Chapter 54: Intelligence
Marquis Visen silently finished reading the letter sent by Baron Ster, then quietly folded the letter back into the envelope and said to Yam, "I already know about this. I will have someone closely monitor the situation in the north."
"Yes." Yam responded respectfully, then prepared to take his leave.
"By the way." Marquis Visen seemed to remember something casually, his tone relaxed as he said, "How is your training with Flame Stream Strike going? Baron Ster previously mentioned your outstanding learning talent, which is why I gave you that combat skill."
"Due to limitations in my strength, I can currently only grasp the basic condensation aspect. As for the technique chapter, I already have a direction, but the secret art chapter remains entirely unclear."
"That's already quite impressive." Marquis Visen smiled.
Yam could clearly sense that Marquis Visen had suddenly become rather cheerful, which puzzled him a little.
"Alright, go get some rest. Your main force will be departing tomorrow, so you must be well-rested." Marquis Visen gestured, "I’m really looking forward to your performance on the battlefield of Red Soil Territory."
"Yes."
Soon after Yam departed, the smile on Marquis Visen’s face gradually faded.
But the hint of delight in his eyes was impossible to conceal.
Marquis Visen gently tugged the long cord beside him, and after waiting briefly, Wade Kasein entered through the door.
"What arrangements has Monica made for this expedition to Red Soil Territory?"
"Eaglehead Territory is led by Knight Karen. Anna has also sent Akar Soderbell to join. It seems Monica hinted to Anna to use Akar to eliminate Andre Billy on the battlefield."
When Wade Kasein mentioned the name "Akar Soderbell," he sharply noticed his father’s brow furrowed, so he quickly explained that Monica had agreed to Akar joining the expedition. As expected, he then saw his father’s tightly furrowed brows gradually ease.
"They will first rendezvous with Baron Hess of Gem Territory, then push their forces to the border. After the main force led by Knight Dali invades, they will join up with the main force sent by Red River Territory."
"Bayor Territory is led by Atork Senels. They have already arrived at Red River City with the troops from White Mountain Territory under the command of Giggs Bole. These two units will join Knight Dali’s main force to invade Red Soil Territory together."
"Finally, there is the unit led by Viscount Cardon Weist of Forest Territory. They will also wait until our main force invades before following in."
"So, for this expedition, only four Third-Tier Bloodline Users are being deployed, correct?"
Viscount Cardon Weist, Baron Hess Billy, and the two Household Knights from the Kasein Family, Karen and Dali, these four were all Third-Tier Bloodline Users. Besides them, including Giggs Bole, Andre Billy, and Atork Senels, the others were all Second-Tier Bloodline Users.
In fact, judging by apparent strength alone, the coalition army from the six territories deployed four Third-Tier Bloodline Users and eight Second-Tier Bloodline Users.
This force was already enough to crush the bloodline strength of Red Soil Territory. After all, the entire Red Soil Territory only had the Red Soil Viscount and his son as Third-Tier Bloodline Users. Two Second-Tier Bloodline Users had already been killed by Yam and Akar during the previous war with Red River Territory.
Now, only two Second-Tier Bloodline Users remained in Red Soil Territory, and the remaining three were all First-Tier Bloodline Users.
If it weren’t for the possibility of Red Soil Territory hiding some trump cards, there would be no need to deploy even four Third-Tier Bloodline Users for this war.
"You and Dean Seath will go as well."
"Huh?" Wade Kasein couldn't help but reveal a surprised expression.
Clearly, he couldn’t understand his father's command.
There were only three Fourth-Tier Bloodline Users in the entire Kasein Family, himself, his elder brother Tyrot Kasein, and the family’s Chief Knight, Dean Seath.
Three Fourth-Tier Bloodline Users might sound like a lot, but Wade Kasein knew well this was far from normal.
He also understood that it had only been a little over forty years since Marquis Visen Kasein had broken through to the Sixth-Tier.
At the time, even when they were granted the Red Eagle Territory, their family couldn't fully control it. They only had one Eaglehead Territory under their command, so naturally, they couldn’t cultivate and expand the family properly.
So the so-called accumulation of heritage was a joke.
This was precisely why the Kasein Family now desperately sought to truly control the entire Red Eagle Territory.
Wade Kasein even knew that his father had already made arrangements for Red Eagle Territory.
Eaglehead Territory would become the domain of his elder brother Tyrot Kasein.
Due to Joshua’s influence, Gem Territory would become the fief of their fourth brother Arsens Kasein’s branch.
Red Soil Territory was likely to be granted to their second brother Hans Kasein.
His own branch, on the other hand, would receive Red River Territory.
Each of the four territories would support one branch of the Kasein Family. These four branches would, in turn, support the entire Kasein Family, ensuring that the Kasein Family could completely and firmly control Red Eagle Territory in the future, White Mountain Territory faced the front line against Fertile Territory, and Forest Territory faced Cold Ridge Territory.
