Orc Invasion

When the banquet time arrived, the noble group returned to a state of harmony, as if the events of the day had never happened.

Such a quick acceptance of reality naturally made the nobles easy to talk to.

People uphold the rules not only to uphold Royal Authority but also to limit Royal Authority; in essence, it is to protect their own interests.

As is customary, when the King behaves too wildly, people will come to advise him and bring him back on the right track.

The current harmony can only be explained by one thing: the situation in the Northern Frontier is tense, and the kingdom needs to strengthen its central authority.

There is precedent for this; during each major war, the central government of the Alpha Kingdom would strengthen its power in order to better combat the Beastfolk invasions.

The only exception was the last major war.

Because the King was too weak and the central government lacked prestige, it failed to coordinate the various forces to fight together, which led to the Alpha Kingdom losing cities and territories and suffering heavy losses.

A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit.

At this critical juncture, even though no one wants to see Caesar III further strengthen his Royal Authority, the major powers have no choice but to grit their teeth and accept it in order to better resist the Beastfolk invasion.

If nothing unexpected happens, there will be various tests and games to be played, with each side determining its bottom line.

As a newly promoted member of the middle nobility, Hudson was not yet qualified to participate in high-level power struggles; all he could do was wait quietly.

The welcome banquet for the newly promoted nobles was of a very high standard.

The Royal Capital's nobles gathered, and Caesar III himself came to deliver a passionate speech.

In the Royal Capital, where geniuses abound, the most eye-catching figures are no longer young talents like Hudson, but Princess Madelena.

A true prodigy, her appearance ignited the banquet.

Hudson has seen countless beautiful women, but none can compare to Princess Madelena.

It's not a matter of looks; judging solely from appearance and figure, Princess Madelena isn't exactly top-tier. However, there's one thing that makes up for all of these shortcomings.

Their innate noble temperament can leave a deep impression even from a distance.

"What are you looking at? You have a fiancée."

The familiar voice in his ear pulled Hudson back from his reverie.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief after seeing who it was.

He thought he was in big trouble because his fiancée had caught him red-handed, but he never expected that it was actually Isabelle imitating Melissa's voice.

"Miss Isabelle, you're going to scare people to death by playing like that!"

Hudson said irritably.

A songstress follows an artistic path, so being multi-talented is a basic requirement, and it's not surprising that she can do imitation shows.

He just couldn't understand which faction was so bored as to send such a beauty to keep an eye on him.

Hudson also developed deep suspicions about the kingdom's security system, which had allowed a songstress to infiltrate the kingdom disguised as a man.

If it were an assassin, wouldn't Caesar III be in danger?

Of course, ordinary assassins wouldn't be able to infiltrate and cause any trouble. Most of the nobles present were quite skilled, so protecting the emperor shouldn't be a problem.

"Hudson, what are you talking about? I am Lord Isabelle, not some young lady!"

Even when dressed in men's clothing, her alluring charm was impossible to conceal.

Hudson rolled his eyes at such a self-deceptive explanation. If Princess Madelena hadn't attracted everyone's attention, Isabelle would probably have been recognized long ago.

However, this explanation also explains why Isabelle was able to sneak in.

In the Alpha Kingdom, "Lord" is an honorific title for noble men, not a specific rank.

A songstress with noble status?

That seems plausible. A large forest has all sorts of birds, and with many nobles, all sorts of oddballs will appear.

The probability of a noble becoming a songstress is very low, but it is not uncommon for songstresses to obtain noble status.

Some lustful men often act without thinking, and in a moment of joy, they might directly bestow the title of noblewoman upon a songstress.

Such investiture is usually taken as a joke, and the mainstream circles would certainly not recognize it.

"Very well then, my esteemed Isabelle. You went to such lengths to sneak in, perhaps also to win Princess Madelena's favor?"

Hudson said with a hint of sarcasm.

It's nice to be favored by a beautiful woman, but if she has ulterior motives, that's a different story altogether.

As if a sore spot had been touched, Isabelle's face immediately turned ugly. The rivalry between women is even more intense than the competition between men.

Even though Princess Madelena has a superior figure and looks, she was still completely outclassed by her.

It can only be said that beauty and figure are worthless in the face of temperament.

Of course, if Isabelle also had a father who was a King and a mother who was a queen, then everything would be a different story.

"Hudson, are you deliberately trying to drive me away? Or perhaps you want to..."

