Chapter 62: Smart People
When they departed from the White Mountain Territory, there were more than eighty people. But now, on the return journey, only eighteen remained.
Among them, fifteen were veteran soldiers under Baron Ster's command, and the other three were militia members from Fisher Village.
At the outbreak of the Red Soil City siege, the first to die were precisely the militia from Fisher Village, over thirty had charged forward, but fewer than twenty returned, most of them injured and unable to participate in the next battle.
The veterans had performed significantly better, yet the casualties among them were not small either.
In fact, after the siege of Red Soil City ended, around forty of the troops from the White Mountain Territory were still alive.
However, most of them were heavily wounded, so they remained in Red Soil City to receive treatment. This was the case for wounded soldiers from other territories as well, after all, if they attempted the return journey while injured, many might have been lost halfway.
But once their injuries healed, how many would actually be willing to return remained unknown.
At least, in the eyes of the lords, most were unlikely to return, unless life in Red Soil City proved harder than that in their own territories.
This was also the reason why lords preferred selecting soldiers with families when dispatching troops.
As long as these soldiers were not crippled by war, they would return to the territory as battle-experienced veterans.
If they were lucky enough to discover a few Bloodline Knight candidates with potential and aptitude, it would be an unexpected reward, many Bloodline Knights under the lords had grown this way, step by step.
Compared to the somewhat bleak appearance of the White Mountain Territory’s troops, the returning troops from Bayor Territory looked far more impressive.
This time, the troops they sent in response to the summons numbered three hundred, not even counting the serfs.
After going through such a battle, over one hundred and fifty could still make the return journey, and nearly fifty more remained in Red Soil City for treatment.
The casualties alone exceeded the total number of soldiers sent by the White Mountain Territory.
However, Yam knew that the reason Bayor Territory, and even Forest Territory, Gem Territory, and Eaglehead Territory, still had so many surviving veterans, was because they had used large numbers of accompanying serfs as consumables.
Only the White Mountain Territory had no serfs, the ones performing logistical duties before had been those thirty or so militia members from Fisher Village.
But Yam couldn’t truly accept the practice of treating serfs as consumables.
Still, he did not show it.
Because he had already realized that this practice, even in the eyes of Bloodline Nobles, like Giggs, who seemed kind and benevolent to Yam, was seen as perfectly normal behavior.
So he knew that even if he found it strange and voiced his objections, it would be meaningless. Moreover, none of the serfs sent to deplete the enemy's supplies were from the White Mountain Territory.
...
Yam stirred the campfire before him with a wooden stick.
Giggs and Atork had grown extremely close over the past few days, like real brothers.
Yet Yam always felt a strange sense of discord.
He couldn’t quite explain why.
He just intuitively felt that Atork was very different from when they first met months ago, as if he had put on a mask.
But this feeling was hard to convey to Giggs, for how could he say: Atork is not treating you with the same sincerity he shows me?
"After we return together this time, stay a few more days. Father misses you."
Sitting by the campfire, Yam put aside his concerns about Giggs and instead turned to Akar.
"I'll probably stay for a few months," Akar nodded. "I’ve mentioned it to Anna."
At those words, Yam fell silent.
He looked up at Akar, and seeing his calm expression, said nothing more, after all, anything about Anna was a sensitive topic.
Not just because of her identity, but also her current situation: even while carrying Akar’s child, she was set to marry another man.
Yam truly couldn’t understand what Akar was thinking.
"I trust her," Akar suddenly said.
Yam sighed internally, unsure of what to say. He just nodded, then changed the subject: "About what you mentioned before, once we’re back, let’s discuss it with Father and see how to handle it. He has the experience, after all."
After a pause, Yam added, "I think."
Both he and Akar had awakened their bloodline abilities through "proper channels" by obtaining Bloodline Elixirs.
Only their father, Ion, had awakened his bloodline by stealing a drop of True Blood from the enemy.
And now Akar wanted to extract a drop of True Blood stored in that sword, so they would likely need to ask their father for a solution.
Akar glanced at Yam and understood the meaning behind his words, so he, too, nodded helplessly.
Then the two fell into silence once more.
