Chapter 158 : Chapter 158

Chapter 158. The Wordless Book and the Federation Aftermath

Amid ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Talilar’s teasing laughter,

Eli ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ultimately still failed to completely resist… his curiosity, and followed the old elf in learning a short section of the soothing melody.

He ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍could not be called skilled, but at least he had remembered a few key notes and playing techniques.

He ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍always felt that this old fellow did not have good intentions, but he also vaguely felt that this thing might genuinely prove useful someday.

On ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the way back, the corridor remained quiet. Only his footsteps echoed softly against the stone walls.

He ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍could not help lowering his head and examining the mysterious gift in his hand.

The book cover was made from some unknown material. It felt cold to the touch and had no patterns or words, plain to an almost eerie degree.

Driven by intense curiosity, he slowed his steps and carefully opened the heavy cover.

The pages were made of some kind of thick, slightly rough paper, their color yellowed.

The first page was blank.

The second page was still blank.

Eli frowned slightly and flipped through several pages in succession. Everything that entered his sight was blank, as though this was merely a notebook that had yet to be written in.

“A wordless book…” he murmured, feeling somewhat disappointed, yet also feeling that perhaps this was how it should be.

How could something given by a being like Talilar possibly be ordinary?

Just as he was preparing to close the book and temporarily put it away, an abrupt change occurred!

On the originally empty page in his hand, without the slightest warning, lines of elegant and ancient script slowly emerged from pale to deep, as though possessing life.

The ink was not pure black. Instead, it faintly flowed with a shimmer like starlight.

【I peeked at fate among the stars. This is not a mortal’s chronicle of pioneering, but a destiny chosen by the star tracks, a secret epic written by shadow and light…

.....The small boat moored by the shore was abandoned by several sailors. The sorrowful prince still sat upon it, yet what he had lost... was his crown…—Caesar Aurora】

The founding monarch of the Kingdom of Orlando, a legendary figure who had long since vanished into the river of history.

Then he began pondering the meaning within it.

The prince had lost his crown?

But the final line that appeared instantly scattered all his thoughts like a heavy hammer.

【Hello, Eli.】

“Hiss—” Eli drew in a sharp breath and abruptly closed the book!

He leaned against the cold stone wall, gasping for breath. Fine cold sweat even seeped out from his forehead.

The scene just now had been far too horrifying. That book… that book actually knew his name!

Was it an illusion? A hallucination produced because he was too exhausted?

He forced himself to calm down. Then, with some lingering shock and uncertainty, he carefully opened that strange book again.

However, this time, what entered his sight was only empty paper.

The first page was blank.

The second page was blank.

He quickly flipped backward until he was close to the final page near the spine. Every single page was completely blank.

The script that had glowed with starlight, that heart-trembling prophecy and greeting, seemed truly to have been nothing more than a strange and phantasmal illusion.

“Impossible… I absolutely did not see it wrong…” Eli murmured in a low voice.

He swallowed, forcibly suppressed the surging waves in his heart, and quickened his steps back to his room.

Only after returning to that luxurious and quiet bedroom did Eli feel his tense nerves relax slightly.

As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw Lynn sitting in the soft chair beside the window, seemingly waiting for him.

When Lynn heard the movement, she turned her head. The faint smile originally on her face instantly changed into concern and confusion when she saw Eli’s complexion.

“Eli? Why is your face…” She stood and quickly walked over. “So pale? Have your injuries worsened again?”

Her remaining words were blocked by Eli’s sudden and forceful embrace.

Eli said nothing. He only hugged her tightly and buried his face in the fragrant hollow of her neck.

Feeling the soft and real warmth in his arms, the eerie feeling brought by that wordless book was finally dispelled little by little.

In its place came a steadiness and warmth like survival after disaster.

Lynn was stunned by his sudden embrace, but she quickly reacted, stretching out her arms to hug him back and gently patting his back.

Her voice softened. “What is wrong? Did you have a nightmare? Or are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

Eli shook his head. He still did not let go of her. Instead, he held her even tighter.

He did not explain that strange book. At this moment, he only wanted to confirm her existence, to confirm the reality of this world.

He lowered his head, found her lips, and kissed her.

Lynn seemed to sense that something was wrong with his emotions. She did not resist. Instead, she responded more gently, trying to use her warmth to smooth the waves in his heart.

When passion deepened, no one knew who lost balance first. The two embraced and fell together onto the soft, broad bed…

Outside the window, the starlight quietly withdrew. Inside the room, only their hurried breathing and intertwined heartbeats remained.

……

The next day, when Eli woke up, the sunlight outside the window was already bright enough to be somewhat dazzling. Clearly, it was already noon.

He was the only one left in the room. Lynn had left at some point, but the faint fragrance of her body still lingered in the air.

He sat up and moved his body a little, surprised to discover that yesterday’s exhaustion and soreness had almost completely vanished. His whole body was full of energy, and his condition was shockingly good.

He shook his head and temporarily suppressed the chaotic thoughts about that wordless book.

Now was not the time to dwell on this. He still had proper matters to handle.

It was also time to go find Sir Lucius.

After washing and tidying himself, he changed into clean clothes and headed with practiced familiarity toward the study located in the core area of the fortress.

However, when he reached that familiar door, he was stopped by an old butler waiting outside.

Eli had met this butler several times before. He was an old retainer who had served the La Roche Family for many years.

At this moment, he wore a perfectly measured apologetic expression and maintained a friendly smile toward Eli.

“Good day, Baron Eli.” The butler bowed slightly. “I am truly sorry. I fear you have come at an inconvenient time.

Lord Lucius is in the study, discussing important matters with the four marquesses… and it has already gone on for a long time.”

