Chapter 288 288-The Duke's Army

Chapter 288 288-The Duke's Army

After Howard informed Flandre about the situation, Flandre showed little concern, simply advising, "Don't hurt Kaido." With Windhaven Village continuing its regular payments, Howard decided not to intervene further.

During the morning meeting, Howard shared the news with Portia, who couldn't help but laugh incessantly.

Portia ridiculed Golan, the Knight Squire, for his soft heart; having the upper hand, yet failing to seize the opponent's title.

Howard smiled silently in response. VIsit n0(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Also present was Alonso, who commented, "It's for the best, Kaido has a terrible temper." Howard nodded in agreement, finding truth in Alonso's words.

Hof, who had been patiently observing the situation for a month, finally decided it was time to make a move.

However, all his actions were meticulously recorded by Portia's network of spies and reported to Howard.

Howard had already been in touch with Mibo, aware that Mibo had now received reinforcements from his family.

When Hof issued his final ultimatum to Mibo, Mibo refused to comply.

In response, Hof waged war against Mibo, deploying his conscripted and vassal soldiers at Verdant Knolls.

Unfazed, Mibo sent a distress call to his relatives—a duke, who mustered an impressive force of over five thousand men to confront Hof.

Unprepared and lacking in intelligence, Hof's men were shocked to discover Mibo's formidable force.

Their escape was cut off.

During their retreat, Hof's troops were completely annihilated by Mibo's ducal relative.

Hof and Mambaton fled back to their territory, leaving two of Hof's knights captured and two others on the run.

Subsequently, Mibo's ducal relative, exhibiting his wealth and power, didn't bother besieging Gokasu Castle.

Instead, he launched a direct assault.

Over five thousand soldiers stormed the castle, swiftly capturing it.

Captured and brought to heel, Hof found himself at the mercy of Mibo's ducal relative, who couldn't suppress a boisterous laugh while fiddling with Hof's cherished elk bone ornaments.

The duke disdainfully stepped on Hof's favorite possessions, taunting Mibo, "Ha! Mibo, you're such a disgrace.

To think you were challenged by such a trifle, you've shamed our family.

Luckily, your brother here was always the smarter one, smoothly rising to become a duke, preventing our family from being easily manipulated.

Mibo, you owe me thanks.

Had you inherited father's earldom, our family would've been doomed."

Mibo, a few years senior to the duke, could only offer an awkward smile, nodding in agreement to his brother's words.

The duke's men dragged in the bound Hof, attempting to force him to kneel.

Defiant, Hof refused, only to be kicked at the joints by the duke's soldiers, forcing him to succumb to a kneel.

Taking a deep breath, Mibo knew this was a rare opportunity - a baron's title lay before him.

After a moment of internal struggle, he finally decided.

Mibo stripped Hof of his baronial title and, in turn, became the Lord of Gokasu.

Hof was utterly despondent, his capacity for scheming drained away.

Hearing Mibo's declaration, his head suddenly slumped, like a stubborn person who had lost their pillar of support.

Staring at the stone tiles on the ground, Hof seemed to want to say something but ultimately decided it was pointless and closed his mouth.

With the loss of his baronial title and lacking any knightly status, Hof was reduced to a landless individual.

In this world, being landless stripped him of his noble status.

Hof had become a commoner.

The Duke, hearing Mibo's proclamation, shrugged his shoulders, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

He considered his journey worthwhile and chuckled happily to himself.

The soldiers eased their grip on Hof, who then stood up.

His eyes, wide with a dazed look, turned to the Duke and asked, "My lord, where should I go now?"

The Duke pretended not to hear, and the others also ignored Hof's question.

Hof repeated his inquiry, and the Duke, holding one of Hof's collected walking sticks, pointed towards the door with a serious demeanor, "You should leave this place and do whatever you need to. The world of nobility is no longer within your reach."

Hof departed.

As Howard was enjoying afternoon tea with Anna at Fernsouth Castle, also taking the opportunity to apologize for a previous unpleasant incident on the stairs, he received a confidential letter from Portia.

Howard found it somewhat unbelievable.

He called for Alonso.

Alonso, seeming to have embraced his role, had tailored a black-and-white butler's uniform.

Responding to Howard's summons, he arrived, bowed his head in greeting, and said, "What is it, my lord?"

Anna looked at Alonso in surprise, her facial features momentarily contorting in confusion.

She couldn't fathom why Alonso would willingly lower his status in such a manner.

Howard instructed Alonso to fetch Portia, and Alonso promptly left.

Once he was gone, Anna queried Howard, "Alonso's attire, was that at your request? I must say, it's quite an odd request."

Howard spread his hands, eyes wide and face the picture of innocence, replying, "You misunderstand. In fact, this is the first time I've seen him dressed like that too."

Anna, finding the situation absurd, took a sip of her tea to compose herself.

"Alright then, why are you summoning Portia? And what about the letter you received earlier? What does it contain?"

Not wanting to upset Anna again and to somewhat make amends, Howard decided to share the details of the letter with her, adding, "The description in the letter was too brief. I need more detailed information."