The Sack (2)

In Everlasting City, Sophia was leading a handful of soldiers in a desperate attempt to protect the castle's treasury room.

However, she encountered a monster.

*CLANG*

Sophia was a beginner knight who prided herself on her swordsmanship mastery. Although she knew that as a woman, she held a net disadvantage strength-wise, she had focused her training around her sword art, which had been gifted to her by Baron Lark himself. In return, she held nothing but absolute loyalty.

Yet...it seemed all meaningless at this point.

Four men. It's all it took for the 15 soldiers that were defending the treasury to fall in a matter of minutes. And the one leading them was none other than John Landragon, the [Golden Demon].

Although the man was said to be the weakest out of the three heirs in terms of fighting prowess, Sophia was completely helpless. Each strike was powerful and precise, and her blade was losing durability with each strike.

Meanwhile, John's strongest men were decimating her soldiers.

"John Landragon...Please spare the innocents. The city has surrendered already. Why are you still attacking and sacking it? You could have conquered it, and turned it into your own territory!", Sophia asked in despair.

There was no reason to destroy a prosperous city with nearly one century of development. Although some dark organizations like black markets had formed, it was very prosperous and the economy was blossoming, at least that was the case before the war had burst.

John, however, shook his head: "Why would we do that? From the Landragon Household's point of view, this war is the opportunity to complete a contract and earn immense wealth. Although conquering the city would have higher returns over time, these gains would go straight to Count Elderwood, who are lawless ruffians. We are mercenaries in this war. Baron Lark was too late in his negotiations, which led to his household's fall"

"Mercenaries? Is this how lowly the Landragon Household fell?", Sophia screamed

John frowned, and thrust forward, this time with all of his strength, disarming his opponent who fell backward. She took out a dagger, and rushed forward, stabbing John. However, the man was prepared for it, and moved side-way, so as to avoid a vital organ to be hit. He was stabbed, but kicked her onto the wall.

*CRUNCH*

The sound of ribs broken from the impact reverberated in the room.

Disarmed, she could only stare helplessly as John's sword descended on her neck.

*SPLASH*

Her head flew, as she stared at her opponent in disbelief. It happened too fast, and John had purposefully exposed his belly to deal a critical hit onto her. She had been had. John had killed Sophia, the 'Sword Prodigy of Everlasting City Guard Order'.

"To think that this wench would try and talk during a duel. I guess she was not trained properly. Hugo and Paul, you stay alert and kill anyone who tries to come in here. I and Allan will go personally inside the treasury and steal the valuables", John spoke

It was a personal mission that Arthur had given to John. Having gotten the plans from the wandering acolyte witch who had betrayed her own companion in order to survive, and even sold her freedom for the sake of avoiding torture, Arthur knew the locations of all important warehouses and treasuries in Everlasting City.

Victor had already secured the [Medicinal Hall] where countless low-grade remedies and low-rank herbs were stored, and John had reached Baron Lark's personal treasury, in which countless magical ingredients, immense wealth were stored.

By the end of the day, Everlasting City had thoroughly fallen.

Citizens had been captured.

122 Elderwood Soldiers lost their lives.

22 Halefire Men were injured or died

Roughly thirty men in Paleford's elite guard and Gale's infantry were found dead.

Yet, only 8 men from the Dragon Army fell.

It was an overwhelming victory.

However, Arthur's eyes were raging with fury.

'To think that Baron Lark would burn his personal library, magical ingredients and artefacts before dying...', Arthur thought, 'What a sly fox'

Still, he had managed to recover roughly 150 000 gold coins from the castle's treasury, and goods worth twice this amount. The most valuable resources, however, were probably the recipes from the Medicinal Hall, which would bring incredible changes to the Landragon Fiefs. Diseases that were once lethal to commoners would be treated fairly easily as long as Arthur mass-produced the remedies.

Count Elderwood would return to his territory, exhausted from the war, frustrated from not having the glory he expected.

Viscount Palford and Baron Gale returned to their castle with legitimate concern over the future, unsure of what was about to come. They had seen the overwhelming strength and foresight of Arthur Landragon and his brothers, and they knew that their household was at stake if they did not ally themselves with him.

Baron Halefire returned to his castle as well, after signing several merchant and supply treaties binding the Landragon and Halefire Households together.

As for Arthur, the Dragon Army and his brothers, they returned to Satbury, triumphant.

The war had ended with the fall of the Lark Household, with Count Elderwood absorbing its territory.

However, every single inhabitant from the Southern Gate Region would sing praises of the [Three Landragon Demons]. Inwardly, Count Elderwood no longer was the overlord of the Southern Gate Region.

Two months later, Count Elderwood was found dead, quickly followed by his two sons. The cause of death was the same: Heart Failure. All knew what happened: the old man had been assassinated, and the mysterious causes all pointed towards one man: The Ice Demon.

What better way for a Viscount Household to absorb a Count Household through a political marriage?

After all, John was to marry Count Elderwood's most beautiful daughter Emma.