Chapter 400

Inside the castle, the townsfolk had barricaded themselves in their homes.

Having lived under the cruel rule of Marquis Rodrick, they had learned to fear all nobles. Now, they were paralyzed with terror, dreading that this invading army might pillage and destroy their lives.

Despite being in the prosperous western region, known for its wealth, the standard of living for Rodrick’s vassals was no better than elsewhere. The oppressive rule had drained them of hope.

Ignoring the reactions of the commoners entirely, Ghislain marched straight to the lord’s keep and threw himself onto Marquis Rodrick’s chair.

"This chair is a bit oversized. Anyway, Walter, I’ve got a new order for you."

"Your orders, sir!" Walter responded with a loud and determined voice. Dragged along as the temporary commander, Walter had decided to do everything he could to stay in Ghislain’s favor. His future depended on it.

Ghislain fixed his gaze on him and said, "Select 3,000 soldiers, excluding the injured. I’m leaving this task to you."

"M-me?!" Walter stammered.

"Yes. Let them eat well and rest for today. Tomorrow, you’ll move them to a location I specify."

"Understood! Where should we go?"

"To the Selburk Earldom, not far from here."

Selburk, a vassal to Marquis Rodrick, had avoided significant hardship. Although Rodrick had requisitioned supplies and troops from the area, Selburk remained in better condition compared to other regions. Its relatively isolated position had spared it from bandit raids and pillaging by Ghislain’s forces.

Moreover, Selburk harbored a deep disdain for Rodrick and had avoided participating in the current war altogether.

"Deliver this message from me: ‘Come here immediately and pledge your loyalty to me in front of everyone. If you refuse, I’ll march my army to your gates, burn your castle to the ground, and leave no one alive.’"

"Y-yes, sir! And if they still refuse...?"

Walter hesitated. It wasn’t lost on him that such a demand could have been delivered by a simple courier. Assigning 3,000 troops to the task clearly meant there was more to it.

"Lay siege to the castle. Let no one escape. Wait there, and I’ll come to take it myself."

"Understood!"

Walter responded with newfound confidence. What once terrified him now inspired him. Being on Ghislain’s side filled him with a sense of invincibility, as if he could overcome anything.

Meanwhile, the Fenris Army took stock of the massive reserves of food stored within Linderstein Castle. The supplies, extorted from commoners and vassals for the war effort, were nothing short of enormous.

Ghislain decided to distribute the food liberally among his troops.

"Eat well and rest. We’ll be moving again soon," he instructed.

The soldiers were taken aback by the sudden abundance of rations.

"Whoa, meat!" one exclaimed.

"They’re giving us this much?!" another marveled.

"Honestly, surrendering was the best thing that ever happened to us," someone laughed.

For the soldiers, survival alone was a blessing. Now, with such lavish provisions, they couldn’t contain their joy. They feasted until they could eat no more, chatting excitedly among themselves.

"Man, Fenris really knows how to treat its soldiers well," one remarked.

"That explains why they fight so hard," another replied.

"Did you see them charging earlier? I nearly pissed myself!"

Although they were rearmed, none entertained the thought of rebellion. Having no loyalty to Rodrick’s house to begin with, serving a better master felt like the obvious choice.

Walter, after a day of rest and full stomachs, selected 3,000 of the least injured soldiers. Bearing the Fenris banner, they set out confidently toward Selburk Earldom.

Ghislain, meanwhile, reorganized the remaining troops, ensured the wounded received care, and issued another order.

"Now, distribute the rest of the food."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

As Linderstein had served as a supply hub for Rodrick’s 100,000-strong army, the stockpiles were massive. Ghislain decided to keep only what was necessary for maintaining his forces and share the rest with the local populace.

The distribution of food caused an uproar in the streets.

"Are they really giving this to us?" someone asked in disbelief.

"They’re not taking it away?"

"I thought I’d die from the war taxes, but this...!"

"Let’s be honest. If you don’t choose a side, you’ll die either way. Refuse me, and you die here. Accept my terms, and Marquis Rodrick will hunt you down later. You’re already a dead man in his eyes."

Selburk’s eyes widened in shock. Ghislain’s words struck a nerve, exposing a hidden truth.

The Earl’s relationship with Marquis Rodrick had long been strained. Selburk, with his upright nature, had frequently opposed the Marquis’s oppressive policies. His survival until now was thanks to his ancient lineage and considerable influence in the western territories.

Yet, his duties as a vassal had forced him to send most of his troops to the war. Selburk knew that once the conflict ended, Marquis Rodrick would find an excuse to dispose of him.

