Volume 16: Misty Darkness
Chapter 1: Sudden Storm
Even gods sometimes cannot predict many things that will happen, let alone mortals. Just as Komer sensed a hint of conspiracy in Homer’s attitude to the north, he promptly announced the expansion of the newly formed Caucasus-Leon Self-Defense Force to three thousand men, determined to build an army capable of defending his territory as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, in the distant north, a massive storm that would change the fate of countless people was sweeping toward the Kingdom of Nicosia amid the cold winds.
Fort Saint Nicholas was the most important fortress in the northeast of the Kingdom of Nicosia. Together with Forts Mehlren and Hasselt, it formed a robust defensive line in that region. Fort Saint Nicholas was slightly offset to the south, with the famous Great Fortress of Graz to its northwest—already under the defense of the Golden Oak Regiment of the kingdom’s central forces. East of Fort Saint Nicholas lay the territories of the Ferdinand and Hainé families, defended by the knightly and infantry regiments of the two dukes, while Fort Saint Nicholas itself was the most crucial stronghold for the Ferdinand family.
Thin trails of smoke rose from farmhouses in the distance behind Fort Saint Nicholas, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. The grape harvest season had passed, and the unharvested grapes could only wither in the vineyards to serve as fertilizer. Most of the area around Fort Saint Nicholas relied on growing grapes for winemaking. As the weather grew cooler, it seemed the orcs were relatively calm this year. After last year’s brutality, perhaps it was time for the Kingdom of Nicosia to catch its breath. Yet this was merely the hope of the farmers; those in power who truly understood the situation did not share such thoughts.
The rough and hard rock fortresses exuded a chilling aura. These fortification walls, built of bluestone, were as tall as five meters, with continuous walls connecting multiple castles to form a complex defensive network. The vast expanse ahead was the eastern part of the Mogan Wasteland, where a rugged and wild atmosphere seemed to envelop everything. It was a hunting paradise for the orcs, with wolf riders and fierce bear warriors appearing from time to time in the wilderness. The main force consisted of the sturdy minotaur soldiers. Though their formation wasn’t very orderly, it was highly practical, and loyalty and bravery were merely the basic requirements for them. Yet, in the face of Fort Saint Nicholas, the orc soldiers from western Zhejiang seemed to hold no hostility—at least not yet. They hadn’t taken any action, giving the impression that they were merely marching along the border as a demonstration.
All the soldiers were huddled inside the fortresses. Fort Saint Nicholas was a cluster of twelve interconnected castles. Nicholas Ferdinand, the current grand duke of the Ferdinand family, hailed it as the backbone of the Lemann Province. It was Fort Saint Nicholas that supported the northern defense line of the province, ensuring the Ferdinand family’s rule remained unthreatened by the orcs. The flat terrain to the north of the Kingdom of Nicossia meant that to defend against orc attacks, the kingdom could only rely on a chain of castles and fortresses to safeguard its interior. Against the orcs’ formidable combat skills, humans could only counter them with superior equipment, a robust defense system, and magical arts that the orcs could never possess.
“What? What did you say? Are you insane?” Like a lion about to erupt, Wagner stood up angrily, grabbing the lapel of the other man’s tailcoat in a fit of rage. As the commander of Fort Saint Nicholas, hearing such an order was nothing short of absurd. “Abandon Fort Saint Nicholas? Why? Are you all crazy? Is it because of those orcs? Let them come! They’ve already tried before. I’ll show them the bravery of our Lemann warriors!”
If this man weren’t a trusted confidant of the grand duke, Wagner believed he wouldn’t have been able to control his emotions and would have slain him on the spot. How dare he deliver such a ridiculous order? The grand duke must have been blinded by these cowardly and spineless people, leading him to make such an unbelievable decision. Wagner couldn’t imagine it—he refused to accept such nonsense!
Calmly, he pulled apart the other man’s strong hands. Though dressed in formal attire, that didn’t mean he was a weakling. The middle-aged knight neatly adjusted his shirt to keep it tidy—even at the moment of death, a knight should maintain his dignity, as it was a necessary courtesy of nobility.
“Wagner, please maintain your composure. You’re also a knight—how can you be so reckless and rude?!” The middle-aged gentleman remained highly controlled in response to the other man’s improper behavior, as if it were all within his expectations.
