’t hold, so the Aust Empire’s intent is already obvious。」
「They built a defensive line in Heyel, blocking Gaulta reinforcements, clearly intending to seize everything south of Heyel。」
「Wasn’t the Gaulta Family famous for their defensive warfare? Didn’t they previously halt Aust advances south? How did they suddenly collapse？」 Yam frowned. He remembered what Marquis Visen had told him, so he found it incomprehensible that the Southwestern front had suddenly fallen apart.
「According to Aust soldiers my third uncle interrogated, the commander of the southern front now is the 【Blood Duke】 William Hastings。」 Anna realized after speaking that Yam and the others knew little about Aust,
So she explained further: 「The Aust Empire is different from Tyrella. Their noble hierarchy is more complex. Beyond dukes, they also have grand dukes, who wield full independence. Their lands are called duchies。」
「Aside from nominal obedience to the empire, they pay no taxes, and imperial law doesn’t apply. Their duchies have independent recruitment, military, economy, and politics. Rather than vassals, they are effectively allied nations of Aust。」
「William, the 【Blood Duke】, is one of the three grand dukes. He excels at large-scale military command and has rich experience in multi-unit joint warfare. Of Aust’s five most renowned legions, three were trained by him. They include the Iron Cavalry Corps, composed entirely of heavy cavalry, the Norman Knights, a mixed force of cavalry and Bloodline Knights, and the notorious Blood Legion, whose brutal tactics and high casualties earned William Hastings the title of 【Blood Duke】。」
「What tier bloodline user is he？」
「Seventh-Tier. He was the weakest among the three Grand Dukes of the Aust Empire。」 Anna said in a low voice. 「But that was thirty years ago. Now, even if he has advanced to the Eighth-Tier, it is very possible. With him present, the Southern Army alone can no longer hold the line, so the Southern Duke must personally lead the campaign。」
The current acting commander of the Southern Army was Grom, commander of the 【Sons of the Mountains】, but he was only Fifth-Tier and had not yet advanced to Sixth-Tier. The Tyrella Royal Family had only allowed him to temporarily assume command because of his immense potential. Otherwise, with two Sixth-Tier bloodline users still within the Southern Army, he would never have been appointed commander.
But regardless, the fact remained unchanged—
The Southern Army had no Seventh-Tier bloodline user.
Across the entire Southern Region, there was only one Eighth-Tier bloodline user—
The Southern Duke.
「At a time like this, Count Shuvaric still wants to move against Red Eagle Territory？」 Akar could not understand.
「This is nobility。」 Anna spoke lightly. 「The danger at hand is never more important than the profit at hand. —Count Shuvaric’s scheme is in fact even more insidious. If White Mountain suffers this heavy blow, then when the War Summons arrives, the troops they can provide will be extremely weak. In that case, White Mountain’s forces will inevitably be merged into other legions and may not even have command authority。」
Hearing her meaning, Yam instantly understood: 「Count Shuvaric wants White Mountain completely destroyed？」
At that moment, no one spoke.
But they all understood one thing: as long as Count Shuvaric crippled White Mountain, once they were sent to the Southwestern front, their army would almost certainly be annihilated. By then, he wouldn’t even need to bear infamy to remove White Mountain—the thorn in his side, the splinter in his flesh—effortlessly.
This could hardly be called a covert plot.
It was an open plot.
「You anticipated Count Shuvaric？」
But Anna sharply noticed that Monica’s attitude showed no concern toward Shuvaric’s move.
Given how much Monica had previously valued the Soderbell Family, and her current desperate need to treat herself and Lily as allies, it was impossible for her to be indifferent to Shuvaric’s open scheme. Yet she wasn’t anxious at all. From Anna’s understanding of Monica, this could only mean she had made preparations.
「I merely tried to make use of his arrogance。」 Monica shook her head slightly. 「Whether it succeeds or not, I cannot say. Besides, this torrential rain has caused many accidents. At the very least, Red River Territory and Red Soil Territory cannot send troops north to aid, so White Mountain is still in grave danger。」
Hearing this, Yam and Akar grew anxious.
Although they were certain Monica had not betrayed White Mountain, its crisis was not resolved—in fact, it had become even more dangerous. The Aust Empire’s invasion of the Southwestern Region was likely no longer a secret. The War Summons might have already been sent from the Southern Army to Inner Bay Territory, awaiting only the Southern Duke’s seal.
