Chapter 144 : Chapter 144

Chapter 144. The Vassals of the La Roche Family

Two ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍days passed in the blink of an eye.

For Thorne City, these two days marked the crucial transition from everyday order to the iron tread of war.

The atmosphere inside the city had clearly grown far tenser. The number of soldiers patrolling the streets had multiplied, and their steps were more hurried and heavier than usual.

The once-bustling markets were still open, but the vendors’ cries had grown much quieter.

The uninformed citizens also instinctively sensed something, and the speed at which they purchased daily necessities had clearly increased.

An invisible pressure filled the air. It was the particular oppression that came before a great battle.

During these two days, the vassals of the La Roche Family who had received the highest emergency summons

brought the most elite soldiers they could muster and hurried over from their fiefs around Thorne City.

One group of travel-worn soldiers after another, led by their respective lords, flowed into the designated military camps like streams joining a great river.

The neighing of warhorses, the clashing of armor, and the orders of officers replaced Thorne’s usual liveliness.

After these vassals arranged a series of tedious affairs, such as having their subordinates set up camp and receive supplies,

they did not dare delay in the slightest. They immediately rushed to the core of power in Thorne City—La Roche Fortress.

They needed to meet Sir Lucius, understand the full picture of the urgent military situation, and receive the next combat orders.

At this moment, more than a dozen nobles wearing different family crests had already gathered before the fortress gates.

They conversed with one another in low voices, their faces carrying solemnity and confusion as they waited for Lucius’s summons.

However, they did not know that Lucius was not inside the fortress at this moment.

In the outskirts of Thorne City, within a large military camp guarded under strict security,

Lucius was standing before a huge unfolded map of Thorne City’s defenses.

To his left stood Count Quintus, the Garrison Captain of Thorne City, an experienced old general.

To his right stood Eli and Ron, the newly appointed Baron of Runestone City.

Count Quintus’s finger was pointing at several key locations on the map of Thorne City.

“Lord Lucius, please look. Thorne City has six main gates in total.

Among them, the main city gate, Lion Gate, has the thickest walls and the most complete barbican structure. Its defenses can be described as impregnable.

With the fighting style of that Federation rabble, the possibility that they will launch a frontal assault on Lion Gate is extremely low…”

His finger moved and pointed to another location. “This is Riverside Gate. Outside the gate is a branch of the Whitewater River.

Although the river is not particularly wide, it is enough to restrict the deployment of large-scale forces.

Heavy siege equipment would find it even more difficult to approach, so it is not an ideal attack point.”

Then, he pointed to another city gate. “Forest Gate. The terrain outside the gate rises and falls, and the trees are dense. It is unfavorable for the attacking side to arrange its troops, so it is likewise easy to defend and difficult to attack.

After excluding these three locations, what remains… are Steel Gate, King’s Gate, and Dragon Gate.

The terrain outside these three gates is relatively open and flat, making it convenient for the enemy army to gather its forces.

Sir Lucius, based on my experience, if the Federation army wishes to achieve a breakthrough as quickly as possible, these three gates will certainly be the focus of their assault!”

In a siege battle, if one could accurately predict the enemy’s main attack direction, one could deploy defensive forces accordingly.

This would avoid excessively dispersing limited manpower across all fronts, which was undoubtedly a tremendous advantage.

Lucius stared at the three city gates that Quintus had marked as key points on the map and slowly nodded.

“Count Quintus’s analysis is reasonable. Steel Gate, King’s Gate, and Dragon Gate are indeed the top priorities. We must defend them.”

He paused slightly and fell into thought.

“Count Quintus, how many standing defenders are currently inside Thorne City?”

Quintus immediately answered, “Lord Lucius, there are currently around five thousand regular soldiers available for mobilization inside the city.

I believe that the lords who received your emergency summons are also arriving at Thorne one after another at this moment.

Although His Grace took away a considerable number of the Western Frontier’s main forces and has not yet returned,

with the troops brought by the lords, as well as the mercenaries and knights who can be temporarily recruited and hired inside the city,

we should still be able to gather a defensive force of nearly ten thousand.”

“Nearly ten thousand…”

Lucius repeated this number in a low voice, then turned his gaze to Eli at the side.

“Eli, did the intelligence you obtained contain any information about the specific strength of the Federation allied army?”

A trace of apology appeared on Eli’s face, and he shook his head slightly.

“My apologies, Lord Lucius. I did not discover the exact number of enemy troops.”

His Purple Intelligence had not contained such detailed military statistics.

Lucius was not surprised by this. Intelligence work was never able to cover every detail.

He nodded. “No matter. Since the other side dares to plot against Thorne, their forces likely will not number fewer than ten thousand…”

When Baron Ron, who stood beside Eli, heard this, he thought for a moment.

“Lord Lucius, please rest assured. Even if the enemy army’s numbers are equal to ours or slightly greater, they are a weary force that has come from afar.

We will defend from within the city and wait at ease for an exhausted enemy! We will certainly win this battle!”

Just then, the messenger’s cautious report came from outside the tent. “Lord Lucius!

Count Hanard, Count Ponchi, and several other lords who received the summons have all arrived at the fortress.

They are looking for you and request an immediate discussion!”

Lucius returned to himself and answered outside, “Mm, understood.”

