War Is Coming

As evening fell, an urgent letter shattered the castle's peace.

The Skull Society had launched a rebellion in Dadir City. Numerous nobles, including Viscount Alphonse, had been massacred. Count Pierce, Governor of the Southeast Province, was furious and ordered the province's nobles to raise troops to suppress the revolt.

The consequences of poor communications erupted at this moment. The Skull Society's rebellion had begun over a month ago, yet the Coslo Family knew nothing of it.

The summons had already reached them, but Baron Redman still knew nothing of the situation at the front and could only passively obey the order.

In truth, even without intelligence, the severity of the situation was obvious. If it had been an ordinary rebellion, the surrounding lords would have joined forces and crushed it. There would have been no need to mobilize the entire province.

A single barony was required to raise five hundred men. The last mobilization of such scale had been during the Orc invasion a century ago, and that had been with time to prepare.

Issuing such an order now, Hudson thought Count Pierce had probably been driven so mad by the collapsing situation that water had gotten into his brain.

An army was not stronger simply because it had more men. A force of five hundred untrained serfs would not even match the Castle Guard in combat strength.

Worse still, everyone had only three days to prepare. Setting everything else aside, weapons, armor, provisions—those all needed to be readied, didn't they?

This was a purely obligatory summons. The man in charge was not even responsible for feeding them. Food and supplies had to be raised by everyone themselves. It would be strange if the people below did not resent it.

"Things are urgent. Hudson, what do you think of this summons?"

Baron Redman asked with a headache.

His two elder sons were absent. Now that trouble had arisen, he could only drag Hudson in to make up the numbers, since he seemed to possess some military talent.

As for the others in the territory, unfortunately, Baron Redman was a traditional noble and had no habit of consulting commoners.

"Father, the situation is still unclear. It would be unwise to commit the family's main force to battle.

"The summons only requires five hundred troops. We should draw five hundred young and able-bodied men, give them some basic training, and fulfill the summons first."

Hudson answered cautiously.

Though his family possessed only a guard force of several dozen men, it was Baron Redman's foundation, painstakingly accumulated over decades. If it were wiped out, the family would not recover for seven or eight years, perhaps even a decade.

In comparison, a Serf Army was worthless. Even losing several hundred men would not shake the foundation of the family's rule.

For nobles, war was not entirely a bad thing. At the very least, it could reduce the excess population.

"Mm. Dadir City is one of the Southeast Province's major cities. The local nobles were not weak, yet they were wiped out by the Rebel Army in one stroke. This matter is naturally far from simple.

"Unfortunately, I received the news too late. If we had prepared earlier and trained an elite force, perhaps your noble title would have been settled by now."

Baron Redman said regretfully.

An opportunity had appeared, but they could not seize it because they had not prepared sufficiently. It was clearly one of life's great tragedies.

Of course, he was only sighing over it. If Baron Redman were truly asked to risk everything, he might not have been able to do it.

At the end of the day, the Coslo Family already had shoes on its feet. Even if those shoes were not particularly comfortable, it was difficult for them to make up their minds and gamble everything.

"Father, there is no need to feel sad. This world has never lacked opportunities. Even if there are none, opportunities can be created. The key lies in strength.

"There should be quite a few people watching this rebellion. For the Rebel Army to expand so quickly, someone must have been fanning the flames behind the scenes.

"With our strength, even if we rendered great service on the battlefield, we would at most receive one or two Knight's Territories.

"Count Pierce's appetite is not very pleasant to look at. Following him and hoping to rise through the ranks will be anything but easy."

Hudson said with a sneer.

Though he had never slaughtered a pig himself, he had seen pigs run.

The rebellion had broken out more than a month ago. Not only had no army been organized to suppress it, but the news had not even spread. Without Count Pierce deliberately allowing it, that would have been impossible.

A man was innocent, but his treasure made him guilty.

The inheritance left behind by nobles without heirs had clearly been coveted for a long time. They were merely constrained by the rules of the game and unable to resort to "big fish eating little fish."

The Skull Society's rebellion had simply come at the right time, giving those people an opportunity. Under such circumstances, how could Hudson dare snatch food from a tiger's jaws?

"You don't think highly of Count Pierce?"

Baron Redman asked doubtfully.

After several months together, he had long realized that Hudson was no ordinary man. As for his previous mediocrity, Baron Redman believed he had deliberately concealed his abilities.

After all, Hudson was the third son of the family. If he had shown himself to be too outstanding, not only would his stepmother have found him intolerable, even his eldest brother would have disliked him.

Now that he was about to establish his own household, those issues were no longer issues. Displaying his talent and fighting for family resources was only natural.

Unaware of his cheap father's wild speculation, Hudson only knew that his say in the household had increased greatly lately. Being able to discuss affairs late at night with Baron Redman was proof enough.

"When people's hearts are scattered, the team is hard to lead.

"Count Pierce's plan appears perfect. He has used a borrowed knife to kill with masterful skill, leaving no evidence for anyone to grasp. But in the world of nobles, when have they ever needed evidence?

"The simplest logic is this: whoever benefits the most is the mastermind behind it all.

"Even if they seize the fattest piece of meat this time, how much stronger can they become as counts of one of the Twelve Great Feuds of the Kingdom?

"To provoke the hostility of the nobles under their command for such a little benefit is simply not worth the loss.

"Among the exterminated nobles were quite a few of their vassals. I would not dare serve such a master."

Hudson said mockingly.

He was a professional at talking trash. Back when he had been a keyboard warrior, there had been nothing he would not criticize.

No matter what it was, as long as he wanted to tear into it, he could find a whole pile of reasons.

There was only one purpose behind all this: to fool Baron Redman into taking it easy in the coming war.

It might have been somewhat immoral, but it was safe!

Besides, his family was not Count Pierce's vassal and had no obligation to risk their lives for him. Even after accepting the summons, they retained considerable autonomy.

"I understand. I'll consider it further."

Baron Redman said with some hesitation.

No matter what sort of person Count Pierce was, and no matter what might happen to him in the future, he was still the ruler of the Southeast Province.

Defying him openly while pretending obedience under his very nose took courage. Unless it sparked collective resistance among the lesser nobles, the nail that stuck out alone would likely rot first.

"Father, why not let me lead the troops this time? You can remain behind to hold the territory. If anything truly changes, we will still have room to maneuver.

"After all, this summons came too suddenly. I estimate no one has had time to prepare.

"As long as we give the serfs some basic training and put together a presentable army, we can blend into the larger force and get through it without issue."

Hudson said, feigning complete confidence.