But before that seal came, Count Shuvaric’s hatred toward White Mountain would surely erupt—
and even erupt early.
Still in White Mountain at this time were their father Ion and nephew Aches—luckily Liam, Cindy, and Angelina had gone to Gem Territory, away from the most dangerous front line of war. Otherwise, it would not only be Akar and Yam who were burning with worry.
Under the night, a legion swiftly crossed White Mountain’s border. The soldiers wore beast hides across their torsos and beast-hide aprons on their lower halves. In both hands they carried short axes, with several more strapped at their waists. Their faces bore savage expressions, making them look terrifying.
The commander of this legion was a man with a ferocious scar across his face.
【Wild Wolf】 Adema.
This was Adema’s second time stepping onto the land of White Mountain.
The first time he came, he had only been Second-Tier. And even then, he hadn’t truly fought White Mountain’s people. He had only forced them toward Eastern Mountain Territory, after which he led his wolf-men to plunder that land, quickly transporting the spoils back to Spring Breeze Territory,
while disguising the raid as if it had been done by White Mountain. This left Eastern Mountain so destitute that even though it had since gained a new bloodline noble, the land was so impoverished it could not muster a force of three hundred soldiers.
But this time, when he returned to White Mountain, he was no longer Second-Tier—
He was now a Third-Tier bloodline user.
He had successfully advanced into the 【Frenzied Wolf】 bloodline一Though he paid a heavy price in the process, even losing the ability to sire children forever, his strength had risen greatly.
However, this time, Baron Harris of Spring Breeze had not come personally, so both assaulting forces were under Adema’s command.
Though it seemed more dangerous, in truth his task was the easiest.
According to the mission division of the Fertile Plains’ three lords, the main assault on Westerburg was handled by Western Wind and Eastern Mountain. His Spring Breeze troops were responsible for cutting off Westerburg’s reinforcements and seizing the chance to strike White Mountain City.
So now, after crossing White Mountain’s border, Adema wasted no time, leading his wolf-soldiers forward. To avoid unnecessary conflict, he did not reveal himself near Westerburg but followed a strategy of hiding by day and moving by night,
bypassing Westerburg entirely and heading straight toward White Mountain City. He intended to strike first, causing chaos and panic before reinforcements arrived, then launch the siege with support.
This battle plan was not about annexing White Mountain,
but about annihilating all its living strength.
That included, but was not limited to, its soldiers, civilians, grain, and city infrastructure.
Of course, there was also a long Death List.
Lily Billy, Yam Soderbell, Ion Soderbell, Aches Soderbell, Cindy Soderbell—all were on it.
But Adema knew that Lily and Yam would not be in White Mountain City—they had gone to attend Marquis Visen’s funeral. Without Yam, the only Third-Tier bloodline user, White Mountain City in his eyes was no different from a stripped woman.
Thus, this was why Adema dared to bypass Westerburg with only one hundred fifty wolf-soldiers and assault White Mountain City. —Yes, compared to his first visit, when he commanded only eighty wolf-soldiers, his force had nearly doubled.
After two nights of rapid marching, Adema and his wolf-soldiers finally reached White Mountain City.
Looking at the nearly twenty-meter-high walls, his face showed only disdain.
Thanks to the wolves’ innate night vision, they needed no torches. Under Adema’s orders, they pressed close to the walls, throwing up grappling hooks. With axes in their mouths and at their waists, they climbed swiftly.
Perhaps in the silence of the night, the sound of hooks was too obvious. Soon, several soldiers leaned out from the walls to investigate.
Holding torches, they quickly saw the hooks fixed on the wall’s edge.
The sharp ones instantly understood the danger.
The fools even dared to lean further out to look down.
The climbing wolf-soldiers, already stirred into frenzy by bloodlust, saw someone show themselves and did not hesitate. They drew short axes and hurled them upward.
Screams rang out one after another.
「Enemy attack——」
A sharp cry rose along the walls: 「Sound the alarm bell!」
「Climb faster！」 Adema roared, hearing the shout. 「No need for stealth anymore! Get up quickly! Split off a squad to open the gates, jam the winch, and hold them! The rest, once gathered, attack with me！」
「Awoooo——」
All the wolf-soldiers let out howls, echoing Adema’s command.
Except for those tasked with holding the gates, who showed some discontent, the rest howled with excitement.
Because Adema’s orders meant one thing—
The hunt had begun!