The four marquesses?

Eli’s heart moved. They should be the three marquesses from the eastern region of the Western Frontier whom Lynn had mentioned yesterday: Marquess Claire, Marquess Kola, and Marquess Winterbourne.

As well as Marquess Hohenzollern, who had just returned from the royal capital.

The top power core of the Western Frontier had gathered here. What they were discussing must be a major decision concerning the future of the entire Western Frontier.

Eli nodded to show that he understood. “Thank you for informing me.”

The smile on the butler’s face grew even gentler. “There is no need for such courtesy, Baron. The Battle of Thorne was turned around thanks to you.

Once the lords finish discussing important matters, I will report to Lord Lucius at once and send someone to notify you.”

So this was… the treatment of a hero? Eli sighed slightly in his heart.

“Thank you.” Eli thanked him again, did not continue entangling himself there, and turned to leave.

Since he could not see Lucius for the time being, he decided to go find Ron and catch up with him.

During the Battle of Thorne, the two of them had fought side by side. At the critical moment, Ron had knocked him unconscious when he lost control. This friendship was worth treating seriously.

……

At the same time, far away in the southwestern corner of the Western Frontier, inside Kael City, which was occupied by Hofgard Federation forces,

within a room whose walls were hung with all kinds of battle-axes and heavy hammers,

General Iman, whose body was exceptionally burly and who had a thick red beard, was listening with tightly furrowed brows to the report of a travel-worn subordinate.

“Failure? Complete annihilation?!”

Iman’s voice echoed through the room like muffled thunder.

Iman’s illness… was indeed real. It had truly not been an excuse.

Because of a sudden severe illness, he had failed to personally participate in the attack on Thorne City.

And to show sincerity, he had sent Boulder Sessen, the bravest and one of the most valued generals under his command, to lead nearly half of his main force, one thousand two hundred Hofgard warriors, to join the army.

He had thought that, relying on the allied army’s advantage, even if they could not break through Thorne in one stroke, they could at least heavily damage the Western Frontier defenders.

That would win more time and space for these Federation forces occupying the cities.

Unexpectedly, what he had waited for was such an almost devastating piece of news.

“Yes, General Iman!” The scout who had escaped back spoke with a trembling voice.

“They say the plan was leaked. Thorne City’s defenses were extremely tight, and our army had no opportunity to exploit at all!

And… and Lord Sessen… he also died in battle!”

When he heard the news of Sessen’s death, Iman could not help letting out a long breath, but his brows also furrowed even tighter.

Fortunately, he had not gone because of illness and had unexpectedly escaped a disaster.

But Sessen… he was the biological grandson of one of Hofgard’s Ten Great Smiths!

If this matter was sent back to the Federation, the anger of that fiery-tempered Great Smith… sigh.

Thinking of this, Iman could not help sighing heavily. He slammed a fist onto the iron table beside him, producing a loud clang.

“Paul Botticelli! That fool from Wanliu! Incompetent!

He should have died on the battlefield and used his blood to atone to us, Hofgard!”

“You are absolutely right, General Iman!” That subordinate immediately echoed indignantly.

“He brought three thousand men! Add in the forces from our city-states, and there should have been more than fifteen thousand men no matter what!

Yet he fought such a disastrous defeat! The losses were this heavy!

The position of Alliance Lord should have been given to you from the beginning, General! If you had commanded them, there is absolutely no way…”

Before the subordinate could finish his flattery, Iman’s eyes suddenly lit up. He abruptly interrupted him.

“Wait! You just said… that fool Paul took three thousand men from Storm City?”

“Uh… yes, General. The main force on Storm City’s side was basically all taken away by him.”

The subordinate froze at the question and answered honestly.

“Three thousand men… he took away three thousand men…”

Iman repeated the words in a low voice. An inexplicable light flickered in his eyes, and his previous anger and frustration seemed to be instantly replaced by another emotion.

He abruptly raised his head and looked sharply at that subordinate, his voice carrying a trace of excitement that was difficult to suppress.

“Then… tell me, just how empty is Storm City right now?”

The subordinate was first stunned. Then his eyes also lit up abruptly. “General, you mean…”

A greedy smile appeared on Iman’s face. “Hmph! It was all Paul’s fault, that fool. His incompetent command caused us Federation people such terrible losses!

I imagine that next, once the Western Frontier army recovers its breath, it will certainly retaliate against us like mad!

Although Kael City is also a major city, compared to that mighty city of Storm City, whether in city defenses or strategic position, it is far inferior…

If we can occupy Storm City ahead of time, when that moment truly comes…

relying on Storm City’s sturdiness, we can hold on for a little longer, and it will also be more convenient for us to find an opportunity to withdraw back to the Federation…”

He paused, then looked at the subordinate meaningfully. “Are you certain that you were the fastest to return?”

“Yes, General! I swear to the God of Forging!” The subordinate immediately straightened his chest and promised with absolute confidence.

“I strictly followed your orders and remained at the rear of the main force the entire time to observe their movements.

As soon as I saw them collapse, I immediately spurred my horse back at full speed! I am absolutely among the fastest batch!”

“Very good!” Iman nodded in satisfaction, a decisive expression appearing on his face.

“The opportunity to prove the true strength and value of us Hofgard warriors has arrived! Go, call Hammer and the others here! Immediately!”

“Yes, General!” That subordinate accepted the order excitedly, turned, and quickly ran out.

Iman remained alone in the room. He walked to the wall and stroked a heavy battle-axe hanging there.

A new storm was quietly brewing…

And this time, the one who would stir up the storm was one of their “own,” trying to seize the greatest benefit from defeat.