Blackwater City

Fortunately, the return journey went smoothly. Although they encountered several units of Light Cavalry from the Northern Frontier Allied Army, none were large in number. They merely followed for a while before leaving.

Victor led the troops back to camp. The sun was about to set, and the stifling air gradually turned cool, easing the mood of the entire party.

After returning to camp, Victor instructed Santos to take Knight Jack and arrange for the defeated soldiers. He then went to Vice Legion Commander Ronald to report the situation.

Ronald was not in his command tent. His attendant told Victor, "After receiving the important intelligence you delivered, Lord Ronald took the intelligence and the personnel to see Legion Commander William. They have already departed for the main command tent of the right wing."

"Thank you. Then I'll pay my respects after my lord returns." After leaving, Victor headed to the Third Regiment to report to his father.

This time, things went smoothly. Baron Wembley was handling official business in his command tent.

"Regiment Commander Wembley, Victor, acting squadron commander of the Third Squadron, Light Cavalry Battalion, Third Legion, reporting to you."

The baron raised an eyebrow.

"Very polite, but remember to knock first next time."

The baron continued.

"Well? You weren't hurt, were you?"

"Everything went smoothly. No battle occurred," Victor replied.

"It seems Grand Duke Jola truly died in battle, and it was Count Colt's men who did it." The baron had already received the intelligence and sighed.

"It seems that even if Marquis Mora becomes Grand Duke this time, he won't have any peace. Count Colt directly crushed three legions directly subordinate to the Duchy. The Duchy's Direct Legion now has only four legions in total, all battered remnants that have seen battle. The entire Duchy's Direct Legion has been reduced to half its former strength." Baron Wembley shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Victor, do you know? Besides your unit, we sent several teams to gather the scattered soldiers from our main formation. We obtained a great deal of intelligence. Take a look first." As he spoke, the baron handed Victor a sheet of paper.

The paper was not thick, yet it was fine-textured and tough. It was made from a mutated papyrus plant and produced by the East Sea Alliance. It was jointly controlled by several great nobles, including Marquis Papyrus, and sold across the continent. It was an excellent material for nobles writing official documents.

Victor was deeply surprised as he read its contents.

"The mid- and high-ranking officers of the three direct legions were selectively decapitated. Although the soldiers and low-ranking officers were not hunted down, their formations have completely ceased to exist. On the other hand, the high-ranking officers of that Central Allied Army legion were mostly captured, while the lesser nobles largely survived. No, a few did die in battle, such as Baron Vise Rose. He has no heir, so his line may die out and his fief may be revoked."

Victor pondered as he read.

"Count Colt wants to win over the nobles and eliminate the Duchy's control. What does he want? Does he intend to become Grand Duke? Iron Birch Territory may be powerful, but it is still not strong enough to face the entire Duchy."

The lack of intelligence made it difficult for Victor to draw any further conclusions.

He looked up at the baron. "What does Count Colt want? He went to such lengths to destroy the military power directly subordinate to the Duchy, yet spared the nobles of the Central Allied Army."

"It's normal that you don't know. Over the years, Count Colt repeatedly proposed to the Grand Duke and the Noble Council that they open up development rights in the north, organizing nobles to develop territories there and resist Barbarian invasions. He said that the Barbarians across the entire Northern Wasteland had united and could invade the civilized world at any time. His applications were rejected several times. I also thought this was merely an excuse for Count Colt to expand his military strength, but now it seems it may be true. The pressure on Count Colt is immense, which is why he directly intervened in the Civil War," the baron said.

"You mean the Barbarians of the entire Northern Wasteland have united, and Count Colt can no longer hold them back, so he intends to ask the other nobles within the Duchy to contribute?" Victor found this strange.

The Northern Wasteland stretched from the Sunset Mountains in the west to the Endless Sea in the east, spanning the entire continent. It covered at least seventeen or eighteen million square kilometers, dozens of times the area of the Vera Duchy. If the Barbarians within it truly united, even the Duchy would be unable to withstand a million Barbarian Cavalry.

"When the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up. The borders where the Fas Kingdom and the Raine Kingdom meet the grasslands are far longer than ours," the baron said.

The Raine Kingdom was the hegemon of the central continent. It covered nearly four million square kilometers and had a population of over eighty million. It possessed eleven provinces, each governed by the strongest noble of that province or a noble appointed by the king. The royal family alone had thirty legions, and with the private forces of the nobles included, its total military strength exceeded 1.5 million. The Grand Duchy of Vera was only equivalent to one of its provinces.

