Second Orc War (6)

Count Ferguson had only temporarily become the highest commander of Sunny Grassland. He had originally wanted to flee South, perhaps even head straight to Imperial Capital, where it would be safest.

But Grand Duke Russell had forcibly kept him in Hot Spring Province. Count Ferguson did not dare defy Grand Duke Russell's authority and could only become Sunny Grassland's commander.

This Count could be considered one of the lowest-ranking great nobles in the Empire. He was one of the few imperial great nobles without an Extraordinary Legion under his command, so naturally, he did not dare resist.

The leaf emblem on the Count's banner revealed his identity. He was not an ancient noble of the Empire, but had joined the Empire a century ago after nobles from the North fled south.

Much like Gerald east of the Andara Kingdom, except House Ferguson clearly lacked that confidence and dignity. They had chosen to become followers of the imperial emperor.

In other words, House Ferguson was not a Blasphemer family.

The second reason House Ferguson had no Extraordinary Legion was the Hot Spring Marquis.

The Empire had seen four Columbus emperors in total. Excluding Columbus I, who obtained the throne from Lais Enrique, Columbus II, III, and the current Columbus IV had each had six electors apart from the Columbus who became emperor.

The electors were inheritors of the Empire's Marquis titles. Thus, the Empire currently had five Marquises.

Viking had been exiled, after all.

One of those five elector Marquises was in Hot Spring Province.

The Hot Spring Marquis was highly capable. As a former contender for the throne, his presence had kept House Ferguson from expanding. It could be said that Hot Spring Province was one of the few places in the Empire where a Marquis overshadowed a Count.

Count