novelraw Chapter 519: Wyre Duchy
Chapter 519: Wyre Duchy
By this time, the battle within Karndorf Fortress had already spread all the way inward. Mountain Eagle Parker, relying on the Tier-2 Mage Tower and his Spellcaster Division, was exchanging bombardments with the two 4th-tier Mages on the opposite side across the open air.
Yes, exchanging bombardments across the open air.
But the casualties were entirely the soldiers of both sides.
Every time the two 4th-tier Mages of the attacking side released the Sequence 5 Fire Meteors, only one could be intercepted. The remaining one would detonate on an important defensive node of Karndorf Fortress, causing countless casualties.
But the Tier-2 Mage Tower, under the control of a Rank 3 Caster, fired a Great Fireball every ten seconds, and several Medium Fireballs would also rain down onto the formations of the siege soldiers.
Whenever the siege soldiers captured a crucial location for street fighting, they were greeted by Great Fireballs descending from the sky.
Even the elite legion squads couldn't withstand it for long.
This was simply like standing like sitting ducks to be executed!
It just depended on who could hold out longer!
Under these circumstances, individual martial prowess no longer had much effect, unless one could form a Legion Skill—specifically, a Defensive Legion Skill capable of utilizing units of fifty people."This kind of siege and defense battlefield is the true comfort zone for the Mage Class!"
Li Yue spoke faintly. Her face was somewhat pale. Even though she considered herself to have seen some grand spectacles, the sheer brutality of this less-than-half-hour siege and defense battle across the river still left her mind reeling and deeply shocked.
This included Li Wei as well. Only now did he understand and realize just how childish his previous words about wanting to grab a King title and rule had been.
In a Medium Magic World, as long as there was a sufficient supply of mana, the intensity of war would be countless times higher than that of a Low Magic World.
Because in a Low Magic World, even if both sides had 4th-tier Mages, it would be impossible to furiously bombard everything as if they possessed endless mana.
Damn it, did it really have no consequences at all?
No, there were consequences.
Because at this moment, the two 4th-tier Mages of the Maclay Legion suddenly stopped releasing Fire Meteors. Instead, they cast magic shields over the soldiers who had already broken into the fortress's third-tier terrace wall—the final wall.
In the next second, all the soldiers of the attacking side retreated like a receding tide, simultaneously taking away all the gold cards and purple cards dropped by their fallen comrades, naturally including the gold and purple cards of the fallen garrison soldiers as well.
In just a dozen or so seconds, they evacuated the battlements!
Boom! The magic shields shattered.
But the garrison was powerless to pursue. Although Mountain Eagle Parker could rely on the Tier-2 Mage Tower to launch Fire Meteor strikes, the opposing two 4th-tier Mages could calmly intercept them, easily blocking both medium and small fireballs as well.
As for the garrison's giant ballistae and trebuchets, they had also been targeted and blown apart one by one during the brutal slaughter just now!
The war ended in this bizarre manner.
The Maclay Legion had lost at least fifteen thousand soldiers, but all their gold and purple cards had been recovered.
The garrison had lost at least five thousand men, yet nearly four thousand of their gold and purple cards had been snatched away.
Under the major premise that both sides could resurrect, who exactly had won, and who had lost?
Subsequently, even Mountain Eagle Parker, or Li Wei and Li Yue, could only watch helplessly as the Maclay Legion calmly retreated and then moved their entire army to the west bank of the Ness River via the pontoon bridge.
Wait, they weren't going to attack his side, were they?
Li Wei suddenly felt a stir in his heart at this moment, only to see a cavalry unit kicking up dust on the east bank of the Ness River.
Holy shit, it was Falcon Karl. He had finally led his cavalry to provide support at the last minute, but his support was entirely pointless.
Because he, too, was powerless to pursue. The cavalry he led numbered less than fifteen hundred; he wouldn't dare cross the river to chase the Maclay Legion led by two 4th-tier Mages no matter what.
However, it seemed the Maclay Legion and the Karndorf Legion didn't intend to just retreat like this. Instead, they began to continue expanding and building permanent fortress strongholds on the west bank of the Ness River.
The enemy's confidence was still very robust.
"We shouldn't have any part to play in what follows! The war is about to end."
Li Wei suddenly sighed.
Li Yue was taken aback, looking thoughtful. "Because of the Neanderthals?"
