Noble Affairs Are Always So Awful

Count Sebastian sighed, his expression heavy as he said, "The situation is grim. The half-orc attacks are growing fiercer, and our losses are severe.

About half a month after you left, Baltahan's Third Army was assaulted by the half-orcs. Their forces numbered tens of thousands, all fully armored warriors.

The Third Army lost many elites. The King was furious, but he knew the Legion Commander bore no fault for this calamity, so he ordered the other six legions to deploy immediately and force those half-orcs to scatter."

Henry understood everything after hearing this. No wonder the half-orcs they'd encountered were so easily crushed. The truly elite half-orc warriors had all gone north, leaving only ordinary garrison forces behind.

Perhaps the half-orcs never expected that a small band of humans would be bold enough to venture deep into unknown territory.

Boman grinned, showing his big teeth, and laughed, "Looks like we got lucky, dodging the half-orc army entirely."

Glen asked, "So, those destitute, exiled noble bands and mercenary groups—you sent them out to distract the half-orcs?"

"Of course. They came uninvited anyway, so I sent them to stir up trouble."

"By the way, Count, we found a large stack of parchment. Do you have any scholars who study half-orc script?"

Count Sebastian eagerly took the bundle of parchment Glen handed him and said, "Your rewards will be even greater, I promise! Even if this turns out to be smutty fiction."

Everyone burst into laughter, even if the joke wasn't that funny.

"Alright then, summon all the nobles immediately. I'm calling a meeting."

Henry and the others had no objection and followed Count Sebastian into the conference room to wait.

Soon, they saw a large group of officers in various armor, their expressions stern, file into the conference room and sit at the very back.

Each wore a grave look. They knew what Count Sebastian's meeting today meant... war had officially begun.

After a while longer, nobles in Imperial Robes arrived one after another, their eyes immediately landing on Henry and the other four knights.

Damn, that's truly impressive! News that Henry's group had returned alive with plenty of spoils had already spread through the camp.

Comparing people drives you to death; comparing goods makes you want to throw yours away!

With Baron Nurland and his ilk setting such a "fine example," it only elevated Henry's group's reputation a notch higher.

If others can't do it but you can, then you're the real deal.

"You're still alive?"

Baron Nurland, entering from behind, stared at Boman and the others as if he'd seen a ghost. His expression was so ridiculous he could've been a comedy clown.

"Oh? Does the Baron wish for us to die at the hands of the half-orcs? How heartbreaking."

Boman was very familiar with Baron Nurland's temperament—after all, he considered himself the Baron's rival in love—and knew exactly how to provoke him quickly.

"Hmph! Lucky bastards."

Boman shrugged and said, "Of course, we're academy students, so naturally we're lucky. We have the Dean's blessing!"

"You!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Count Sebastian slapped the table and walked to the front, gesturing for everyone to find a seat. They all sat down, and the conference room fell silent.

"Everyone, we face a grim situation," Count Sebastian said bluntly.

"The half-orcs have pressed close to the border. They are numerous, strong in combat, and bloodthirsty. The King is furious about the Third Army's fate. We must take forceful measures to strike back."

Baron Nurland was in a foul mood and didn't want to hear the Count's rambling. He asked, "So, Legion Commander, what's your plan?"

"Take the initiative, strike deep into half-orc territory, find their weaknesses, and attack them."

Baron Nurland was deeply dissatisfied with Count Sebastian's answer. It was complete nonsense!

"Of course we need to find the half-orcs' weaknesses and attack them! But right now, we don't know where their army's weaknesses lie!

In this hunt, we lost over four hundred men. Viscount Iva Roningen's entire unit was wiped out by the half-orcs!

Are we supposed to throw our lives away because of your command? And your plan doesn't sound particularly effective."

Count Sebastian snorted coldly and barked, "Baron Nurland! You failed in battle, and now you dare talk back to me!"

Court nobles ranked below powerful Independent Nobles, but on the battlefield, they had to obey the Legion Commander!

Baron Nurland took a deep breath, stood up reluctantly, bowed to the Count in apology, and continued, "Legion Commander, I have no intention of defying you. You are the commander here—even a Duke would follow your orders.

But I cannot accept such unreasonable commands and tasks. Are you trying to send me to my death?"

Glen stood up at this, staring at Nurland, and said, "Baron, you'd better shut your mouth. Your failure is your own incompetence, not the Legion Commander's faulty orders.

Why did we succeed? We burned down a half-orc tribe and killed over two hundred half-orcs.

Their piled heads are taller than the grain in your fief's granary!

Knight Henry alone killed a Centaur and three Minotaurs! Why couldn't you do it?"

The people in the conference room began murmuring among themselves, the noisy chatter making Nurland's face twist with anger.

Henry sighed helplessly. Clique culture was everywhere. He hadn't meant to provoke Nurland, but because of Boman, Nurland now saw Henry as part of Boman's group.

Now Glen had dragged him into it without asking, clearly thinking that since they were all from the academy, they were on the same side.

Sigh. Why were nobles always so insufferable?

"Oh? Is that so? Then you must be truly powerful! Since Knight Henry is so formidable, why did he lose to Earl John's second son, Audoh, in the Arena Tournament?"

Others quietly distanced themselves from Nulun's position, staring at him as if he were an idiot.

They believed Glen wouldn't lie—a Half-Orc's head couldn't be faked. Henry must truly be strong.

A Knight this fierce—why would you go out of your way to provoke him?

Henry let out a ha of laughter, strode over, and slapped Nulun across the face, saying sternly, "Nulun, you are insulting my noble dignity! You are questioning my strength! You are challenging the Bro Family, enfeoffed by the Great King!"

Nulun, having taken a heavy slap to the face, raised his fist to strike back, only to be kicked to the ground by Henry.

This kick carried twenty-one points of force—could you withstand it?

Nulun climbed back up, clutching his face, and screamed hysterically, "I challenge you—and Boman!—to a Life-and-Death Duel!"

Boman: Huh? Me?