Chapter 204
Two days later, Yan summoned all the knights of his domain. As he donned his coat, ready to step out, Kasa approached from a distance with news.
“Yan, all the ordered supplies have arrived,” Kasa reported, pointing towards a sight.
Dozens of loaded wagons were parked right next to the formation of knights. The coachn were busy watering the weary horses, while a person who seed to be in charge was checking the supplies inside the wagons.
“They’ve arrived just in ti,” Yan remarked.
“That’s because I paid a premium to ensure their tily arrival. You wouldn’t believe how the rchants tried to hike up the prices once they sensed the urgency,” Kasa sighed, exhausted from the ordeal.
Yan chuckled at Kasa’s frustration. “You’ve done well,” he praised.
With a nod to Kasa, Yan walked towards the open field where the knights stood in formation.
Thud, thud.
Ascending the platform that had been set up there, Yan began to channel mana into his voice. “I trust you’ve all rested well?” he asked.
The knights responded with awkward laughter. They hadn’t hunted monsters or done any work in days. They should have been comfortable with such a heavenly respite, yet they felt an itch—an unease born from the rigorous life at the training academy that had beco ingrained in their very bones.
Suddenly, one knight shouted, “Give us sothing to do! Resting only makes us anxious!”
The others quickly echoed his sentint, and Yan grinned at their eagerness. “Soon, you’ll be begging for a chance to rest,” he teased.
The knights looked at him with anticipation. Yan was known to involve himself in significant events, and his words hinted at an extraordinary task ahead.
‘Could it be sothing that would earn us a title, just like Yan?’ they wondered.
Feeling the rising excitent, Yan announced, “We march to the southern front to support His Highness, the Prince of the Sun!”
A roar of cheers erupted from the knights. To outsiders, they might seem like warmongers, but those in the know understood the imnse spoils and rewards that war brought, despite the risks of death.
The knights gathered here were all veterans of the Dragon Soldier Project, having faced death nurous tis through grueling training and trials.
“Let’s annihilate those so-called revolutionaries!” they shouted, eager to make a na for themselves.
It was then that Cruel, standing at the forefront with Roman and Charles, stepped forward with a question. “What about the First Knight Division led by Lorena? Is there no one suitable to take over? I have so free ti. If you’re short-handed, I could lead them.”
Hope shone in Cruel’s eyes. Lorena, the thorn in his side, was absent due to so affair, and this opportunity to lead Arnia’s finest knights could very well reverse their standings.
“What do you think?” Cruel’s eyes sparkled, as if asking for a chance to command both the First and his own Second Knight Division.
The knights of the First Division grimaced at his proposal. They knew Cruel was on the verge of transcending humanity, but they still considered him inferior to Lorena.
And it wasn’t just that. Lorena, though strict, had established a system and demonstrated exceptional leadership. In contrast, the hot-tempered and impulsive Cruel had always been a troublemaker since his academy days.
They didn’t want such a man as their commander. They would rather join Roman or Charles’s division, who, at least, weren’t tyrants like Cruel.
The entire First Division looked up at Yan with pleading eyes, hoping he would intervene.
Snap.
Yan raised his hand, silencing Cruel. “I understand what you’re saying, but I’ve already considered soone for the acting commander of the First Division.”
Cruel’s eyes widened in disbelief. Who else but him could replace Lorena?
But then, a figure approached, twisting Cruel’s expression into a scowl.
“Damn it!” he cursed under his breath. This man could more than fill Lorena’s shoes.
The newcor smirked. “Did you just curse ?”
Cruel’s cheeks twitched, but his eyes were already cast down. “No.”
“Thought so,” the man laughed. It was Damian, the nightmare of all knights.
“But won’t there be issues if you, the Chief Instructor, take on the role of division commander here?” another knight asked from behind.
Damian shrugged nonchalantly. “Then I’ll just disguise myself as soone else. You won’t tell, will you?”
The knight who had asked the question shut his mouth, realizing the futility of arguing with Damian.
Damian stretched and took his place at the head of the First Division. A group nearby wore gloomy expressions.
“Damn, we’re screwed.”
“Why did it have to be the Chief Instructor as our commander?”
“Are we going to die by his hand instead of the revolutionaries?”
