Chapter 1358 - Battle Stations: Ivo's Move

The hot-tempered Ivo felt as though he would soon go crazy with all the pressure he had been facing all this while.

For over 6 months now, he had been slowly dying inside, seeing the situation in his town grow worse and worse with time.

Did he care about the people? 

F***! 

Who has caring ever helped? 

No way! 

What he worried about was the large slash in income due to the curse, as well as the unfortunate demise and decrease of his power.

That's right. At the earlier start of the charade, he and many others were seemingly clueless about the curse.

And at the snap of a finger, he lost over 3/10th of his men.

That's a big loss!

In the end after all this was over, his strength might lead him to be removed to a lower status, seeing that he didn't have the proper requirements to carry on his current title.

Of course, to make up for this, he planned to gather and train more knights under his command.

However, what bothered him the most was that he would have to use quite a large sum of money from his treasury to do so.

The curse would leave the people here broke and desolate.

Additionally, he would have to pay them money for damages as per the law and taxes that the people pay.

.

Ivo was a greedy person who always stole money from the assigned tax collections.

And in the past, even when compensating the citizens for the damages due to winter and other natural disasters, he would slash 1/3 or half the amount given out, keeping it away in his treasury.

In the end, many tried to stand up and report the matter. However, there was a reason why people called him 'Ivo the terrible' behind his back. 

Heh...

He had eyes, mouths, and ears all around, with the skill to cover up his tracks perfectly.

In the end, those in the town who dared to go against him also ended up getting skinned alive and hung out on display.

Yup. 

The victims would have their insides vacuumed and cleaned out, leaving only their outer skin. It was done so perfectly thanks to Ivo's special butchers.

But by the end of it all, the bodies were hung In the town center, as though they were clothes on a hanger.

A cold glint flickered in Ivo's eyes when listening to the rants about a witch and her minions. 

"Eyes that glowed yellow?"

"Yes, my lord. It's also said that the minions can speed like no horse."

"Then, do you think we can capture them?"

.

Ivo wasn't one to be scared of a puny witch. 

In truth, there were peculiar things in this world, with a few who had powers. 

Just like Lucia of Zalipnia, who could see visions, there must be others out there in the world who could also do wonders. 

But no matter how strong the wind blew, it couldn't shake a mountain... Especially when alone.

So why not capture this witch and force her to do his bidding? Having such a robust supernatural person by his side would boss his already crumbling strength. 

On the flip side, he also had to be cautious. 

If the enemy was already at his doorstep so brazenly, then that meant that they were at least prepared to some extent.

"My lord, though the enemy came prepared, it's clear to see that this witch was utilizing the weather to her advantage. Meaning she's not all that powerful and strong yet... Or else, who didn't she attack in the summer or even at the start of the fall? She chose days when the weather was blinding with rain to do her bidding for a reason." Cerberus added. 

Yes. Maybe she was indeed all-powerful. But everything in this world has its limits. 

And the woman probably knew her strengths and weaknesses, utilizing everything around her to the best of her abilities.

Plus, the witch was a woman.

What did she know about battles and strategies? Again, which man would fight her cause, allowing her to be the leader?

Tch!

She was definitely alone.

.

Cerberus looked at his lord and understood his thoughts.

If this witch had some strong and strange powers, his lord would do all he could to capture her.

Even if it meant using the ordinary folks to fight against the woman... After all, she caused the curse. Didn't she?

His lord would want her power under his control.

Truthfully, if not for the fact that Lucia's powers as a seer could only benefit Zalipnia, Cerberus was sure that his lord would be one of the leading men to capture her.

Anyone with powers who hadn't gotten a string backer was likely to be hunted and seized for another person's gains. 

So imagine having such a person arrive at their doorsteps? 

Cerberus knew that his lord wouldn't let this opportunity go!

"You there, prepare my armour and my famous Poison lance... Cerberus, rally everyone up... We will be going out to see this witch!" 

No matter what, they must capture such a powerful person!

Like so, Ivo spread his hands apart, allowing his men to dress him in his famous blue dragon-skin metallic armor hurriedly. 

Beautiful... Too beautiful. 

It perfectly complemented his broad shoulders, with his war cape drawing at the back.

From neck to toe, he had his scaly armor on while holding his trusty lance in one hand. 

Well, his weapon wasn't an ordinary lance.

It was way longer and had to than typical lances, with its opposite end being a sharp spear instead.

Ivo liked this weapon the most, compared to a sword. He was more efficient on the battlefield when using long-ranged weapons. 

.

Placing his head shield over his head, Ivo smiled playfully. 

"Let's go! I don't believe that with the number of black powder barrels we have at the walls, we won't be able to destroy her minions!"

"You are wise, my lord!" Cerberus and the others replied, leaving the main building. 

However, they had just stepped out when they suddenly got an update on things. 

What? So they weren't dealing with a witch but with humans who had come to help treat the curse?

Mysterious carriages? Strange visitors? 

Ivo's lips raised from molar to molar. 

"Even better."

What he wanted, he would get.