Count Flaud brooded over the information that his scouts had brought. They generally found out what their enemies were aiming for, how many and who would be in the group carrying out this goal, and so on. Their enemy’s target was the Pinne Estate, and the reason for this move was to erase the grounds that the allied forces were in Cronon Kingdom’s territory in the first place. If the Pinne Estate fell, the Cronon Kingdom would immediately declare the Steelwalls as the victor and request for the allied forces to promptly evacuate the kingdom. Furthermore, this request might not end with just a simple suggestion either.
However, even after perfectly deducing his enemy’s plans, Count Flaud looked more displeased.
‘Is that really their only intention?’ The amount that the Steelwalls would gain from this plan was too small compared to the risks they would have to undertake. With this plan, the Steelwalls would have to divide up their already small army, causing the main base’s defenses to weaken accordingly. If that happened, the allied forces might be able to penetrate through their defenses much more easily and capture them. In comparison to this huge risk, the only thing their enemy would gain was clearing the allied forces’ grounds for participating in this war. Even if the Cronon Kingdom got involved in the war later, the allied forces could devastate Steelwall Estate before that to Count Flaud’s joy.
Furthermore, there was the question of whether the enemy’s detachment would even be able to accomplish their goal. The Pinne Estate had also prepared its defenses, and it seemed like a huge feat for the detachment to capture the Pinne Estate with their comparably tiny numbers. No matter how much Count Flaud thought about it, the losses and gains didn’t match up.
‘However, it’s currently true that those guys split up their army.’ If they only thought about this point, this wasn’t bad news for the allied forces.
‘I will postpone thinking about the other intentions they might have. It’s not like I can deduce that with my current information.’ Who knew? That arrogant Steelwall bastard could have simply gone crazy under the pressure of this war (although there was a meager chance of that).
‘Then, what should I do now? Should we continue to attack their main base like this or split our forces to chase after our enemy’s detachment? No, as I thought from the beginning, it’s bad to devastate the Steelwall Estate first.’ Count Flaud had many choices and each one had its own advantages. Count Flaud racked his head to see which one was best for the allied forces—no, for him. Then, as he was thinking these thoughts, the guard outside let him know that there was a visitor.
“Sir Count! Viscount Pinne has come to see you!”
“Let him in!” Count Flaud wondered why the Viscount came to see him. ‘I hope it’s not anything troublesome…’
The Count made his wish, but it was immediately crushed. Unlike his usual self, Viscount Pinne looked extremely on edge and nervous.
“What is it?”
“I’m sure you heard that the Steelwalls are sending a detachment to our estate, sir,” Viscount Pinne said.
“Of course I did.”
“We have to stop them immediately! Send the troops here who belong to my estate!”
Count Flaud’s face contorted grimly. He was annoyed that the Viscount had rushed in to say something of that level. Even if his estate’s matters were important for Viscount Pinne, he was the commander-in-chief of the allied forces. It wasn’t up to the Viscount to tell him to do this or that. Furthermore, the Viscount had asked him in a commanding tone rather than making the request politely.
‘Was I too lenient on him?’ Count Flaud wondered. The Count had treated Viscount Pinne nicely unlike his usual bad-tempered self since the Viscount was the main reason why they were able to keep this war an internal strife within the Cronon Kingdom, but the Count began to wonder if he had made the wrong decision by doing that.
‘I should show him who’s the boss.’ Of course, Count Flaud couldn’t immediately sever Viscount Pinne’s head or remove him from his position. They still had to act like equal companions in this alliance. Whatever benefits Viscount Pinne brought for him, there was still a large gap in their powers; the person who would lose the most if the allied forces failed was Viscount Pinne. There were many ways Count Flaud could use to crush the Viscount’s pride and dignity. Yet, Count Flaud soon couldn’t put his plans into action.
Viscount Pinne glanced at the guards standing outside his tent furtively and looked toward the tent. Then, he arched his back and placed his face close to the Count’s ears and said in a quiet voice, “That is, if you don’t want others to find out that you collaborated with the Bellids, sir.”
Count Flaud abruptly got up from his seat. His hand instinctively reached for a sword on his waist, but his sword lay in the corner of the barracks. Still, the Count’s bloodlust didn’t calm down and his fingers twitched. It looked like he wanted to reach out with his hands and choke Viscount Pinne’s neck. Sensing the Count’s bloodlust, Viscount Pinne hurriedly said, “Calm down. I am also a Bellid follower so there’s no way I’d tell others about you.”
Count Flaud stopped moving. “…You are a Bellid follower?”
“Yes.”
“Ha!” Count Flaud felt a deep sense of relief and slumped back to his chair. After letting out a big sigh, he looked to Viscount Pinne. Even if he was collaborating with the Bellids, it came as a huge shock that Viscount Pinne was a Bellid follower. Maybe the idea that his connection to the Bellids might have spread to the outside world unsettled him so much that the Count easily accepted that Viscount Pinne was a Bellid follower.
“I now know what it feels like to die from shock. Please be careful so that you don’t cause too much strain on this old man’s heart.”
“You still seem healthy and well, sir. The way you moved to kill me just now left a big impression on me,” Viscount Pinne said, and his expression turned serious. “That’s enough chit-chat though. This is a very urgent matter. We have to kill the Steelwall’s detachment right away.”
“I see. If you are a Bellid follower, there must be traces of the Bellids in your estate’s castle.” If the news that the Pinne family was connected to the Bellids was revealed right now, it would have a critical effect on the allied forces. Yet, the situation was far worse than what Count Flaud had imagined.
“There aren’t just traces there. I’m sure you know that the Bellids’ northern base was demolished.”
