The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

Chapter 1488 - 428: Siege and Famine (Part 3)

In that case, what the Sister said isn't without reason.

More importantly, his ultimate goal was to conquer Sparrow Wood Castle. And in this matter, the Green Forest Army leadership granted him great freedom in decision-making—as long as he could take the castle and complete the siege of Twilight City's capital, the process didn't matter.

After a long time, Brennan released his tightly clenched fist and unexpectedly shrugged, seemingly accepting it all.

"Alright," he muttered, "if it's necessary to conquer Sparrow Wood Castle... I'll cooperate with you until our contract ends."

At worst, I'll put it back on after we've taken the castle.

With that, he was the first to tear off the green turban from his head.

Seeing their leader do this, even though the other soldiers of the Green Forest Army exchanged glances, feeling somewhat uneasy, ultimately, they followed suit.

This group of rebels themselves were unaware that, imperceptibly, they were not only eating "Holy Maiden Carian's" food, following "Holy Maiden Carian's" commands, but even under "Holy Maiden Carian's" persuasion they completed a "change of flags"...

Actually, not only they, who inherently lacked opinion, but even Carian herself wasn't aware of the unintended accomplishment.

She was just following the instructions of the kind gentleman, orderly completing each of his assignments.

Carian showed a gentle smile, nodding approvingly at them, then turning to look at the family standing dazed in place.

"As you can see, we are no longer the Green Forest Army. Can we sit down and talk? I have many questions I'd like to ask you, and we can chat while we eat..."

"Yes, yes! I'll tell you everything I know, Holy Lady..." The elderly man nodded as if awakening from a dream, hastily stepping aside at the entrance.

The fact that they did so much for his family, if he still refused to cooperate, he would feel embarrassed himself...

...

The dark clouds looming over Twilight Province seemed to show signs of loosening, yet on the other side, within Sparrow Wood Castle, the atmosphere at this moment was oppressive like the sky before a storm.

In the lord's hall, Count Thelon Gard was pacing anxiously.

After hearing the military report from his subordinates, his obese body was continuously sweating, his eyes filled with anxiety shattered by fear.

Though he once was a brave Knight, a comfortable life had long dulled his edge and courage.

Moreover, he was now sixty years old, and even if he had the heart, he likely couldn't fulfill any ambition.

"A hundred thousand troops, they actually have a hundred thousand! Damn it, weren't this damned bunch starving? When did they breed so many?"

And those damned tax collectors!

Only now did he learn that the actual population living in his territory was an entire zero more than the numbers in his records!

Now, these madmen, armed with weapons from who knows where, have surrounded his castle tightly.

Moreover, they're looting and plundering everywhere, ruining the entire Sparrow Wood Territory!

Looking at the resolute middle-aged Knight beside him, Thelon complained in a pained voice, "Oh, Rayden, tell me, what should we do?"

The man named Rayden was a Knight who had been loyal to the Gard family for generations, and also a genuine Platinum Level warrior.

Seeing the confused Count, he calmly replied.

"No need for alarm, my Lord. The castle's defenses are rock solid, and the stockpiled food is enough for us to hold out for three years. As long as we tightly shut the gates, I can assure you they won't break in."

Furthermore—

The rebel army surrounding them likely doesn't truly have a hundred thousand; most likely, it's just exaggerated claims. The real situation is that those peasants can't even count how many people they have.

"Three years? What about after three years?" Count Thelon screamed, "Where's the reinforcements? The bastard in Twilight City can't be relied upon!"

For him, the peasants outside the castle had long become burdens that could be discarded at any time; the only concern was his own life and that of his family.

He even began to regret.

If he had known this rebel army would be so difficult to deal with, if he had known the Royal Capital had neglected his territory so much, he shouldn't have stayed in this castle!

Rayden spoke in a deep voice.

"Three years... even if reinforcements don't arrive, it's enough to starve everyone outside."

Thelon was momentarily stunned.

Just as he was about to say something, a guard ran in panting, interrupting with a breathless report.

"My lord! The rebels outside the... outside the castle are acting strangely!"

"What's strange?" Thelon jolted with fear, his face paling, "Have they started attacking the castle?"

Rayden also frowned, instinctively placing a hand on the hilt of his sword.

"No, on the contrary, while they've gathered outside the castle, they haven't set up siege equipment..." The guard hesitated for a moment before quietly revealing his observation, "Our sentries noticed that they seem to be... distributing food to aid the starving peasants outside the castle."

Distributing food?

Rayden froze, his expression gradually turning grim.

The reason for his grim expression wasn't the rebels' feigned benevolence, but because they had extra food to squander on unnecessary things.

He originally planned to starve the people outside.

But if these rebels have enough food to reach this surplus, then the ones likely to starve in the end could be those inside the castle.

Moreover, if thinking deeper...

Where is their food coming from?

Including the weapons they're holding.

These items clearly couldn't have appeared out of thin air.

Rayden's face became increasingly grim, as he gradually sensed a whiff of conspiracy. Though he had previously thought this rebellion was somewhat peculiar, the feeling was never as strong as it was now.

It wasn't just the Platium Level Knight who wore a serious expression; even standing beside him, Thelon showed a look of disbelief, almost suspecting there was an issue with his ears.

He pushed the guard aside, personally lifted the hem of his fine clothes, and climbed in a stumble onto the western wall of the castle, surrounded by a few guards.

And the scene that greeted him thereafter left the Count dumbfounded, frozen in place.

In the midst of the rebel camp, large pots were set up, cooking steaming wheat porridge. Soldiers were distributing the cooked porridge with bread to the long lines of starving peasants.

The bread was so fresh and white, wrapped in a layer of orange crust; he could virtually smell the aroma of freshly baked wheat just by looking!

The expected scene of bandits sharpening their knives towards the starving didn't appear; instead, it was replaced by a scene of orderly harmony.

And those peasants who should have harbored hatred for the rebels now showed a numbness of survival and even a hint of... gratitude?

Saint Sis above!

Had they all forgotten who it was that lifted their pot lids and scraped away their last bit of wheat hidden in the wall cracks?

Had they reconciled with them already?!

And those rebels... where did they conjure up so much food?!

Thelon couldn't believe what was before his eyes, scanning the crowd, soon discovering something that confused him further.

Though the soldiers still wore those varying tattered clothes, everyone had removed their green turban, replacing it with uncolored burlap tied to their shoulders.

Though it was just a tiny change, the entire army seemed transformed overnight, from a group of savage wolves into a bunch of devout... pilgrims?

It's like the sun came up from the west!

The bandits stopped robbing, and instead began disaster relief and aiding the people!

Thelon's heart was enveloped by a faint fear, born of the inability to comprehend what was happening. Surrounded by soldiers, his hand rested on the cold merlon, murmuring as he stared outside the moat.

"What exactly is going on?"

He would rather believe they were acting, that the cunning rebels would collect the bowls from the villagers in the next second.

Yet the image of those peasants wolfing down their food didn't appear to be deceitful...

"We're probably in trouble." Rayden walked to Thelon's side, staring at the scene outside the castle, speaking in a deep voice.

It didn't matter if the rebel army had one hundred thousand before.

Now they definitely do...