Chapter 78: The True Intent
"The troops from Red River Territory and Eaglehead Territory have not returned; they are still stationed in Red Soil Territory." Monica quickly gave a brief situation report to Yam, Akar, and Giggs in a large conference room.
"When I received the news two days ago, I immediately dispatched personnel to Gem Territory to instruct Baron Hess to provide support. I originally thought you would return to White Mountain Territory via Gem Territory, so I also sent someone to search for you there. I didn’t expect you would choose the route through Red River Territory instead."
Yam listened to Monica’s words in silence without speaking.
He had previously harbored some suspicions about Atork.
After all, the other party had clearly shown some contempt towards Giggs at first, yet later engaged deeply in conversation with him, even inviting him to travel together to Bayor Territory.
These actions led Yam to suspect that Atork was deliberately delaying their return to White Mountain Territory.
However, he couldn't quite figure out the exact reason, until they arrived at Red River Territory this noon and heard the news of the invasion of White Mountain Territory. Then it all suddenly made sense.
Still, suspicions could not serve as evidence.
Moreover, Atork’s enthusiasm hadn’t been persistent, it appeared more like polite social courtesy, something Yam had learned from Lily.
Based on all the current intelligence:
The war had broken out eight days ago, or possibly even earlier. But according to the message Lily received, the confirmed outbreak time was eight days prior.
Afterwards, Sherry departed from White Mountain City four days ago and traveled almost without pause.
Since the enemy had not yet fully invaded the entire White Mountain Territory, she was able to reach Red River City safely two days ago.
At that time, they had just entered Red River Territory. If they had returned via Gem Territory, they would have already reached White Mountain Territory by the day Sherry left White Mountain City.
In other words, under normal circumstances, if Monica had immediately dispatched a messenger upon Sherry’s arrival in Red River Territory, they would have received the news about the invasion of White Mountain Territory two days earlier.
But as it stood, the intelligence regarding the war in White Mountain Territory was delayed by a full two days.
Considering the dangerous situation under which White Mountain City sent Sherry for help, it meant they had already been out of contact with White Mountain Territory for more than four days!
What might have happened in those four days was simply unimaginable, Yam and Akar, having truly experienced the horrors of war, understood more deeply the dangerous consequences such delays in intelligence could bring.
"Red River Territory currently lacks sufficient troops. I’ve already sent people to Red Soil Territory for reinforcements, and also requested aid from my father in Eaglehead Territory. But realistically... it might be too late." Monica sighed.
"Baron Hess should mobilize troops immediately to form a relief force, but I estimate it will still take at least two days. I’ve also sent messengers to Bayor Territory, and upon hearing your mention of Atork, I’ve made arrangements there as well."
"As it stands, even if Atork sets out immediately with his soldiers, it will take two days for them to return, and four days to reinforce White Mountain Territory."
"However, I have temporarily assembled a force composed of militia, serfs, and part of the regular army, about two hundred men. You can set off with them right away."
While listening to Monica’s arrangements, Yam was doing mental calculations.
The only reinforcements that could be dispatched immediately amounted to two hundred people, and among them, the number of veterans likely did not exceed fifty, even that counted the soldiers from White Mountain Territory who had returned with them.
Baron Hess's reinforcements would depart from Gem Territory in about two days and enter White Mountain Territory in three to four days.
Atork's force, still over a hundred strong, would also arrive in White Mountain Territory in four to five days.
In other words, within five days at the latest, they could assemble a force of approximately five hundred soldiers from the three territories.
However, these were all just ordinary soldiers.
"What about knights?" Yam asked urgently. "We need knights strong enough. The lords of Fertile Plains are all Third-Tier Bloodline Users. If it’s just us..."
"Sorry." Monica sighed, showing a trace of helplessness on her face. "Currently, only Baron Hess is a Third-Tier Bloodline User that we can mobilize. In Red River Territory, aside from my grandfather, there’s only one other Third-Tier Bloodline User, but given the current state of the territory..."
Monica didn’t finish the sentence, but her demeanor and tone made it clear that the Third-Tier Bloodline User was certainly unable to join the army.
"But don’t worry. I’ve already sent messengers carrying orders stamped with the Kasein Family seal. Except for Forest Territory, the second batch of reinforcements from Bayor Territory and Eaglehead Territory will definitely include Third-Tier or higher Bloodline Users."
"And Lord Dean..." Giggs realized that without Third-Tier Bloodline Users, their numbers wouldn’t matter unless they outnumbered the enemy threefold or more.
"Lord Dean..." Monica sighed softly. "To be honest, there were some strange occurrences in Withered Wood Forest previously. We don’t know the exact cause, which is why we sent Knight Commander Dean to investigate. That’s how he ended up on the battlefield in Red Soil City, it was a result of several coincidental circumstances."
Hearing this, Giggs could only sigh helplessly.
After a brief discussion, Monica had her people escort Giggs and the others to take command of the force she had already prepared.
Monica herself waited in the room for a short while before getting up and opening the door to the adjoining room.
Marquis Visen Kasein was seated calmly inside.
"Grandfather." Monica greeted in a low voice.
