Chapter 154. Deploynt
In the sky, the Two-Headed Wyverns spread their broad wings and swept over the Royal Capital with deep, rumbling roars, their scales glinting darkly under the sunlight.
The commoners and nobles on the streets all stopped and looked up, their faces filled with alarm and uncertainty.
“This formation... are we going to war?” a commoner carrying a shoulder pole murmured.
Soone beside him answered, “I heard it from a relative. It seems troops really are being mobilized.”
“To be able to follow His Highness to the front lines—that’s a blessing.”
A young blacksmith’s apprentice stared in the direction the wyverns had flown, his eyes full of longing.
“Isn’t it? If I could earn so military rit, maybe I could finally cast off my commoner status.”
Amid the chatter, several lavishly dressed young nobles gathered together. They lowered their voices, but their tone remained frivolous.
“Have you heard? His Highness William has been quite impressive these past few days. Every night, he summons several princesses to his Residence. Fierce as hell.”
Another man gave a snorting laugh and waggled his brows.
“I heard that ages ago. They say His Highness has to take all those rare tonics every day just to keep going. Otherwise, where would he get that kind of energy?”
“Our prince really is fierce. Being young is wonderful. It makes think back to my own days...”
A commoner holding a basket of vegetables turned pale when he heard that. He quickly shuffled away, putting as much distance as he could between himself and those noble youths.
He secretly glanced around, and only relaxed when he saw that no one was paying attention to him.
Discussing the private affairs of the royal family was no laughing matter. If the patrolling soldiers overheard it, he could very well lose his head.
The wyverns’ silhouettes gradually disappeared into the horizon, but the conversations on the streets continued—worries about war, longing for military glory, and all kinds of idle gossip gathered from scraps of rumor.
Soon enough, however, those voices were drowned out by the fading thunder of the Two-Headed Wyverns’ wings and the distant sound of the legions’ assembly horns.
William did not know that when he departed, his mother, Queen Vivian, had been standing on the high platform of the castle, watching the direction he had gone, unconsciously twisting a handkerchief between her fingers.
anwhile, Mary and Zoe stood silently among the crowd at the city gate, watching that tall, upright figure vanish into the distance, their eyes holding both worry and hope.
Three days later, William rode his giant dragon down into the plaza of Iron Skull Fortress. The dragon’s roar made the fortress banners snap violently in the wind.
Xilan had already been waiting there in full military dress. When he saw William arrive, he greeted him at once.
“Little William is here.”
After entering the council hall, William found the long wooden table already filled with legion commanders and noble generals. The atmosphere was solemn.
Xilan was the first to speak.
“Little William, the kingdom has currently assembled seven Royal Legions, twenty-three Noble Legions, and sixteen Knight Orders. We have mobilized nearly half our total forces.”
William nodded and walked to the map of the Silver Oakleaf Kingdom hanging on the wall. His fingertip ca to rest on the edge of the Eastern Frontier.
“I plan for the main force to push in from the left side of the Eastern Frontier. That area is open plainland, which will let us avoid the Magic Serpent Fortress to the greatest extent possible.”
“According to the Shadow Guard’s report, Silver Oakleaf already seems to have sensed our movents. The Legendary Combatants at the Magic Serpent Fortress and those two Domain-Level Powerhouses have already returned there to garrison it.”
He lifted his eyes to the people in the room, his tone calm and steady.
“There is no need to concern ourselves with them.”
“Duke Sotu.”
William looked toward the father-in-law seated to his left.
“You will lead two Royal Legions and eight Noble Legions. Depart from Qiaoruye Fortress and strike directly into Silver Oakleaf’s Northern Frontier.”
“Duke Lane.”
He turned toward the middle-aged noble on the other side.
“You will take five Noble Legions and ten Knight Orders, pass through the Nasdaq Basin, and attack the Western Frontier, cutting off their connection to the Northern Frontier and the Royal Territory.”
Finally, he pointed to the Royal Territory at the center of the map.
“Two Gold Legions will lead the First Monster Legion and Second Monster Legion in a direct assault on Silver Oakleaf’s Royal Territory. That is their core, and it is the hardest bone to crack.”
“As for the defenders of the Magic Serpent Fortress, the royal family mbers at Iron Skull Fortress will keep them tied down.”
The council hall fell utterly silent. Looking at the clearly drawn lines of advance across the map, the nobles’ eyes gradually began to burn with fighting spirit.
After thinking for a mont, Xilan said in a deep voice, “Your Highness’s deploynt is sound. I will issue orders at once and have each legion prepare.”
William inclined his head.
“The day after tomorrow, in the morning, all forces will depart at the sa ti. Rember this—we cannot lose this battle.”
Everyone answered in unison, “Understood.”
Inside the temporary council hall of the Magic Serpent Fortress, candlelight flickered across Liam’s grave face.
Through the Communication Crystal, he looked at Odyssey V, King of the Silver Oakleaf Kingdom, seated opposite him, and spoke with an urgency that allowed no argunt.
“Odyssey V, imdiately gather every legion and Knight Order that can be mobilized. At the sa ti, contact the Reinhardt Kingdom at once and have them send reinforcents. I am certain that old bastard Kroll II is about to make his move.”
Odyssey V hurriedly bowed.
“Rest assured, Ancestor. The replenished First Monster Legion and Second Monster Legion are already marching toward the Eastern Frontier, and several other Royal Legions are also being prepared as quickly as possible.”
“I have already issued a summons to the nobles across the entire kingdom, but...”
He paused, his face troubled.
“It will take ti for the nobles to gather their private troops. Even at the fastest, it will still take a month before they can—”
“There is no ti.”
Liam slamd a hand onto the table, making the candle flas shudder violently.
“The pace must be increased. At a ti like this, they are still dragging their feet. A bunch of pampered trash. By the ti Kroll’s army reaches them, they will not even have a chance to regret it.”
His voice burned with fury, and his eyes were as sharp as blades.
“Tell those nobles this: if their private troops are not in place within one week, strip them of their titles and fiefs on the spot. Whoever dares hold us back, I will kill him first.”
Overawed by his presence, Odyssey V imdiately rose to his feet.
“Yes, Ancestor. I will urge them at once and make sure they speed things up.”
Watching Odyssey V’s hasty departure through the Communication Crystal, Liam walked to the window and looked out at the gloomy sky beyond the fortress, his expression dark and terrifying.
He knew that although Silver Oakleaf’s foundations ran deep, years of peace had long since dulled the edge of many people. Now, with a great enemy at their gates, this habit of delay was practically a death wish.
“As for Reinhardt...”
He muttered to himself, his fingers unconsciously tapping against the window fra.
“I hope they know how to read the situation. After all, if Kroll swallows us, they will be next.”
Deep within the fortress, the giant sphere of Runes still pulsed slowly.
That cold, sinister power was growing stronger and stronger, yet it also seed like an invisible rope, binding Silver Oakleaf’s fate tightly to this reckless gamble.
Liam drew a deep breath, and a trace of resolve flashed through his eyes. No matter what, this war had to be fought.
He needed a great many corpses.
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