Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 506 - 506 239 Noble Alliance and Dumbledore

506: Chapter 239: Noble Alliance and Dumbledore 506: Chapter 239: Noble Alliance and Dumbledore Kantadar East Territory.

Western Baldim County.

The military encampment stretched endlessly, countless banners fluttering in the eerie wind, as soldiers carrying long spears patrolled back and forth.

In a castle at the rear, a meeting involving multiple Eastern noble families was underway.

Located behind the moat, within the fortress belonging to Count Runav, lords of various sizes from the vicinity of the Eastern Great Domain had gathered here.

At the long table in the hall, the nobles were engaged in heated arguments.

A glance across the grand hall revealed that there were many young lords under thirty, with a considerable number around twenty years old, each bearing the emblem of their prominent family.

Though there were a few middle-aged nobles, they seemed to be minor lords with little influence.

“Why refuse Border Earl’s invitation?

Who among us has an army stronger than that of Count Marmore?” asked a young lord from the northeastern territory.

A young baron across the table sneered, “Half of Marmore County is already lost.

He invites us only to use our soldiers to reclaim his territory.

Does anyone truly believe he’ll send troops to help us against the undead?”

At this moment, a lord from the southeastern region, leaning back in his chair, spoke indifferently, “If we’re talking about military strength, why not simply pledge allegiance to Duke Ablo in the south… I say, perhaps soon we’ll be calling him King Ablo.”

“That treacherous dog!

Among the Corpse Ghost Army in the eastern front, many East Expedition soldiers—likely orchestrated by him to covet the throne.

Using witchcraft, he must’ve killed King Aviout and the generals, or else how could the East Expedition army have fallen under his command?

My father’s death must be avenged!” The first young lord burst into anger.

“That’s your personal grievance.

What does it have to do with us?

Besides, if Duke Ablo truly created those undead soldiers, wouldn’t pledging allegiance to him spare us from future attacks by those monsters?” mocked a noble from further south.

…

Listening to the days-long argument, Yevan, seated in the corner, rubbed his forehead in frustration.

Since the retreat of the East Expedition Army, the prominent nobles of the Eastern Domain had been missing for a long time.

Without leaders, the already divided families faced ongoing conflicts.

Now, with disaster approaching, the newly appointed young lords who hastily inherited positions still failed to reach any agreement or strategy.

The door swung open, and a weathered noble messenger rushed into the hall, finally bringing news from Ustato.

The envoy who had sought aid from Duke Ablo’s forces described the battles between the two northern kingdoms at Ustato.

The lords grew even more chaotic in their disputes.

“I said that despicable old man would fail!

Prince Caso ascended to the throne and defeated Ablo’s rebel army.

At last, the kingdom can be restored!” A young lord fiercely loyal to the royal family rejoiced upon hearing that Ablo’s forces had been defeated and retreated to the duchy south of the Ustato Mountains.

But dissenting voices rose at the table: “Ha!

Prince Caso allowed the Orland army to march south, betraying honor to ally with foreign enemies.

What qualifications does he have to claim leadership of Kantadar?”

“It’s merely the strategy of using one predator against another.

Without borrowing the Orland army, Prince Caso would’ve been isolated and trapped in the mountain passes of Ustato.

How else could he have repelled Ablo’s rebels?

If you’re so principled, why haven’t you fought off the Lydwen forces yourself?”

“You’re quick to defend Prince Caso, but I also haven’t seen you, his loyal dog, lead your army westward to aid the royal family!”

“My father and his soldiers are unaccounted for, likely victims of Ablo’s forces.

Where would I get troops to move towards Ustato Territory?”

…

The original discussion devolved into direct insults.

The heated clashes grew louder and louder, and several middle-aged lords held their heads in disbelief at the impetuous behavior of these high-ranking young leaders.

A silver goblet was slammed onto the long table, rolling noisily and spilling wine everywhere.

“After all these days, have you not argued enough?”

The newly appointed Count Runav, also under thirty, scanned the feuding parties coldly: “Take a look at yourselves—do you resemble anything other than a bunch of drunkards and hooligans?

I summoned you all here to defend our territories together.

As of now, two-thirds of Baldim County has become a land of eternal night ruled by the dead.

If we continue this infighting, that’s the future awaiting your own domains!

Do you wish to keep bickering until you’re buried in piles of corpses?”

The agitated young lords simmered down slightly, remaining silent as they sat heavily back into their chairs.

They weren’t about to turn against their host on Runav territory.

Count Runav turned his gaze toward Baron Shatai from Shatai City, who had lost his family’s lands and brought all his soldiers, civilians, and wealth to seek refuge.

He hinted, “Mr.

