Chapter 236: The Civil War in the Principality (1)

“Reporting in! The battle at the mouth of the Binfredo River concluded at around ten in the morning!”

“Concluded...? Does that mean the defensive line has fallen?”

“It’s the opposite. The 3rd Wyvern Squadron from the White Bunker has been annihilated. The enemy has retreated.”

“...What?!”

Anthem Howard frowned in disbelief upon hearing the soldier’s report. His once smooth face was now haggard, his beard unkempt, as if he hadn’t washed or slept properly since the war began.

“The magic orbs connected to the defensive line... The 72nd Magic Corps was stationed there, right? Can we contact them? We need to check immediately!” Anthem Howard pushed up his glasses, practically shouting.

The reporting soldier looked at him with a hint of confusion.

“There’s no need for that,” came a voice from behind. “If you're talking about the sorcerers in green robes, the 72nd Magic Corps was already wiped out by the time we arrived. Not a single one was left alive.”

Anthem Howard quickly turned around.

“...!!”

“Sending a 4th Class Magic Corps against drakes... You’ve basically handed them over as prey. I can’t believe that idea came from your head, Anthem Howard.”

“And you are...?”

Anthem stared at Karyl, who stood in the doorway, with a bewildered expression.

“How are you here...?” he asked, but then instantly realized how foolish his question was. “Are you the one who defended the line?”

“Why else would I be here?”

Thud—

Karyl tossed something wrapped in cloth in front of him. It rolled against the leg of Anthem’s desk.

“It’s not much of a welcoming gift, but it’s the head of the Wyvern Squadron commander. The dragons retreated after I killed him, so I guess he was the leader. His armor was more ornate than the others.”

Anthem, unable to believe his ears, didn’t dare to confirm the severed head. His mouth remained wide open.

The 3rd Wyvern Squadron was the elite unit currently advancing south...There’s no way...

With trembling hands, he unwrapped the cloth.

“...!!”

The battle cry was still etched onto his face.

It’s him.

Stephen Hugh, the commander of the 3rd Wyvern Squadron—although not a Sword Master, he was a warrior who wielded the great halberd passed down through the Hugh family, relying on his raw, innate strength.

His halberd was made of a special kind of steel, weighing over fifty kilograms, making it difficult even for Sword Experts to wield.

Stephen Hugh is dead...

The greatest threat to the southern defense line of Binfredo now lay at his feet.

“Was your plan to block the drake’s flames with shields and counterattack? A 4th Class shield won’t hold against that. Have you ever heard of harpoon hunting?"

“...Harpoon?”

“The principality has no experience with dragon hunting. It’s an ancient technique from the old empire.”

Anthem Howard seemed lost. It was only natural he knew nothing of that. The dragon hunting methods devised during the era of the old empire were scarcely known, with no successful records aside from those of Kaye Aesir.

These methods were only documented in ancient texts. However, these forgotten techniques had been revived during the Oracle War to combat the colossal beasts among the Tarak.

“Call the alchemists immediately.”

Only Karyl seemed to know anything about the harpoon hunting method.

“Among the senior alchemists, there will be those who can simultaneously melt softwood, waveleaf, ortho berries, tin, and brass.”

Karyl had mentioned this obscure hunting technique for a specific purpose.

“Normally, you’d coat a giant harpoon with the melted concoction for dragon hunting. But making a harpoon right now is impractical, and for drakes, it’s unnecessary.”

“What... What does that mean?”

Anthem Howard looked at Karyl with a bewildered expression, not understanding what he was talking about.

“Drakes are just lesser dragons. While different in size, their nature is similar. Coating weapons with the melted concoction can dissolve a drake’s scales.”

“...!!”

“It will still be difficult, but you need to strike the muscles beneath the scales directly to inflict critical damage. It’s a much more viable strategy than sacrificing mediocre sorcerers.”

Anthem was too stunned to even close his mouth. Not only was he still adjusting to Karyl’s sudden appearance, but Karyl had also just offered a solution to the Wyvern Squadron problem that had eluded him for days and nights.

“Well, if we step in, that won’t be necessary. But we can’t be everywhere at once.”

“...Step in?”

Karyl crossed his arms and nodded. “From now on, the Free Army of Tatur will support Fran Lurein. The situation is urgent, so I’ve already deployed our forces to various battlefields. Contact them via the magic orb immediately.”

“...!!”

Anthem was startled by Karyl’s words.

“Hmm, so this is the map of the war. The situation looks dire, even at a glance.”

Karyl scanned the map spread out on the table. Numerous markers were placed haphazardly, representing the ongoing battles. Even a quick glance revealed at least a dozen simultaneous engagements.

It was evident that Anthem Howard was attempting to command all these fronts by himself.

“This largest marker must represent Fran Lurein, right? What’s he doing there while you’re left to handle everything alone?”

Anthem couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly Karyl grasped the situation.

“Does he not understand the importance of each battle? Or does he still see himself as just a commander? Even a child knows that winning one battle means nothing if you lose all the others.”

Karyl’s scathing words darkened Anthem Howard’s expression. The largest marker representing Fran was in Cove.

Indeed, the port city was now a battlefield.

