Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 260: Protect Arkansas (End) The Aftermath

Chapter 260: Protect Arkansas (End) The Aftermath

The arrival of the Astellian forces turned the tide. The defenders, bolstered by the reinforcements, launched a counterattack. Lyan led the charge, his magic glaive cleaving through enemies with unparalleled power. Josephine, with Magria by her side, unleashed a torrent of fiery devastation. Gildevart, Borton, and the others fought with renewed vigor, their skills and determination unmatched.

The Astellian knights cut through the enemy ranks with disciplined precision, their formation unbreakable. Captain Julius and Arnold coordinated their forces with expert strategy, targeting key points in the enemy’s line. The combined might of the defenders and the Astellian reinforcements proved overwhelming. Lyan’s smiled in admiration looking at the beautiful formation and the swift commands given by the commander.

As the battle raged on, the enemy forces began to crumble. Their lines broke under the relentless assault, and their spirit shattered. The defenders and their allies pressed forward, driving the enemy back and capturing many of their soldiers. The battlefield was a scene of chaos and victory, the air filled with the sounds of triumph.

As the last of the enemy forces were routed, Lyan stood amidst the battlefield, his chest heaving with exertion. He looked around at the faces of his allies, their expressions a mix of relief and exhilaration. The city of Arkansas had been defended, they’d won.

Amidst the aftermath of the battle, Julius approached Lyan, his face showing a mix of relief and respect. "Thank you for your efforts, Evocatore," he said, his voice carrying the weight of sincere gratitude.

Lyan snorted, wiping the sweat and grime from his brow. "You’re asking too much for defending the city with such limited resources and men," he replied, a hint of sarcasm in his tone, though his eyes betrayed a hint of appreciation for the Astellian reinforcements.

Arnold, finally meeting the one who recommended him to the crown prince, stepped forward. He greeted Lyan with a nod, his posture strong and confident. "I’m Arnold. It’s an honor to finally meet you. Let’s work together to bring this conflict to an end."

Lyan assessed Arnold for a moment before nodding in return.

(Ah.. Is it the guy who fought with Griselda the other day?) (Lyan)

"Where is that prince now?" he asked, looking around as if expecting to find him amidst the chaos.

As if on cue, William – the crown prince, known to Lyan as Erich – appeared, a cheerful grin on his face. "I never doubted your abilities, Lyan," he said, his eyes sparkling with a mixture of admiration and camaraderie.

Lyan rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile. "You always did have a knack for showing up at the last minute," he muttered.

Erich laughed, clapping Lyan on the shoulder. "And you have a knack for surviving against all odds," he retorted.

The crown prince’s men were quickly dispatched to help deal with the aftermath of the battle, tending to the wounded and securing the captured enemy soldiers. Erich, Arnold, and Julius, accompanied by Lyan, made their way to the mercenary guild to meet with Gildevart and the others.

As they approached the House of Roses, Josephine stepped forward, her Morningstar resting on her shoulder. "You can’t use the House of Roses," she declared, her voice firm. "I don’t want any of your knights drooling over my girls."

Erich raised an eyebrow but nodded in understanding. "Of course. We’ll use the mercenary guild to gather instead."

As the group turned their back, Lyan stopped as a hand held him from behind and Josephine’s whisper could be heard. "Don’t hang out with these old men too long, make sure to come back before night,"

"Of course," Lyan replied with a smirk, as he stole a chance to fondle her seductive chest, making her let out a moan, before catching up with Erich and the others.

In the dimly lit hall of the mercenary guild, Gildevart stood with arms crossed, his eyes narrowing as he took in the newcomers. "What’s the situation?" he asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

Erich’s cheerful demeanor faded, replaced by the calm, authoritative presence of the crown prince. "The Duke’s forces have been significantly weakened, but this is far from over," he began. "We’ve gathered enough evidence to challenge him openly. His corruption, his plans to overthrow the kingdom – we can now move against him with full force."

Gildevart nodded, his expression serious. "What’s the plan?"

Erich laid out the strategy with precision. "First, we need to secure Arkansas and ensure it’s fully fortified. The Duke was planning to make this city his personal supply site, but rather than possessing it, I want to collaborate with the city to help me destroy the guy who wants to take over your city. Then, we’ll gather our forces and march on the Duke’s strongholds. The evidence we’ve gathered will be presented to the other nobles, rallying them to our cause."

Lyan listened intently, his mind racing with possibilities. "And the Duke’s plans?"

