Chapter 51: Elf Night, Splitting Up

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Elf Night, Splitting Up

「Five days later.」

Ice Wind City, the capital of Green Province.

Roy halted his white Warhorse on the main road outside the city, taking in the sight of Ice Wind City.

Whether in scale, population, or prosperity, Ice Wind City far surpassed Redwood City.

Moreover, Ice Wind City was the grandest city in the Laine Kingdom’s Northern Territory.

The ancestral Iron Blood Castle of the Iron Blood Dukedom Clan was located less than five kilometers from Ice Wind City, with the two forming a mutually supportive defensive position.

An attack on either Ice Wind City or Iron Blood Castle would invite a counterattack from the other.

After studying Ice Wind City, Roy turned to gaze at the distant Iron Blood Castle.

He then joined the crowd entering the city, making his way at a steady pace toward the gates of Ice Wind City.

After paying a City Entry Tax of one Copper Coin, he reached the Outer City of Ice Wind City.

Unlike Redwood City, which was divided only into four districts—east, south, west, and north—Ice Wind City was further divided into an Inner and Outer City.

The Inner City was the residential area for nobles and wealthy merchants.

The commoners, on the other hand, resided in the Outer City.

Entering the Outer City required paying a City Entry Tax of just one Copper Coin.

The City Entry Tax for the Inner City, however, was three Silver Coins.

The difference in the City Entry Tax alone was enough to show the vast disparity between the Inner and Outer Cities.

「Half an hour later.」

After paying the Inner City’s entry tax, Roy hired a guide and made his way to an inn called "Elf Night."

He had never been to Ice Wind City before, much less the Elf Night inn.

He had come here primarily to meet two people.

Baron Giant Monster Charles and Erin’s full brother, Allen.

Like the Wesley Clan, the Adams Clan was also a Baron Clan under the King, so they too had received the Recruitment Order from the Royal Family.

Tony, never imagining he would lose to Roy, had already arranged to meet Baron Giant Monster at the Elf Night inn and travel to the Royal Capital together.

After losing to Roy, he had immediately sent a Raven to Baron Giant Monster, informing him of the loss and that Roy would be representing the Wesley Clan in the war.

Arriving at the entrance of the Elf Night inn, Roy dismounted, handed the reins to an attendant at the door, and walked straight into the lobby.

"Has Baron Giant Monster arrived?"

Walking up to the lobby counter, Roy got straight to the point, asking the clerk behind it.

Noticing the noble family crest on Roy’s armor, the clerk immediately replied, "The Baron arrived yesterday. Shall I inform him you are here?"

Roy nodded and continued, "Please tell the Baron that Roy Wesley has arrived."

"Also, please arrange a room for me."

With that, he took out his coin purse, retrieved a Gold Coin, and handed it to the clerk.

He wasn’t sure of the Elf Night’s rates, but one Gold Coin was certainly enough for a night’s stay.

"Of course, Lord Wesley!"

The clerk immediately took the Gold Coin, swiftly completed the registration, and summoned a young, uniformed attendant to show him to his room.

Following the attendant, Roy arrived at a suite on the third floor.

After glancing at the room’s decor and layout, Roy tipped the attendant a Silver Coin and dismissed him.

Once the attendant had left, he sat down on the sofa in the living area and waited patiently.

Before long, there was a knock on the door.

Without hesitation, Roy stood up, went to the door, and opened it.

As the door opened, Baron Giant Monster Charles and Allen appeared before him, clad in ornate armor with Cross Swords at their waists.

Before Roy could speak, Baron Giant Monster Charles let out a hearty laugh, clapped him soundly on the shoulder, and said, "Tony told me you’re a High Tier Knight now and that you even beat him in a spar."

"Just like Charlie’s son! Well done!"

"I was just lucky enough to beat Tony by a single move," Roy replied modestly.

With that said, he immediately stepped aside and gestured for Baron Giant Monster and Allen to come in.

