The centaurs nodded their heads around the envoy they had captured. The envoy looked at the centaurs with fearful expressions.
The centaur tribe had not only flowed in from the east of the Holy Empire.
Their tribe had also flowed in from the north of Vynashchtym and most of them had settled down in small kingdoms and transford into ruthless marauders.
Vynashchtym was trying to control them with gold and honor but they were beings whose transformations were unpredictable.
And yet, to encounter centaurs here all of a sudden.
The envoy opened his mouth in ancient imperial language out of fear.
W-Why do you keep such frightening and violent beings with you?
What is he mumbling about?
Achladda cocked his head and asked. He could guess that he was talking about them.
He says you guys are frightening and violent.
Oh. . . such praise. . . does this guy have the skill to embarrass people?
Achladda and the other centaurs were bashful and pleased. To them, being violent and frightening was praise rather than an insult.
From their attitude, the envoy realized that Johan had the centaurs loyalty. It was an unbelievable sight for a noble from the empire.
How?
If youve co as an envoy, take out the letter youve brought.
The letter the envoy took out was sealed with the emperors stamp. Magic power could be felt from the purple wax where the pattern was imprinted. It was probably the power of the emperors seal ring.
, ?
Johan took out the letter with curiosity. From Johans behavior of reading it without calling anyone else, the envoy realized that Johan was fluent in speaking and reading ancient imperial language.
!!
The envoy was bewildered by the intellectual deanor that was too different from the rumors. To be honest, he had not expected a noble from the Holy Empire, moreover a knight, to be this cultivated.
. . . , , , , .
. , . , .
. ? . . .
. .
What. . .
To be so shaless as to openly state there is none when you have to find and send soone from anywhere in this situation?
Johan stopped reading and raised his head at this point. The envoy felt thick beads of sweat flowing down his forehead. He realized what part Johan had stopped at.
. . .
Dragon blood did not simply refer to the blood of dragon beastn or those related to the imperial family. They had to be born as the emperors direct son during his reign and educated in the imperial palace.
They were that precious an existence and small in number. Moreover, most of them were already married so it wouldnt be easy to find soone suitable to send.
Still, even if you send an envoy to appease the other party, it doesnt seem like the best choice to say .
No matter how sincere you are, if the other party cannot believe you, whats the point?
. . ., . .
Hmm. If you pay in gold. . .
?!
The envoy was bewildered. Johan had accepted it too readily.
While it was fortunate that the other party understood, as a noble of the esteed Vynashchtym, he could not comprehend it.
Dragon blood can be appeased with gold to the extent of being considered cheap??
Why do you have that unwilling expression? Do you want to refuse?
Ah, no! Why would that be so?!
The envoy waved his hands in panic. If this matter went awry because of his expression, hanging himself would not be enough.
If there is no lingering attachnt to the dragon blood and adequate gold is provided as compensation, Im willing to forgive.
Your Excellency. Dragon blood is the most noble and powerful magic imbued with power that has been passed down since the tis of the ancient empire. . .
Yeah yeah. It probably is.
. . . .
!
The ssenger internally cursed the Holy Empire and other monotheistic ones in his mind. After all, they were barbarians with no respect for tradition.
Johan finished reading. He wondered if the ssenger would make any requests in exchange for the promised gold, but there were none. In the first place, Johan had no intention of granting such requests either.
Instead, there was detailed information about the troops led by Head Chamberlain Leoanos. The goat beastn were particularly lacking in loyalty, and the personal guards of the Head Chamberlain were such and such people. . .
Does he want to defeat this Leoanos person?
I know nothing, Your Highness.
What do you an you know nothing. Anyway, I understand. Go back and tell your master that I will consider it positively.
The emissarys face brightened at Johans words. Just being able to leave without his head cut off and hear such a response was an enormous accomplishnt.
Most of all, being able to grasp Count Yeats intentions was big. Surprisingly, Count Yeats did not seem to have much interest in Vynashchtyms territory itself. The fact that he had no obsession with dragon blood proved that.
That alone relieved his worries several fold.
After the spy left, Johan asked the centaurs.
I heard that Leoanos fellow has arrived at the border fortress. How did it look?
It looked difficult to penetrate.
Euclyia said, and the other centaurs nodded their heads.
The vast mountain range covering the west acted as a natural barrier all by itself.
To cross the mountain range, one had to move along the ancient imperial highway that ran between them. Vynashchtym was no fool either. They had prepared the fortress at the border pass relatively thoroughly.
He wouldnt co out unless hes a fool, right?
I think so.
What about looting the surroundings to lure him out?
Since we have the cooperation of the viceroy here, we cant do that. Even if we loot other cities, its doubtful he would co out. I heard he is quite old and weary.
It didnt seem like the old, power-hungry noble would rush out just because a few cities that werent even his were looted.
I dont think we need to attack. . .
Dont need to attack! Did you co here to play?!
What nonsense are you saying?!
