Chapter 525: For a Friend (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 525: For a Friend (3)
“...What is the scale of the Imperial vanguard?”
“One thousand knights, one hundred mages, and five dragons. The commander is Kevin Perel of the Dragon King Knights. Key knights include Scott Harlow and Marvin Pan of the Central Knights, and Gloria Chendler of the White Spear Knights. The mages are led by Roya Lilista, and the unit consists mostly of the second division of the Lilista Magic Squad.”
“We have also confirmed their war artifacts: fifty Lion-class cannons, three Red Dragon-class cannons, and numerous barrier-amplifying artifacts.”
A force of that magnitude could conquer most nations on earth. Excluding the Great Powers, no single nation or clan could withstand such might.
Furthermore, the list the commanders recited was merely the vanguard. The main force following them would be incomparably larger.
“The size of the main force has not yet been determined, but it is estimated to be at least ten times larger.”
A heavy silence settled over the conference room.
Those who had already guessed Ron’s condition steeled their resolve, while those who didn’t were still fixated on the ‘White Stone.’
“Three hours… they’re faster than expected. The Emperor must know that Lord Ron is in no condition to fight. That’s why he’s rushing like this. The main force will likely arrive within a couple of hours of the vanguard.”
It was just as Shuras said.
CRACK!
Suddenly, Shuras slammed his hands on the long conference table, splitting it in two. He strode through the wreckage to stand before Dante.
He then lowered himself onto one knee.
“Shuras Helter, Patriarch of the Helter family. I, and the knights of Helter who remain under my command, will share our fate with Hairan.”
As Shuras swore his oath, the other loyal knights knelt as well.
“The Sellington family will also fight alongside Hairan!”
“The Lofermo family would have been destroyed long ago if not for Hairan. Though our strength is meager, we shall add it to yours.”
“The Traga family stands with Hairan.”
“The Aclick family as well…”
One by one, the representatives of the thirty families present in the room swore their oaths to Dante and Hairan.
Seven people remained. They were the ones most shaken by the news that Ron had lost consciousness.
Dante responded by resting his sword on the shoulders of those who had pledged their loyalty, then quietly turned his gaze toward the others.
“The Kingzel, Felici, Metin, Bajerin, Pane, Mitro, and Ginion families.”
“Lord Dante, we…”
“You have forsaken your loyalty to Hairan. You have forgotten that my clan, my grandfather, and my ancestors fought to protect you.”
At Dante's words, the representatives of the seven families could not lift their heads.
The knights who were still kneeling looked as if they would cut the traitors’ throats at a single word from Dante.
“However, I will not assume you abandoned your faith in Hairan out of simple fear for your lives or the survival of your families. I will choose to believe you are upholding your loyalty to the Empire over your loyalty to Hairan. Therefore, there is one last thing you must do before you leave.”
“Please… speak.”
“Help evacuate the people of the Sword Emperor Castle. If you refuse even that, then you haven't chosen loyalty at all, and I will have no reason to let you live.”
The seven knights who had not sworn the oath bowed their heads and filed out of the conference room.
“Lord Golo.”
“Yes, Young Patriarch!”
“Evacuate all non-combatant vassals and civilians. If those seven families fail to assist, you have my permission to behead them on the spot.”
“I shall obey.”
“Furthermore, all common soldiers must be evacuated as well.”
In battle, the role of common soldiers was largely limited to operating equipment, logistics, reconnaissance, and post-battle control.
Without them, lower-ranking knights would have to operate equipment like cannons themselves, which would lead to some loss in combat efficiency. However, Dante refused to subject them to such a cruel fate.
If they lost this war, those soldiers and their families would be massacred simply for having stood upon the castle walls.
Once the evacuation was complete, the only ones remaining in the castle would be three thousand regular knights, one thousand upper-level knights, and fifty commander-class knights, including Dante.
They could likely handle the vanguard, but they were woefully insufficient to face the entire Empire.
Dante and the commanders ascended the castle walls.
Restoration work had been ongoing since the last terrorist attack, but the Sword Emperor Castle had yet to regain its former glory. Cracks remained throughout the walls, and many sections were completely barren.
In any case, this was not a defensive battle. They had sent away the common soldiers, and more than half of their war equipment had been damaged during the terror attack, so they couldn't possibly hold the castle for long.
Regardless of the war's outcome, the Sword Emperor Castle would fall today.
Dante had climbed the walls simply because he wanted to take in this sight one last time.
—I get what you're saying. But what if the Imperial family chooses Zipple and decides to finish off Hairan along with us?
—You handle that on your end.
—I'm the successor, not the Patriarch of Zipple. Do you think I have that kind of authority?
—I'm joking. If that happens, Runcandel will join forces with Hairan.
As he watched the tents below the walls being dismantled and the people evacuating under the commanders' orders, the voices of his friends suddenly echoed in his mind.
It was from when he and Jin had asked Veradin to urge Zipple to pressure Hairan even further. The three of them had considered the possibility of an all-out war like this.
However, Ron completely losing consciousness and the Emperor exposing Hairan's weakness to the world were developments no one could have predicted.
In particular, who could have imagined that Ron would become unable to fight?