As she spoke, Isabelle deliberately moved closer. The enticing aroma wafted over, making Hudson feel irritated.

I'm very clear-headed, but my body can't keep up; my hormone levels are skyrocketing.

"I'm sorry, Lord Isabelle. I'm only interested in women, especially beautiful women."

I'm very busy right now, this isn't the place to talk business. We can discuss this privately after the banquet.

After saying that, Hudson quickly turned and left.

It's not shameful to admit to desires, but it's a disaster to let desires control your body.

This is a public place, and any inappropriate behavior could be noticed by someone with ulterior motives.

"Urgent military report!"

The Griffon Cavalry descended from the sky and landed in the square in front of the palace. A sealed military report was delivered to Caesar III by the guards as quickly as possible.

"Urgent report from the Northern Frontier: the Beastfolk are amassing a large army at the front lines; war has begun!"

The banquet ended early, and the ministers followed me to an emergency meeting.

All feudal nobles, return to your territories immediately to raise troops and await the kingdom's summons!

Caesar III's words brought the banquet to an imperfect close.

Military reports from the front lines were the best hangover cure, instantly waking everyone from their decadent revelry.

Compared to the big news of the Beastfolk invasion, no woman is worth mentioning.

It's time to go back!

Hudson was quite dissatisfied with the hastily concluded Royal Capital to the capital. Many of his plans had yet to be implemented.

Having connections in the imperial court makes it easier to become an official. This opportunity to build connections and establish a network of relationships was thus prematurely lost.

These things can't be rushed; trying too hard to make connections will only make people feel resentful.

Early the next morning, Hudson and a group of nobles from the Southeast Province set off to return home, without even having time to say goodbye to Melissa.

With a major war imminent, everything must serve the war effort; no one has time for sentimentality.

Hudson could only entrust the affairs of the Royal Capital to his clansmen. In times like these, he could only rely on the power of his family.

Although the Coslo Family has declined for many years, the connections left by their ancestors have not been completely severed.

We hadn't been in much contact before, because as a relative who had fallen on hard times, I was too embarrassed to visit them.

After all, the world of the aristocracy is pragmatic. They only associate with those of the same caliber and with whom they have vested interests.

If a minor nobleman insists on squeezing into the upper circles, he will only become disliked. Even if it's through marriage, people will eventually become impatient.

Due to the unequal social status, direct visits naturally decreased as the older generation passed away, but the formal exchanges of etiquette never ceased.

Now that the Coslo Family has returned, Hudson, lacking connections, naturally wants to take over this family legacy.

I don't expect much help, but at least I'll have someone to guide me, so I don't have to stumble around blindly.

Unsurprisingly, the relationships that have been maintained to this day are basically those with close in-law ties from the original marriage.

A century is enough to change many people and things, even the most recent ones are from the third generation.

If it were any later, this last connection would likely fade away with time.

The Orc Empire, Crown Prince Alex's camp has arrived at the front lines.

The Behemoth Emperor's stance was too firm, and Alex, unable to sway him, had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to the front lines to command the army.

After all, decades have been wasted. Even if it was just acting, it has become a life habit imprinted on one's body.

Leaving behind the beautiful women of the manor, Alex felt unwell all over. Especially after entering the military camp to command a large army, he felt even more physically and mentally exhausted.

"Butzwig, the Five Great Royal Families' pre-battle meeting is about to take place, and I will be unable to attend to everything at that time. Please take care of matters in the army."

Compared to leading troops into battle, Alex felt that in his current state, he was better suited to playing politics.

The political maneuvering on the front lines is nothing more than a struggle for the right to speak during the war.

As the head of the Five Great Imperial Courts, regardless of the final outcome of the struggle, the Behemoth Imperial Court will be able to take the largest share of the pie.

When political interests are divided up, there is no unified standard, and ordinary people can't tell whether someone has gained or lost.

Leading troops into battle is different; it involves real fighting with swords and spears, and if you lose, the consequences are immediately apparent.

As the crown prince of the Behemoth Clan, Alex, lacking prestige, could not afford the risk of defeat.

Under these circumstances, no matter how much he feared his nephew's abilities, he had no choice but to entrust him with military affairs.

"Don't worry, Your Highness. I will handle the military affairs."

The Behemoth Clan army of 20,000 will arrive at the front line in ten days.

Of the 300,000 vassal race troops, 50,000 have already assembled, and the rest will be assembled within the next three months.