Although they had much to say, the surroundings were unsuitable, whether it was Akar’s relationship with Anna or the drop of Burton Kasein’s True Blood hidden in that sword, none of these topics could be discussed here. So the brothers had no choice but to leave things unsaid.
Yam glanced at Akar once more and let out a soft sigh.
He had originally wanted Akar to stay longer in the White Mountain Territory this time, since by calculation, Lily was already more than four months pregnant.
If Akar could remain in the White Mountain Territory for nearly half a year, he would be able to witness the birth of his child.
But now, he certainly couldn’t bring that up.
Because if Anna hadn't lied to Akar, then her belly should also be starting to show by now. That was nearly impossible to conceal.
...
"Physician, how is it?" Joshua asked nervously, watching the physician examining Anna.
The Kasein Family maintained more than ten physicians.
Most of these physicians were responsible for treating injuries sustained by the Kasein Family’s private soldiers during training, but a few were specifically tasked with caring for the family’s women.
It wasn't that they didn’t want to hire a Bloodline User with healing abilities, there just weren’t any such individuals willing to pledge to the Kasein Family at present. And cultivating one themselves was extremely difficult, not to mention the matter of bloodline aptitude, even acquiring the necessary Bloodline Elixirs for such a Bloodline User was impossible through normal trade channels. Without a deep enough foundation and extensive connections, it was simply out of the question.
At the moment, the female physician conducting Anna’s examination was already the most skilled expert in this area within the Kasein Family.
She could determine the length of a woman’s pregnancy using urine and some special methods, coupled with her long-standing experience.
Though not entirely accurate, her margin of error was minimal, which earned her the family’s continued trust.
"She has been pregnant for more than two months. Congratulations, Young Master Joshua." The female physician stood and congratulated Joshua.
"That's wonderful!" Joshua exclaimed with excitement, his face flushed red.
"Joshua." Anna lay on the bed, her languid posture making her appear even more alluring. "Could you get me a glass of orange juice?"
"Of course! No problem." Joshua nodded enthusiastically. "I’ll go tell the kitchen right away."
With that, Joshua hurriedly left the room.
The smile on Anna’s face quickly vanished the moment Joshua walked out.
Her gaze turned toward the female physician, now significantly colder. "Why are you trembling? Are you scared? Or excited?"
"I..." The physician gulped with difficulty, then looked at Anna with a terrified expression.
"You are smart, and it just so happens that I need a smart person." Anna looked away and gently stroked her belly. At that moment, the happiness radiating from her face and eyes felt utterly genuine. "You should know exactly how long this child has been growing inside me."
"More than three months." The female physician lowered her head and answered in a trembling voice.
Roughly three months ago, Anna and Joshua had only just gotten married.
So she knew that no matter how extraordinarily gifted Joshua might be, it was impossible for him to get Anna pregnant on their wedding night.
It wasn't just up to Joshua; it also depended on Anna’s physical condition at the time.
Therefore, with just one diagnosis, she had already known that the child in Anna’s belly could not possibly be Joshua Kasein’s, it had to be someone else’s.
But as Anna said, she was very smart.
She knew that if she spoke the truth, both she and Anna would die.
The Kasein Family would never tolerate someone like Anna, tainted with such a scandal, to remain alive. Nor would they let someone who knew of this scandal survive.
So, from the moment she began the diagnosis, she and Anna were already on the same boat.
That was why she said Anna had been pregnant for more than two months.
From her experience, this timeframe was the most reasonable and believable.
"I’ve observed all the physicians in the family. Only you are the smartest. So I knew, if it were you doing the diagnosis, you would give me exactly the answer I wanted." Anna continued to stroke her belly, her smile sweet.
"Don't worry, I’m not like the Kasein Family, cruel and ruthless... Soon, I’ll be heading to the Gem Territory, and during that time, you’ll be in charge of attending to me. When I go to the Gem Territory, naturally you’ll be coming with me."
"I understand." The female physician nodded. "I’ll guard this secret for you."
"Not for me," Anna replied softly. "For us... Your grandson has long yearned to become a Bloodline User, hasn’t he?"
The female physician suddenly looked up.
"I need some people of my own."
"As you wish, Honorable Baroness Anna."
Anna finally stopped looking at her belly and turned her gaze to the physician. Her smile took on a more genuine warmth. "That’s why I said, I really like smart people."