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墨書 Inktalez
Things might be heading in a positive direction; if I’m not mistaken, the war will start within a couple of days.
However, things are often not as Freya imagined.
On the first day after arriving, Philip relaxed the entire army under the pretext that the soldiers needed rest.
On the second and third days, Philip still showed no intention of heading to Berta Territory, which left Baron and the clever people of Green Castle feeling incredulous.
Moreover, at Philip's request, the garrison that was originally stationed at the iron mine was completely withdrawn back to the castle.
...
In the reception room of Green Castle, which was used to welcome distinguished guests.
Baron looked somewhat grimly at Count Philip, who was sitting comfortably in front of him, savoring the local specialty, Mint Tea from Green Territory.
His relaxed expression made it seem as if he were here on vacation rather than preparing for war.
“Philip, what do you mean by this!?” Baron finally couldn’t hold back and asked the man in front of him in a low voice.
In his memory, Philip had once been a simple and strong-willed young man who admired him greatly. He never expected that in just over a decade, the person before him would become someone entirely different.
“Teacher, you know how far the capital is from Green Castle. I just want the soldiers to have a good rest,” Philip replied calmly.
“Just resting?” Baron looked at Philip incredulously, unable to believe that he would use such an obvious excuse to brush him off. It should be noted that the daily consumption of food and necessities for two thousand soldiers was entirely borne by Green Castle, and they had nearly consumed half a year's worth of supplies in just three days.
A look of disbelief appeared on Baron's shocked face as he quickly thought of a possibility.
“So you are deliberately stalling for time!?”
Perhaps it was the scene that stirred their emotions, but for a moment, the three of them fell silent.
After a long while, sensing the atmosphere, Philip broke the silence and said, "I know, as soon as I received your secret letter, I came here immediately."
Freya stood behind Baron, listening to the conversation between the three and gradually piecing together their relationships.
It turned out that Count Philip had once been a comrade-in-arms with Baron and Howard Bailey on the battlefield, and Baron had saved him during the fight. At that time, he had no idea that the person he casually saved was actually the son of a noble.
Out of gratitude for Baron's life-saving act, Philip had asked Baron to teach him swordsmanship for a time and referred to Baron as his teacher. After the war, Philip had wanted Baron to return to the imperial capital with him, but Baron had declined. This left Philip with a sense of regret.
The three shared a laugh, and at Baron's invitation, they walked into the castle.
As a junior member of their group, Freya found it hard to interject until she finally made an excuse to leave.
On her way back to her room, Freya furrowed her brow slightly. Although the three were talking, her keen senses picked up that Count Philip's gaze occasionally drifted toward her, filled with a complex emotion.
Moreover, Freya felt that Philip's facial features seemed vaguely familiar.
After carefully searching through her memories, she realized she had no recollection of this person.
"Perhaps it's for another reason," she muttered, shaking her head as she pushed open the door to her bedroom.
She placed the book in her hand back on the desk and gazed into the distance. Not far from the castle, tents made of brown canvas were quickly being set up. Around the tents, soldiers were being directed to cut down nearby trees and form a makeshift wooden wall.
Watching this bustling scene, she pondered.
If that Philip was indeed an acquaintance, then the impact of this war on Green Territory might be significantly lessened. After all, his attitude toward Baron was very respectful.
Furthermore, since there was a forest separating Saladin and Byron, even if there were soldiers present, it wouldn't be a large force. The empire must have considered this when they dispatched a 2,000-strong army for suppression.
If this situation were to come to an end, then Berta would surely face repercussions; the consequences could be easily imagined.
"Stalling for time?" Philip frowned slightly, his previously relaxed expression revealing a hint of anger. "Teacher, are you questioning my decision? Or do you think I am defying the orders given to me by the Empire? If necessary, I could take you to a military court based solely on that statement."
"..." Seeing Philip's sudden change in demeanor, Baron fell silent.
Recalling the familiarity he felt when he first met Philip, Baron sensed that the man before him was deliberately putting on an act. What he initially thought would be manageable had unexpectedly turned into this.
Philip stood up from his seat and walked over to Baron, patting him on the shoulder. He sighed lightly and said, "Don't be anxious, okay, teacher? The reason I haven't deployed our forces yet is that I am waiting for an opportunity—an opportunity to uproot both Berta and the Saladin Soldiers. Besides, I am no longer the person I once was; I have stepped into the ranks of the strong and can stand shoulder to shoulder with you."
Philip's words made Baron lift his head in surprise.
"You are... you have already..."
"That's right, I have broken free from my own shackles," Philip replied with a smile. "Also, tomorrow night I plan to borrow your castle to host a gathering for everyone as an apology for not notifying you sooner."
Without waiting for Baron's response, Philip walked straight out of the parlor.
As soon as Philip left, Howard Bailey entered. He looked at Baron, who stood there with a dark expression, and frowned slightly.
"What happened?"
Baron glanced at his shoulder where Philip had patted him. Although it seemed like a gentle touch, it felt like a blow of equal strength.
"I didn't expect him to have reached Knight Level..." Baron murmured to himself. He then turned to Howard Bailey and said seriously, "Perhaps he has been hiding it well, but Philip is no longer the Philip we used to know. His current actions may have deviated from our expected outcomes. While I don't know what he truly intends to do, it's undeniable that this path could lead to disaster for Green Territory... It's time to prepare some contingencies."
"..." Howard Bailey looked at Baron's serious expression. Having known him for many years, he understood the implications behind Baron's words without needing further explanation. He nodded heavily and turned to leave.
Watching Howard Bailey leave quietly, Baron had a complex look in his eyes.
Although Philip had given him a vague reason, years of experience made him feel that things were completely different from what he had imagined.
On the other side of this conversation, Freya, who had been focused on adapting to her own powers, also sensed that something was very wrong.
Perhaps as an outsider, she thought more comprehensively than Baron. The moment the soldiers began to rest, she felt an inexplicable urge to have her servants inquire about Count Philip's background.
Through scattered information, she gradually pieced together a crucial detail: it seemed that Count Philip's family background had a subtle connection to the Belta Family.
This terrifying clue gradually brought Freya to a realization.
Just as she was about to share this clue with Baron, there was a sudden knock at the bedroom door.
"Who is it?" Freya frowned and asked.
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