Chapter 73: The Barbarian Prince’s Ambition

When the intermediary Andy returned to the fortress, dawn had already broken. Gentle morning light filtered through the dim mist, bringing a hint of warmth to all living things on the land.

“Phew, anyway, my lords, after my relentless efforts, that despicable barbarian Leader finally agreed to bring only two hundred escorts to the Negotiation. However…”

Andy’s eyes darted about, and he continued as if what he said was of no consequence at all, “The tribute demanded by the barbarians this year is a little higher than before.”

“How much higher, exactly?”

Colonel Rayne asked, his face expressionless.

“Well, well…” Andy’s face twisted with pain, his voice grew small, and his eyes filled with tears as he pleaded pitifully, “Those greedy, shameless barbarians actually demanded twenty times the usual tribute! Otherwise, they’ll launch an all-out attack on the fortress and all the surrounding towns!”

“But!”

Andy abruptly changed his tone, straightened his back, and slapped his chest hard. “I am a proud citizen of the Empire! Though I have not had the honor to serve in the army, how could I ever tolerate those arrogant barbarians running wild?”

“So I argued back with reason, telling them how mighty the Western Bastion Fortress is, with its tens of thousands of elite soldiers within. What can a petty rabble like them possibly accomplish?”

At this point, Andy raised his voice passionately, full of righteous indignation: “If you barbarians mistake our Empire’s previous benevolence for weakness, then let us settle this in the field, and annihilate you with a glorious army!”

The intermediary seemed to get more into his own story, becoming increasingly excited as he went on: “The moment those barbarians heard my rebuke, they were scared out of their wits, apologized profusely, and claimed they’d only come because the lands beyond the borders are cold, barren, and cannot sustain them.”

“Left with no choice, and already admiring the Empire’s blessings, they had to pour out of their lands and declare their willingness to serve the Empire, offering themselves for the Emperor’s command.”

After delivering this heartfelt “explanation,” Andy finally revealed his true purpose, glancing cautiously at Old Martin.

“So, those barbarian leaders beg the lords to show mercy, granting them ten times the reward compared to past years, as a sign of the Empire’s generosity.”

Hiss…

After hearing Andy’s twisting of the facts, Green couldn’t help but admire this merchant.

He had turned tribute to the barbarians into a “reward,” and spun their invasion as the other side yearning for the Empire’s embrace. No wonder, with just this handful of people, the entire western border of the Empire hadn’t fallen into chaos.

If it weren’t for the fact that the Barbarian High King had ulterior motives this time, who knew how much longer the fortress could keep deceiving both the Empire’s higher-ups and the barbarian armies?

“Ten times? Cough, I see. You… go back for now.”

Noticing Green’s gaze, Old Martin’s wrinkled face turned awkward, and he waved for the merchant to leave.

“So, my lord?” Andy looked at Old Martin hopefully, asking, “About the restraint placed on me…”

Bang.

The desk was slapped forcefully.

Colonel Rayne sneered maliciously, “Heh, Old Andy, you just don’t know what’s good for you. Do you really think we don’t know how much dirty business you’ve done?”

“If it weren’t for the fact that you’re our only way to talk to the barbarians… Oh, by the way, when you came to the fortress, did you see Lieutenant Carl’s head?”

They’re crazy, crazy!

How could they? How dare they?!

Andy shivered at the words, dropping to his knees.

Even now, this supposedly clever Frontier Merchant couldn’t for the life of him understand why Deputy Commander Martin and Colonel Rayne had suddenly decided to “clean up military discipline.”

Don’t they realize the state this wretched fortress is in?

If nothing else, just the tribute for the barbarians would have to come from the city guilds, wouldn’t it?

And yet, they’d actually killed Quartermaster Carl, whose roots in the city ran deep?

Let’s see how you scrape together the tribute then. Do they really believe, just by calling it a “reward,” that the barbarians would come south each year just to beg and flatter?

Still, though he was cursing them fiercely in his heart, Old Andy’s face wore a wide smile.

“I understand! I’ll, I’ll go home at once!”

Bang.

With that, the merchant hurriedly flung open the office door and scampered out as if escaping.

“Is this man reliable?”

From the seat of honor, the princess, who had been silent until now, spoke.

Wearing the uniform of a commanding officer, Teresa’s slender figure looked even more graceful against the oversized military coat. She gently tied up her Platinum Hair with a ribbon, forming a ponytail, and focused her attention on Martin.

“Not reliable. But, Commander, in this matter, he has no reason to deceive us.”

Martin analyzed with a pointed look, “Compared to us, the barbarians aren’t exactly better rulers.”

That much was true.

Green nodded to himself.

Those uncultured barbarians who knew nothing but burning and looting only acted polite toward the powerless merchant because this was still Imperial territory, and they needed his channel to smuggle certain goods.

