Inheritance Issue
Translator: Cinder Translations
...
Jaius sat anxiously in the conference room, with a knight standing before him.
Setting down the letter in his hand, the duke's son stood up and began pacing back and forth in the room.
"Has Father made up his mind?"
"Yes, Viscount. The duke has decided—he will consolidate his forces and engage Grayman in a final battle."
Jaius shook his head. "But we've only just reclaimed the lost territories in the west. If we retreat, the enemy will surely return."
"Viscount, the duke instructed me to tell you that as long as we defeat Grayman, the other lords will merely be jesters."
Seeing Jaius still hesitant, the knight urged, "Reliable information indicates that Grayman is recruiting en-masse, forming more armies, and his fleet is moving unhindered along the Wes River. He can easily transport troops and supplies upstream. His forces have already taken over the Andrew family's lands as a forward base. Fish Tail Town is a good harbor, and our spies report that cargo ships are coming and going daily. The Aldens are clearly planning something. Their next target might be Sente. Do you want to see your father trapped in a helpless situation?"
Jaius clenched his fists. "No, absolutely not. But first, I want to lead troops north to resolve the situation at Bailan Fort."
"Viscount, do you plan to fight the Alden troops in open battle? That place is closer to Grayman's stronghold, making it easier for them to receive reinforcements and supplies. Or do you intend to help Sir Valentine defend the city? That would be a waste of your troops. Bailan Fort's forces and resources can hold out for some time, and Sir Valentine's reports suggest that the Aldens don't intend to launch a full assault."
"With the manpower and supplies from the Duke's lands, we can gain a significant home-field advantage, while the Aldens have come from far away."
"And the other lords? Can they provide more soldiers?"
"Uh… if the duke can solve the issue of feeding the troops…"
"Those bastards!"
"Time is dragging on, and many lords are beginning to complain. That's also why the duke is eager to end the war."
"Alright, go back and tell my father that I will lead the troops east within a week. But first, I need to arrange the defenses at Biddeburg... Sigh, we'll hold on as long as we can."
The knight saluted Jaius. "Viscount, I will immediately report to the duke."
As he was leaving, the knight suddenly remembered something and turned back to Jaius. "Please, keep your faith. I forgot to mention that the duke has already received guarantees from 'the others.' They will provide us with powerful support."
"Really?"
Jaius' face lit up with joy. He knew what the knight meant by 'the others'—that mysterious group of mages. Ever since Maltz Kent revealed his long-planned secret project to Jaius, he had heard his father speak with yearning about the mages' power many times. What had happened to the previous Duke Fraule had also deeply convinced Jaius of this legendary mysterious force.
Soon, a series of conscription orders were issued. Jaius, in his father's name, demanded that the lords of eastern Biddeburg do their utmost to provide funds, personnel, or supplies to support the upcoming decisive battle. To prevent the lords from shirking their duties, he set minimum standards based on the size of their territories.
The lords grumbled loudly. After returning with Jaius' army to their territories, they barely had time to settle in before they were forced to contribute money, men, and effort. However, the allied forces had already looted their lands during the westward retreat.
Still, given Jaius' recent victory at Biddeburg, they did not dare defy the duke's authority and had no choice but to comply with Jaius' demands.
On August 3rd, Jaius set out to return to Sente. A force of 2,000 troops had already been sent ahead to the east, and he personally led the remaining 3,000 men on the journey.
He left 2,000 men behind at Biddeburg and, with the support of the lords in the rear, believed the fort could hold out for a long time.
"Be careful of any hidden tunnels."
Jaius carefully instructed the commander left in charge.
"Rest assured, my lord. We've dug several trenches around the castle, and I plan to divert water from the nearby river. No one will be able to enter through the underground."
"Good, very well."
Jaius cracked his whip and rode ahead to join the marching troops.
...
The duke's faction was gathering its forces on a large scale, while the Aldens continued to execute their plans step by step.
In early August, Paul received Viscount Henry, the younger brother of the former Duke Fraule. To the uninformed, it might seem that the main force of the allied army still belonged to Earl Parker, Earl Melken, and their troops, with Biddeburg as the main battlefield, and that the Grayman family's army only played a secondary role in harassing and flanking.
However, Viscount Henry, who was within the allied forces' camp, knew Grayman's real importance in this war. The first battle of Biddeburg was already well-known, and now, most of the iron used to forge the allied army's weapons and armor came from Alden. The firearms provided by Grayman had also played a crucial role in the second battle of Biddeburg.
Of course, for Henry himself and the entire Fraule family, the most important thing was that the Alden forces' operations upstream of the Wes River directly threatened the duke's land of Manda, which had been occupied by Maltz.
TL Note: Manda is the Duke's territory while Sente is the Capital City or of Manda.
The other lords of the allied forces were held back at Biddeburg, making an eastern advance to reclaim Manda a distant dream. The Alden army seemed to be the most likely to break into Manda—if they continued to win, that is.
This was crucial for Henry, who was eager to reclaim the dukedom and restore the Fraule family's control.
There was no doubt that Alden had already become one of the strongest powers in the Northwest Bay. Henry Fraule visited Alden Town and cautiously probed Alden's next steps.
"If possible, we aim to invade Manda and take Sente."
Paul did not give him a clear answer. If this man let their plans slip, the front-line troops would face even more pressure. Of course, at this time, Paul did not yet know that Maltz was gathering superior forces in Manda to deal with the approaching Alden army.
"May I ask, is negotiating with Maltz part of your plans?"
"I will never reconcile with him."
Henry felt a weight lift from his chest.
He carefully chose his words and cautiously asked, "Earl, if you take Manda, what will you do... I mean, that land has been passed down through the Fraule family for generations. As for the duke's title, I wonder…"
Henry looked at Paul with hopeful eyes, mixed with a trace of worry. By inheritance law, after defeating the usurper, he should naturally inherit the title. But in the end, power speaks louder than laws. Now, Henry was nothing more than the former duke's brother, with no soldiers or resources at his disposal, and recently, he had heard some unsettling rumors.
Paul glanced at Henry with an amused expression and smiled. When he heard that Henry was coming to visit, he and his advisors had already discussed the viscount's likely intentions. It seemed their guesses were mostly correct.
Henry looked at Paul and, as if steeling his resolve, said, "Earl, let me be frank. If you support me in becoming the duke, I will grant you great benefits in the post-war division of interests."
If Sente were indeed occupied by the Alden army, then Paul Grayman would have the most powerful voice in the allied forces.
Paul did not give a definite answer. Instead, he leisurely said, "Speaking of which, many members of the Fraule family have taken refuge with the usurper in Manda."
"Ah..." Viscount Henry became nervous.
"Many of them were coerced, but... there are indeed some traitors who deserve punishment."
"Haha, no rush, Viscount. We can take a few days to discuss how to cooperate. In the meantime, you can think carefully about which traitors need to be punished."
(End of the Chapter)
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