CHAPTER 166: WAR AGAINST ODEN PART ONE

Raze walked through the town with Elaine and Seraph. Seraph kept looking around the town as they walked. The streets were clean and proper, the people were happy and going about their daily business, living lives that would normally be something given to the well-to-do in major cities.

"Does everyone in this town live like this?" Seraph asked.

"For now yes, each person here either had a person that’s under contract, or they themself are under contract with me, and their pay is good, as well as many bonuses. I want to ensure the life of everyone here is good," Raze explained.

She was stunned by his response. A leader that wanted the benefit of his people was pretty rare to come by. "Why though?" she asked. "Wouldn’t you rather divert money into other things?"

"Like what?" Raze asked.

"Personal riches and your own lands and more. It’s something common within nobles. They use money meant for something else and they use it for themselves," she said. Despite the fact that she was talking much, she still had a calm and collected aura.

"Hmmm, to what end?" Raze asked. He looked at her. "The town is mine to handle. What’s the point of being rich if everything else around me will be looking poor? The best show of wealth would be to make everything connected to me look great," Raze explained.

"Hmmm, that’s the first time I am hearing of this pattern," Seraph said.

"Honestly, I can only do so much with the money, and hoarding it is the dumbest way to keep money. I’d rather invest it and use it to make more over the longer time.

I get more money, the people get more money, and it’s much better that way, don’t you think?" he asked Seraph.

She looked at the town around her, the smiling faces and more. She couldn’t help but agree; this was far better than just making one person rich to no end.

"Vermilion would do a lot better with people like you," she said.

"Tsk, I can’t really take that compliment now can I? If only she knew that all I wanted was to make my sanctuary. But then again, if someone benefits from my selfishness, that’s a win," Raze thought to himself.

"This place is honestly great, you should protect it as best as you can," Seraph said.

"Exactly, and that’s why you are going to help me deal with the viscount. I know the queen said you would, but you are doing me a favor, so I need to ask you properly," Raze said.

"As far as I am concerned, the viscount is currently a criminal by kingdom standard. I’ll cut him down when you want," she said, speaking with conviction.

[.....]

BAM!

A door slammed open as a knight staggered inside the room in a rush. The viscount sat there, glass of wine in his hand and a plate of steak resting on the table. His eyes darted to the side the moment that knight came in, anger already forming on his face, but before he could rage, the knight spoke.

"My Lord, Raze Grim Hold is on his way here. All fifty of Ribest’s knights are behind him and they are coming full speed," the knight said quickly.

As the viscount heard that, he immediately placed the wine down on the table and rose to his feet, eyes gleaming as a smile streaked across his face.

"He has fallen into my trap. Ready all the men from the first squad and have them meet the enemy halfway, and have the second squad immediately begin their march to Ribest. Now that he has taken away his knights, the town is exposed without him. We can take it while we defeat him here," the viscount said, his eyes shining crazy as he spoke. Finally, he could stick it to the kid that he hated.

The knight rushed out immediately, going to carry out the order of the viscount.

The viscount let out a hearty laugh and then grabbed the steak on the plate, digging his teeth into it and ripping a good amount of flesh from it. "Let’s see what you’ll do, Raze Grim Hold."

[.... ]

"Are you certain they’ll fall for this?" Fey asked as he rode a horse beside Raze, who had a confident look on his face.

"Haha, don’t worry Fey, I spent a long time preparing this. Until they actually come close, there is no way for them to know until they get here," Raze said.

"And why does it have to be from my mana pool? You have a decent amount of mana as well," Fey said.

"Because I gave you a massive hog steak. This is your pay for it," Raze said.

As they spoke, the gates of Oden opened and more than two hundred knights in armor rushed out for war, some on horseback and the rest on foot, their eyes eager for battle.

"Seems they are here. Get ready Fey, everything is in your hands," Raze said casually, as if not bothered by the fact there was a massive army headed their way.

The roars of the knights filled the air as they approached faster, but when they were halfway there, Raze gave the order.

"Now Fey."

Immediately, all the knights riding behind Raze and Fey vanished like they had never been there before. The Oden army were instantly stunned beyond comprehension. This scene made them come to a halt, which meant they fell perfectly into Raze’s plan. As Fey stretched out his hands, a massive magical circle showed on the ground, and immediately cracks began forming before the ground gave way. Like an earthquake, the ground split apart as all the men fell in, horse and all.

Their screams and shouts filled the air. They couldn’t even help themselves as they were stuck in the massive sinkhole, covered in injuries and broken bones.

"Boom, it worked," Raze said in joy, leaping off the back of his wolf with a wide smile. "It actually worked." His grin grew even wider as he got closer.