"Yes. Aside from the impact of Duke Brennus's assassination, the Neanderthals absolutely have some major movements recently. Therefore, Duke Wyre and Duke Kadel have accelerated their land-grabbing maneuvers. But this kind of war isn't a fight to the death; it's more like a clash of interests and a carving up of territory—"
Before Li Wei's words could finish, lines of faction notifications rapidly emerged.
【Faction Notification!】
【Falcon Karl led 1,500 heavy cavalry to reinforce Karndorf Fortress through the night, consecutively routing four defense lines of Duke Kadel's faction, and arrived at the battlefield at the most critical moment of the war, successfully saving Karndorf Fortress. He has gained 50 points of World Reputation.】
【Mountain Eagle Parker led his soldiers, with the assistance of Gray Wolf Li Siyuan, to resolutely defend Karndorf Fortress and successfully repel the Maclay Legion's attack. He has gained 50 points of World Reputation. According to Faction Rules, Faction Leader Falcon Karl has gained 25 points of World Reputation. His cumulative World Reputation is 515 points, and his reputation status is Gaining Renown.】
【Faction Notification!】
【Our supreme leader, Duke Wyre, has affirmed the profound significance of the Battle of Karndorf Fortress. This battle has basically established our faction's ruling position and natural legal rights on the east bank of the Ness River. It has also dealt a heavy blow to Duke Kadel. Having suffered enough hardships in this war, he has agreed to peace talks and agreed to jointly announce the recognition of territories.】
【Our supreme leader, Duke Wyre, and the enemy supreme leader, Duke Kadel, have announced negotiations and signed a five-year Peace Treaty. According to this treaty, both sides have determined their respective spheres of influence and recognized the legitimacy of the territory occupied by the other side, certified by the Nine-Star Council. If either side initiates an unprovoked attack during the binding period of the five-year Peace Treaty, 500 points of World Reputation will be deducted.】
【Our supreme leader, Duke Wyre, announces the recognition that the majority of the area on the west bank of the Ness River belongs to Duke Kadel! Simultaneously, he recognizes that Duke Kadel possesses half of the pioneering rights to the Whispering Forest, ownership of the Kadel Swamp, and ownership of the majority of the Locke Mountains on the west bank of the Ness River!】
【The enemy supreme leader, Duke Kadel, announces the recognition that the majority of the area on the east bank of the Ness River belongs to Duke Wyre. Simultaneously, he recognizes that Duke Wyre possesses half of the pioneering rights to the Whispering Forest, half ownership of the Gumodo Basin, and ownership of the northern and southern foothills of the Locke Mountains on the east bank of the Ness River!】
【Global Proclamation!】
【The former Duke Wyre, with a Tyrant Start, has officially established the Wyre Duchy on the Ascension Continent. He has gained 500 points of World Reputation, and his current reputation status is Famous Throughout the Realm (1500 points).】
【The former Duke Kadel, with a Tyrant Start, has officially established the Kadel Duchy on the Ascension Continent. He has gained 500 points of World Reputation, and his current reputation status is Famous Throughout the Realm (1428 points).】
【Faction Order!】
【Your Marshal, Falcon Karl, commends your meritorious service in assisting the defense of Siyuan Keep over the past period. But now that we have crawled out of the quagmire of this damned war, it is time to lead your soldiers back to your territory.】
【Because of the merit you achieved in this battle, your Faction Leader, Falcon Karl, has decided to formally enfeoff Liwei Keep to you. You and your descendants shall inherit this land for generations, and you will receive the protection and legal recognition of the Wyre Duchy. A portion of the area surrounding Liwei Keep will officially become your legitimate territory. Simultaneously, you will be permitted to fish in the Ness River or engage in shipping and establish a port.】
【Please ensure you evacuate from Siyuan Keep within 24 hours. Please note that from now on, without the Marshal's order, you may not lead more than 50 soldiers across other lords' territories, otherwise it will be deemed an invasion, unless you receive an invitation or apply in advance.】
【Warning: If you lead more than 50 soldiers into other duchies recognized by the Wyre Duchy, it will be considered as arbitrarily instigating border provocations, and you will face severe punishment!】
Holy shit?
Duke Wyre and Duke Kadel were the first to establish nations?
Although what they established first were duchies, this speed was way too fast. Had they never considered the possibility of being a monkey in a crown, or merely a trailblazer for a king?
