Acting

Acting

In truth, as the governor of Northwind Province, Count Winter had the authority to make decisions unilaterally.

He could order all the nobles' armies to assemble, and he alone could decide how they fought.

But clearly, Count Winter did not want to bear responsibility for the Orcs' southward advance, so he had called in two scapegoats.

Once the Orcs returned to the Northlands, the nobles who ruled the ravaged territories would naturally resent the people who had proposed the plan.

Such as Viscount Hogg. Then Count Winter could step forward at that time to mediate the conflicts between the various sides and make a fortune from it.

Just like thirty years ago. During the Empire's political struggles, even Grand Duke Mayers had been unable to enter Northwind Province, yet Count Winter had ultimately become the province's governor.

"Since the plan has been decided, go back and make preparations. The sooner we establish the defensive line, the more Orcs we can kill."

Count Winter said with a smile. He was not worried about the Orcs heading south at all, because both his territorial fortress and Northwind City were as secure as mountains. If worse came to worst, he could exercise his authority as governor and have the surrounding nobles send support.

In fact, not a single person mentioned one matter during this meeting.

"If I remember correctly, the Empire allocated one million Gold Coins to Northwind Province every year, so that its nobles could rebuild the fortresses on the Fragrant Mountain Plains?"

"After Grand Duke Mayers conquered Northwind Province, he even suggested relocating the garrison at Winged Gorge to the Fragrant Mountain Plains. He said that Winged Gorge was no longer the Empire's frontier, and that the Fragrant Mountain Plains of Northwind Province were now the frontier."

"But thirty years have passed... and there isn't even a single dirt mound on the Fragrant Mountain Plains."

In Frozen Earth Territory, even though Ryan had been excluded, Viscount Miles and Zero Crossing Prefecture still gave him the outcome and the news.

At the same time, Viscount Dragoon had also sent someone over, lest Viscount Miles fail to handle the matter.

"Thirty million Gold Coins, and not even a hair of it can be seen."

"This Count Winter sure knows how to line his pockets."

Ryan naturally knew it could not have been Count Winter alone who had swallowed the Gold Coins. Every one of those nobles had probably gotten a share.

In Ryan's view, neither taking the initiative nor passive defense was a good choice. Those lords simply put their own interests first, then thought about how to fight the war.

But what did that have to do with him, the Baron of the Frozen Earth?

Ryan set aside the arrangements in his hands. Viscount Miles wanted him to send five hundred soldiers to Zero Crossing City to participate in its defense.

Walking out of the study, Ryan looked at Viscount Miles's waiting messenger and could not help sighing.

"Go back and tell Viscount Miles that it's not as if His Lordship doesn't know the situation in Frozen Earth Territory. When I came here last year, I passed through Zero Crossing City with only ten soldiers and an old Steward who could barely walk."

"What am I supposed to use to defend Zero Crossing Prefecture?"

"Baron Ryan, I have come under the prefect's orders. Every lord in Zero Crossing Prefecture is required to send troops to establish a defensive line."

Ryan did not appear too intimidated, as the man had clearly received instructions before coming.

"The prefect has issued an order in the name of Zero Crossing Prefecture, Northwind Province, Empire. No noble may shirk the order to fight the Orcs."

"But it's not that I don't want to. Frozen Earth Territory simply does not have that many people."

As Ryan spoke, he gritted his teeth.

"How about this? I'll send three hundred—no, two hundred slaves..."

Before Ryan could finish, Deren, his face full of panic, rushed in through the main gate. His body was even splattered with blood.

"My lord, this is bad! We discovered a Minotaur army in the North. There are too many of them. We can barely hold on!"

"What?"

Ryan's expression changed drastically, and he glared furiously at Deren.

"Then why aren't you taking the soldiers from the Baron's Castle—no, take all the slaves over there to stop the Orcs! What are you standing around for?"

"If even one Orc breaks into my territory, I'll chop off your head."

"Yes, I'll go right away."

Deren hurriedly ran out. Then Ryan saw Rosen rush in as well.

"My lord, we found a group of Hyena-men in the foothills to the west. There are around five hundred of them, and they seem to be heading this way."

"Go find Brandt."

This was not an arranged act, so it should be real.

After saying that, he looked at Viscount Miles's man.

"You saw it yourself. Frozen Earth Territory is the place closest to the Orcs. I request that the prefect send troops to help me protect my territory."

In the end, the man returned to Zero Crossing City with the five hundred Gold Coins Ryan had contributed according to the principle that those with people provided people, and those with money provided money.

After seeing him off, Ryan looked at the other man.

Woolf Dragoon, a member of Viscount Dragoon's family, though only a distant relative.

"Viscount Dragoon wants me to send troops to support him?"

"That is what His Lordship said."

Woolf replied respectfully.

"The defensive line Viscount Miles is establishing in Zero Crossing Prefecture is actually centered around Zero Crossing City, linking the surrounding fortresses. The Viscount's Territory is not directly behind the defensive line, so His Lordship intends to lead his own people in establishing a defensive line."

"My lord said that Baron Ryan is a friend of Viscount Dragoon's family."

A friend? Ryan chuckled inwardly.

"But you can see it too. My territory is not peaceful either. We can see traces of Orcs almost every day."

"The Fragrant Mountain Plains are still some distance from Frozen Earth Territory. Even if the Orcs head south, not many of them will appear here."

"That's not for you to decide. The scouts of the Black Goat have already appeared in Frozen Earth Territory this time. Who knows whether they are planning a surprise attack or have found a second route?"

In the end, Woolf also returned to the Dragoon Viscount's Territory with Ryan's five hundred Gold Coins.

"What a joke. You want the person in the most danger to send troops to support you?"

There was nothing wrong with nobles helping one another, but Ryan truly could not be sure whether large numbers of Orcs would appear in Frozen Earth Territory. After all, they had really discovered traces of Orcs every day recently, and even the wild beasts had been frightened into disappearing.

"Gnolls?"

Ryan walked out of the Baron's Castle and saw seventy or eighty soldiers in the distance escorting over a hundred spotted Gnolls toward Rhino Horn Mountain.

Hyena-men were also a branch of Gnolls. Ryan soon saw these alien Orcs at the foot of the mountain, with dog heads, fur-covered bodies, and canine claws.

"Why are you here?"

Ryan asked. The soldier holding down the Gnoll immediately landed three punches, leaving it dizzy and disoriented.

"The lord is asking you a question. Speak!"

After a busy exchange, Ryan roughly understood what had happened.

Back then, a group of Hyena-men had come to plunder Frozen Earth Territory. Not only had they failed to steal anything, but more than half of them had starved to death on the way back. They had become a joke among the Orcs, and the Hyena Tribe regarded it as a disgrace.

They had come this time to wash away that humiliation, only for Brandt and his soldiers to capture them in no time at all.

More than a hundred Gnolls had escaped. This group had simply been unlucky.

"Perfect. In two months, we'll be building roads, and that's the only use these Orcs have."

"As for now, go carry lumber for me."