The injuries Ron sustained during the attack on the Sword Emperor Castle were definitely not this severe. It was an injury that should have healed within a week, or a month at the most.
Dante did not know why Ron's condition had deteriorated to this extent.
‘Since Grandfather cannot wake, it seems I won't be able to win this war even if you come, Jin.’
He felt that accepting Jin's help would be like dragging a friend into a quagmire.
Jin was not yet the Patriarch of Runcandel. And objectively speaking, a Hairan without Ron was not worth the risk of Runcandel making an enemy of the Empire.
Dante took a pen and paper from the commander standing beside him. It was to write a letter to Jin, telling him not to come.
“Send this to Tikan immediately.”
The commander took the letter and descended the wall.
If Jin came, there was a high probability that Dante himself would survive. Even if Jin couldn't bring the entire Runcandel clan, as he had mentioned during his conversation with Veradin, he would certainly bring enough forces to save one person.
But Dante was certain that dying with his men in battle was more honorable than escaping to survive alone.
Thousands of warriors were risking their lives to revolt for the sake of Hairan. It was unthinkable for him, the direct heir of the Sword Emperor Castle, to prioritize his own life over theirs.
Following the orders of Dante and the commanders, knights began to take their positions throughout the castle. Their eyes were clouded with the grim resolve to fight to the death.
Now, all that remained was to wait for the enemy.
*
“The White Stone? They intend to destroy the Sword Emperor Castle using such a thing as a pretext?”
Rosa's eyebrow twitched as she examined the report.
“We have no prior intelligence on this ‘White Stone.’ It’s most likely a fabrication to create a pretext for war.”
“It could be true. But that is not what matters. The fact that the Emperor is moving like this means he must be certain he can defeat Ron's Sword Emperor Castle.”
“Since the terror attack, Ron Hairan has made almost no public appearances. And for the past fifteen days, there has been no sign of him whatsoever.”
“As we suspected, he may be in a state where he cannot fight… Seeing as there is no response even though the Emperor has raised an army, it is almost certain.”
“There are no major movements yet, but Zipple may be backing the Emperor.”
“If that White Stone is as valuable as the Emperor claims, they certainly would.”
“Shall I prepare the knights?”
Instead of answering the scribe, Rosa thought of her youngest son for a moment.
“And the 12th Flagbearer?”
“He is confirmed to be in Tikan, but we cannot ascertain the details of the situation there due to the Patriarch's orders.”
“That boy will definitely go to the Sword Emperor Castle. The 4th Flagbearer's sudden request for a vacation likely has something to do with him as well.”
“To lead Runcandel's knights to support Hairan without permission from the Acting Patriarch…”
“You're stating the obvious. When has the youngest ever cared about such things? Besides, even without the clan's knights, the youngest has his own solid power base.”
The scribe bowed his head.
‘I do not know exactly what kind of object this White Stone is, but seeing the Emperor so desperate for it, it wouldn't be a bad thing to possess.’
However, stepping forward without any information or justification was too much of a liability. If the White Stone turned out to be of little value, Runcandel would be interfering in the Empire's civil war for no gain.
“For now, we’ll watch how our youngest handles this. However, if we capture evidence of Zipple or Kinzelo taking active roles, we will move accordingly. Keep a close eye on their movements. Also, issue a statement declaring that Runcandel has no involvement in Hairan’s internal conflict.”
That way, if Jin's actions led to a poor outcome, they could easily claim it was his personal decision, not an official act of the Runcandel clan.
Conversely, if he succeeded, it would only serve to highlight the ability and grit of Runcandel's 12th Flagbearer.
“Yes, Acting Patriarch.”
*
The Emperor's vanguard arrived on the plains before the Sword Emperor Castle.
Dante stood atop the wall over the main gate, watching them.
Five dragons, a thousand knights, a hundred mages, fifty-three cannons, and an array of barrier equipment were all pointed at the main gate. They clearly felt no need to worry about the rear or side gates, knowing the main army would soon arrive to surround the castle completely.
“I am Kevin Perel, commander of the vanguard sent by His Imperial Majesty, the Great Emperor Amir Viment! Ron Hairan, Lord of the Sword Emperor Castle, come forth at once and receive the imperial decree!”
Kevin Perel shouted, looking down at the castle from atop a Red Dragon.
Dante and the commanders did not respond. Kevin grew even more arrogant at their silence and raised his voice further. He had heard it from the Emperor, but now their silence confirmed it with his own eyes: Ron was unable to fight.
“Is Ron Hairan absent? Then let the Young Patriarch, Dante Hairan, receive His Majesty's decree! This is the final ultimatum—!”
He intended to finish his shout, but a sudden, chilling sensation pierced the center of his chest, like a phantom breeze.
“Uh…?”
A hole had opened in his chest.
Kevin hadn't perceived the attack at all. It happened in the instant a flash of light erupted from the walls of the Sword Emperor Castle.
That light was the result of Dante drawing his sword and firing a blast of sword energy. The blade that had pierced Kevin's chest was already back in its sheath; only a handful of people present could perceive such speed.
As Kevin began to plummet from the dragon's back, Dante spoke.
“No one in the Empire dares look down upon the Sword Emperor Castle—not even the Emperor himself. If you wish to convey his will, you will speak only after you have defeated me.”