Li Wei was greatly shocked, but perhaps these two had other schemes; it wasn't impossible.
After all, establishing a nation sounded much better than being rebellious officials and treacherous sons when it came to legitimacy.
"Let's go. Pack up our things and retreat."
Li Wei directly issued the order through the Pioneering Card. Two hours later, the entire army returned to Liwei Keep. However, before he even took off his armor, the official sent by Falcon Karl to determine the territorial boundaries arrived.
"Fifteen miles south of Liwei Keep is the territorial boundary between you, My Lord, and Lord Mountain Eagle Parker."
"And thirty-five miles north of Liwei Keep is the territorial boundary between you, My Lord, and Lord Fieldsvae."
"To the west, it stops at the midline of the Ness River. To the east, it can extend outwards for fifty miles."
"The above is your legitimate territory, My Lord. Please ensure you abide by the duchy's laws and respect the rights and interests of other lords."
"However, Lord Falcon Karl, following the Duke's orders, is willing to carve out an independent territory for Viscountess Scorpion. Please make time to receive it."
"I refuse, and I have zero interest in it! Now you can get out!"
Li Yue rebuked sharply, driving the official away. She then looked at Li Wei and asked worriedly, "I have this feeling of being discarded after serving my purpose, or that a thick malice is brewing. What do you think about this?"
Li Wei pondered for a moment and suddenly said, "He's not Falcon Karl's man. Although he claims to have been sent by Falcon Karl, in reality, he should be Mountain Eagle Parker's man. We didn't take the initiative to send troops to help in the siege battle just now, so we probably offended him. Of course, more simply, it's just green-eyed envy."
"Is there something wrong with him? A dignified son of a Duke, a grand Marquis, and he lacks even this little bit of broad-mindedness?" Li Yue frowned.
"It's hard to say. Maybe it's because our losses weren't heavy enough, or maybe they never trusted us to begin with, feeling that we would rebel sooner or later. In fact, are there few people who feel this way? Whether it's Mountain Eagle Parker, Fieldsvae, Li Siyuan, including several others, which of them would truly treat us as their own people? We ourselves haven't treated ourselves as Falcon Karl's own people either, right?"
"Therefore, if we truly get angry over this, and truly want to rebel because of it, the only ones who will suffer losses are us and Falcon Karl."
"Understand? It was Falcon Karl who strongly insisted, it was him who kept trying to pull us into his faction. He has no reason to start subjecting us to petty sabotage and stirring up trouble, forcing us to rebel, in less than half a year! Only those whose interests are damaged, only those whose vision isn't broad enough and who like to rank by seniority, would feel that if loyalty isn't absolute, then it's absolutely disloyal."
"And precisely because of that, in their eyes, this is practically our original sin! Even if we make massive contributions, we still bear this original sin because we aren't absolutely loyal. They'd use a magnifying glass to pick at our faults. Perhaps Falcon Karl hasn't had time to deal with such trivial matters and details, but this kind of malice can be bluntly expressed until we are forced into rebellion."
"At that time, they will say, 'Look, this is what happens when loyalty isn't absolute; it's absolute disloyalty. They can't be tamed.'"
Speaking up to this point, Li Wei seemed somewhat emotional, and also somewhat helpless, as if this was an unavoidable problem that would appear in any team.
Were there no people in his own ranks who judged solely based on absolute loyalty?
Li Yue and the Blazing Legion had made so many contributions, yet weren't they similarly gossiped about behind their backs? Weren't their various faults picked at? When it came to only striking heavily against one's own people, they were quite a rivalry of equals with Mountain Eagle Parker and his ilk.
Had the top and bottom ranks of the Royal Guard ever said anything? But there were just some people running out to speak in a sarcastic and cynical manner in the name of the Royal Guard.
It could only be said that it was a heavy burden and a long road ahead.
"Moving forward, just bide our time as much as possible. It's the same old saying: I'm willing to trust Falcon Karl. This is our only way out at this stage."
Li Wei sighed. The reason Mountain Eagle Parker dared to bluntly play such tricks was simply because the overall situation was already set.
The two major factions, the Wyre Duchy and the Kadel Duchy, had already formed a true power layout around the Locke Mountains. The emergence of a third faction would no longer be tolerated.
Unless Li Wei wanted to be hunted down by the combined forces of the two major duchies!