Lord blessed by the elves

Chapter 78

Clyde frowned even more as he looked at the chaos before him.

Baron Hiddink brought more than just bad news; he was a boulder thrown into the seemingly peaceful County of Campnor under his rule, and the ripples it created would likely far exceed anyone's imagination.

The problem of displaced people has suddenly escalated from a tiresome ailment into a serious threat that could shake the very foundations of the regime.

He slowly raised his hand, stopping the argument.

"Silence." Clyde's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

He was not only the Earl's chief advisor, but also the lord of the most powerful viscountry in the county.

"Effective immediately, Campnor County is placed on wartime alert. All border lords are ordered to increase patrols and defenses."

"In my name, I hereby summon all knights within the county and order them to assemble in the capital within ten days."

"Baron Oliver, you are in charge of procuring the supplies and weapons needed by the Allied forces."

"Baron Merck, Baron Hiddink, you two are most familiar with the southwestern mountains. You will draft a detailed plan for the clearing operation."

Orders were issued one after another, and the gears of war began to slowly turn.

Behind this seemingly unified action, each nobleman was harboring their own agenda.

No one knows that the true source and truth of this impending storm are far more complex and closer to their own reality than their current arguments and fears.

As the mastermind behind all this turmoil, Kruze was far from the commotion, quietly staying in the cool cellar of the castle, carefully counting the rich spoils he had brought back from this "hunt" by the flickering torchlight.

The supplies looted from Baron Sidil's caravan were divided into two parts: most of the easily stored food was left at the disguised stronghold of the "Robert Tribe" to sustain daily consumption and deceive the outside world; while all the valuable items, such as gold and silver utensils, fine textiles, a small amount of jewelry, and most importantly, weapons and armor, were secretly transported back to Lion's Tooth Territory.

A rough estimate suggests that the total value of these assets probably exceeds three thousand gold coins, which is undoubtedly a huge sum of money that could significantly boost the strength of a territory.

What pleased Kruse most were the forty-odd standard iron weapons. Although some were chipped or damaged, he considered them to be of excellent quality.

He planned to hand them all over to the old blacksmith Miller to be melted down and recast into standard iron ingots, laying the foundation for forging more weapons for the territory in the future.

As for the crude stone and bone tools seized from the Kaldor rebels, Kruze ordered Cooper to take them all to arm the sham tribe and make them appear more threatening.

After securing the cellar securely, Kruse returned to the main castle with a feeling of exhaustion but satisfaction.

When he pushed open the heavy door and stepped into the somewhat empty but warm hall, he was surprised to find a small figure curled up in the large armchair by the fireplace. It was Elena.

Her little head bobbed up and down, clearly very sleepy, yet she still forced herself to stay awake, rubbing her drowsy eyes repeatedly.

Hearing the noise at the door, she suddenly looked up and saw it was Kruze. Her emerald green eyes immediately lit up, as if they were adorned with stars.

"Big brother! You're back!" She jumped off the chair and ran over barefoot, her voice soft and sleepy, filled with genuine joy.

Kruze felt a warmth in his heart, bent down and gently stroked his sister's soft chestnut hair, his tone softening considerably: "Yes, you're back. Why don't you go to your room to sleep if you're tired? You'll catch a cold here."

Elena shook her head vigorously, tilted her head back, and carefully examined Kruze from head to toe by the light of the fireplace, as if checking if he was unharmed. Only after confirming that her brother was not hurt did she let out a big yawn, and even squeezed out two sleepy tears from the corners of her eyes.

“I heard the guards say that you brothers are back, but you didn’t go straight back to the castle… I was a little worried, so I waited for you here.” As she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer, filled with a childlike dependence. “Now that I see you’re back safe and sound, I… I’m going to go to sleep now.”

After saying that, she reached out her little hand and hugged Kruse, then rubbed her eyes and wobbled toward the stairs. Her small figure looked especially endearing in the flickering firelight.

Kruze stood there, watching his sister safely walk up the stairs, his heart filled with a rare peace and warmth after returning from battle.

No matter how turbulent the outside world may be, the lights in the castle and the family waiting for him are the whole meaning of his struggle.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, a troop of weary cavalry broke the tranquility of Lion's Tooth Territory, led by a knight under Baron Hiddink.

The castle guards dared not delay and immediately introduced the visitor to Kruse, who had just finished his morning exercise.

“Sir Kruze.” The knight bowed slightly in the castle hall, offering a brief greeting, his face showing the weariness of his journey and an undeniable seriousness. “I have come to deliver an urgent order on the orders of Lord Hiddink.”

“Please speak, Sir Knight,” Kruze replied calmly, though he had already guessed most of what was going on.

"As you have surely heard, Baron Sidil's transport convoy suffered a massive attack by armed refugees within the territory, resulting in heavy losses. This matter is extremely serious and has alarmed the Earl." The knight's voice was firm and powerful. "The Baron has ordered all noble territories within the county to immediately enter a state of war preparedness to prevent refugee uprisings and to be ready to respond to any possible allied conscription."

He changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over the castle hall, which was clean but clearly not magnificent. His tone softened slightly, carrying a sense of superior "understanding": "Your Excellency is well aware that Lion Fang Territory has recently suffered a calamity, and Sir Reyes is far away on the front lines. The territory's military strength is limited, and the situation is difficult. Therefore, in this preparation for war, Lion Fang Territory is not required to send soldiers to participate in the allied operations."

Kruze's face showed a timely expression of relief mixed with a bit of shame, and he bowed his head slightly: "Thank you for your consideration, Lord Hiddink. Lion Fang Territory... is indeed willing but unable to help."

The knight nodded and continued to relay the orders: "The Baron requires Lion's Tooth Territory to do two things: First, strengthen the territory's own defenses, reinforce fortifications, patrol day and night to ensure the safety of the territory, and absolutely no more trouble must occur."

Second, closely monitor the area surrounding the territory, especially the region bordering the Hornas Mountains. Any large-scale gatherings or unusual movements of refugees must be reported to the Baron's Mansion immediately! Your location is one of our outposts monitoring the mountainous region; the responsibility is significant.

(End of this chapter)