“I know. The Karuwimans vigorously spread that news all over the world.”
“The Pinne Estate is the new northern base and will replace the old one.”
“What?”
“And I am the one who will be in charge of that base.” The importance of a simple Bellid follower and a manager of the Bellid northern base was incredibly different. Count Flaud’s expression tensed upon hearing Viscount Pinne’s important position.
“The reason why we collaborated with you is because we wanted to expand and secure our new northern branch.”
“…So you were using me.”
“Isn’t it the same for you too?”
Count Flaud glared at Viscount Pinne, but he didn’t show any signs of aggression like before. “…Fine. I won’t bring up stupid things like trust and belief when we’re both using each other. Why are you telling me such important information?”
“It’s to reveal to you how important this plan is for us. So, please form an army to stop them.”
“You said you were in charge of the Bellids’ northern branch. Why can’t you stop them yourself?”
“As you know, the reports state that Belri Weig is part of the detachment. Of course, considering the Karuwimans’ current position, he’s accompanying the Steelwalls to monitor the battlefield, but that’s why it’s even more dangerous.”
“The rest of your troops must somehow be related to the Bellids.”
“Yes. Without the Bellids, we only have a handful of troops.” This was extremely dangerous. If Belri Weig sniffed out the Bellids among the Pinne Estate’s soldiers, their previous plan to bring the Karuwimans on their side against the Steelwalls might come back to haunt them instead.
“…What if I refuse?”
“Sir, do you think you can refuse? You’re already on the same boat as us.”
“I can feign ignorance. No one will believe the Bellids anyway.”
“I know you won’t be so foolish. This is not just any ordinary matter—it’s about the Bellid’s new northern branch. Not only the Karuwimans, but the Cronon Kingdom will send out their forces to desperately investigate and resolve the situation. If you’re confident in coming out clean, you’re welcome to do whatever you want.”
“You guys won’t ever let me off easy, right?”
“Do I even have to say it? I’ve gathered a lot of evidence in my mansion as well.”
Count Flaud had no choice but to admit that he had only one option. “Fine. I’ll send troops to the Pinne Estate.”
“An excellent choice, sir.”
“But!” Count Flaud glared at the Viscount. “Remember that this is a major exception! If you guys plan to treat me like a puppet, I also won’t stay idle!”
The Viscount deeply bowed and said, “…Don’t worry, sir. I wasn’t lying about being in the same boat.”
The anger in Count Flaud’s eyes lessened as his mood softened in response to the Viscount’s subservient posture. “Is that all you have to say?”
“I sincerely apologize, but I have one more request.”
Count Flaud’s eyebrow twitched. How dare the Viscount make another request even after a warning. However, the Count tilted his chin for the Viscount to continue as the Viscount maintained his subservient posture.
Then Viscount Pinne said, “Please include Glen Zenard in this operation.”
“…Are you mad?” Count Flaud’s question was harsh, but he had no intentions of insulting Viscount Pinne. He was just genuinely curious about what on earth the Viscount was thinking.
The Count continued, “Even though that guy seems slightly—no, quite crazy right now, he’s still a Karuwiman Honorary Knight. Why would you want to leave this operation to him? Do you want to tell everyone that we’re related to the Bellids? Perhaps, are you a Karuwiman spy?”
“We can’t use any of our followers as long as Belri Weig is in the detachment anyway, so even if we send out a Karuwiman Honorary Knight, it won’t be a loss for us. Moreover, Glen Zenard is one of our strongest soldiers. Since there’s a high chance that the detachment is made up of Steelwalls’ most elite soldiers, it’s only right that we should send him out to balance the difference in the quality of the soldiers on our side.”
The Viscount’s words made sense. However, Count Flaud narrowed his eyes. “Is that your only reason?”
“What other reason would I have? We’ll have a higher possibility of protecting my estate if we use a great talent like Glen Zenard. Sir, I’m only bringing this up in case you exclude Glen Zenard from this operation just because he is a Karuwiman Honorary Knight.”
“…Fine, I’ll believe it.”
“Then Glen Zenard will…”
“I’ll first think about your suggestion in a favorable light. Why don’t you leave for now?”
“…I understand. Sir, I humbly hope you think deeply of my suggestions.” Viscount Pinne gave his farewell greeting and left the tent. He first scanned the soldiers guarding the tent; they showed no signs of having heard his conversation with Count Flaud.
Viscount Pinne headed towards his tent. He looked calm, but his innermost thoughts were in turmoil. ‘I revealed it in the end.’
All his efforts to hide his identity and keep his distance from Count Flaud had all gone to waste. Viscount Pinne sighed, but it couldn’t be helped since he needed to protect the Bellid’s northern branch. However, he also had a huge question in his head.
‘They ordered me to include Glen Zenard in the pursuit team at all costs. What the hell is that about?’ In fact, the idea of including Glen Zenard hadn’t come from him; it was an order from the higher-ups. Even though he wondered why they gave him such an order, he soon erased all doubts from his mind. ‘I’ll just do as I’m told.’
However, this also brought up another problem. Count Flaud told him that he’d think favorably of the Viscount’s suggestion, but the future was unpredictable.
‘What do I do if he doesn’t include Glen Zenard?’ Giving up was not an option. He deeply pondered whether he should persuade or threaten the Count and what sort of excuses he should use to ground his reasoning. Fortunately, there was no need for him to rack his head to find a suitable excuse. As Viscount Pinne suggested, Glen Zenard was included in the pursuit team. Soon, a group of troops from within the allied forces was set out to the Pinne Estate, and Glen Zenard stood in front with his eyes full of murderous intent.