“I can’t maintain composure over this! If you don’t explain this clearly today, I absolutely won’t accept this order!” Wagner’s face was red with anger, his furious gaze seemingly capable of melting the other man, yet he seemed utterly indifferent to Wagner’s attitude.
Taking a deep breath, the middle-aged gentleman certainly understood the importance of this order. How vital Saint Nicholas was to the Province of Leman—almost everyone knew that. To give it up now meant leaving Leman and the entire northern part of the kingdom defenseless to those orcs. This decision was almost unacceptable to anyone, which explained why the other man was so enraged.
“Wagner, I need to tell you that this is an order issued directly by the Grand Duke. It’s not my duty to explain the reasons. I’ve already shown you the Grand Duke’s decree. The Order of Knights is already preparing to leave at any moment. If you insist on your stubbornness, I suggest you go back to Banja Luka and consult the Grand Duke in person. But for now, you must carry out the order.” The middle-aged gentleman’s expression darkened, and his tone became colder. It seemed this man was even more stubborn than expected. Perhaps he would have to resort to measures he didn’t want to use.
“No, that won’t do. I can’t accept this order. It’s a crime against Leman and the entire kingdom. We can definitely resist the orcs’ attack, even if they have battering rams. What about the mages from the Order of Wizards? Have the knights become cowards? We have every ability to teach those orcs a lesson!” Seeing that the other man remained unmoved by his words, Wagner grew even more indignant and couldn’t help but roar, “Even if we have to evacuate, we need to inform the Golden Oak Regiment at Fortress Graz in the northwest first. Otherwise, they’ll be attacked from the flanks by the orcs, and the consequences will be unimaginable!”
The middle-aged gentleman’s gaze instantly turned dark and gloomy. A chilling aura pressed down so heavily that Wagner could hardly breathe. His thin, pale hands rubbed together unconsciously, as if lost in thought. “Wagner, it seems you’ve forgotten your identity. You should first be loyal to Grand Duke Nissa before thinking of anything else. Handling matters related to the Golden Oak Regiment seems beyond your concern.”
“But if we retreat, the orcs lurking outside will flood in at once. What shall we do? Even if we retreat west of the Colorado River, what about the kingdom?” Wagner knew such words might bring him even greater trouble, but his knightly code demanded he insist on this.
“Wagner, it seems you truly care deeply about the kingdom. But we’ve already informed the Golden Oak Regiment. They should make the necessary preparations. Look, haven’t they sent someone to negotiate?” The middle-aged knight wore a kind smile as he pointed behind Wagner and said cheerfully.
Wagner turned in surprise but saw no one. Turning back in shock, he saw a sharp, slender serrated sword pulled out from beneath his waist. His armor couldn’t withstand the precisely aimed blade, and blood gushed out from his abdomen, instantly staining the middle-aged gentleman’s white shirt bright red. He didn’t feel any pain, but it was as if all his strength had been drained in an instant, leaving him dizzy.
The middle-aged knight calmly took out a piece of silk and wiped the serrated sword clean, smiling as he watched the struggling Wagner, as if nothing had happened. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy the thrill of this backstabbing. The white silk left only a faint red trace after wiping, seemingly symbolizing something.
“Why? Why did you do this?” Wagner stared at him in confusion, clutching his side tightly. The blow had been executed with such skill that Wagner barely had the strength to speak. He relied solely on his firm will to keep from collapsing.
“It’s simple. You lack judgment and common sense, yet you’re stubborn. People like you can hardly survive in this world; you’ll only be eliminated.” With elegance, he tied the silk and threw it out the window, then carefully placed the serrated sword in the leather pouch at his waist. The middle-aged knight showed a rare faint smile. “I forgot to tell you that although I’m a knight, I once worked as an assassin for a while—actually, a high-level one. I’m sorry; I haven’t used such methods in ages, yet now I have to use them on you. But I still have to say sincerely that you are indeed a true knight. It seems that true knights are becoming less and less valuable in this world.”
Wagner’s dull gaze suddenly lost its luster as he collapsed to the ground with a loud clang, his armor making a clear, resonant metallic sound against the floor. The middle-aged knight stood in front of the knight he had just killed with his own sword, feeling some regret. After a long while, he shook his head and sighed, “Why go to such lengths?”