The betrayal of Duke Lachiel had left Fran stranded, unable to advance south. Anthem had repeatedly urged Fran to abandon Cove and focus on Tuli.

Of course, giving up on your stronghold isn’t easy.

However, months into the war, Second Duke Fran was still there—a critical mistake.

“Having enemies behind you is unpleasant, but like the Iron Fleet, Lachiel’s fleet also needs ships. If Fran had moved his forces here, the situation would be different.”

Karyl drew his Freezing Talon and moved Fran’s piece to the defensive line where he had faced the Wyvern Squadron.

“...”

“Although Sixth Duke Bonitos doesn’t command many troops, they excel at stealth, so they can take charge of the left marshlands.”

Anthem paid close attention to every word Karyl said, his eyes trembling with anticipation.

“If Bonitos can hold the marsh, Seventh Duke Ruiche’s cavalry can operate much more effectively. Right now, because of one incompetent commander, the troops that could actually make a difference are being wasted.”

Everything Karyl was suggesting matched perfectly with the strategy Anthem had previously proposed to Fran.

Damn it...

Anthem bit his lip nervously.

“Fran’s Iron Fleet is impressive, but it’s worthless if Lachiel keeps it stuck.”

Karyl knew the outcome of this war well. It was the decisive reason Anthem had left Fran.

Fran will try to defend Cove until the end of the war and ultimately lose.

Normally, this war wouldn’t have dragged on, nor would Lachiel have posed a real threat to Fran. However, the battlefield was in the worst possible situation. The fleet was stationed in Cove, Fran Lurein’s stronghold, and they had to fight with the burden of potentially destroying the city.

“Unless the hidden fleet is annihilated... there will be countless soldiers dying without ever seeing Fran’s face,” Karyl chastised Anthem Howard.

“How many troops have we got?”

“Not many...”

Anthem quickly adjusted the map as he spoke.

“We have roughly twenty thousand troops remaining, while the duchess has around sixty thousand.”

“Twenty thousand?”

Anthem hung his head in shame, embarrassed to report this. The military powers had been nearly equal at the onset of the war, Tuli having seventy thousand troops and Fran fifty thousand.

Of course, Lachiel’s betrayal was a factor, but even considering that, losing thirty thousand troops while the enemy suffered only ten thousand casualties was nothing short of a disaster.

“Being outnumbered is one thing, but losing twice as many soldiers means we’ve lost most battles. This war... The outcome seems pretty clear.”

“I have no excuse...” Anthem admitted.

Karyl looked at him thoughtfully.

Something's off. Even if Fran is stuck in Cove, the disparity shouldn’t be this great...

Fran Lurein was known to be stubborn, but he was also a seasoned veteran. He possessed excellent skills for his age and preferred leading his fleet in battle personally. As such, he had a nearly undefeated record in the battles he had participated in.

However, the current situation was catastrophic, and Fran’s abnormal behavior was concerning.

It almost seems like he’s trying to lose on purpose.

After some thought, Karyl came to a conclusion.

There’s a hidden force behind this civil war.

He squinted slightly as he looked at Anthem.

“What about the Wooden Cloud?”

If there was something else at play here, it had to be them. Karyl knew Fran was a member of the Wooden Cloud, but he had no proof Tuli wasn’t also part of them.

If this war isn’t just a civil war between dukes but a pruning operation by the Wooden Cloud...

If the Wooden Cloud had chosen Tuli over Fran, it would explain the overwhelming defeat of the Second Duke.

Who the hell are those bastards...?

They were shrouded in mystery, and each secret revealed was more surprising than the last—their connections to the Church, their deep influence in the principality, and now their ties to the Demon Realm.

They’re not just a secret organization within the principality. They might have power in the empire too.

But that was a problem for later. The utmost priority was ending this civil war.

“The Wooden Cloud? What do you mean by that...?”

Anthem was visibly confused by Karyl’s question.

“Well, I’ll just have to ask Fran directly.” Karyl shrugged lightly. “I’m heading to Cove right now. Inform Fran beforehand. We need to sort things out there before we can move forward.”

“But how many troops did you bring...?” Anthem asked, his voice filled with hope. There were no other options. In such a dire situation, he was willing to grasp at any chance to change the tide of the battle, even if it was a poisoned chalice.

He must be really desperate

, Karyl thought, smiling faintly as he observed Anthem’s eagerness.

The difference in strength was a staggering forty thousand troops, but beyond the numerical difference, Tuli also had golems and wyvern corps at her disposal.

That’s why the magical artillery from the Iron Fleet was detached and deployed to the ground battle...

Karyl mused.

But this decision had weakened the Iron Fleet’s combat power by half, leading to a prolonged stalemate with Lachiel and leaving Cove and the border war in a state of limbo.

“I brought exactly what was needed. Don’t worry,” Karyl said, spreading his fingers.

Anthem looked at the three fingers Karyl held up, his expression turning from hope to confusion. “...Thirty thousand?”

Karyl chuckled at the guess. “Nah, just three people.”

“Wh-What do you mean by that?! Then what about the reinforcements for Cove...?” Anthem’s voice rose in disbelief and frustration, and his composure was slipping away. They were at the brink of life and death, and Karyl’s words felt like mockery.

“I’m the reinforcements. What, you need more than that?” Karyl replied confidently.