But once the fortress and towns were fully occupied, where would Andy find any buyers?

“Then let’s move out.” Teresa no longer hesitated. Her violet eyes flashed with determination as she drew her imperial sword and began to issue orders.

“Deputy Commander Martin!”

“Present!” Old Martin stood up, his expression solemn.

“When I personally go to the Negotiation, you’ll remain at the fortress, evacuate civilians, and organize the defenses.”

“Understood!” Martin nodded vigorously without hesitation.

“Colonel Rayne?” Teresa turned her gaze to the usually frivolous Chief of Staff.

“You’ll organize our forces and set an ambush at the Negotiation site. Once the barbarian leader falls into the Trap, surround them immediately.”

“Yes, Commander~” Rayne narrowed his eyes. “This is right up my alley. Back in the day, whenever the barbarians tried to loot, my brothers and I ambushed them so many times. Last time, we almost captured the barbarian prince himself.”

Speaking of his “distinguished service,” Rayne’s tone became noticeably lighter.

“As for me, Teresa de Pantiate, I’ll personally lead the commando squad, using myself as bait to draw out the barbarian Leader.”

Clang——

The imperial sword, Dragon’s Tear, after tasting blood, emitted a cold gleam, with a chilling aura lingering along the blade.

“As for you, Mr. Green…” Teresa’s tone softened as she looked at Green. “I’ll have to trouble you to accompany me for this mission.”

“Your command is my will.”

Ding～～

The clear sound of harp strings rang in everyone’s ears, and suddenly, a warm current surged through their bodies.

Inspiring morale.

The most basic skill of a bard, yet…

“Even the most basic, only those at Level Ten can master.”

Just now, as he wrote the opening act of a new legend, Green’s class advanced.

Sizzle, crackle.

A skewer of steaming hot meat was tossed into a pile of firewood, sending up plumes of white smoke.

Not far away, a ruined farmhouse was being consumed by a roaring fire. Amid the anguished cries, figures scrambled and crawled through the dirt.

“Your Highness, there’s nothing of value left here.”

A barbarian warrior presented a terrified woman, “But, we did find something fit for you to taste, Your Highness.”

The fire’s glow twisted the woman’s terrified face into a grotesque mask.

“Oh?” Barbarian Prince Chris looked up nonchalantly, picked up a meat skewer, and tore into it. “Just leave the woman for you lot to enjoy.”

“Huh?” The barbarian warrior blinked. According to tribal custom, captured slaves had to be offered to superiors.

In the past, the prince would always accept them gladly.

So why was it different this time?

Was it because this woman was too ugly for the prince?

The warrior studied the disheveled woman with her fair, exposed shoulder. Though older, with crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes, her well-maintained face was still attractive.

“Tch, what’s so great about a farm owner’s wife?”

Prince Chris clicked his tongue in disdain, then turned to a cloaked figure beside him, who radiated a poisonous, sinister air.

“Hey, you, the master’s slave from the city—about the monitoring Magitech Device, did it work? Has the princess you’re looking for arrived yet?”

At the prince’s question, the cloaked figure remained silent, merely handing Chris a Crystal.

“Ohoho!” Chris’s eyes gleamed red as he opened his mouth in excitement. “So this is your cityfolk’s princess? Now that’s more like it!”

On the Crystal’s surface, a stunningly beautiful woman, riding a white horse at the head of a cavalry squad, galloped toward them.

“But, to come with so few men—hehe, your princess isn’t very cunning, is she? I like that.”

Prince Chris laughed greedily, already fantasizing about capturing the princess, who was worlds apart from the captive woman, and enjoying her to his heart’s content.

“No, Prince of the Barbarians, please don’t be careless.” The cloaked man finally spoke, his muffled voice sounding less like a living person than a machine.

Bzzt——

The image on the Crystal shifted, revealing several Imperial soldiers moving in to encircle the Negotiation site.

“Oh, this old trick again?” Prince Chris didn’t even pause to curse, “It must be that Rayne. Hey, city master’s slave, after we take the fortress and towns, you’ll leave this man and his family to us, right?”

“Of course.” The cloaked figure bowed slightly.

“Good, good…”

Prince Chris recalled his father’s plans and threw his head back in excitement, howling, “Men! When the hunt begins, don’t let the prey escape—especially that woman…she must be captured alive!”

“As for the gold, silver, women, and slaves—pick whatever you want!”

“Ooooh, long live the Prince, long live the High King!!!”

The barbarian warriors around the prince howled in chorus.

In an instant, the entire wasteland rang with the barbarians’ deep, wild shouts.

By the fire, the woman taken captive by the barbarians gazed in grief at the collapsed farmhouse not far away, covering her mouth, her eyes red with silent sobs.