Amelia scoffed openly, making no effort to hide her irritation. “Ha, leading the Northern Army to strike here? Is that his plan?” Without her cooperation, Ghislain would likely abandon the northern fortress to fend off the barbarians first. It was the only way he could focus on fighting the Rifts. If that happened, Ferdium would undoubtedly suffer heavy losses. Perhaps even the entire northern region, save for the lord’s castle, could be overrun. However, if the Northern Army was brought into the fold, they could at least stop the Rifts, even at a cost. And after that, that lunatic would probably turn his sword on her for not complying with his demands. He was certainly the type to do so. Amelia swept her hair back and closed her eyes. "Arrogant bastard." Her chest churned with fury. Fighting Ghislain now wasn’t an option. Doing so would only benefit the Ducal faction. That was why she had long been preparing to relocate to the east. Even now, the most pragmatic course of action was to assist Ghislain with his demands. She knew this, but... "How dare he threaten me?" Even knowing what must be done, human nature made her want to strike him from behind. Ghislain was cornering her, forcing her to choose between fighting barbarians or the Northern Army. And he had justification. As the Northern Army’s commander, Ghislain had allowed her leniency in negotiating with the Royalists. But now, he was signaling that this was no longer viable. Amelia’s eyes narrowed. This was the first time in her life she’d been threatened twice by the same person. The atmosphere grew cold, and Dark nervously spoke up, breaking the silence. “Uh... there’s something else I was supposed to deliver.” Dark had been warned that Amelia wouldn’t take kindly to the letter, and there was an additional message to pass along after she read it. “What is it?” she demanded. Dark hesitated but relayed the words. “He asked if you’re going to dance to Raul’s tune. Said you must have your own agenda, and if you manage to get through this situation safely, he’ll support your migration to the East.” Amelia’s expression hardened. Ghislain clearly knew about her ambitions and plans. How he found out was a mystery. But it wasn’t a bad deal. Moving east would inevitably require military force. While she’d negotiated with the Royalists, the other nobles wouldn’t sit idly by. Dealing with each and every one of them would be an exhausting ordeal. "...He knows me disturbingly well." Did he realize that tightening the noose would leave her with no choice but to abandon other ideas? How could he know her so thoroughly? Unaware that Ghislain was a regressor, Amelia couldn’t resolve her doubts. Closing her eyes again, she took a moment to sort her thoughts. "Hah..." She exhaled slowly, calming herself and assessing the current political landscape. Supporting Ghislain was distasteful, but letting Raul manipulate her was too dangerous. "I can’t act purely on emotion." Raul likely assumed she wouldn’t move. Even if she did, he was sure she wouldn’t be capable of stopping the barbarians. To the Ducal faction, Amelia was just a fortunate noblewoman who gained her domain through Harold’s backing. "It’s time to show them." Even after her successful coup, most nobles still viewed her as a mere aristocratic lady. They underestimated her. Building her reputation on the eastern front had been her goal, but starting earlier wouldn’t hurt. And there was another reason. "The Rifts must be eradicated." She had no desire for a post-apocalyptic world overrun by monsters. Nor did she plan to align herself with the Salvation Order or their lunacy. To cleanse the Rifts entirely, the Northern Army’s efforts were essential. "I have no choice." Amelia opened her eyes, her thoughts finally aligned, and addressed Dark. “Tell Ghislain...” “Yes?” Dark perked up, eager to relay the message. “Tell him I’ll join his dance just this once.” “What does that even mean? Are you coming or not? By 'dance,' do you mean fighting our master? Be clear!” “...” This spirit seemed woefully deficient in both social skills and basic reasoning. Amelia, exasperated, gestured to a servant nearby. “Bring me a map.” When the map was brought over, Amelia pointed to a specific location, speaking to Dark with measured precision. “Relay this clearly. I’ll hold the barbarians here. This is the entryway into the Northern Domain.” “Got