Chapter 712: Ungrateful

Proofread by Thomas F

The carriage moved through the forest on an empty road.

Aside from the patrol, there are no other carriages or people. They have stopped traffic for the day to hunt down the stray monsters.

They have become quite adept at it, with a good number of trackers and hunters in their forces along with the mercenaries.

By the end of the day. They would catch and deal with any monster that might have been slipped past. Making the area secure till the next tide.

Soon, the carriage crossed into the empire, where patrols were a little lighter, but still more than yesterday.

I looked around through the window, where one side is the territory of my sister, while on the other side is the territory of Baron Harrods.

I had an invitation from both, along with a few other nobles, to spend the night in the territories.

I will likely not spend a night here, but if they give me what I want, I will. I need the reinforcement desperately, and I am offering them a lot of things.

I had already sent my offer to them, and half of the council members are in favor of it.

Four of the seven, actually. I only need to convince two more. Jarvis may have a seat in the council, but he didn’t have voting power on this matter, despite being head of Lauryl’s forces.

If he had, then I would have five in my favor.

Hours passed, and finally, the carriage walked into the large open clearing.

I could see the stone wall, which is nearly finished. It will be fully finished by the end of the month.

The carriage didn’t stop and moved through the gates. There is a traffic, with the carriages and people coming and going in and out of it.

“It is small, but quite beautiful,” said Miss Well as the carriage entered the city.

“I heard you established it?” she asked, turning to me. To that, I shook my head. “The first plan; it far outgrew that,” I replied as I looked at the small city.

It might have outgrown it, but I could see the signs of my planning.

The city is smaller than Renin, a third of its size, with a capacity of three hundred people, while Renin could easily take a million.

Here, it doesn’t need to be big as it is designed as a commercial and political centre for the baronies.

It is not designed as a common residential city. I wanted to, but there was too much opposition. Here, the baronies wanted most of the people for their own territory.

To work on a farm, to enlist in their armies, and for other things.

This one is only for the trade and administration. This is why the city’s population is only around a hundred thousand.

I watched the city nestled in the centre of Nakar Forest. It is beautiful, and people here didn’t look as worried as the people in Greltheaven.

Unlike the people of Greltheaven. Lauryl had never experienced the undead, despite being a neighbour of one of the most powerful undead kingdoms in the world.

Even the monster’s threat is far away. Contained in the Bram Valley.

I couldn’t help but feel envious of it. I wish my citizens were carefree like this, but it is not a luxury they have.

Soon, the carriage reached the castle, before entering inside and then stopping.

“Welcome to Lauryl, Lord Silver,” said the middle-aged man with blond hair and deep green eyes. “Thank you, Secretary Lloyd,” I replied with a smile.

I didn’t let the irritation show. It should have been a Council Member receiving me, but they sent a secretary.

“A lot had changed since you had been here,” he said with pride evident in his voice as he led me inside the castle. “I can see that,” I replied while my eyes looked at the changes.

There are a lot of them, from new construction to the number of people. Still, I could see the clear traces of changes I had made when I used to run this place.

He led me while talking about all the changes they have made. I responded appropriately while taking in everything around me.

A minute later, we had reached the top floor and stopped in front of big doors with zero-one written on them.

I was to meet them individually before the meeting. They had agreed on this, but now they had changed things and brought me directly to the conference room.

Things are not done this way, especially after we agreed on the things.

This is the place where the council holds meetings for important decisions.

“They are waiting for you,” said the man, looking at me intently from the façade of a smile. I didn’t show any emotions and kept a pleasant smile on my face as I walked inside.

The conference room wasn’t large, but it was well-decorated, featuring beautiful art pieces and imbued with powerful enchantments.

There are only four people inside. Baron Husk, Baron Rose, Baron Homer, and Baron Lockridge.

My sister and Baron Harrods are in their territories. Dealing with the monsters that might have entered in there, while Jarvis is at the Bram Valley.

Usually, he stays in the city, but they had sent him to Bram Valley in the morning.

“Lord Silver,” greeted Baron Husk and tried to get up with Baron Homer, but stopped seeing Lockridge and Rose, not getting up.

Their title is higher than mine, but my territory is bigger, and I have two cities in my control, which are bigger than this. On top of that, I have a legacy.

We are also loose allies. So, they should have gotten up, but they didn’t.

“Councilmen,” I replied without change in my expression.

“Please take a seat, Lord Silver,” said Baron Husk. “Thank you, Council Lord,” I replied and took a seat in front of them.

There was a silence, with their faces expressionless. Still, I could see that Husk and Homer want to speak, while Rose and Lockridge are watching.

It could even be said that there is a faint smile behind their impassive expressions.

Seconds passed, and then another, but they didn’t speak. ‘It seemed like I had to speak,’ I thought, and opened my mouth, keeping the emotions I was feeling deep in my heart.

“As I had conveyed to you through our official conversation. I need the men.” I said, but there was no response from them; they just kept looking.

“I do not want much, nor will it be for long. I only need ten thousand, and they will be in my city for a week or even less. In exchange, I will provide you with the things I had promised,” I stated.

Once more, there was silence. I want to break it, smashing this apart. Instead, I remained.

They had been disrespectful, even condescending. I will bear it; the help they could provide me is worth bearing it.

“Please accept our apologies, but we can’t provide you with single men, much less ten thousand of them,” said Baron Lockridge with his voice feeling like a thunderclap to my ears.

“As you saw yesterday, the horde came so suddenly. We need our men to protect us from the monsters,” he added.

“I will even take five thousand and double the incentives,” I said, lowering myself. I hate it, but I need to do this for my people.

I could see the surprise on their faces, but the next moment, Lockridge shook his head, with a small smile leaking out of his face.

“I am really sorry, Lord Silver, but we cannot help you,” he replied, with a finality in his words.

I am angry, feeling the level of anger that I really felt. I had helped these people when they needed it, provided them with emotional essence potions.

Now, when I need their help, they have rejected it.

I know, they cannot send many people, but they could spare five thousand. I know their forces; it is within their reach.

It made me mad, I want to rage. Instead, I smiled.

“Thank you for your time, Councilmen,” I said politely and walked out of the conference room.

Not wanting to talk any further with these ungrateful scoundrels.

We had a lunch planned and a few meetings, along with dinner at night, but now I don’t want to stay here for even a minute.

…

Conference Room, Lauryl

“We shouldn’t have done that. We shouldn’t have disrespected him in such a way,” said Baron Husk, with his eyes focused on Lockridge.

“We didn’t disrespect him. We couldn’t give him what he wants; we need our men to protect ourselves,” replied Baron Rose, with a smile appearing on his face.

“We should have given him five thousand. We could spare that easily.” Said Baron Homer.

He had seen his eyes when he left; they were still as water. There was not a hint of anger or frustration with them. His father told him to always remain careful of people like this.

“That would have been sending them to their deaths,” spoke Baron Lockridge finally.

“You all know that the undead are going to attack Silver, the moment the truce is over. It will be with force that will crush his forces without a chance of survival.”

“Sending our men there would be sending them to their deaths, and I refuse to do that.”

It is an excuse. Lockridge was always opposed to Silver, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

It is the reason why they went along with it.

The undead are going to conquer Greltheaven; there is no question about it. They have to make sure that their territory remains safe from the undead, that they survive, if worse comes to worst.

For it, they will need their army.

“It is such a regret that we will not get a further supply of emotion essence potions. It had saved a lot of our people,” said Baron Husk and sighed.

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