Chapter 167: ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? (1)

Chapter 167: Year Old Army (1)

The centaurs nodded their heads around the envoy they had captured. The envoy looked at the centaurs with fearful expressions.

The centaur tribe had not only flowed in from the east of the Holy Empire.

Their tribe had also flowed in from the north of Vynashchtym and most of them had settled down in small kingdoms and transformed into ruthless marauders.

Vynashchtym was trying to control them with gold and honor but they were beings whose transformations were unpredictable.

And yet, to encounter centaurs here all of a sudden.

The envoy opened his mouth in ancient imperial language out of fear.

W-Why do you keep such frightening and violent beings with you?

What is he mumbling about?

Achladda cocked his head and asked. He could guess that he was talking about them.

He says you guys are frightening and violent.

Oh. . . such praise. . . does this guy have the skill to embarrass people?

Achladda and the other centaurs were bashful and pleased. To them, being violent and frightening was praise rather than an insult.

From their attitude, the envoy realized that Johan had the centaurs loyalty. It was an unbelievable sight for a noble from the empire.

How?

If youve come as an envoy, take out the letter youve brought.

The letter the envoy took out was sealed with the emperors stamp. Magic power could be felt from the purple wax where the pattern was imprinted. It was probably the power of the emperors seal ring.

, ?

Johan took out the letter with curiosity. From Johans behavior of reading it without calling anyone else, the envoy realized that Johan was fluent in speaking and reading ancient imperial language.

!! Alll latest novels at novelhall.com

The envoy was bewildered by the intellectual demeanor that was too different from the rumors. To be honest, he had not expected a noble from the Holy Empire, moreover a knight, to be this cultivated.

. . . , , , , .

. , . , .

. ? . . .

. .

What. . .

To be so shameless as to openly state there is none when you have to find and send someone from anywhere in this situation?

Johan stopped reading and raised his head at this point. The envoy felt thick beads of sweat flowing down his forehead. He realized what part Johan had stopped at.

. . .

Dragon blood did not simply refer to the blood of dragon beastmen or those related to the imperial family. They had to be born as the emperors direct son during his reign and educated in the imperial palace.

They were that precious an existence and small in number. Moreover, most of them were already married so it wouldnt be easy to find someone suitable to send.

Still, even if you send an envoy to appease the other party, it doesnt seem like the best choice to say .

No matter how sincere you are, if the other party cannot believe you, whats the point?

. . ., . .

Hmm. If you pay in gold. . .

?!

The envoy was bewildered. Johan had accepted it too readily.

While it was fortunate that the other party understood, as a noble of the esteemed Vynashchtym, he could not comprehend it.

Dragon blood can be appeased with gold to the extent of being considered cheap??

Why do you have that unwilling expression? Do you want me to refuse?

Ah, no! Why would that be so?!

The envoy waved his hands in panic. If this matter went awry because of his expression, hanging himself would not be enough.

If there is no lingering attachment to the dragon blood and adequate gold is provided as compensation, Im willing to forgive.

Your Excellency. Dragon blood is the most noble and powerful magic imbued with power that has been passed down since the times of the ancient empire. . .

Yeah yeah. It probably is.

. . . .

!

The messenger internally cursed the Holy Empire and other monotheistic ones in his mind. After all, they were barbarians with no respect for tradition.

Hmm. How shall I put it?

If you insult him. . .

!

It was certainly not a bad choice. Attacking the pass was good in its own way, and plundering other cities out of anger did not concern him.

It is indeed a good idea. Send someone to mock that b*stard!

Brave men with the guts to go to the counts camp and mock the count were selected. Not long after they left, reports came in from nearby merchants.

Army flags were seen! An army is coming this way!

Coming this way? That count b*stard has no fear. Prepare for battle!

Leoanos was confident. Hiding behind the castle walls, even cowards could become brave. Not knowing much about Johan, Leoanos had no fear at all.

Defeating and subduing that barbaric foreign count was not a bad choice either. It could completely cover up this blunder and allow him to return. . . The rebellion would just be delayed. . .

Leoanos-gong!

What is it?

Its not the counts army!

Not the counts army, what nonsense is that? Did the little kingdom fellows come down this far?

No. The army of the pagans has come right up to here!

. . .??!

No way. How did they get here?

Johan was dumbfounded when he heard a report that a pagan army had landed not too far from the city and was coming up.

Surely there were several fortified islands to the south, how did they get through that? It should still be intact.

It seems they took a roundabout path through the open seas.

Giada was also apparently taken by surprise. He certainly did not expect such a crude method of going north.

Even if they fail, how will they go back? However pitifully Vynashchtym is seen. . .

Sir! Sir!

The viceroy came running first. He had a look of fear on his face, worried that Johan might leave.

He tried to make excuses that he had hired the count and his soldiers as mercenaries, but he really hired them as mercenaries!

You must not leave!

Im not leaving. Calm down and speak.

They will come here and burn everything and take it all away. Please do not abandon me and my city!

The viceroy piled up gold and kowtowed. Johan calmed the viceroy down. Johan had no intention of abandoning this city anyway. There were also republic merchants, and most importantly, it was Johans central supply point.

I will have soldiers deployed on the walls and prepare to defend.

Thank you! Thank you! I will never forget this favor!

. . .However, the viceroy forgot that favor exactly three days later. The pagan army had started heading towards the mountain pass, leaving the city alone.

The viceroy regretted inside.

3 . . .!

Of course, Johans mercenaries could have come to the city and made the enemies flee, but from the position of losing immense gold, it was not a very convincing argument.

Its good the city is safe now. Viceroy?

Im really tearfully happy. . . Sir. . .

The pagan army that landed just south of the port city headed straight for the mountain pass after looting some villages along the way.

Leaving the city behind and advancing, what confidence.

What guts do they have?

They must be confident they can win if we come out, given their numbers. . .

There were rumors that the enemy forces that landed were close to ten thousand. While not exact, it was a scale that could only be intimidating.

If they breakthrough the pass, they can rapidly advance east on the highways. Whoever the commander is, they have tremendous guts.

Came to get gold but things are getting complicated. . . But why does it seem they did not attack here?

I dont know about that either, but could it be they avoided this place after hearing of you, Your Excellency?

Dont say such nonsense.