So the Kasein Family would definitely not covet those two territories, otherwise, the front lines they had to guard would be too long.
Wade could understand the importance his father placed on Red Soil Territory.
But even so, deploying himself and the Chief Knight, both Fourth-Tier Bloodline Users, still seemed very unusual.
But in the next second, Marquis Visen’s words immediately made Wade understand the reason.
“Yam Soderbell has already mastered Flame Stream Strike.”
“So he cannot die.”
“If Yam can master Flame Stream Strike, then Akar Soderbell might have the same bloodline, so he cannot die either. Because we don’t know exactly how many members of the Bourbon Family are required for that underground secret vault. Do you understand now?”
“I understand.” Wade nodded quickly.
“How far have the excavations progressed?”
“Because we had to consider keeping things quiet, the digging has slowed significantly. Plus, the winter before…”
“I don’t want to hear excuses.” Marquis Visen said coldly. “What I want is results. Now, what’s the situation?”
“We found what looks like the entrance to a cellar, but the door seems sealed and won’t open,” Wade replied. “We’re certain there is no bloodline seal on it. It should be a mechanical door. We’re afraid of damaging what’s below, so we didn’t dare to force it open.”
“A mechanical door means what’s below isn’t important.” Marquis Visen said coldly.
“I don’t care what you’re all weighing or hesitating about, I want to see the Bourbon Family’s Bloodline Secret Vault before the war in Red Soil Territory ends!”
…
After leaving the study and returning to the courtyard of the Marquis’s Estate, Yam finally felt at ease and relaxed.
Back in Marquis Visen’s study, Yam had almost activated his bloodline ability several times.
The cold aura in that study made his bones ache, and the inexplicable oppressive atmosphere made him extremely uncomfortable. He truly couldn’t understand why Marquis Visen enjoyed staying in such a cold and terrifying room.
“Yam!”
A cheerful call rang out behind Yam.
“Atork.” Yam turned and saw an old acquaintance, responding with a smile, “Good to see you.”
“Hahaha, same here.”
Atork was like an open book and easygoing personality, unlike typical noble heirs, who naturally exuded superiority and distance.
His demeanor was relaxed and his smile friendly. So when he greeted Yam with a bear hug, it didn’t feel strange or unexpected at all.
“Monica just told me you were here, so I went looking all over for you. What are you doing here?”
“I just met with Marquis Visen. Baron Ster asked me to deliver something to him.” Although Yam had a decent relationship with Atork and they got along fairly well, he knew what could and couldn’t be said. Naturally, he didn’t mention that it was a secret letter requesting reinforcements.
“Wow, you actually got to see the Marquis in person. No wonder you were personally knighted as a Red Eagle Knight.” Atork laughed and teased, “I’ve wanted to have an audience with the Marquis myself, but he has no time for someone like me.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“How was it?” Atork lightly jabbed Yam’s arm. “What did it feel like to meet the Marquis?”
“Nerve-wracking,” Yam smiled. “But more than anything, cold. I really don’t know how the Marquis can endure such a freezing environment in his study.”
A thought suddenly stirred in Atork’s mind.
But he kept a calm smile. “I’ve heard Marquis Visen’s study is freezing, but I thought it was just an exaggeration. Didn’t expect it to be true.”
“It is true.” Yam nodded. “It felt like even my bones were freezing.”
“You’re probably just hungry,” Atork chuckled and shook his head.
“Even my uncle’s bloodline ability can’t freeze someone’s bones completely. Marquis Visen doesn’t even have an ice-type bloodline, so that’s impossible. I think you’re just hungry, it’s an illusion. But the Marquis’s Estate is serving a good dinner today. You should really try it.”
“Indeed, I haven’t eaten yet.” Yam nodded. “Want to join me?”
“No thanks.” Atork shook his head. “I was actually going to ask you to eat together, but I couldn’t find you, so I ate already. I’m a bit too full now, need to walk around and digest. But by the time you finish eating, it’ll probably be rest time. We’re departing early tomorrow morning, so we better rest early tonight.”
“True... I’ll go then.”
“Alright.”
After parting with Yam, Atork immediately found the family knight accompanying him on this trip.
“Write a secret letter right now, and send it back to my father via our family’s merchant guild channel tomorrow.”
“Has something happened, Young Master Atork?”
“Marquis Visen’s injuries might be worsening. He’s losing control over the cold,” Atork said gravely.
“I just heard from Yam, the cold is starting to significantly affect bloodline users. He felt like his bones were freezing… If Grandfather can ascend within twenty years, our family might have a chance to seize Red Eagle Territory. So this intelligence is extremely important. It must be delivered immediately!”
The knight, recognizing the gravity of the information, became visibly serious. “Understood.”