"Surprised?"
"Then what should we do next, Father?"
Lawrence looked at his father and asked doubtfully.
"Continue gathering our men!"
"Don't worry. This is good news for us. After all, we can't be sure whether those alchemists are at the mine or Eagle Ridge. Since that one has moved his forces to the front, once we crush them there, we can swiftly take Eagle Ridge as well."
"That descendant of Dressrosa seems to be highly valued by his family. As long as we take him down this time—if we can capture him alive, even better—that Dressrosa descendant should be more than willing to spend a great deal of gold to buy himself back."
Baron Pape Lawrence suppressed his thoughts and spoke with a smile.
"Yes, Father!"
Lawrence's eyes lit up at his father's words.
Baron Pape Lawrence's territory soon finished assembling its forces.
On the seventh day,
they set out in a mighty procession.
Their destination was the mine.
Baron Pape Lawrence had nearly mobilized his entire territory as well.
One hundred Apprentice Knights, more than twenty Formal Knights, one Great Knight, and three thousand slaves. Only ten Formal Knights and several dozen Apprentice Knights remained behind in the entire barony.
If these forces suffered losses, the entire barony would likely be unable to remain secure.
But Baron Pape Lawrence had never considered the possibility that he might suffer losses.
Even if he was facing a descendant of Dressrosa.
The other party was merely a newly established Pioneer Lord.
How strong could he possibly be?
At most, he would have a Great Knight protecting him.
How many Formal Knights, Apprentice Knights, and Reserve Knights could he have?
After all, no family could grant the bulk of its forces to a Pioneer Knight.
The family was simply too large, with too