Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 470 - 470 219 Actions of Various Parties_2

470: Chapter 219: Actions of Various Parties_2 470: Chapter 219: Actions of Various Parties_2 They do not deny the greatness of the legendary ancient sage, but they do not consider it representative of a deity.

After all, the founding king of Klonia once served personally as a guard for Illaril, and the ancestor teachings left by Dusk Knight Gervin explicitly deny that the revered lord was a god incarnate.

Compared to the mythical stories spread by the Church, Lydwen and countless previous Kings of Orland believed more in the written words left by their ancestors.

Of course, regardless of their stance towards the Church’s claims, Lydwen understands that they cannot easily slight the other party, being a powerful force that unites the beliefs of eight Felu Kingdoms on the continent today.

“Let the believers of the Holy Sun come in…”

…

After days of travel back and forth, the lords who came to offer advice bid farewell to the members of the Thorny Flower family halfway and left one by one.

Although the attempt to persuade the king was fruitless, their assistance at least allows the news of the calamity in the East to spread quickly among the Orland nobles.

No matter how many will believe, the northern lords ultimately received the warning.

Leon hurried back to Glade County with Eriv to participate in the internal lord’s military council of the Farolis Family.

The two major affairs at present require the focus of everyone in the family on military preparations.

After acquiring new territory over the past few months, the Thorny Flower Family, due to minimal war devastation across Glade County, harvested this year’s summer crops from rotational farming, and next month, they will also reap autumn crops in some areas, mitigating the excessive depletion the Thorny Flower Territory suffered from the previous war.

Eriv immediately issued a mobilization decree to the barons, ordering an intensified training of the young and strong in their territories.

Regardless of the cost, ensuring that the farmers in each territory put down their tools and take up spears to form a basic line of soldiers is essential.

Even if the funds each lord has cannot support a large army, when true disaster strikes, those who must defend their land to survive will no longer consider anything else.

At the very least, all who can wield a weapon must be taught how to fight.

“…..under that cloud of gloom, the Corpse Ghosts are fiercer than what you encountered in the Nightmare Forest…

The impact of crossbows on them is minimal….

Besides the most ordinary zombies, and Corpse Ghost Warriors dressed in armor who were soldiers or knights in life….there are also some bat-shaped Corpse Demons, seemingly stitched with twisted limbs; there are two sizes, one human-sized while the bigger ones are as large as a plow ox, and they can fly over city walls and warriors….

The semi-ethereal ghosts are the hardest to deal with, magic can harm them, and fire has some effect, but ordinary swords struggle to dispel them; besides recruiting spellcasters into the army, I have no better solution at present.

Moreover, once encountering an undead army, promptly locating the wizard controlling them and the necromancy altar carried by undead remains is crucial….”

Leon carefully imparted his experience in dealing with the undead to the lords at the meeting, reminding them of the types of undead he saw.

“Additionally, we must find and burn the corpses within our territories whenever possible…”

“Burn the dead in the cemeteries?

Wouldn’t that desecrate the ancestors?” A baron remarked.

“If the ancestral remains are possessed by resentful spirits and crawl out from the graves, wouldn’t that be desecration too?

If you really don’t want to burn, seal each coffin with iron cages or bury them at depths from which Corpse Ghosts can’t emerge.” Eriv suggested as he looked at him.

The crowd was silent; the lord’s methods, the first could be done a few times, but any more would be wasteful of resources and manpower, though digging deep pits might be feasible.

After discussing the defense against the undead threat, Eriv promptly announced the gathering of two thousand family troops within half a month in response to the king’s edict.

As the meeting concluded, Eriv stood on the terrace of the castle, watching the vassals, skeptical of the undead calamity, hurry back to their lands one after another.

His heart grew heavier; looking at the map, if the cloud domain Leon spoke of entirely engulfed Eastern Kantadar, the Thorny Flower Family, which had just obtained Glade County, would be the first to suffer.

Eriv indeed regretted a little.

If he had known this news a few months earlier, he might have changed his plans and targeted the counties in the west, leaving Glade County to the Gunnar Family instead.

Watching his father burdened with thoughts, Feodo could not help but ask, “Father, do you truly believe Lord Pendragon’s words on face value alone?”

Eriv, hearing his eldest son’s doubt, turned to look at him, pondered for a moment, and still patiently explained, “I indeed trust Leon, but do you think I would rally so many allies and mobilize the entire Earldom just because I trust someone’s words?”

After saying this, he pointed to a cabinet inside the room: “The third drawer, have a look.”

Following the command, Feodo opened the drawer of the cabinet storing letters in his father’s room, full of curiosity.

Seeing the contents of several letters, he couldn’t help but turn back in shock, “When did you send so many people to investigate the East?”

“On the very night Leon came to report the news,” Eriv replied, turning to walk back into the room.

Feodo was surprised, “Then why…

were you so silent about it?”

The Master of Thorns came beside his son, patting his shoulder, “Even you feel that I trust him entirely; imagine how Leon feels about me?”

“Feodo, as a ruler, the attitude you display and what you genuinely intend to achieve do not need to intertwine like vines.

Necessary vigilance and caution do not conf lict with treating others sincerely, it’s about how you show it.”

“But you have been so devoted to Lord Pendragon all along, and won’t prolonging this stir discontent among other vassals within the family?” Feodo asked, puzzled.

“If there’s truly such a narrow-minded person among the vassals who feels discontent, against whom is this discontent truly directed?” Eriv gazed directly into his son’s eyes, silently regretting….

This mindset, meant to be born among the vassals for a ruler to wield, is not supposed to manifest in the rightful heir.

“This…” Feodo hesitated.

“My child, some things can assist you when used positively, and harm when misused; it depends on when and whether to use it, and when it should be done, there are many swords available, there’s no need to seek out the dirtiest one on the ground, you can use the one on your waist honorably.”

Eriv, seeing his eldest son harbour inexplicable prejudice against Leon, said helplessly, “I tell you this, hoping you understand that schemes can urge the unwary fox, but in front of a wise lion, wearing a mediocre schemer’s mask will only drive away those who should adore you.”

….

Leon, filled with tumultuous thoughts, returned to Avalon Castle from Archers City, and it was already night.

He returned to the fortress, freshened up, and went to his lord’s bedroom, turning the doorknob.

As expected, it was locked from inside; Olivia probably fell asleep long ago.

Not wanting to disturb his lover managing things in his absence, Leon turned to find a guest room to spend the night.

However, the troubled girl inside, due to important matters, was a light sleeper and heard the commotion outside.

“Leon!” Recognizing the familiar footsteps, Olivia quickly ran to open the door, barefoot, and called out.

“Did I wake you?” Leon said, helpless.

“I wasn’t asleep anyway.” The girl shook her head, not caring, looking relieved: “Glad you’re back, I had no idea what to do otherwise.”

“What’s the matter?” Leon asked curiously.

“That dwarf uncle named Hem has returned, with some other dwarf uncles I’ve never seen, saying they want to take Master Adya away.” Olivia, with her good memory, was sure the bearded ones beside Hem were not among the dozens of ancient dwarves she initially met.

“Dwarves I’ve never seen?

Take away?

Take them where?” Leon was stunned.