Episode 62: While Logan and other members of McLane’s command center are staring intently.
The envoys proudly shouted with arrogant expressions.
“We, Pereta, are requesting the Tethron Plain adjacent to Peretta territory and the southwestern wasteland we have pioneered in exchange for the repatriation of the runaway territory residents and to prevent recurrence.”
“We, Sylvan, demand control of Thethron Castle and the newly reclaimed northwest wastelands.”
Logan’s prediction was definitely correct.
The envoys with relaxed expressions were talking absolutely nonsense.
Give up the entire castle and half of the land developed there.
It was practically a threat, just an invitation to fight.
‘How is it?’
When Logan gave him a look that seemed to ask if his prediction was correct, Padric sighed slightly and immediately nodded with a heavy expression.
The signal went straight to Director Heinkel below the podium.
Heinkel, with a hardened expression, took a step forward and shouted loudly.
“Are Sylvan and Ferretta now going to war with McLane?”
“That’s crazy!”
“dare!”
“Where are these crazy things!”
At the same time, 30 knights lined up in front of Daejeon protested and took a step forward.
Among them, there was a knight who hastily drew his sword, and the atmosphere in Daejeon instantly became violent.
The envoys hesitated for a moment, but they soon came out more confidently, probably because of what they were thinking.
“There is no way to threaten an envoy like this, my lord! Unless you really want to go to war, I would like you to hand over the knights.”
“You’re the one who started the war. How can you refuse when a fight is coming? McLane is not afraid of war.”
However, contrary to their thoughts, Padric’s attitude was even more confident.
The envoys’ expressions hardened slightly at the unexpected reaction.
“There won’t be a single blade of grass left in McLane. Are you sure you want destruction?”
“You’re not under the illusion that if you come out this hard, we’ll give in, right, Baron?”
Sylvan’s moustache and Ferretta’s fox-like guy smiling wickedly.
The tone of speech of the two representatives of the delegation changed to a more overt threatening tone.
The knights standing behind them also widened their eyes slightly, but were still relaxed.
It was visible that they still thought their position was advantageous.
‘Then let’s try to slowly destroy the floor.’
As he thought about how their expressions would change, a cold smile appeared on Logan’s lips.
“How can refugees fleeing tyranny become objects of trade? Father, they have forgotten their duty as noble blue bloods. There is no need to negotiate.”
visor!
The moment he took a step forward with firm words, all of McLane’s knights drew their swords.
Only then did the envoys’ expressions change completely.
“Are you really going to go to war?”
“Are you crazy? You all want to die?!”
I tried to scream, but the MacLine drivers across from me only had sneers on their faces.
The reactions of the envoys to this sight were sharply divided.
“These…”
“Are you all really crazy? It’s war! If this continues, it’s war! Do you think there will be any Macline left?!”
While Ferretta’s fox had a stern complexion and was silent, Sylvan’s mustache screamed as if he was struggling.
Then Logan responded positively as if he had been waiting.
Sreung.
“Oh? Are you crazy? Your liver is swollen. How dare you point a finger and verbally abuse the monarch of this land? Are you really sane?”
“Oh no. That’s you…”
Logan didn’t listen any further and stepped forward.
“Stop it!”
As the situation escalated to the point where it could no longer be ignored, the guard knights who had been watching the situation behind the envoys rushed to the front.
But Logan was faster.
Skag.
“Big big!”
The moment one of the guard knights collapses, clutching his bleeding neck.
Fusuk.
Skag.
Sigh!
Logan’s sword dance, which continued like lightning, froze the entire delegation in fear.
dump.
“Keoeook.”
“Ugh!”
“Such cowardice…”
The escort knights fell down all at once in just one breath.
The envoys, filled with astonishment, looked at each other with criticism and anger.
“If you drew your sword on someone else’s land, you should have been prepared to die.”
Logan just raised his sword again with a calm attitude.
“I refuse…!”
Sigh!
“Keueuuu.”
dump.
The moment Sylvan’s mustache falls down, sprinkling blood.
Ferretta’s fox immediately fell flat on the ground.
“MacLane’s will. I will convey this to our monarch. Please forgive my rudeness.”