The Fas Kingdom was likewise a powerful nation in the western continent. It covered more than two million square kilometers and had a population approaching fifty million. With the Sunset Mountains at its back, it could only expand southward, northward, and eastward, creating constant friction with the Raine Kingdom. If the Raine Kingdom were not surrounded by enemies on all sides, it would have long since broken the Fas Kingdom's legs.

"Then even if only a tenth of the Barbarian Allied Forces comes, the Northern Three Commanderies won't be able to hold them off. They must receive the full support of the Duchy," Victor said in realization.

"Correct. Count Colt's purpose in participating in this war should be exactly that. The Grand Duke has always harbored doubts about the northern nobles expanding their borders and has refused to yield easily. Weakening the forces directly subordinate to the Duchy this time is meant to reduce the weight of the Grand Duke's words," the baron replied.

That was only natural. After all, Vela's origins were hardly clean. Vela itself had originally been founded by northern nobles breaking away from the East Sea Alliance. Back then, they relied on the East Sea Alliance's manpower and resources to seize Northern Barbarian lands, build up their strength, and achieve independence in one stroke. Naturally, they feared others following their example.

For these historical reasons, the Vera Duchy and the East Sea Alliance had always been hostile. In principle, the nobles of the Southern Commanderies possessed the deepest foundations. If they had fully supported Marquis Mora, they could have fielded not merely three legions, but six. Most of their forces were likely left in the south to confront the East Sea Alliance.

Come to think of it, the Vera Duchy had not had it easy either. From the very beginning of its independence, it had faced troubles both within and without. To the west stood the colossal Raine Kingdom, to the south its hereditary enemy, the East Sea Alliance, and to the north the Steppe Barbarians.

Victor's thoughts gradually began to wander.

Then the baron's words interrupted him. "I plan to have you return to the territory first. The fighting probably won't continue. Take the wounded soldiers back early to recuperate. It seems that although our Eastern Allied Army suffered relatively few losses, we may have to bleed more elsewhere. Marquis Mora—well, he will soon be Grand Duke—will certainly have to compensate for the losses by other means. If he agrees to open the development rights, Count Colt will likely support him as well and cooperate in putting pressure on us."

"When you return, contact our two related families and give them advance notice. When the time comes, we can band together to get through this crisis," the baron instructed.

"I understand, Father," Victor replied.

The Golden Sunflower Family had several branches, two of which also held baronial titles: Silver Sunflower Barony and Oil Sunflower Barony. This time, they had only sent troops; their lords had not come personally.

These two families were considered middle-ranking among the barons. They could not compare to an exceptionally powerful barony like Golden Sunflower, but together, they carried considerable weight.

Intermarriage was already common among nobles, and their relationships were deeply intertwined. Even the smallest independent noble had a seat and voting rights in the council, making them targets for both recruitment and suppression by the great nobles.

Early the next morning, Victor went to Viscount Ronald to bid farewell. Viscount Ronald readily agreed, evidently having already discussed it beforehand.

Victor then took Santos and his other direct subordinates and prepared to travel east along the Blackwater River by ship.

There was one small incident. Knight Jack requested to follow Victor. Jack was still young, unmarried, and without family. Returning to his territory would only mean facing the revocation of his fief, so he might as well seek another path. After a day of interaction, he believed Victor had a promising future and thus made the request.

Santos also believed that Knight Jack was capable, of sound character, and an excellent knight.

Victor immediately accepted Jack's request and took him in as a retainer. Considering that Jack was originally a knight while Victor was not yet a lord, Victor temporarily appointed Jack deputy captain of the Light Cavalry squad, while formally promoting Santos to captain. Victor might soon have to take over territorial affairs and become too busy to personally lead troops, so it was better to place them directly under trusted subordinates.

The troop transport ship traveled eastward and, after more than a day of sailing, arrived safely at its destination: Blackwater City, the administrative seat of York County in the central region.

Blackwater City was the most important inland river port in the Blackwater River basin of the entire Duchy. Its transportation was convenient, it gathered a large population and abundant resources, and its trade was flourishing.

Victor immediately decided to rest there for a while and purchase some supplies.

After arranging for Santos to lead the men to camp outside the city, Victor entered Blackwater City with Jack and several guards. Jack, being half a local, served as their guide.