Chapter 182:

Chapter 182:

Chapter 182

In fact, it was Otto who broke the rules of etiquette.

On paper, Otto de Scuderia was a local noble of the Kingdom of Baltin, with the rank of Baron.

And for any lord to look down on an inspector sent by the king was a grave insult.

It was a sign of disrespect for the king’s authority, an act that was punishable by treason.

Of course, that’s a story of the past.

“D-Do you think you can get away with this?”

Count Theodore growled at Camille.

“I am an inspector appointed by His Majesty the King. You pointing a sword at me means that you are....”

“Answer me.”

Camille pressured Count Theodore.

“You will not raise your voice in disrespect to His Majesty.”

At that point.

“Leave it.”

Otto stopped Camille.

“Let’s hear what he has to say.”

“Your Majesty.”

“It’s okay, just let it go.”

“I hear your command.”

Camille sheathed his sword.

“I will surely punish you for your insolence.”

Count Theodore growled at Camille, then turned to glare at Otto.

“Lord Otto. Do you think you can get away with this?”

“What?”

“You have abandoned your loyalty to our king, and have waged a territory war, attacking and annexing other independent fiefdoms.”

“Aren’t wars between independent fiefs the free will of their lords?”

“Of course it is, but you have never reported the outcome of these wars.”

“That is true.”

“Furthermore, you have committed treason by attempting to elevate yourself to the throne.”

“That’s also correct.”

“That’s treason enough, but you’ve also committed tax evasion by reducing your taxes.”

“I admit it.”

What Count Theodore said made complete sense.

If it were done according to the law, Otto’s actions were sufficient to have him sent to the Baltin Kingdom and beheaded under the guillotine.

“However.”

Otto rose from his throne and strode toward Count Theodore.

“For the past 50 years, you’ve been squeezing taxes without providing proper support, and now you’re here making a show. What’s the reason?”

“What?!”

“The Baltin Kingdom has abandoned and neglected the province of Kashmir for fifty years, and now you think you can get any kind of respect.”

“Abandoned and neglected? Ridiculous! That’s not true at all! While it’s true that His Majesty hasn’t been able to focus much on the Kashmir region due to various governmental matters, it doesn’t mean he abandoned or neglected it. In his heart, he always... Ack!”

Count Theodore collapsed, coughing up blood.

He was hit in the head by Otto’s poker.

“This bastard.”

With a fierce expression, Otto glared down at Count Theodore and growled menacingly.

“Who the hell do you think you are to talk shit in front of me?”

“Ak, Aack! You’re about to cross an irreversible river....”

*Smack!*

Otto struck Count Theodore on the head once more with his poker.

“If you came to pick a fight, just say you came to pick a fight. Don’t beat around the bush with the same old excuses.”

“Argh!”

“You need to be beaten to death to come to your senses, sir.”

For a long time Otto beat Count Theodore with the poker.

“Go and tell King Chech IV.”

“Keuuuuuuk.”

“There is no longer an Lota Estate. The Kashmir region no longer belongs to the Baltin Kingdom, but to the Lota Kingdom.”

“Keueoeook.”

“And Otto de Scuderia is no longer a mere noble of the Baltin Kingdom, but the King of the Lota Kingdom. Do you understand?”

“...You will regret this.”

“You still haven’t gotten it through your head. Hey.”

Otto cast a look at his knights.

“I want you to soak all of them, including this one, in a cesspool for a day or so, then load them onto carts and send them back to the Baltin Kingdom.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

That was a declaration of war against the mother kingdom of Baltin.

War was inevitable after the assault on the Inspector and his retinue, and the subsequent soaking in a cesspool.

It was only a matter of time before the armies of the Baltin Kingdom would invade Lota.

This was an event that the Kingdom of Baltin could not look the other way, even if they wanted to.

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Several sieges had been fought over the past week, but the Baltinian army had made no progress.

On the contrary, they had suffered significant losses.

Indeed, the losses suffered by the Baltinian army were staggering.

The losses amounted to 5,000.

Among them, there were a staggering 2,000 fatalities.

In contrast, the Lota Kingdom army showed signs of exhaustion, but did not appear to have suffered much loss.

‘Does this make any sense? Despite having some geographical disadvantage, how could such a small fortress boast such formidable defenses?’

The commander of the Baltin Kingdom Army was in anguish.

It was because the exceptional combat prowess of the Lota Kingdom’s army and the implausible defensive strength of the Chergori Fortress defied common sense.

* * *

Meanwhile, in Fort Chergori....

“...I’m exhausted.”

The words came out of Helmut’s mouth as he rested against the ramparts.

Helmut.

Once a Margrave defending the Magritte Kingdom against the nomads of the Haver Prairie, he was now a vassal of Otto and field commander of the Lota Kingdom.

Not long ago.

Otto summoned Helmut and gave him the following order.

‘Go to Fort Chergori and stop the Baltinian army.’

“How many troops do they have?’

‘About 20,000?’

‘What about the number of....’

‘I will give you 1,000 troops.’

‘Yes?’

‘Why? Is that too many?’

‘Y-Your Majesty, the Baltin Kingdom’s army is over 20,000 strong, and we only have 1,000 men....’

‘Ei. You are sounding feeble even though you can do it.’

‘......’

‘Well, it’s siege battle anyway, and a 20x difference is nothing. Maybe a 30x difference would be difficult.’

“T-That’s a little bit.’

‘What did you say? That you can do it? Alright, then. I’ll take my leave.’

Astonishingly, Otto left Helmut with only a paltry force of 1,000 men and left him the Chergori Fortress.

“What sins did I commit in my previous life....”

Helmut lamented.

After being exploited by the Magritte Kingdom for generations, just when it seemed like life was getting bearable, Otto expect him to defend against 20,000 with a mere 1,000.

It felt like being ordered to buy bread, milk, and meat with just one penny and come back with plenty of change.

But orders are orders.

Helmut made his way to Fort Chergori with plenty of potions, and for a week he managed to fend off the Baltinian army.

Otto’s words that “1,000 is enough” were definitely not empty talk.

“General Commander, the enemy is coming again!”

“...I see.”

Helmut slowly rose to his feet.

*Sparkle!* *Sparkle*1

As Helmut stood up, the green brick embedded in the wall was revealed.

[Marquis’ Resolve]

It was a Holy Relic that increased the durability of the Fortress Walls by 500%, increased the combat power and morale of allies by as little as 10% to as much as 100%, and dramatically increased the chance that ranged attacks from enemies would miss.

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* /SchattenTranslations *

At the same time.

“W... What the fuck is this!”

The commander guarding the Toorong Fortress was greatly bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

The reason was simple.

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Slay the enemies!”

“For Lota!!!”

Like a raging wave, the troops of the Lota Kingdom were advancing on the virtually empty Toorong Fortress.

‘How is this possible?’

The commander couldn’t wrap his head around it.

Common sense dictates that it would be impossible for the Lota Kingdom to attack Fort Toorong.

For the Lota Kingdom’s army to attack the Toorong Fortress, they would have to first drive out the Baltin Kingdom’s army attacking the Chergori Fortress, then proceed to occupy the Punhill Fortress, and finally navigate the serpent’s path to arrive. It was an extremely difficult and complex process.”

There is no way that the Iota army would have traveled such a harrowing path.

The Lota Kingdom army did not come through the Serpent’s Path.

“They appeared from an entirely different and truly absurd direction.”

It was as if they had entered the territory of the Baltin Kingdom before the war began....

‘There must be a detour!’

That’s all the commander of the Baltin Kingdom army could think.

** ** **

TL/N:

Helmut’s Holy Relic has sparkling feature