He then looked at Count Quintus. “Count, since the vassals have arrived,

we shall return to La Roche Fortress and formally inform them of the military situation, then unify our deployment.”

“Yes, Lord Lucius!” Count Quintus bowed and accepted the order.

The group delayed no further. They quickly left the military camp in the outskirts, mounted fast horses, and galloped toward the city.

When they arrived before the majestic gates of La Roche Fortress, more than a dozen nobles of the Western Frontier had already gathered there.

The splendor of their attire varied, but the family crests they wore all revealed their long-standing heritage and status within the Western Frontier.

When they saw Lucius appear, the faint conversations instantly ceased.

Everyone came forward at almost the same time and spoke one after another, their tones filled with anxiety.

“Sir Lucius!”

“Sir Lucius, has something serious happened?”

“Such an urgent summons… Could it be that something happened in the royal capital…” One count could not help but voice the worst speculation.

Lucius calmly swept his gaze over the vassals before him and did not immediately answer.

“Everyone, please follow me!”

The crowd sensed the weight in Lucius’s words. They immediately restrained all their questions and respectfully followed him into a vast council hall.

Inside the council hall, the high vaulted ceiling cast deep shadows.

The portraits of past members of the La Roche Family hung on the walls, as though they were watching everything below.

Everyone took their seats in order according to rank and seniority.

Count Hanard, whose temperament was relatively impatient, was the first to rise. He was a long-established noble famed for his martial valor.

“Lord Lucius, you summoned us here with such urgency. What exactly has happened?

Could it be… that something has happened to His Grace in the royal capital?”

This was the greatest worry in everyone’s hearts. If Federico fell from power, the Western Frontier would immediately sink into an unprecedented crisis.

Lucius did not answer directly. Instead, he cast his gaze toward Count Quintus at the side and gave a slight signal.

Count Quintus understood and immediately stood. “My lords, please be quiet. Something serious has happened.

We have just obtained confirmed intelligence. The Federation remnant forces entrenched in Storm City and other places have already secretly gathered.

They… intend to launch a fierce assault on Thorne City!”

“What?!”

“Lord Quintus, is this intelligence reliable?!”

“Hiss—His Grace and the three marquesses are all in the royal capital right now!”

“That is right. The remaining two marquesses’ fiefs are remote as well. There is no way they can rush over in time to reinforce us!”

As soon as Quintus finished speaking, the council hall instantly filled with the sounds of sharply drawn breaths and incredulous cries.

Shock, anger, doubt, panic… all kinds of emotions intertwined on the nobles’ faces.

This news was too horrifying and had completely exceeded their expectations.

In their view, how could those Federation remnants dare to take the initiative to attack the strongest fortress in the Western Frontier?

“Enough!” Lucius’s low voice rang out, instantly suppressing all the noise and commotion.

Lucius slowly stood, his calm gaze sweeping over the face of every vassal.

“This is the situation. The war of revenge has begun ahead of schedule.

I know that each of you has your own thoughts, but what I must tell you is that in this battle, we have no retreat!

Behind Thorne City are your territories, your families, and your foundations!

There is only one demand in this battle—”

He paused, then spoke word by word. “Victory!”

There was no impassioned incitement, but these words struck the heart of every noble like a heavy hammer.

They awakened them from their shock, replacing it with a heavy sense of responsibility.

“Yes, Lord Lucius!” everyone answered in unison.

No matter what disagreements existed among them internally, now that a foreign enemy was approaching the city,

defending the Western Frontier and defending their homes was an inescapable duty for all La Roche vassals.

Count Ponchi immediately rose next. His family had a close relationship with the La Roche Family.

“Lord Lucius, the dozen or so of us have worked together and brought nearly four thousand elite soldiers!

We and our soldiers will obey all of your arrangements!”

“That is right! We will obey your arrangements!”

“Revenge! Let them come and never return!”

The other nobles also stood and echoed him one after another. For a time, the council hall was filled with surging emotion and rising battle intent.

Perhaps the forces each of them brought varied in number, and perhaps they still had their own calculations in their hearts.

But at this moment, before Lucius’s authority and their common enemy, they had at least unified their stance on the surface.

Lucius looked at these vassals who had been mobilized, and a cold light flashed through his eyes.

What he needed was precisely this strength, a strength gathered by a sense of crisis and a desire for revenge.

“Good! In that case, there is no time to lose. We will begin assigning combat missions now!”

At the far end of the long table, Eli and Ron sat quietly.

One of them was a newly promoted baron with a shallow foundation.

The other was Marquess Marcus’s nephew, but his own rank was also not high, and he lacked illustrious military achievements sufficient to make these long-established nobles of the Western Frontier take him seriously.

In this high-level military meeting dominated by counts and viscounts with real power, the two of them had no room to speak at all.

Eli’s expression was calm. He could sense the occasional gazes that those long-established nobles cast toward him and Ron.

Those gazes might contain curiosity and scrutiny, but more than anything, they carried a faint, almost imperceptible disregard.

He… did not care.

Ron, on the other hand, pressed his lips together slightly. He longed to prove himself and win true respect.

The two of them inadvertently exchanged a glance, and both saw something similar in the other’s eyes.

They knew that, for Lucius and for the Western Frontier, the coming battle would be a war of revenge.

But for the two of them, it was an opportunity—a chance to prove their worth in blood and fire and truly step onto the Western Frontier’s stage of power.