Erich’s eyes darkened. "He’s been amassing forces from several mercenary groups and rogue factions, even from Redania I heard," Erich squinted on Lyan. "He plans to launch a counterattack to reclaim Arkansas and then push further into the kingdom. But with our combined forces, we can intercept and dismantle his armies before they regain strength."

Borton, leaning against a pillar, spoke up. "And what about the city after this? I think with its condition, there might be other greedy Astellians aiming to come here," His voice carried an obvious tone of sarcasm.

"We’ll leave a contingent of our best soldiers to guard Arkansas," Erich replied. "The rest will join us in the final push against the Duke. Of course, we’ll pay the mercenaries especially a mythril-ranked mercenary group like the Brave Rings. This battle will bring waves to this region"

Borton chuckled. "I guess you’re not a crown prince for nothing. I’m in,"

After the strategy meeting concluded, the group moved to the interrogation room, where Varkas and Alaric were being held. The room was dim, lit by a single flickering torch, casting long shadows on the stone walls. Inside, Julius, Arnold, Gildevart, Borton, Lyan, and Abraham gathered around the two bound captives.

A knight under Julius’s command stood before Varkas and Alaric, his face a mask of determination. He had already administered a brutal beating, evident from the bruises and blood on the captives’ faces. "Talk," the knight demanded, his voice cold and unyielding. "Tell us the Duke’s plans."

Varkas spat blood, defiance in his eyes. "You’ll get nothing from me," he growled.

Alaric, though beaten and bloodied, smirked. "You think a few punches will make us talk? You’re wasting your time."

The knight’s frustration was palpable. He turned to Julius, shaking his head. "They won’t break, even this guy. Count Alaric from Redania. I don’t know why he’s here but he seems to be one of the commanders relied on by the Duke," he admitted reluctantly.

Abraham stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with a dark intensity. "Let me handle this," he said, his voice a low, menacing whisper.

Julius hesitated but then nodded, stepping aside to let Abraham take over. The room fell silent as Abraham approached the captives, his presence exuding an air of menace that made even the seasoned warriors uneasy.

Abraham crouched down to eye level with Varkas, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "You see," he began softly, "there are many ways to make a man talk. Pain is just one of them."

He reached into his coat and pulled out a small, wicked-looking knife. The blade gleamed in the dim light, and Varkas’s eyes widened slightly in fear. "This," Abraham continued, "is just one of my tools."

Without warning, he slashed the knife across Varkas’s arm, not deep enough to cause serious harm but enough to elicit a cry of pain. "Now," Abraham said calmly, "are you ready to talk?"

Varkas’s resolve wavered, but he remained silent. Abraham’s smile widened. "I was hoping you’d say that."

He moved to Alaric, who tried to maintain his composure but couldn’t hide the flicker of fear in his eyes. Abraham’s knife danced across Alaric’s skin, drawing thin lines of blood. "You see," he said conversationally, "the trick is to make the pain just unbearable enough that you want it to stop, but not enough to let you pass out. It’s an art, really."

The room was silent except for the soft whimpers of the captives and the sound of Abraham’s knife slicing through flesh. The other leaders watched, their expressions ranging from unease to grim satisfaction. They knew the necessity of the situation but didn’t relish the methods used.

After what felt like an eternity, Varkas broke. "Alright, alright!" he cried, tears streaming down his face. "I’ll talk, just make it stop!"

Abraham leaned back, his smile triumphant. "That’s more like it. Now, tell us everything."

Varkas, his voice trembling, began to spill the details of the Duke’s plans. He spoke of hidden supply routes, secret alliances with mercenary groups, and the locations of key strongholds. Alaric, seeing his comrade break, followed suit, adding his own knowledge to the mix and the methods of Duke Ravindor’s schemes in the Redania Empire.

As the captives spoke, the leaders took notes, their expressions growing more determined with each revelation. The Duke’s plans were extensive, but now they had the information they needed to counteract them.

When the interrogation was finally over, the group reconvened outside the room. Lyan’s expression was grim. "We have what we need now, I guess," he said.

Erich nodded, his demeanor serious. "We’ll use this information to strike at the heart of the Duke’s forces. With this, we have a real chance to end his threat once and for all."

Arnold, standing beside Erich, added, "Our forces will be ready to move at a moment’s notice. We’ll coordinate with you to ensure our efforts are synchronized."

Julius, still processing the information, looked at Lyan with respect. "Your recommendation to the crown prince has brought us one step closer to victory. We owe you a great deal."

Lyan waved off the praise. "Just make sure we finish this. Of course, I’m going to look forward to a handsome reward. But I guess this is for today, gentlemen. I have my girls waiting for me,"