He’ll find any pretext to kill me, Selburk thought grimly.

He had always suspected such an outcome. Perhaps this moment presented a rare opportunity to forge a new path—if he could set aside his pride and honor.

Ghislain, fully aware of Selburk’s precarious position, had chosen him deliberately. It didn’t take information from a previous life to know that Rodrick despised the Earl; the feud was well-known across the west.

In my past life, Earl Selburk died after the civil war, humiliated and framed by Marquis Rodrick. This time, Rodrick won’t last long enough to do the same.

From Ghislain’s perspective, sparing Selburk from such a fate was an act of mercy. If the Earl refused, Ghislain wouldn’t hesitate to kill him. It might complicate things, but replacements could be found elsewhere.

Ghislain delivered his ultimatum with finality. "If you want to live, swear loyalty. It’s your only chance."

Confronted by Ghislain’s commanding presence, Earl Selburk gulped. The man before him was far beyond anything he could handle.

After a long moment, Selburk lowered his head. "I will change my banner."

Changing one’s banner symbolized shifting allegiance, a pledge to serve a new lord. Though his pride stung, Selburk consoled himself. Ghislain was younger, but his rank was higher—he was the preeminent noble of the north and commander of its armies. Besides, Rodrick was younger as well.

Pleased by the Earl’s decision, Ghislain broke into a broad smile. His oppressive aura vanished, and his tone became polite once more.

"A wise choice. You won’t regret it."

Acknowledging Selburk’s status as a high-ranking noble, Ghislain treated him with the respect due his station. The oath of loyalty was sworn in a grand ceremony, witnessed by many. Now, Selburk could only hope Fenris emerged victorious in the war.

After the ceremony, Selburk asked, "What would you have me do now?"

"I intend to make all the occupied western territories directly controlled by Fenris. Once the war is over, I’ll send administrators to govern them. In the meantime, I want you to oversee these lands."

"But I lack the manpower to manage so many regions..."

"I’ll assign you the 15,000 prisoners we captured. Use them. Additionally, distribute the remaining food supplies here under Fenris’s name."

Selburk was momentarily taken aback. With 15,000 troops and an abundance of food, he would be more powerful than ever—a ruler worthy of the title of a grand lord.

"Are you sure about entrusting all this to me? What if I betray you?"

Ghislain chuckled. "Feel free to try if you dare."

Though brief, Ghislain’s reply radiated unshakable confidence. Selburk couldn’t help but laugh as well. After all, Ghislain had already defeated armies far larger and stronger than Selburk’s would ever be. Any attempt at rebellion would be suicidal.

"Understood. I’ll do my best to stabilize the western territories."

"Oh, and tell the bandits in my name to surrender. Most of them have already felt my wrath and should comply readily."

Even at the sight of Fenris’s banner, most bandits would scatter. Selburk shouldn’t face much difficulty absorbing them into his forces.

For Selburk, survival now hinged on Fenris’s victory. Yet, he also needed to prepare for the possibility of defeat. Stabilizing the region and readying for war were his only options.

Ghislain, meanwhile, had delegated the critical task of stabilizing the occupied territories to someone else, freeing himself to focus on the broader war effort.

"Time to head back and deal with the rest of them," Ghislain said as the Fenris mobile forces began their march northward.

While Ghislain was conquering the west and securing Linderstein, Marquis Rodrick’s main force arrived at the Fenris frontlines.

This wasn’t the fragmented 2nd Corps sent to aid the royalists. This was Rodrick’s full might: elite knights, powerful mages, advanced siege weapons, and disciplined soldiers.

The massive army established camp, preparing to assault Fenris’s forward fortress.

Within the fortress, Fenris’s remaining troops and commanders had gathered. The sound of clinking armor echoed as knights moved into position.

On the battlements, Gillien, the military commander, stood alongside Barneza and other officers. Yet, none stood at the center of the command post. Not Gillian, the martial overseer; not Barneza, the head of magical research; not Belinda, the steward.

Even key figures like Lowell, the intelligence officer; Alfoy, the strategist; Piote, the priest; Galbarik, the dwarf engineer; Lumina and Ascon, the elven scouts; and Cain, the labor overseer, stood aside, waiting for someone.

Finally, with a loud yawn, someone strolled into the command post.

"Ugh, you finally called me? This is so annoying. Why do these fools keep picking fights? Do they need to be beaten to understand?"

With an expression full of irritation, the man slumped into the highest chair in the command post.

This was Claude, the current Supreme Commander of Fenris’s defensive forces and overseer of the territory, known throughout the north as the King of Bribes.