novelraw Chapter 347: Make decree
Chapter 347: Make decree
Word had reached the south that the Lord of the Dark Sea had chosen to support King Ernest instead of Edward.
When Edward heard it, he slammed his fist against the table.
"How dare he!" Edward shouted. "A merchant dares to choose my enemy over me, the rightful king?"
The court officials stood quietly. No one dared to speak.
Everyone in the kingdom knew the rumors about the Lord of the Dark Sea. His ships sailed across many seas. His trade routes reached distant lands. Some even said that his wealth could rival kingdoms.
Edward’s eyes turned cold.
If he could take control of that wealth, funding a war would no longer be difficult.
"If he wishes to support Ernest," he said slowly, "then he is no different from a traitor."
He immediately stood up.
"Prepare my horse."
"Your Majesty," a lord felt Edward wanted to act rashly.
"Today, we take over the harbor estate. War is funded by money," he declared. The lords and nobles felt he had a point, but such actions would bring disgrace.
Edward did not care what they thought. He continued to give orders.
Within a short time, Edward left the palace with several hundred soldiers.
Their destination was the Harbor Estate, the stronghold of the Lord of the Dark Sea in the south.
The estate stood beside the largest harbor in the region. Tall stone walls surrounded it, and behind the walls were warehouses filled with goods from many lands. Dozens of large ships rested in the harbor, their masts rising high like a forest of spears.
When Edward’s army arrived, the soldiers quickly surrounded the entire entrance.
The streets around the harbor became silent. Merchants and workers ran away in fear.
Edward sat on his horse and stared at the tall gates of the estate.
His lips curved into a cold smile.
A general beside him lowered his voice.
"Your Majesty, should we attack immediately?"
Edward looked toward the harbor where the ships were anchored.
"If we control this place," he said slowly, "we will control the sea trade of the south."
His eyes shone with greed.
"With that wealth, raising an army will be easy."
He raised his hand.
"Break the gates."
The soldiers moved forward with heavy logs to smash the gate.
But before they could strike, the gate slowly opened from the inside.
Edward frowned.
A group of guards walked out calmly.
They wore dark uniforms with a silver wave symbol on their chest, the mark of the Lord of the Dark Sea.
Behind them walked a tall man dressed in black.
He stopped a short distance away from Edward’s horse.
The man bowed slightly.
"Your Majesty," he said calmly.
Edward’s eyes narrowed.
"Where is your master?"
"The Lord of the Dark Sea is not here."
Edward’s expression darkened.
"Not here?" he repeated. "Then what of the steward?" Edward wanted to see the steward he had met the last time, the one who was said to know the Lord of the Dark Sea’s identity.
"My master left the harbor yesterday. He went to carry out my lord’s instructions," the man answered.
Edward gripped the reins of his horse tightly.
"Where did he go?"
The man smiled faintly.
"I do not know."
Edward knew the man was lying, but there was nothing he could do.
His gaze slowly moved past the open gates and toward the warehouses inside the estate.
If the steward had truly left, then this place was nothing more than an empty shell.
But even an empty shell might still hold great wealth.
Edward turned to his soldiers.
"Search the estate," he ordered coldly.
"Take everything of value."
The man who spoke to him signaled the guards to let them in.
The soldiers rushed inside immediately.
Edward also followed the men inside. A few stayed back to guard him.
The men in black also walked in. They stood still and watched Edward’s men rush in all directions, searching the warehouses and every courtyard.
But after a long time, the generals returned with troubled faces.
"Your Majesty..."
Edward frowned.
"What is it?"
"The warehouses are almost empty."
Edward’s expression froze.
"Empty?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," the general said nervously. "Most of the goods must have been moved away. Looking at the few ships left, it is the only logical conclusion."
Edward suddenly understood.
The Lord of the Dark Sea had already prepared for this.
He had taken his wealth and left before Edward arrived.
Edward’s face turned red with anger.
"That cunning snake!" he roared.
The soldiers around him lowered their heads.
Edward stared at the harbor.
The sea wind blew strongly, moving the empty sails of the ships.
The place that should have been filled with riches now felt like a cruel joke.
Edward’s voice became cold again.
"Seize all the men," Edward said. Even if he felt they were of little use, he still wanted to vent his anger.
As the soldiers moved forward to seize the men, the opened gate began to close.
King Edward and his men sensed something was wrong.
The man in black, who looked responsible a few moments ago, suddenly drew his sword.
"Your Majesty, since you walked in here today, do not think of leaving," he said, raising his sword.
Clash.
In one move, the battle began.
The battle ended faster than Edward expected.
At first, Edward believed his soldiers would easily defeat the guards of the harbor estate. After all, he had brought trained soldiers from the royal army.
But the moment the gates closed, more men appeared.
They came out from hidden doors in the walls, from behind the warehouses, and even from the ships at the harbor.
They were all dressed in the same dark uniform with the silver wave mark.
Edward’s eyes widened.
"These are not just guards," one of his generals said in shock.
These men moved like trained warriors. Their attacks were fast and precise. It was clear they had fought many battles before.
Edward’s soldiers were quickly pushed back.
Steel clashed against steel. Shouts and cries filled the harbor estate.
Edward tried to command his men.
"Hold the line!" he shouted.
But the situation had already turned against them.
The warriors of the Lord of the Dark Sea fought in perfect coordination. They moved like a single unit, surrounding Edward’s men from all sides.
One by one, Edward’s soldiers fell.
Some were injured. Others threw down their weapons when they realized they could not win.
Less than an hour later, the fighting stopped.
The ground of the courtyard was filled with defeated soldiers.
Edward’s sword was knocked out of his hand.
Before he could react, several blades were already pointed at his chest.
His remaining guards had been captured.
Edward’s face turned pale with anger and disbelief.
"How dare you!" he shouted. "Do you know who I am?"
The man in black stepped forward slowly.
His expression was calm.
"Of course we know," he said.
"You are Edward... the man who wished to rob this estate."
Edward clenched his fists.
"I am the king!"
The man in black gave a small smile.
"Not anymore."
With a signal from him, the guards quickly surrounded Edward and tied his hands.
Edward struggled.
"You fools! When my army hears of this, they will destroy this place!"
But no one seemed afraid.
The man in black looked at him quietly.
"Your Majesty," his voice sounded sarcastic, "you should worry about your own fate first."
Edward was forced to his knees.
The harbor wind blew across the courtyard as the captured soldiers were gathered together.
The once proud king now looked like a defeated prisoner.
The man in black turned to one of the guards.
"Send a message to His Majesty King Ernest."
He paused before continuing.
"Tell him... the fish he was waiting for has entered the net."
Hearing these words, Edward’s gaze turned worried, but he refused to admit defeat even if he could guess why Ernest had insisted on being crowned. The moment Ernest was crowned, he could make decrees.
Edward could not believe he had lost without even fighting a real war. Ernest must have deliberately pushed him to the seventh region. It had been planned from the beginning. Ernest and the Lord of the Dark Sea must have been cooperating for a long time.
He could see everything clearly now, but it was already too late.