Chapter 61_ 1st War (6)

"We should rectify our operation a little."

Chucksley raised an eyebrow in puzzlement.

"What is the matter, your majesty?"

"Word is that the enemy conscripted their civilians, correct? Then it would be preferable if we could minimize the harm caused to the guiltless."

"Oh!" Chucksley exclaimed as if he had not thought about this yet. Lexus was actually planning to integrate Viscount Barn's fief into his own after defeating him.

However, this was endeavoring to act with the future in mind as it would be hard to sway the hearts of the people if their newly appointed king was responsible for a slaughter.

"It would be difficult to completely avoid harming civilians, but we should at least try to minimize the blood split where we can."

Chucksley seemed deeply moved by Lexus' concerns.

"Indeed, that would be ideal. I had not quite thought that far yet."

Chucksley was an individual who concretely adhered to the knight's code and pursued the upholding of righteousness – but nonetheless, he hailed from a high-ranking noble household. As such, there were times when he himself unknowingly did not consider things from the perspective of ordinary folk.

In this instance, he was incensed that the common people had been conscripted; but this anger was more directed at the lowliness of Viscount Barn to resort to such measures, rather than accounting for the unfair plight being forced on the commoners by their recruitment.

Although he was still lacking, Chucksley still had the morals to agree with Lexus immediately when he was reminded of these issues. Watching Lexus be considerate of the weak, no matter the situation, made him one step closer to the ideal king in Chucksley's eyes.

'Following this man wherever he goes for the rest of my life wasn't the wrong choice after all…'

He lowered his head to Lexus in respect.

Meanwhile, Viscount Barn was boldly marching towards Reinhardt with his army.

'That youngster… I bet he won't see me come knocking on his door with my soldiers.'

He believed his surprise attack was an exquisite plan. In actuality, it was more like he was engaging in barbaric conduct by omitting the most basic of rules in war: to declare it in the first place. But sleazy men such as Viscount Barn rationalized their actions with their own warped logic.

In his mind, he did not consider for even a second that his "surprise attack" was a cowardly move. All he did was smile at the thought of a future where he blitzed the capital and took Lexus' head, reaping the sweet rewards.

In that moment…

"My Lord! The scouts have found the enemy waiting ahead of us."

In that moment…

"My Lord! The scouts have found the enemy waiting ahead of us."

"What did you say? The enemy's at the front?

"Yes, my Lord. They say that 10 knights from the capital have taken an advance position leading 50 troops."

"It is the royal troops!"

"Royal troops? Eternal?"

"50? Hahahahaha… I know he's so young, but to think that only 50 had pledged their loyalty to him?"

Viscount Barn was slightly nervous when he first heard the news that the enemy had appeared as he was facing the military of the royal family, but his spirits actually became higher now that he knew the enemy was small in number.

With 300,000 men under his command, there was no way that they would lose to a mere 50 knights. No matter whether Commander Chucksley intervened or not.

To Barn, this war was nothing more than a one sided slaughter. Even if they surrendered peacefully, he would still kill them. He had also planned on killing some of the people within the capital to show his dominance.

As Viscount Barn looked at his knights, a murderous smile formed on his face. Just with one glance, anyone could tell that these knights had years of experience and training under their belts.

Their muscles were massive and their appearance seemed like they had just crawled out of the pits of hell.

They were prepared for battle.

He had fought several battles with his men. They had expanded the city in his territory, and had also fought several border battles throughout the years. His knights were strong, proud, very sturdy and most of all, extremely loyal and fearful towards him.

They knew what their lord could do, and never ever thought of crossing their lord for one second. Their lord was a brutal and frightening man, who ruled the territory with iron hands.

40% of his men were as good as the top knights within the Capital. He had secretly spent most of his resources and time, training these men to be one of the best in the kingdom.

Of course he did all these away from the watchful eyes of the royalties and other nobilities.

Every time that he went to the capital, he would take only 4% of his men with him. He would mix both the weakest and the strongest in the group, so as to hide any suspicions towards him.

As he looked at his knights, he was confident that his indestructible team, would easily conquer Reinhardt.

How could a lion compare to an ant? He himself had always wanted to control the entire West Continent.... It was perfect.

Greed, jealousy and envy had led to this never ending war...Who knows... maybe he could get enough forces to be break away from the empire itself.

"Get rid of them at once."

Who didn't like power?

Originally, his territory was just a tiny city. But as time went on, Viscount Barn had attacked the villages around the territory, making the city grow... But he was still not satisfied.

He had watched the former King Wiesbaden shine for too long... Even if he couldn't fulfill his dream, he hoped that one of his daughters would do what he always dreamt of accomplishing.

He wanted his family to have a royal bloodline. That was also why he kept pushing his daughters towards the royal princes in the kingdom.

Right now, his daughters were studying in the knight academy in the Capital. He had made up his mind that even if this plan failed, he would get the king to at least bethrow one of his daughters to any of the princes fast.

As he thought about his plans, he couldn't help but smile happily he rode on ahead.

"Should I mobilize the knight unit?"