The tone was a little trembling, but the voice was clear enough for everyone to hear.
“…You’re smart.”
Logan smiled and turned in front of Richalt, who was lying face down on the floor and couldn’t even raise his head.
In front of everyone, including the enemy party.
Death with an excuse can be justified, but cutting down someone who bows down in prayer will only result in criticism.
Moreover, the initial goal has already been achieved.
‘I’m glad Sylvan is stupid.’
Thinking like that, I bowed my head towards my father.
Then Padric nodded slightly and shouted to everyone.
“Knights of McLane, prepare for war! To protect our sovereignty!”
A solemn voice rang through the halls, and the knights raised their swords and chanted.
* * *
“…Do you really think you can win against us?”
Ferretta’s fox, who was being chased away, asked with confused eyes.
Logan responded with a grin.
And on that very day, McLane sent a magical message to the two Viscounties.
[Expressing deep regret for the serious rudeness and verbal abuse of those who came as envoys…]
It was a long sentence with a lot of rhetoric, but I will summarize it briefly.
– The envoys came and made a fuss and died. We feel bad. How are you going to pay for this disrespect?
It was a communication that said…
And contrary to the last words of the communication that they were waiting for an answer, all of the McLane Knights immediately began running towards Tethron Castle.
Doo doo doo doo.
About 70 horseback horses crossed the center of McLane Town along the road connecting McLane and Tethron and galloped through the fields without hesitation.
A red-haired middle-aged man with a fearsome look at the front of the procession asked as he looked at his son running next to him.
“Is there any reason to hurry like this? They don’t know it, but don’t they know that with our current strength, we can easily take down at least one Viscounty territory?”
Even among the sound of horses’ hooves echoing across the field, the voice pierced Logan’s ears clearly.
Padric, who had trusted Logan and held back his curiosity until he had summoned the knights and given the order to run towards Castle Tethron, where the soldiers were training, was finally left speechless.
“That’s why we have to hurry.”
“Why?”
Logan already had a plan in place when he sent the message to the Viscountries.
Sylvan Perretta Both sides would protest, but it was obvious that it would come out more violently.
“I’m sure the emissary is going to start talking nonsense about the dead Sylvan. So… we should use that as an excuse.”
“Let’s declare war first?”
“Yes. As soon as those words come out, we need to occupy Sylvan as quickly as possible. The more powerful force we show, the more foolish provocations like this will disappear.”
Sylvan Castle was more than twice the size of Tethron Castle, which was more developed than McLane Castle.
A large castle that would be the envy of Viscount Ferretta, who has two castles.
The troops inside were far more numerous than McLane’s, simply in numbers.
However, Padric, listening to Logan’s words that he would take over Sylvan Castle at once, just smiled and nodded.
“That makes sense. There is no need to prolong the war for no reason.”
“Yes. There is no need to mobilize conscripts. If we can quickly occupy Sylvan Castle with only regular troops, Viscount Max Ferretta will not be able to move hastily. He is as cautious as he is greedy.”
Max Ferretta was very greedy and hated losing even the slightest bit, so he was late in making decisions and executing them.
Logan did not bother to add the fact that he knew it was a connection from a past life.
Fortunately, my father did not ask me how I knew about the temperament of Max Perretta, who was not seen anywhere.
I just went back to the main points he needed for McLane territory right now.
“The key will be how quickly we can capture Sylvan.”
“yes!”
Among those who spoke, as well as everyone who was listening, no one thought it was an unreasonable story.
The McLane Knights’ run was getting faster and faster as their overflowing confidence increased.
* * * When the McLane Knights arrived at Tethron Castle.
Naturally, the ones who were more nervous than anyone else would be the regular soldiers who were suddenly ordered to stand by for battle during the regular training course at Tesron Castle.
but.
“1,389 regular soldiers, excluding 100 working at McLane Main Castle. 313 mercenaries. All are on standby after receiving orders.”
Kai’s expression as he reported seemed a little excited rather than nervous.
“…Good job. How are the soldiers armed?”
“Armor, spears, repeating crossbows, and even horseback horses are all supplied. I am confident that we will never be defeated no matter where we compete with any other soldiers.”