Add to that the 100,000-strong imperial army stationed on the border, and even our family alone would be enough to launch a large-scale war against humanity.

Prince Butzwig spoke slowly.

As a strong contender for the throne of the Behemoth Imperial Court, Prince Butzwig arrived at the front lines early to serve as Governor in order to accumulate military merits.

Unfortunately, Behemoth Emperor clearly favored his son, preferring to promote Alex, who was widely considered a good-for-nothing, rather than give him a chance.

Although he was dissatisfied, he understood the Behemoth Emperor's actions. The Orc Empire was not bound by many moral and etiquette constraints, and the succession of imperial power was never peaceful.

Behemoth Emperor a more capable crown prince were to replace him, he might very well be unable to wait and launch a coup to seize power prematurely.

In contrast, it's easier to control someone like Alex, who's a complete waste of space.

It doesn't matter if he indulges in sensual pleasures; I never expected him to amount to anything anyway.

What Prince Butzwig couldn't understand was why his shrewd grandfather would send this useless crown prince to command the army.

Fortunately, this supposedly useless uncle wasn't really just a womanizer. While his military command skills were certainly lacking, he knew how to delegate authority.

"Butzwig, this war is not like the previous tests; once it begins, it will not be over in a year or two."

My Behemoth Clan race is small in number, and every soldier is precious; we must not waste them on the battlefield lightly.

The Five Great Royal Families, though seemingly united as one family, are actually fighting their own battles.

On the battlefield, our enemies are not only humans, but we must also beware of knives from within.

"Your responsibility is now immense; any oversight could lead to devastating losses for my Behemoth Clan."

Crown Prince Alex gave a heartfelt reminder.

He originally wanted to remain hidden, but he was thrust into the limelight and had no choice but to show some of his abilities.

If he continues to play dumb, he'll become a genuine fool. If something goes wrong at the front, his position as crown prince will be doomed.

As for whether it will arouse suspicion from the outside world, we've come this far, so why look back and forth?

They galloped along the horse trails, and by the time Hudson and his party arrived in the Southeast Province, the Royal Capital summons had already arrived.

Even if warhorses possess the bloodline of magical beasts, they are still creatures that run on the ground and cannot match the speed of those that fly in the sky.

Before he could return to his territory, Hudson was intercepted by the Governor's Mansion's men and invited to a military conference in Beda City.

Unlike the previous exclusion, at this crucial moment, Viscount Ciss, representing the Northern Nobles, also appeared in the conference room.

"We've been waiting for you guys. Now that all the important people are in place, I won't waste any more time."

As you've probably all heard, the Orc Empire has begun mobilizing, and the Kingdom has no choice but to follow suit.

According to intelligence gathered by the kingdom, the total force mobilized by the Orc Empire this time will exceed one million, and may even reach two million.

Even with the Warhammer Kingdom and the Moxi Duchy helping to share the burden, this is still a battle for our survival.

The kingdom must give it its all; any negligence will lead to a bloody lesson.

According to His King's summons, the Southeast Province will mobilize 30,000 troops within a month to reinforce the Northern Frontier defenses.

The list of the first batch of mobilized personnel is probably already in everyone's mind.

Those rich kids have nothing to do and no outlet for their energy, so let's give them a chance to serve the country.

I did the math, and besides these people, there are still 15,000 vacancies.

The shortage isn't too big, so I'm too lazy to break it down further. There are fifteen counties present, with each county sending one thousand people.

The requirements are simple: they must be presentable. Not just anyone can be sent to the front lines. Reinforcements are meant to defend the borders, not to deliver casualties to the Beastfolk.

You can discuss the specific allocation methods yourselves behind closed doors when you get back. In any case, you must follow the rules strictly; anyone who causes trouble will be severely punished.

As the kingdom's rear base, our Southeast Province is positioned towards the back of the mobilization list because we have always shouldered the heavy responsibility of being the kingdom's granary.

Before we lead our troops into battle when all-out war breaks out, we must make arrangements for the follow-up work.

From now on, we will supply the front lines with 15 million pounds of rye, 8 million pounds of potatoes, and 5 million pounds of... every month.

The specific tasks will be assigned to each county, and then you will be responsible for assigning them to each lord.

Don't try to play any tricks. The Governor's Mansion will send people to supervise, and the Kingdom will also send inspection teams to conduct spot checks.

Anyone who dares to cause trouble here will be treated as a traitor to the human race.

..."