Change of Circumstance

Inside a military tent, a group of young light cavalrymen were busy at work.

These young light cavalrymen were organizing various combat gear, including weapons such as swords, shields, bows, arrows, and spears, as well as protective equipment like helmets, breastplates, pauldrons, vambraces, and greaves.

They also inspected saddles, reins, and other tack to ensure the horses' equipment was in perfect condition.

The atmosphere was slightly subdued. Although everyone worked with clean, efficient movements, the serious expression on each of their faces was evident.

They were all very young and lacked extensive combat experience. While each had undergone rigorous training, the battlefield had still subjected them to a heavy baptism.

The death of comrades and the blood spilled from cutting down enemies—even though the brief skirmish had ended abruptly—had caused a shift in the mindset of every survivor, instilling in them an urgent sense of what it takes to stay alive in battle.

Among them was a youth of seventeen or eighteen with short, jet-black hair and a pair of sharp, spirited eyes. Though his features were not particularly striking, those eyes, filled with wisdom and determination, left a deep impression.

Standing about 1.8 meters tall, his build was slender yet athletic, radiating vitality. Clad in a set of exquisite light armor with a longsword at his waist, he was currently busy organizing his gear.

This youth was named Victor Sunflower, though inside, he was an Earthling named Sun Wenjie.

It has been five years since I broke through the Mystery of the Womb, Victor thought while organizing his equipment. I originally thought I would need to witness battle and slaughter to awaken my Golden Finger, but it seems that was useless. I'll have to find another way.

Since awakening his past-life memories at the age of twelve, Victor had possessed a tower-shaped phantom in the palm of his left hand that only he could see. He believed this to be his Golden Finger, but unfortunately, despite trying various methods—from slaughtering chickens and sheep to practicing skills—he had received no feedback.

Coming to the battlefield to participate in this war was done for this very reason, in the hope that combat would trigger the activation of his Golden Finger.

His first time in battle had left him and his unit looking a bit disheveled, but looking at the posture of the soldiers around him, he knew the most important piece of this unit had been filled. Once this war ended, it could become a truly capable elite force.

However, this was a war—not just a battle. It was a large-scale civil war that had mobilized eighty percent of the nobility of the Grand Duchy of Vera. As the only adult heir to a barony, Victor had to fulfill his feudal obligations, joining his father, Baron Wembley Sunflower, in the campaign. They had mobilized most of the standing army from their territory; the barony alone provided over 400 professional soldiers, along with more than 800 serfs serving as auxiliary troops and laborers.

The war was a cliché: the old Grand Duke had died of illness before he could choose a successor, sparking a struggle for the throne between the two most qualified heirs.

Baron Wembley was loyal to the old Grand Duke's eldest son, Jola Silvermaple, who had now declared himself Grand Duke. The one contending for the throne against him was his younger brother, Marquis Mora Silvermaple, who had also declared himself Grand Duke Mora, though within the coalition of Jola, he was still referred to as Marquis Mora.

In the Grand Duchy of Vera, only the heir to the duchy could be titled Marquis, and the highest rank otherwise was Count. It was precisely because these two were adults and held the rank of Marquis that they had a claim to the position of Grand Duke.

The nobles of the East and Center supported Grand Duke Jola; his maternal grandfather was the only Count in the East, Count Blake Big-Oak. The nobles of the West and South supported Marquis Mora, while the three northern counties remained neutral under the leadership of Border Count Colt Ironbirch.

Baron Wembley's territory was located in Bole County in the East, and he was an independent noble. The nobility here was mainly divided into two types: independent nobles, whose lands and titles were hereditary, and court nobles, who were directly subordinate to the ducal house and could hold fiefs that the Grand Duke could reclaim at any time.

To support Grand Duke Jola, the three noble counties of the East mobilized 20,000 professional soldiers and 50,000 serfs, organized into three legions. Victor belonged to the light cavalry battalion of the Eastern Third Legion, which consisted of six squadrons, each with three platoons, totaling over 600 men. Each man had two horses, and they were supported by 1,000 auxiliary troops, also with one horse each. Combined with the three legions of the Central noble coalition and the four legions directly under the Grand Duchy, they totaled 200,000 men, with over 70,000 professional soldiers. It could be said that their combat power was exceptionally strong.

When the war began, relying on the Blackwater River that ran through the East and West of the Grand Duchy, Grand Duke Jola utilized the advantage of water transport to quickly assemble his legions, forming a superior force that directly crushed two legions from the three Western counties.