These were the mbers of the First Division, who rembered all too well the shocking scenes Damian had shown them at the academy. If anyone fell behind or dared to talk back, they were promptly expelled or worse.
They deeply regretted their earlier complaints.
‘If only we had known, we would have stayed quiet and let Cruel take charge.’
At least with Cruel, they wouldn’t be killed for speaking out—just beaten.
But regret always cos too late.
“It’s been a while. I’ll be counting on you,” Damian said with a bright smile, forcing the knights to lift the corners of their mouths in a strained grin.
And so, the vacant position of the First Division’s commander was filled by Damian.
* * *
Yan watched as Damian firmly established his command over the First Knight Division and then turned his attention elsewhere. With Damian in charge, there was no longer any need for concern.
“The First Knight Division will escort and transport the supply goods,” Yan declared.
Charles tilted his head in confusion at Yan’s words. “Isn’t the First Division composed of the most elite trainees we have?”
His question implied a curiosity as to why the strongest division was assigned to nial tasks like escorting and transporting supplies.
Kasa, standing beside Yan, responded, “Those supplies contain all the food and necessities you’ll need for the coming month. If the revolutionaries were to destroy them, you’d starve and be unable to muster any real strength.”
“Ahh...” Charles let out a sigh of understanding and nodded in agreent.
Yan then addressed the rest of the knights. “The rest of the divisions will move with . The First Knight Division, though it may be tough, please ride horses to the Cavalrian territory instead of taking the train.”
“Horses? Shouldn’t we be the first to arrive?” Damian questioned, puzzled by Yan’s instruction.
“I have a plan in mind. Is that alright with you?” Damian asked with a sly grin.
“Do I have a choice, my lord?” he replied, half-jokingly.
* * *
Yan and his knights made their way to the village entrance, preparing to depart. The villagers, watching from afar, closed their eyes and prayed for their safe return.
At the entrance stood Owen, guarding several large chests. Inside lay sturdy iron armor and longswords so finely sharpened they could be considered masterpieces, alongside an array of various weapons—all forged from the costly black iron.
These were the fruits of Arnia’s trade profits, turned into arms by the skilled blacksmith Owen after days and nights of tireless labor.
Yan’s voice bood across the gathering, ensuring every knight could hear. “Take one set each, choose the weapon that suits you! And know this, if you’re caught taking two, you’ll get nothing!”
At his command, the knights’ gaze turned towards the chests, their eyes widening at the sight of the armants. They had never worn proper armor while hunting beasts, content with the light leather armor from their training days.
But now, to be issued such fine black iron gear!
The knights looked at Yan with sparkling eyes, brimming with anticipation.
Yan smiled at their reaction. “No need to return them,” he said.
A thunderous cheer erupted from the knights. “Wow, Yan’s the best!”
Yan chuckled at their enthusiasm and approached Cruel, who was the first to pick his gear. “I’ll stop by sowhere and catch up. Lead the knights to the train station first.”
Cruel, engrossed in selecting his equipnt, barely glanced at Yan as he replied, “Now? Will it take long?”
“No, I’ll follow shortly.”
“Alright, go ahead with your errand.”
Yan looked at Cruel with a hint of distrust before turning away.
* * *
Yan’s destination was none other than the Forest of Beasts.
As he entered without concealing his aura, it wasn’t long before two figures erged.
“Have you arrived?”
“...Can we finally leave this place?”
They were Aisha von Liepenhagen and Erectus.
Behind them, the presence of many could be felt.
They had all gathered here, huddled together, by Yan’s command.
“Do not leave this place until I return. If you do not heed my words, consider our alliance proposal null and void.”
Because of Yan’s firm decree, the two, along with the revolutionaries they led, had been staying in the Forest of Beasts for days.
Neither had bathed properly, their bodies caked with dirt and sweat.
If even they were in such a state, their followers must have fared worse.
Yan, seeing that they had followed his orders, smiled slightly.
“You may co out now.”
He continued.
“The preparations to wage war against the Sovereign are complete.”
The two blinked in surprise.
Then they scread in disbelief.
“...!”
“Are you out of your mind?!”
They had never imagined Yan would actually go to war against the Sovereign.
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