"No, that's a waste. Instead, put the conscripted soldiers up front and order a line of our real troops behind them to charge."

Despite the fact that the enemy's numbers were small, Viscoun Barn decided to completely avoid the risk of harm to his knights' strength by sending his conscripts first.

The conventional soldiers lined up behind them as ordered and aimed their spears towards them.

"Form your ranks. We charge the moment Viscount gives his command."

The conscripted draftees did not have a single piece of armor, and held nothing in their hands but old, worn-out spears. It went without saying that they did not want to fight.

But there was not much they could do except follow orders while the soldiers behind them brandished their spears threateningly.

None of them noticed that a pair of eyes were looking at them, flying above in the cloudy sky.

"So that's him."

Lexus muttered looking at the person in the rear of the troops. He saw in real time how twisted the expressions of the knights when they forced the civilians to serve as a consumable pawns.

Name: Barn

Age: 52 Gender: Male

Occupation: Noble (Viscount)

Level: 130

Strength: 300/350 Stamina: 131/205

Agility: 34/130 Intelligence: 30/50

Skills: Intermediate Sword Mastery (D), Foolish Tyrant (A).

A foolish tyrant born from being a spoiled child. He is known to have the inferiority of his incompetence but because of his greed, he doesn't know fear.

With his high insight stats, Lexus saw the information about Viscount Barn without much trouble. At first, he wondered how strong the viscount was to pick a fight with him but he was truly left disappointed when he confirmed it.

It was impossible to check the detailed information including stats, skills and stories, but this alone was a big help.

The average level of the northern soldiers was 110, while the knights were 140. The level of the soldiers was well above the average. In other words, they were as strong as elites of the kingdom.

'But so what?'

It wasn't even as good as the royal soldiers. Before, the average level of the royal soldiers was 148 but since Lexus became the king, their level had grown over 200 and achieved the second awakening. The level of the royal knights was at least 300.

It was because they were active and expelled the vermin or criminals in the capital and neighboring territories and with the rewards of the ranking system, they were slowly but surely growing into one of the powerhouses in the continent.

"Just like the old man, his knights and soldiers were also rotten to the core."

While observing in the sky, Lexus was truly disappointed as he watched their vicious expressions as they enjoyed pushing the scared civilians in the battlefield.

There was no remorse at all despite the civilians who didn't have any combat experience begging for mercy but none had listened to them and forcefully pushed them in the battlefield with maniacal laughing.

The civilians could not resist because their families would be burnt alive if they did.

When the men were internally swearing with tears of anguish, they had cold sweat on their backs... most of them already had daughters, sons, wives.. and don't want to risk their families lives...

Those that weren't married, were still threatened with their parents, siblings and other loved ones. They knew how cruel their lord could be, so they couldn't do anything.

Before long, Viscount Barn's battle-ready army encountered the enemy, led by none other than a young, teenage knight.

"Halt! Who are you to dare try to invade the capital? Are you not aware that these are the lands of King Lexus?!"

One of Viscount Barn's knights gave him a report of whose the one yelling from the frontlines as if scolding them.

"That insolent brat is just an ordinary knight of his."

"Hmmm… I see."

Learning that some of his opponents were knights, Viscount Barn came forward himself and bellowed back to them.

"I am Viscount Barn. Henceforth, I have come to requisition this kingdom. If you surrender peacefully, I will usher you all under my command."

Viscount Barn proposed while maintaining the most solemn and dignified air he possibly could. Since the difference in numbers was overwhelming, he anticipated that if he personally made an appeasing offer, the enemies would follow suit and surrender.

However…

However…

"You senile old lunatic! You dare to propose that we surrender after sneaking in without so much as a war declaration, like the bunch of rats you are? Would you surrender to a pack of chittering rats?"

What came back were the knight's curses and provocation.

"Ex… excuse me?"

Seeing Viscount Barn doing a double-take on what he just heard, the young knight provoked him once more.

"Are you now deaf as well as senile? Rather than serving a coward like you whose X doesn't even stand up straight, I would sooner pledge myself to a donkey in heat!"

"Puhahahaha…"

"Well said, sir knight."

An uproar of laughter burst from royal troops as the knight flung his string of curses. Back in his territory, everyone was afraid of him and no one had ever dared treated him like a fool. Having been insulted like this for the first time in his life, Viscount Barn turned bright red and screamed.

"I will slaughter you all! ATTACK!!"

At his roar began the stampede of his hundred thousands of men.

[A war has been detected.]

[The title effect of Undefeated King is activated. All subordinates' stats will increase by 500% and the stats of all allied forces will increase by 300%.]

[The rewards will increase by 10% and grants the army under your command an increase of 200% experience.]

'Conquest.'

The heart of the knights and soldiers under Lexus' command started throbbing. They had never felt this before. It felt like something was surging in their chest.

'Punishment, obedience...governance.'

These words popped into their head.

'The power of conquest is a king's strength!'

They understands it naturally. At that moment, a white light scattered around the area. It was only for a moment. But it was enough. They felt that Lexus had invoked the power of a king and they embraced that power as the king's subordinate.

"For the glory of King Lexus!!!"