Planning (Part 2)

Dusk. Count's Residence

"Teta Xiao, the Baron, has arrived? How many men did he bring?" Looking at the servant reporting before him, Count Xiusenya felt a trace of suspicion.

A notice had already come that afternoon. Now he had truly arrived.

The battle in the Edge Forest a few days ago had plunged the entire county into silence. Only days later, Baron Teta Xiao had come running to see him. Could that fellow be hoping he would send troops to quell the danger in the Edge Forest for him?

That was certainly possible.

The Forest Home village in Tatshaw Territory lay within the Edge Forest.

What sort of secret weapon did the Elves possess?

The Edge Forest remained eerily quiet. The quieter it was, the more frightening it became. Count Xiusenya felt exactly that way now. The calm after war often foretold the beginning of an even greater offensive.

"Invite the Baron of Tatshaw Territory in. I'll wait for him in the conference hall." Thinking this, Count Xiusenya truly did not wish to meet Baron Teta Xiao. Yet reason told him that if he simply avoided him now, his relationship with Romon would be completely finished.

"Yes, Your Highness." The man who had come to report was one of the confidants Count Xiusenya had brought from the royal city. Seeing that Count Xiusenya had agreed to meet Baron Teta Xiao, he immediately backed out, then went to invite the young baron inside.

Once Romon entered and host and guest had taken their seats, Romon exchanged a few courtesies with Count Xiusenya before stating his purpose. "My Lord Count Xiusenya, before winter arrives, I intend to take the navy out to sea once more. Will you join me?"

This startled Count Xiusenya greatly. Had Baron Teta Xiao come here merely to