"When you mentioned Withered Wood Forest just now, the heartbeat of those two slightly accelerated, but not strongly, more like surprise and bewilderment." Marquis Visen Kasein spoke slowly.
"This reaction suggests that the brothers Yam and Akar probably know that the Bourbon Family once hid something in Withered Wood Forest, but they likely don't know the specifics. Perhaps their ancestors knew, but never told them."
"If that's the case, then is it possible their father, Ion, might know?"
"It’s possible." Marquis Visen Kasein paused in silence for a moment before speaking softly.
"What a pity. He likely won’t survive. But it doesn’t matter anymore, after all, we already know the exact location of the secret vault, and the mechanism preventing its opening has been confirmed to be a Frost Dragon Beast nesting there. That truly is a troublesome matter, so I plan to go personally... You should be able to handle the rest, right?"
"Please rest assured, Grandfather." Monica nodded. "Reinforcements will only arrive in White Mountain Territory five days later. According to the previous agreement, we’ve already delayed thirteen days. If they still haven’t managed to kill Baron Ster by then, it’s simply due to their incompetence, so they can’t blame us."
"It’s more than thirteen days." Marquis Visen Kasein shook his head. "Viscount Agley even helped buy a few more days."
Monica immediately caught on.
The reinforcements they had previously sent were composed solely of ordinary soldiers and did not include any Third-Tier Bloodline Users.
So if the forces of Fertile Plains refused to retreat, the outcome of this war would only be determined when Third-Tier Bloodline Users entered the battlefield.
And that could delay things by another five to ten days at the least.
Monica realized she had been played by Viscount Bayor.
"Has the matter of that 'bandit group' been cleaned up?"
"Yes." Monica nodded. "Uncle Hans is already prepared. After raiding two villages in Eastern Mountain Territory, they immediately retreated to a hideout in the Eaglehead Mountains. If nothing went wrong, the supplies they plundered from Eastern Mountain Territory have already been smuggled through the hidden mountain path in Gem Territory into Eaglehead Territory."
"Send a letter over. If necessary, have Hans act as a surprise force and strike from the enemy's rear."
"Wouldn’t that break the rules?"
Marquis Visen Kasein let out a cold laugh, full of disdain. "That old fox Shuvaric would rather trade two villages to us than dirty his own hands, afraid someone might uncover his little scheme. We agreed to give them ten days and allowed them to use any means to delay things. So now, with Viscount Agley buying us an extra three days, we've already shown plenty of 'good faith.'"
"Viscount Agley wants to board Count Shuvaric’s ship, why should we, the Kasein Family, help him do that?"
"Don’t forget, Viscount Bayor’s territory lies within the Marquisate of Red Eagle. They’re still our vassals."
"If reinforcements depart from White Mountain City heading north, and the enemy still hasn’t retreated by then, have Hans launch an attack. Killing a few lords from Fertile Plains would also be a good outcome. It’ll keep Count Shuvaric from thinking I’m afraid to strike."
A frosty, murderous look had already settled on Marquis Visen Kasein’s face.
"If something happens to Uncle Hans..."
"That old man Viscount Agley always thought the Kasein Family wouldn’t dare clash with the Antares Family? In that case, let Bayor Territory be the first to go all out. If they fail to take Fertile Plains, I’ll exterminate the entire Senels Family."
Monica felt a tremor in her heart.
Now, she finally understood why her grandfather had always tolerated the petty actions of Bayor Territory, and even agreed to collaborate with Count Shuvaric this time.
On the surface, it was for the resources gained from raiding two villages in Eastern Mountain Territory, and to weaken White Mountain Territory, forcing the Bole Family of White Mountain Territory to rely more heavily on the Kasein Family in the future.
After all, once the entire White Mountain Territory was looted, even if both Giggs and Lily were capable of governance, it would take more than a decade of peace to rebuild.
And during those years, White Mountain Territory would have to rely on the Kasein Family.
Especially after losing Ster Bole, the lord of White Mountain Territory, both Lily Bole and Giggs Bole would inevitably grow more hostile and hateful toward Count Shuvaric.
They would naturally become the Kasein Family’s most loyal allies. Their stance would surely influence the two brothers of the former Bourbon Family, now renamed the Soderbell brothers. If their father died in this war, the gains for the Kasein Family would be even greater.
But that was all just on the surface.
In truth, the real target of her grandfather was the Senels Family!
Agley Senels had already become a Fifth-Tier Bloodline User. The foundation and strength of their family had begun to threaten the Kasein Family’s control in Red Eagle Territory.
Yet, without an appropriate excuse, if her grandfather rashly made a move against Viscount Agley, he would easily be rejected by the entire noble class of the Tyrella Kingdom. Thus, a proper excuse was needed.
Among them—
The best excuse was... betrayal.
But was it really worth it?
Monica felt some doubt within: to destroy the Senels Family, was it worth sacrificing even her second uncle?
"This is another lesson I’m teaching you." As if reading his granddaughter’s thoughts, Marquis Visen Kasein gently tapped Monica’s head.
"For the longevity of the family, one must be willing to abandon, even sacrifice, anything of no value... If one day in the future, even sacrificing me could bring growth to the Kasein Family, then you must give that order without hesitation."