The eastern tribes got angry at the words of a sub-captain. Unlike the rcenaries, the eastern tribes hadnt fought in far too long.
But we cant climb up that cliff and attack the gates! Are you suggesting we lay siege?!
. . .
The centaurs didnt dare suggest charging the fortress walls either.
Since the emperor sent a letter, we dont necessarily need to attack.
Johan took the side of the sub-captain. In the first place, the purpose of coming here was pretty much achieved.
The purpose was to retaliate and receive compensation by making a show of force in response to the fake proposal. Since the opponent folded first this ti. There was no need to forcibly move if the opponent endured, but who knows.
What if they dont keep their promise?
They shouldnt be stupid enough, but if that ti cos, well just move accordingly.
Even if they couldnt cross the mountain range and border fortress, they could still easily pillage the port cities along the coast. Their current stationing here also ant a threat in that sense.
Ti is on our side. Well wait. Make sure the troops dont beco too complacent. Keep scouting towards the border fortress intermittently, just in case.
Yes. . .
Dont feel too upset that you cant fight.
Okay. . .
The enemies inside the fortress wont stay inside forever either. Wont they co out to scout regularly? I look forward to your exploits.
Yes!
When Johan consoled them, the centaurs cheered up at his words again. Thats right. This was their land too. Wouldnt they keep sending out troops?
. . .Johans expectations were off.
Leoanos did not send a single soldier outside the border fortress. It was a shaless act that even made the viceroy go isnt this a bit much?.
They should at least send people to the cities to find out what happened and get an understanding of the situation. . .
Why is that count just standing still?!
Contrary to outside thoughts, Leoanos was also quite anxious. He thought Johan would move like a crazy b*stard and plunder, but for so reason, as if he had eaten sothing wrong, he just took his position and did not move.
Vynashchtym should beco confused so that Leoanos himself can move more easily, so why is that count just standing still for over a month?
Would it not be better to send an envoy?
Hmm. How shall I put it?
If you insult him. . .
!
It was certainly not a bad choice. Attacking the pass was good in its own way, and plundering other cities out of anger did not concern him.
It is indeed a good idea. Send soone to mock that b*stard!
Brave n with the guts to go to the counts camp and mock the count were selected. Not long after they left, reports ca in from nearby rchants.
Army flags were seen! An army is coming this way!
Coming this way? That count b*stard has no fear. Prepare for battle!
Leoanos was confident. Hiding behind the castle walls, even cowards could beco brave. Not knowing much about Johan, Leoanos had no fear at all.
Defeating and subduing that barbaric foreign count was not a bad choice either. It could completely cover up this blunder and allow him to return. . . The rebellion would just be delayed. . .
Leoanos-gong!
What is it?
Its not the counts army!
Not the counts army, what nonsense is that? Did the little kingdom fellows co down this far?
No. The army of the pagans has co right up to here!
. . .??!
No way. How did they get here?
Johan was dumbfounded when he heard a report that a pagan army had landed not too far from the city and was coming up.
Surely there were several fortified islands to the south, how did they get through that? It should still be intact.
It seems they took a roundabout path through the open seas.
Giada was also apparently taken by surprise. He certainly did not expect such a crude thod of going north.
Even if they fail, how will they go back? However pitifully Vynashchtym is seen. . .
Sir! Sir!
The viceroy ca running first. He had a look of fear on his face, worried that Johan might leave.
He tried to make excuses that he had hired the count and his soldiers as rcenaries, but he really hired them as rcenaries!
You must not leave!
Im not leaving. Calm down and speak.
They will co here and burn everything and take it all away. Please do not abandon and my city!
The viceroy piled up gold and kowtowed. Johan cald the viceroy down. Johan had no intention of abandoning this city anyway. There were also republic rchants, and most importantly, it was Johans central supply point.
I will have soldiers deployed on the walls and prepare to defend.
Thank you! Thank you! I will never forget this favor!
. . .However, the viceroy forgot that favor exactly three days later. The pagan army had started heading towards the mountain pass, leaving the city alone.
The viceroy regretted inside.
3 . . .!
Of course, Johans rcenaries could have co to the city and made the enemies flee, but from the position of losing imnse gold, it was not a very convincing argunt.
Its good the city is safe now. Viceroy?
Im really tearfully happy. . . Sir. . .
The pagan army that landed just south of the port city headed straight for the mountain pass after looting so villages along the way.
Leaving the city behind and advancing, what confidence.
What guts do they have?
They must be confident they can win if we co out, given their numbers. . .
There were rumors that the enemy forces that landed were close to ten thousand. While not exact, it was a scale that could only be intimidating.
If they breakthrough the pass, they can rapidly advance east on the highways. Whoever the commander is, they have trendous guts.
Ca to get gold but things are getting complicated. . . But why does it seem they did not attack here?
I dont know about that either, but could it be they avoided this place after hearing of you, Your Excellency?
Dont say such nonsense.
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