Chain Reaction

The raging flames consumed thousands of bodies, and even Hudson, who considered himself to have a heart of stone, couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.

Although the battle during the day was a great victory, the cost was also extremely heavy. There were over two hundred new wounded, and more than seven hundred people were sent off with the flames.

Just surrounding those five Silver Skeletons resulted in over three hundred casualties. If Hudson hadn't reacted quickly enough and fully utilized his knowledge of physics, this loss would have been even greater.

Despite the apparent victory, the supply convoy was actually severely weakened. If the Rebel Army and the defending forces had similar numbers, the outcome of this war would have been truly difficult to predict.

It wasn't that the Rebel Army couldn't be defeated; the main issue was the critical responsibility of transporting the grain and fodder. Compared to victory or defeat on the battlefield, successfully delivering the supplies to their destination was the core of this mission.

If not for the burden of the logistics, Hudson was confident he could have engaged in a rookie brawl with the Rebel Army on the battlefield.

Everything stemmed from the Rebel Army's "superb" command capabilities. He had initially thought the charge of the noble knights was foolish enough, but he hadn't expected the Rebel commander's abilities to be just as mediocre.

Even though the Rebel commander had no bottom line or principles and would do anything, his military acumen was truly lacking.

From this perspective, the noble ruling class's successful suppression of knowledge and guidance of "values" among the common people was evident.

Even though the rebel organization had existed for countless years, under the guise of "might makes right," they had still neglected the cultivation of military talent.

Priests should have stayed as priests, but they insisted on being clever and leading armies into battle. Relying on secret arts and potions, they could bully less knowledgeable low-ranking nobles, but when faced with opponents with slightly stronger military capabilities, they were instantly exposed.

In theory, the decision to intercept the grain supplies was strategically sound. However, in terms of tactical execution, it was a complete mess.

Insufficient preparation and a lack of basic military knowledge led to their plans being exposed prematurely. An ambush that should have maintained the initiative ultimately devolved into a forced assault.

Vaguely discerning a hint of the world's essence, Hudson began to mourn for the Skull Society.

Not only were they struggling in a giant pit, but they had also been fooled, all while fantasizing about a comeback. It was truly a pipe dream.

Frankly speaking, Hudson had never understood what the Skull Society truly wanted.

Engaging in the business of rebellion, even if not aiming for lofty political manifestos, they should at least have had a supporting interest group or represented the interests of a particular faction.

Looking at the Skull Society's actions: viewing nobles as sworn enemies, treating serfs as expendable, and seeing merchants as mere blood bags... it could be said that from the moment they raised their arms, they had offended every group.

Calling them rebels was even a compliment. An organization that opposed all sane individuals, the Skull Society truly deserved its reputation as a cult.

Compared to the actual losses, the battle achievements were much more arbitrary. Hudson couldn't be bothered to meticulously tally the specific achievements; a rough estimation based on the battlefield situation was sufficient.

"Defeated four thousand elite rebels, annihilated two thousand five hundred and seventy rebels, killed eighty-one rebel leaders, eliminated five Silver Skeleton-level undead, and captured various strategic materials."

There was no choice; the Griffon Cavalry was still watching from above. Exaggerating the battle achievements too much would easily lead to exposure.

However, not exaggerating the battle achievements was also impossible. The merit gained from quelling rebellions was inherently at the bottom of all military commendation sequences in the kingdom.

If the strength of the enemy wasn't exaggerated and the battle achievements weren't inflated, who would know how difficult this war was? Who would remember the contributions of Knight Hudson?

To enhance credibility, Hudson had emphasized in great detail the importance of preserving the grain and supplies, directly elevating this small-scale war to a strategic level.

He wasn't sure how effective it would be, but by using the opportunity of reporting battle losses, Hudson had legally "misappropriated" a significant amount of supplies.

He couldn't consume the misappropriated supplies himself; most of them would be used for bribery.

Falsehoods could never become truth. If anyone were to scrutinize his report, Hudson's battle report was riddled with loopholes. Without properly smoothing things over with the relevant parties, inflated battle achievements couldn't be substantiated.

With this military merit, coupled with the previous Battle of Ethel Fortress, Hudson would likely secure a territory when the spoils of war were distributed after the conflict.

As for the size and quality of the territory, it would depend on the Coslo Family's connections within the Southeast Province.

At this point, it was no longer something Hudson's short-term efforts could influence.

All he could do was manage relationships properly, not expecting them to help, but merely to not interfere. Ultimately, it would still come down to the strength of his family.

At the allied forces' command center, Count Pierce, who had just repelled a rebel sneak attack, felt as if he had been on a roller coaster.

The Skull Society didn't play by the rules, not only launching sneak attacks on the march but even dispatching troops to raid the supply convoy.

Fortunately, that young fellow named Hudson had some skill and thwarted the rebels' sneak attack plan. Otherwise, he would now have to lead his main force and retreat in disgrace.

Thinking of this, his resentment towards the Fifth Army surged again. They hadn't properly escorted the grain but had gone off to rob on their own, completely disregarding him.

Despite his anger, he was currently powerless against these audacious individuals. Ever since they had separated from the main force, these guys had disappeared from his sight.

The area covered by two prefectures was not small. If a small unit of a few hundred men was determined to hide, even the Griffon Cavalry wouldn't find them easily.

Moreover, the Griffon Cavalry was limited in number and had to prioritize monitoring the Rebel Army's movements, leaving them no time to search for them.

With no contact, accountability was impossible. He would have to wait for them to return before settling any scores.

It wasn't just the Fifth Army acting in bad faith; even the nobles under his nose were not entirely well-behaved.

The Griffon Cavalry, responsible for reconnaissance, had reported more than once that some individuals were privately leaving the main force for their own gain. Perhaps because they were under his direct supervision, their actions were more restrained, always returning quickly.

Given that they hadn't caused any major trouble, Count Pierce had turned a blind eye for the sake of the bigger picture.

He hadn't taken action, but he had kept a record of it in his heart. Count Pierce was perfectly aware of which nobles were law-abiding and which were acting recklessly.

"Hmph!"

After a cold snort, Count Pierce looked at the moon outside the window and muttered to himself, "It seems I've been too lenient with them, which is why these fellows have all become so arrogant.

It's not enough that I don't hold them accountable; they truly think I can't do anything to them. It seems it's time to let them know who the true master of the Southeast Province is.

If it weren't for the fear of being coveted by that fellow in the Royal Capital, the Southeast Province would have long been the domain of my Dalton Family..."