After leaving half a legion to garrison the area, he moved rapidly south, intercepting the five legions of Mora's main force that were marching north to reinforce at the border of Hampshire in the south and Fude County in the west.

With a disadvantage in manpower, Grand Duke Mora had no choice but to retreat to the county seat of Fude County, Lavork, attempting to hold his ground.

Under the leadership of Grand Duke Jola, we have already gained a massive advantage. I estimate that Marquis Mora won't be able to hold on for much longer, and the war will end soon. It seems that war and combat cannot satisfy the conditions to activate my Golden Finger. I must choose another way, Victor pondered.

"Victor!" a brown-haired youth ran over from a distance, shouting as he ran, "Your retainers are here to see you! They're at the camp entrance! They look hurried, as if they have something important to tell you."

The black-haired young man, Victor, looked up at the newcomer. It was his good friend, James, the second son of Viscount Blue Rose.

"Alright, James, I'm coming. Feed my horse for me."

James replied, "You're the only one who knows how to boss people around. Once we get back to the county, you're taking me to Oak Hall for a meal. And it won't count unless we have some Tears of the Black Pearl."

With that, he dutifully went to lead Victor's horse away.

Victor quickly set down his gear, stood up, and hurried toward the camp entrance.

Why would Father send someone to find me at this hour? Victor wondered.

Upon reaching the camp gate, Victor saw the arrivals.

It was his father's captain of the guard, Santos, accompanied by four other soldiers—his father's personal bodyguards. Each of them was leading a horse, clad in chainmail, and possessed a sturdy, athletic build.

Captain Santos looked grave, his eyes flickering with unease.

"Young Master, Baron Wembley sent me to find you," Santos said, catching his breath.

Victor stared directly at Santos. He knew that if his father had sent for him at such a moment, it must be a matter of great importance.

"What are Father's instructions?" Victor's voice was calm and steady.

Santos answered with a solemn expression: "The Baron received intelligence through his friend, Baron Walker Black Oil Pine. The Coalition of Nobles from the north, led by Baron Colt, has mobilized fifty thousand troops to march south and support Marquis Mora."

Hearing this, Victor's brows furrowed slightly. A force of fifty thousand was not to be underestimated by any side. However, he did not believe this was enough to turn the tide of the war.

"Fifty thousand? Even so, Mora cannot snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. There is no need to worry," Victor said after a moment of contemplation.

However, Santos shook his head, his tone revealing a hint of anxiety: "Young Master, the northern nobles are different from the others. They fight the barbarians year-round; their style is fierce, and their forces are powerful. More than half of these fifty thousand are professional soldiers, and the remaining auxiliaries cannot be taken lightly. Furthermore, they have a high proportion of cavalry, including the Iron Birch Family's two thousand Iron Knights. It is very dangerous."

Victor's heart tightened as he listened. He knew that Baron Colt's territory was indeed vast, the largest among the independent nobles of the Grand Duchy of Vera. He controlled North York County—one of the Northern Three Commanderies—and half of Bria County. He commanded two legions directly and was exceptionally powerful due to his constant warfare in the north. In particular, his heavy cavalry unit, the Iron Knights, had allowed him to expand northward as a border noble, crushing the barbarians and seizing territory. Such an opponent was not to be trifled with.

"Baron Colt is indeed powerful, but it will take time for them to march south. If we make preparations now, there shouldn't be any problems," Victor said.

Santos nodded in agreement: "That is true. Baron Wembley and Baron Walker Black Oil Pine reported the situation to Grand Duke Jola, but the Grand Duke believes the Northern Alliance won't arrive quickly enough to stop him from taking Lavork and defeating Marquis Mora. Nevertheless, the Baron is worried, and just in case, he sent the five of us to protect you."

Victor took a deep breath, feeling the weight on his shoulders grow heavier.

He knew his father's concern was not superfluous, but a sign of deep love and responsibility. He could not let his father down, nor could he allow his family to fall into danger.

"I understand. Thank you for Father's concern and for your protection. I will act with caution and ensure our safety," Victor said firmly.

Santos saluted: "Rest assured, Young Master. We will do everything in our power to protect you. No matter how many difficulties or dangers lie ahead, we will fight by your side."

After arranging for Santos to rest in the camp, Victor returned to his tent to prepare for the night.

As night fell, the atmosphere in the camp grew even heavier. Victor had a premonition that the next battle would be exceptionally difficult.