CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: ACTING

In truth, as the governor of the Northern Wind Province, Earl Winter held absolute authority—his word could be law.

He had the power to command all the noble armies to assemble, and how the orc invasion was to be handled should have been entirely up to him.

But clearly, Earl Winter had no intention of bearing the blame for what would happen once the orcs marched south. So he called upon two "scapegoats" to take the fall.

Once the orcs withdrew to the Northern Wastes, the noble lords whose territories were ravaged would naturally direct their anger toward those who had proposed the strategy.

For example—Viscount Hogg.

Meanwhile, Earl Winter could appear afterward as a peacemaker, smoothing over conflicts and reaping profits from all sides.

Just like thirty years ago. Even in the midst of the Empire’s internal political strife, not even Grand Duke Meyers could enter the Northern Wind Province—and yet, Earl Winter ultimately rose to become its governor.

"Since the plan is settled, return to your lands and prepare. The sooner our defenses are up, the more orcs we can kill."

Earl Winter said this with a smile. He wasn’t the least bit worried about the orcs invading—after all, both his own territory’s fortress and Northwind City were like unshakable mountains. If it really came to it, he could invoke his authority as governor and demand reinforcements from surrounding nobles.

Actually, throughout this entire military council, there was one topic no one dared mention...

"If I’m not mistaken, the Empire allocates one million gold coins every year to the Northern Wind Province for the reconstruction of the fortress on Xiangshan Plain, doesn’t it?"

"After Grand Duke Meyers conquered the province, he even proposed transferring troops from the Winged Gorge to Xiangshan, saying the gorge was no longer the empire’s frontier—the Xiangshan Plain was."

"But thirty years have passed... and there’s not even a dirt mound on Xiangshan Plain."

Back in the Frozen Lands, even though Ryan had been excluded from the council, both Viscount Miles and Zero Ferry County were still obliged to keep him informed.

Viscount Dragen also sent a messenger—just in case Miles neglected his duty.

"Thirty million gold coins... and not even a hair of it to be seen."

"This Earl Winter... isn’t he just a little too greedy?"

Of course, Ryan didn’t believe Earl Winter had pocketed the money alone. The other nobles had clearly taken a share of the spoils too.

To Ryan, both the strategies of offense and defense were flawed. The lords were simply placing their personal interests above any real strategy for warfare.

But what did any of that have to do with him, Baron of the Frozen Lands?

Setting aside his current plans, Ryan received word from Viscount Miles: he was to send five hundred soldiers to defend Zero Ferry City.

Ryan stepped out of his study and looked at the man sent by Miles, sighing as he spoke:

"Go back and tell Viscount Miles—surely he’s not unaware of the situation in the Frozen Lands. Last year when I came here, I passed through Zero Ferry City with only ten soldiers and an old steward who couldn’t walk straight."

"With what troops am I supposed to help defend the county?"

"Baron Ryan, I’m acting under the orders of the county governor. All lords in Zero Ferry County are required to send troops to build the defensive lines."

This envoy clearly wasn’t afraid of Ryan—he had likely been instructed beforehand.

"By decree of the Empire and the Northern Wind Province’s county governance, no noble may shirk their duty to fight the orcs."

"It’s not that I don’t want to," Ryan said, biting his lip, "it’s just that the Frozen Lands truly don’t have that many people."

"How about this—I send three hundred—no, two hundred—slaves..."

Before Ryan could finish, Derren rushed in through the door, face pale and splattered with blood.

"My lord, terrible news—we’ve spotted a large force of minotaurs in the north! We’re barely holding them off!"

"What?!"

Ryan’s expression changed dramatically, then he turned to glare at Derren.

"Then what are you doing here? Get every soldier in the baron’s keep—no, even the slaves—take them all and hold back the orcs! Why are you still standing here?"

"If a single orc steps foot in my land, I’ll have your head!"

"Y-Yes! Right away!"

Derren scrambled out the door. Just then, Rosen also rushed in.

"My lord! We’ve spotted a band of hyena-men in the western foothills—around five hundred of them. They seem to be heading this way!"

"Get Brand. Now."

This wasn’t staged—it had to be real.

Ryan turned back to the envoy from Miles.

"You’ve seen it yourself—the Frozen Lands are the closest to the orcs. I request that the county governor send troops to defend my territory!"

In the end, the man left, taking with him a modest offering of five hundred gold coins from Ryan—part of the "everyone contributes something" arrangement—and returned to Zero Ferry City.

After sending him off, Ryan looked toward his next visitor.

Woolf Dragen, a distant relative of Viscount Dragen’s family.

"Viscount Dragen is requesting military support from me?"

"That’s correct," Woolf said respectfully.

"The defensive line built by Viscount Miles around Zero Ferry City only includes the surrounding strongholds. Viscount Dragen’s domain isn’t directly behind that line, so he’s planning to build his own defenses."

"My lord said that Baron Ryan is a friend of House Dragen."

Friend? Ryan laughed inwardly.

"But as you’ve seen—my lands are far from peaceful. We spot orcs here almost daily."

"The Xiangshan Plain is still some distance from the Frozen Lands. Even if the orcs come south, not many will make it here."

"That’s not for you to decide. The Black Goat Men’s scouts have already appeared in the Frozen Lands—who’s to say they haven’t found a second path south?"

In the end, Woolf also left with five hundred gold coins, returning to Viscount Dragen’s domain.

"What a joke. I’m in the most dangerous place, and you want me to send troops to help you?"

Mutual aid between nobles was fine—but Ryan genuinely wasn’t sure if a large-scale orc incursion into the Frozen Lands was coming. After all, each day brought more sightings of orcs, and even the wildlife had disappeared.

"Gnoll scouts?"

Ryan stepped out of the keep and saw seventy or eighty soldiers escorting over a hundred spotted kobolds toward Rhinoceros Horn Mountain.

Gnolls were a subspecies of kobold. At the base of the mountain, Ryan saw these beastfolk up close—canine-headed, fur-covered, claw-handed savages.

"Why are you here?" Ryan asked.

A soldier responded by pounding the kobold leader three times in the head until it was dazed.

"The lord asked you a question. Speak!"

After a chaotic round of questioning, Ryan understood the story.

Years ago, a band of gnolls had come to raid the Frozen Lands, but they returned empty-handed—and starved to death along the way. Their failure became a laughingstock among the orcs, a stain on their tribe’s honor.

This time, they came to redeem their shame—only to be swiftly crushed by Brand and his soldiers.

Over a hundred escaped. These were the unfortunate ones who got caught.

"Perfect. When we build the road in a couple of months, this bunch of beastmen might just come in handy."

"But for now—put them to work hauling lumber."