The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

Chapter 1456 - 420: Twilight Province 5

Thomas glanced at the elderly man's tattered attire and fell silent.

After a moment, he said.

"Thank you for your advice, we will leave as soon as possible."

He had thought going to Dusk City might be better, as it is the capital of the Twilight Province, densely populated, and commercially prosperous.

But now, it seems that it's not a good place either, and they need to head further south.

Thinking of this, Thomas couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. He already regretted expanding his business to the Ryan Kingdom...

The Land of Knights wasn't as enticing as he had imagined.

Seeing the traveler who listened to advice, the elderly man nodded, revealing a comforting smile.

"So be it, you should head to the Royal Capital, which is still safe! As for the Twilight Province... This is not a place for outsiders like you, even our Provincial Governor can't deal with Kelan."

Thomas nodded solemnly.

"Thanks."

...

At the same time, in the Governor's Mansion of Dusk City.

Baron Elaric Valerius, the governor, was exhausted, rubbing his temples, eyes bloodshot, staring hard at the huge provincial map on the wall.

The map was filled with flags of all sizes, leaving the box without enough markers.

Each flag represented a piece of smoke, and the rebels with green turbans were spreading like mold, stretching from the depths of the Twilight Forest to the edges of Dusk City.

In contrast to the rebels' rise, the lion flags representing the kingdom's nobles had already fallen.

Those nobles, who claimed to value honor as life, either abandoned their territories and feudal duties and fled, or shrank with their house servants around their castles, hiding like timid turtles.

The peasants with grass forks couldn't break open their castles.

And regarding Extraordinary Power, those nobles conveniently had some advantages, fortunately not needing to thin their already scarce troops to clean up their messes.

Yet despite this, the situation in Dusk City remained dire because the issues in Twilight Province went beyond the rampant rebels, including a famine that had lasted nearly a year!

For now, he could only hope His Majesty the King dispatches his most elite Knight Order for reinforcement...

After all, this is the King's direct territory, and most of the land belongs to the Royal Palace. Surely he wouldn't ignore this place considering the annual taxes contributed by Dusk City.

Not long ago, he sent a letter seeking help to the Royal Palace, estimating that a reply should almost be due.

While Elaric was worrying about the future of Twilight Province, an attendant suddenly rushed in.

"Sir, a reply from the Royal Capital has arrived!" The attendant held a letter sealed with the royal fire wax seal, disregarding even knocking.

However, Elaric didn't blame him, instead his spirit lifted as he snatched the letter from the attendant's hands and tore it open.

Yet upon reading its contents, it was as if struck by lightning, he stood there stunned.

Not a word of reinforcement, not even a line of sympathy for the famine, merely a command in extravagant language that was downright bizarre—

[Baron Elaric Valerius, may Holy Light be with you. An ambassador from the Academic State, Leon, will soon arrive at Dusk City. You must showcase the prosperity and wealth of Dusk City to display the magnificence and honor of the Ryan Kingdom, let those old scholars in the Mage Tower open their eyes and see how far behind us they are...]

Elaric felt his chest constrict, for a moment it was as if his heart stopped, even forgetting to breathe.

Honor?

What is His Majesty saying?

His expression suddenly twisted, angrily crumpling the letter and hurling it at the bookshelf.

The attendant nearby was startled, not daring to utter a word, unable to understand why the governor was so furious.

Slumping into his chair, Elaric's chest heaved, his heart felt devoid of hope.

He didn't understand what His Majesty the King was thinking, he even began to suspect the letter carrying the hope of millions in the province hadn't reached the King at all.

As he was overwhelmed, a steady voice suddenly sounded from beside him.

"Sir, since the King's reinforcements are slow to arrive, perhaps... we can seek aid from Campbell Duchy."

The speaker was his most trusted advisor.

It was an elderly man with graying hair who picked up the crumpled letter, smoothed it out, and gently placed it back on the governor's desk.

Elaric suddenly looked up, shocked at the advisor, a flicker of reluctance in his eyes.

"Seeking aid from Campbell Duchy? Are you sure?"

His relationship with Edward Campbell was quite good; that young Grand Duke was a capable person, acted decisively, and wouldn't let him wait endlessly.

The advisor nodded gently, speaking in a calm tone.

"Desperate times call for expedient measures, we're in a critical period and need to overcome the immediate crisis first."

"Have you considered the repercussions?" Elaric chuckled bitterly, "That's akin to admitting the Royal Family can't control the northern territories!"

"I understand, sir, but the current reality speaks for itself... It's not just the nobles of Twilight Province abandoning their feudal duties, but also our esteemed King."

The advisor nodded, speaking calmly.

"Moreover, nominally, Duke Edward is His Majesty's vassal, asking him for troops poses no legal issue. Besides, if the blaze of the Green Forest Army crosses the Rapid River Castle in the southern Twilight Province, the next to suffer is his Duchy... I believe the Grand Duke will understand the situation; it's best to prompt him to act sooner rather than later."

"But what about the King?" Elaric's voice was somewhat hoarse, "His Majesty won't let me off..."

Abandoning Twilight Province would sentence him to death, but embarrassing the prideful King equally courts calamity.

The advisor softly said.

"For three years, don't worry."

"Reason?"

"No reason, it's something we need to strive for... or rather, you, sir."

The advisor's voice paused, a glint of fierce determination in his eyes, as if the weight of his words carried immense resolve.

"We must not only bring the Campbell Duchy's army in but ensure they gain enough from the war and enough incentive to continue fighting..."