Yevan, you were the first to send out a warning to all of us, and Shatai City is the only one to have resisted the undead army successfully.

Why remain silent?

Share your thoughts.”

Yevan reluctantly stood, furrowing his brows as he faced the varied expressions of the lords at the table.

The nobles from unaffected regions, whose lands hadn’t yet been touched by the undead army, showed solemn faces but clearly failed to grasp the imminent calamity.

Yet at the table were others like him—border lords who had already lost years of familial hold over their territories or nobles who had begun to sense the impending storm.

“Count Marmore is unwilling to dispatch troops.

Duke Ablo… his duchy in the southeast will soon face pressure from the undead as well.

Having suffered defeat in Ustato, his losses and disarray mean he won’t have the resources to support us.

Prince Caso is struggling for survival himself.

The Felcon family and other western nobles are far removed from us, making them unreliable for aid.

So I have a proposal: faced with this calamity, perhaps we should temporarily put aside our grudges with the Orland people, as Prince Caso did, and seek help from the Northern Kingdom.

They now occupy the Northern Domain, and the spread of the undead would similarly threaten their interests.

If we open the paths for them, ensuring the safe arrival of their forces…” Yevan suggested, echoing the sentiments discussed previously with Count Runav.

But before he could finish, a scoff interrupted the table: “Do you propose we follow Prince Caso’s lead and betray the kingdom to our enemies?”

“Your Excellency, as we face domestic unrest and foreign threats, with chaos everywhere and no hope on the horizon, do we still speak of betrayal?

…” Yevan replied with a bitter smile.

“And who is being betrayed?

Who now holds Kantadar?

Who is our monarch?

Is it Duke Ablo?

Count Marmore?

Or Prince Caso?

Or perhaps Count Felcon far off in the West?

Among them, who can represent Kantadar and gather forces to save the East?”

Yevan’s questioning silenced the table.

“My lords, since the upheaval of the East Expedition and the disappearance of King Aviout and the great nobles, the kingdom has splintered!

There’s no king to aid us now—we must unite and find a path forward ourselves.

If seeking aid from the Orland people is a betrayal, then are they any worse than the Urians?

Not long ago, several among you saw your territories pillaged as the Urians passed through.

Since we once hired Urians, why should we not do the same with the Orland people?”

Seeing that many nobles still held onto resentment, Yevan continued to persuade them: “Prince Caso’s rise to kingship was lawful.

If even he can invite the Northern forces to assist, why shouldn’t we?

Who can declare that to be treason?”

“It’s easy to say, but what would incentivize the Orland people to send troops?”

“By offering them compensation,” Yevan declared forcefully.

“What good will gold and jewels be once I’m turned into a corpse?

From the treasures plundered in Seryan, combined with the entire accumulated wealth of the Shatai family!

I alone can provide forty thousand gold coins to hire Orland armies for battle.”

The table erupted with the sound of sharp intakes of breath.

Everyone present knew that the Baron of Shatai no longer had control over any land, but they hadn’t expected him to still possess such considerable wealth.

Even more baffling was his willingness to risk everything.

With such vast riches, wouldn’t it be wiser to take his guards and head west to the kingdom’s safer territories?

Such a fortune could easily buy him a new domain from any Great Lord in the West.

Why, having lost everything, would he remain in the East fighting against the undead and risking everything?

“Mr.

Yevan, how can you ensure the Orland people won’t seize the opportunity to stab us in the back and annex our lands?” queried one older lord.

“Would they even need to resort to such treachery?

My lord, do you not believe the Northern Kingdom is well aware of our predicament?

I have told you many times before—Shatai City was once saved by a Griffin Lord of Orland.

If I could notify you, do you think they wouldn’t inform their Northern lords?” Yevan retorted.

“Rather than waiting until we have no options left, why not swiftly negotiate with trustworthy Northern lords?

Isn’t that better than finding ourselves surrounded with no escape?”

“Who says there’s no escape?

Worst case scenario, we retreat to Ustato Territory.

The undead wouldn’t be able to breach the mountain fortress there,” countered a young Eastern lord.

Another noble snorted with laughter: “Are you foolish?

Ustato Territory is already under Orland control.”

“Ugh…” The Eastern lord furrowed his brows in frustration, patting his forehead.

How had the once-thriving kingdom become so precarious in just a year?

“From your words, it seems you already have a suitable candidate for aid?” Count Runav seized the opportunity to support Yevan’s argument.

“Indeed.

The Baron Avalon, who once saved Shatai City, serves the Thorny Flower family.

We’ve exchanged numerous letters.

They now hold Glade County in the Northern Domain.

If the undead army invades the West, they’ll be the first to suffer,” Yevan confirmed.