Seeing Kai’s confident appearance, Logan couldn’t help but smile reassuringly.
“Thank you for your hard work. Please rest well until further instructions.”
The crossbow cavalry that turned the game of last year’s territory battle upside down was five-fold worse.
With troops like this including my father and knights who had mastered the iron blood sword and advanced to the next level, it was natural for me to feel confident.
‘Silvan and Ferretta. Either way, one side can be easily broken.’
Of course, it didn’t seem like he would lose against both of them, but there was no need to do that now, and he shouldn’t have to.
It was not simply a concern about the damage that would result from war.
‘If you merge both Sylvan and Peretta, there will be five family surnames. Then, in effect, it becomes a territory comparable to that of the margraves.’
Of course, increasing the territory does not necessarily mean that the title will increase, but the moment that happens, both the 1st and 2nd prince’s forces will be trying hard to attract Macline.
We shouldn’t attract the attention of those factions now.
Because Logan ultimately planned to make the three princes king.
‘I will definitely do it.’
The first prince, who became king in his previous life, eventually abandoned Macline after only using it.
Even without considering the loss of national power due to the purges he carried out for several years after coming to power, he had no intention of making the first prince king.
The 2nd prince is also not much different from the 1st prince.
Originally, he was a person who had no value in joining the losing camp and forcing himself to become king.
In the end, the only remaining choice was the 3 princes.
Although he was the third prince, he was the child of the queen, and although there was a considerable age difference between him and his older brothers, he was an outstanding person and the king had in mind the prince as the next king.
However, the unlucky prince died suddenly before he could lay the foundation, leaving him in a cold state.
They had to win the civil war and make him king.
‘And that while reducing damage to the kingdom as much as possible.’
It was definitely a difficult task, but it was not impossible.
However, it was still enough to occupy Sylvan and maintain territory equivalent to a viscounty, a little larger than three castles.
Logan hoped that the current largest factions in the center would pay no attention to the rural southwest until the civil war.
Isn’t that why they are trying to create a justification for war?
That’s how I collect my thoughts and turn my head.
“…I have good news.”
When I looked up, I saw Kai, who still hadn’t left the room.
Logan couldn’t help but ask back, even if he was just curious about that complex and subtle expression.
“Hmm? Good news?”
“Victor has become a Force user. He has been on standby since a while ago to report directly to the Prince.”
“Huh?! Finally!”
“Shall I invite you?”
“of course!”
As I stood up without realizing it, Kai opened the door with a small sigh.
I could guess what his complicated expression meant, but I didn’t have the presence of mind to pay attention to it right now.
Victor, looking a little flushed, was standing right in front of the open door.
“Logan. I…”
“No need to say much, just show me.”
“…yes!”
The red-blue odd-eye seemed to glow, and then a faint gray light emanated from its entire body.
A force of a color as unique as his own golden force.
However, it was also a force similar to the symbol of Victor, the noble slayer of his past life.
“Ha. Haha. It’s true. In just two years…”
The brilliant talent that transformed him from a mere slave to an Auror user has not changed in this life.
Viktor’s growth felt like a sign that everything would work out well, and Logan couldn’t hide his joy.
* * * Two days after arriving in Tethron, I thought it strange that the news came later than expected.
Finally, the long-awaited communication from Sylvan territory arrived.
[Expressing active and great regret at the reckless event that ignored legitimate protests and intimidated people with force….]
To sum up a long story full of rhetoric and formal expressions, like the communication sent by McLane.
– If you do not want to deal with the Sylvan and Ferretta alliance, give up the runaway territory and repay the compensation of 10 million gold each. As a bonus, give me the Plain of Tethron. I will give you one month.
It was a warning, or rather a threat.
Unlike them, McLane did not waste time and gave a firm answer right away.
[There are questions about the legitimacy of the protest, but the attitude your envoy showed at this territory was extremely rude…]
If we strip away all the petty pretense and interpret the true meaning of this.
– Let’s stop talking nonsense and fight!
Immediately after that, a large cavalry force of nearly 1,800 men began to gallop northwest from Tethron Castle.