it!” “...Tell him to send a small force to strike their rear while I hold them off. I don’t intend to suffer unnecessary losses by overexerting myself. Understood?” Ghislain hadn’t offered her any strategic advice. He trusted that she would know exactly what to do. Amelia swiftly visualized the unfolding situation and formulated a strategy. She was confident Ghislain would understand her intentions from this message alone. Despite their strained relationship, they respected each other’s abilities. This was why such coordination was possible. Dark nodded enthusiastically. His task was simple: deliver the message and be done. The negotiation was a success. Dark bowed, backing away to create some distance before departing. Just as he reached the door, he suddenly shouted: “You insolent fools! I’ll curse you all! Mark my words! Especially you, cat! I’ll get revenge for today’s humiliation—you better remember that!” Hiss! “Goodbye!” As Bastet arched its back in response, Dark hastily fled the room after his dramatic farewell. “...” The silence in the chamber was deafening. Everyone, including Amelia, sat in stunned quiet. An opportunistic mercenary, a steward taking bribes of a single gold coin, and a deranged spirit—Fenris’s lot was anything but ordinary. Yet, these misfits had somehow swept across the kingdom and claimed the title of Northern Supremacy. It was still hard to believe. With a sigh, Amelia stood and addressed Conrad. “Move immediately. Time is pressing.” “Understood.” The Rayfold forces, having prepared for mobilization at a moment’s notice, were ready to march without delay. Amelia also resolved to seize the opportunity to tighten internal discipline within her ranks. She gave Caleb, the leader of the Wildcat Smugglers, a secret order. “Handle it thoroughly. Do you understand?” “Leave it to me,” Caleb replied with a sly grin, bowing deeply. Amelia let out a small sigh. Having made her decision, she felt a surprising sense of clarity, even if the situation remained distasteful. She had no intention of playing Raul’s game. "I need some fresh air." Whether it was Dark’s loud antics or the mental toll of deliberation, her head was starting to ache. Stepping outside, Amelia turned her gaze to the northern sky. She stared for a long, long time. *** Zwalter stood at a distance, gazing at the blue mist creeping toward the fortress with a grim expression. The mist stretched across the horizon, seemingly endless. “How could it grow so massive?” He’d heard that the richer the natural energy in the land, the faster a Rift expanded. The northern territories, with their sparse human-made structures and minimal environmental damage, were indeed rich in natural energy. However, even with that knowledge, the Rift’s rate of expansion defied understanding. And soon, that domain would engulf this very place. Zwalter turned to Randolph beside him and remarked, “The barbarians won’t miss this opportunity.” “No doubt. Once the battle against the Rift begins, they’ll bypass us and push into the north.” “That madman’s gone and done it.” “A complete lunatic, no question. Teaming up with the Salvation Order to pull off something like this...” “So, this is how it ends.” Zwalter grimaced bitterly. Woroca’s insatiable greed had unleashed something beyond reason. How many tribespeople had been sacrificed to create that Rift? What good was the power obtained at such a cost? Unable to comprehend such reckless ambition, Zwalter shook his head. “What about Ghislain?” “He’s expected to arrive soon.” “Good. We’ll need to contain that Rift before we can deal with the barbarians.” Ferdium had grown significantly stronger since the past. Its supplies of food and equipment were abundant, and its knights and soldiers had swelled in number. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a great domain now. Yet even with all that strength, the Rift was beyond its capacity to handle. Only Ghislain’s army could put an end to it. “Amelia’s holding off the barbarians, right?” “Yes, word just came that the Rayfold forces have mobilized.” “That’s a relief. I didn’t expect her to take direct action.” Relations had grown strained after Count Rayfold, their ally, was ousted from his position. Talks of a marriage alliance vanished after Amelia staged her rebellion. Her vassals had adamantly refused to bring such a fearsome woman into the Ferdium family as a daughter-in-law. With almost no exchanges since then, Zwalter was genuinely surprised she had chosen to act in this crisis. “Well, she is a northerner at heart. That makes sense.” Though he didn’t know how Ghislain had persuaded her, Zwalter, having watched Amelia grow up, was grateful for her help. “We need to give our all to deal with the Rift. Amelia won’t be able to hold off all those barbarians on her own.” The Rift took precedence. As long as Amelia could hold the line, they would have time to neutralize the threat. Ferdium’s entire army was already assembled and prepared. Ten thousand reinforcements and additional weaponry sent by Fenris’s chief steward had also arrived. The shorter distance meant these forces reached the front lines even faster than the Western mobile forces. The blue mist crept ever closer to the fortress. At its current pace, it would engulf the stronghold in less than a week. Every soldier in the fortress watched anxiously, tension thick in the air. Unfortunately, not one among them had any experience fighting a Rift. “Damn it, they say there are 500,000 in there... can we really stop that with our forces?” “Even if it’s half that, wouldn’t they just flatten the fortress by sheer numbers?” “It’s all because of Skovan. I knew there was something shady about that bastard.” The terrifying reputation of Rifts seeped into the soldiers’ minds, spreading fear. The unknown always bred dread. Anxiety began to take root in everyone. While dangerous, Zwalter made no effort to rally their morale. “The Fenris forces are different.” Unlike the nervous Ferdium soldiers, the Fenris troops exuded a quiet anticipation. Of course, they were just as tense, but their fear was far less pronounced. Knowing the reason, Zwalter silently waited. Sure enough, the atmosphere shifted completely a few days later when Ghislain arrived. “The Grand Duke has arrived!” “Our lord is here!” “The Fenris Mobile Army has come!” Clang! Clang! Clang! The fortress erupted with activity as Ghislain and his entourage, along with the Fenris Mobile Army, marched through its gates, their presence invigorating everyone. Fenris was an undefeated force, and Ghislain, its leader, was the undefeated lord. Having destroyed countless Rifts before, his arrival alone was enough to lift morale. “Father.” Ghislain stood before Zwalter and gave a slight bow. Zwalter, with a satisfied smile, scanned his son and his close aides. Belinda, avoiding Zwalter’s gaze, looked downward, knowing her ambitions to elevate her son to Northern Grand Duke were hardly noble. Placing a firm hand on Ghislain’s shoulder, Zwalter spoke. “I entrust the command to you.” “Understood.” There was no need for lengthy words. Zwalter had no intention of taking charge as he once might have. His son had proven himself more than capable, surpassing expectations. While he might have stepped forward in a different scenario, when it came to fighting Rifts, Ghislain was the one everyone trusted. Ghislain ascended the fortress walls and raised his hand. Speaking in a commanding voice, he addressed the troops: “Prepare for battle.” “Hurrah!” Just a single phrase, yet the soldiers roared with confidence. The belief that victory was possible—this was the greatest strength Ghislain inspired. The troops quickly moved to their positions. Fenris soldiers arranged a hundred Galvanium Trebuchets atop the fortress walls. Creaaak... Ferdium’s several dozen trebuchets were also stationed behind the fortress walls. Both domains had scraped together everything they had. This arsenal could easily devastate most regions. Thunk. Thunk. Ten massive ballistae atop the fortress completed their loading. The hundred mages and eighty priests accompanying the Mobile Army found secure positions within the fortress. As preparations neared completion, the blue mist loomed dangerously close. Though it seemed distant to the naked eye, the trebuchets were already within range. Screeeech! The Rift creatures’ monstrous cries echoed from all directions. The soldiers swallowed nervously, their eyes glued to Ghislain, awaiting orders. Ghislain had no intention of waiting for the mist to engulf them and let the Rift creatures strike first. Extending his hand forward, he gave a decisive command. “Fire.” “Fire!” The officers echoed his order, and the trebuchets roared to life, hurling stones into the mist with relentless force.