Enemy Alert

General Smith and General Johnson sat across from each other, surrounded by maps, reports, and scrolls detailing the aftermath of the war. The flickering candles cast dancing shadows across their faces as they meticulously read through the documents.

As they perused the reports, a sigh of relief escaped both generals, pleased with the news they had just read. They had successfully captured the three cities without much difficulty.

General Smith raised an eyebrow as he studied statistics regarding the damage inflicted upon the captured cities, the number of surrendered troops, and the overall cost of the raid.

Carefully examining the reports, they made note of the gains they had received. It became apparent that the most valuable acquisition was the population, which numbered around one hundred thousand—more than the population of Moonshadow City itself.

"As expected of our well-trained soldiers, there were no casualties," General Smith remarked. "They also managed to minimize loss of life on the enemy side, which is a significant achievement for us."

General Johnson nodded in agreement. "Yes, our soldiers certainly know how to execute tasks perfectly. With only a thousand soldiers at our disposal, recruiting civilians at this stage is not feasible, so we will have to consider incorporating the enemy's army."

They continued their discussion, strategizing on how to allocate and manage resources to reinforce and stabilize the cities they had conquered. They took careful note of the citizens' needs for food, resources, and medicine, intending to report these requirements to their lord, Maximus.

Recognizing that the lord prioritized population over wealth, they understood the importance of winning people's trust. They planned to cater to their needs and gradually integrate them into Maximus' kingdom once all the lands were unified.

General Johnson leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames of the candle. "We have taken the first step towards unification. I hope that liberating the people in the kingdom can be achieved as smoothly and efficiently as this."

"Indeed, but the real challenge lies after the noble reacts to the situation. We encountered little resistance this time due to their forces being scattered," General Smith replied, his tone serious.

Locking eyes with each other, they understood each other meaning. They continued their work, crafting follow-up plans and strategies.

...

In the grand council chamber of Watchtower City, the noble alliance convening a meeting. Lord Harrington, the leader of the alliance, addressed the council members. "Esteemed nobles,"

"The recent truce has allowed us to consolidate our power, but we must acknowledge that the three dukes are also doing the same. The time has come for us to discuss our follow-up plan. This land is too small for two rulers," Lord Harrington continued.

Excitement and greed filled the faces of the council members. They were already envisioning a prosperous future for themselves.

Lady Isabella, the council's diplomat, raised her hand to speak. "Lord Harrington, although we may outnumber the three dukes' troops, they still possess a considerable amount of resources, and their armies are more disciplined and stronger than ours. It would be unwise to underestimate their abilities and continue the war."

"You are right, Isabella. We are indeed no match for the dukes, and it would be imprudent to persist with our attacks. However, I have invested huge amount resources to hire a Tier 4 sky knight to directly eliminate the dukes," Lord Harrington revealed his plan.

"But Harrington, once we have killed the three dukes, are you certain that the neighboring kingdoms will not make further moves?" inquired Lord Roland, a friend of Lord Harrington.

"I understand your concern, Roland. That's why I have reached out to some nobles in the neighboring kingdoms to gauge their views. This continent must not be ruled by a single individual, which is why I plan to form a noble council composed of nobles from all over the continent. These nobles have promised not to interfere with our affairs," Lord Harrington assured them.

The room buzzed with murmurs as the nobles recognized the feasibility of the plan. They realized they were all in the same boat now, and the idea of forming a noble council seemed increasingly beneficial, especially for those who joined early.

As their discussion continued, they explored various ideas and strategies, engaging in thorough debates to refine the plan of forming the noble council after the three dukes were eliminated.

...

Suddenly, the door was forcefully slammed open, and a guard rushed in, gasping for breath. The abrupt interruption annoyed some of the nobles, who exchanged glances.

"What's the matter?" Lord Harrington calmly asked.

"My lord, urgent news! Stonebrick City, Pinecrest City, and Willowdale City have been attacked," the guard reported, unaware of the annoyance in the room, as he handed over a parchment.

The expressions of the people in the room shifted from annoyance to shock as they received the news. Lord Harrington's face turned red with anger and humiliation as he examined the contents of the parchment.

"According to this report, it was Count Maximus who led the attack on the three cities we recently regained control of," Lord Harrington coldly explained.

This revelation angered the surrounding nobles. It was one thing if the responsible party was the dukes, but to have a mere count encroach on their territory felt not only humiliating but also an act of defiance.

"I believe this is not a simple matter," Lady Isabella interjected.

"To have the audacity to attack us now, he must possess the means to do so. I've also heard of several unsuccessful assassination attempts on him due to the rumors that he possesses a treasure that can reverse the land nature and make it fertile," she further explained.

"Indeed, I have invited him several times, hoping to acquire his methods, but all my efforts have failed. I even sent a small contingent of elite soldiers, but they vanished without a trace. I had put this matter aside due to the growing conflict with the dukes, but now that he has attacked us, we can no longer turn a blind eye," Lord Harrington spoke with a serious tone.

Lord Roland, however, was filled with fury. "How dare a mere count overstep his boundaries! We were already generous in inviting him, yet he has the audacity to refuse and launch an attack against us. Who gave him the courage to do so?" he exclaimed.

The surrounding nobles agreed, their fists clenched with a mix of excitement and anger.

"Now, now, I understand your anger, but let us not forget the bigger picture. We must not let our anger underestimate this man. I plan to deploy our idle army to retake the lost cities and ensure that such acts do not happen again," Lord Harrington assured them, attempting to calm the room.

The nobles nodded in agreement, refocusing their attention on their earlier discussions about managing and distributing the benefits once the noble council was formed. The room was renewed with energy as they eagerly voiced their desires.

Little did they know that the news of the attack had been intentionally spread by Maximus to divert their attention, unaware that the army responsible for the attack consisted solely of official knights.

...

The three Dukes, Charles, Thomas, and Darwin, found themselves amidst a grand dance party, surrounded by beautiful women. The room was adorned with shimmering chandeliers as the women elegantly waltzed, their attire barely concealing their body.

Amidst the festivities, they discussed the recent attack on a city within the territory of the noble alliance. Initially, they had assumed it to be an attack from a neighboring kingdom. However, upon reading the report, they were amused to discover that the perpetrator was a mere count from within their own ranks.

"Well, well, it seems that our friends on the other side cannot even control their own people. How amusing!" Charles laughed heartily, his belly shaking with mirth.

"Hahaha! It appears our noble brethren are not satisfied with their fair share of the benefits and have resorted to taking what they want by force," Thomas, a suave and witty man, chuckled as he raised a glass of wine.

Darwin joined in their laughter, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Indeed, Charles! The allure of power seems to have clouded their reason, leading them to fight amongst themselves."

The three continued to revel in their amusement, enjoying the dance of the women around them. They chose not to delve further into the topic, unaware that the count they were discussing was not part of the so-called noble alliance.