Baron Giant Monster nodded, looking pleased, and led Allen into the living area, where they sat on the sofa.

Only after they were seated did Roy sit down opposite them. He began slowly, "Before I left, Tony specifically instructed me to learn from you, Lord Charles. I hope I won’t be a burden."

Hearing this, Baron Giant Monster quickly replied, "What burden? We all go way back!"

"You and your brother are just like Charlie—always so formal. That’s no good, no good at all..."

At this, Baron Giant Monster paused, his expression growing wistful. "More than ten years ago, Charlie and I fought each other before we became friends during the first Tulip War."

"In the blink of an eye, the Second Tulip War is about to start. Time truly flies, doesn’t it?"

"But enough of that. Let’s get down to business."

"I’ve received word that the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Army this time will be the Eldest Prince, with the Minister of Military Affairs serving as his second-in-command. Once they’ve finished mustering in the Royal Capital, they’ll march south at full speed toward the Tulip Domain."

"The forces of the other four Dukes, meanwhile, will muster in Gemu Province, which is next to Valo Province."

Baron Giant Monster relayed the inside information he knew without hesitation.

Unlike the Wesley Clan, the Adams Clan was not only large and thriving but also had extensive connections, giving them access to a great deal of information that was not yet public.

When Baron Giant Monster finished, Roy frowned slightly.

’I thought the King only wanted to reclaim the Tulip Domain, which is currently occupied by the Kalin Kingdom.’

’It seems the King wants more than just the Tulip Domain.’

’If it were just a matter of retaking the Tulip Domain, there would be no reason for the four Dukes’ armies to muster in Gemu Province.’

’Gemu Province may be right next to Valo Province, but it would still take five or six days to reach the Tulip Domain from there, even at a forced march.’

Recalling the map of Gemu Province, a thought suddenly struck Roy. He turned to Baron Giant Monster and asked, "Don’t tell me the four Dukes’ forces plan to march south through Shadow Valley and invade the Kalin Kingdom’s Oak Province directly?"

He had barely finished speaking when Baron Giant Monster’s voice rang out.

"You’ve guessed correctly. The mustering is just a feint."

"This time, the Kingdom doesn’t just intend to retake the Tulip Domain; it also plans to conquer the Kalin Kingdom’s Oak Province."

"The Kalin Kingdom mobilized its entire army to invade Valo Province back in the day. It’s only natural that our Kingdom would have the four Dukes invade Oak Province in turn."

After listening to Baron Giant Monster’s explanation, Roy continued, "If I can deduce their intention to invade Oak Province just from their mustering point, then the Kalin Kingdom surely can as well."

"More importantly, a military operation on this scale can’t possibly be hidden from the Kalin Kingdom."

"If they can’t catch the Kalin Kingdom by surprise, the four Dukes’ armies won’t necessarily have the advantage."

’The Kalin Kingdom’s military strength was never weaker than the Laine Kingdom’s, after all.’

’Otherwise, they could never have taken the Tulip Domain in the first place.’

In other words, Roy wasn’t very optimistic about the plan for the Royal Army and the four Dukes’ forces to act separately.

"The four Dukes don’t need to take the Kalin Kingdom by surprise," Baron Giant Monster explained. "They just need to march their armies into Oak Province."

"This isn’t a secret invasion. It’s about presenting them with a choice—forcing the Kalin Kingdom to decide between the Tulip Domain and Oak Province."

"If the Kalin Kingdom deploys its main forces to Oak Province, then its troops in the Tulip Domain will be too few to withstand the Royal Army’s assault."

"Likewise, if the Kalin Kingdom masses its main forces in the Tulip Domain, its army in Oak Province won’t be able to stop the four Dukes."

"No matter which the Kalin Kingdom chooses to defend, at least one—either the Tulip Domain or Oak Province—will fall into our hands," Baron Giant Monster said, his expression calm.

...