<h4>Chapter 513</h4>


    Count ud brooded over the information that his scouts had brought. They generally found out what their enemies were aiming for, how many and who would be in the group carrying out this goal, and so on. Their enemy’s target was the Pinne Estate, and the reason for this move was to erase the grounds that the allied forces were in Cronon Kingdom’s territory in the first ce. If the Pinne Estate fell, the Cronon Kingdom would immediately dere the Steelwalls as the victor and request for the allied forces to promptly evacuate the kingdom. Furthermore, this request might not end with just a simple suggestion either.


    However, even after perfectly deducing his enemy’s ns, Count ud looked more displeased.


    ‘Is that really their only intention?’ The amount that the Steelwalls would gain from this n was too smallpared to the risks they would have to undertake. With this n, the Steelwalls would have to divide up their already small army, causing the main base’s defenses to weaken ordingly. If that happened, the allied forces might be able to prate through their defenses much more easily and capture them. Inparison to this huge risk, the only thing their enemy would gain was clearing the allied forces’ grounds for participating in this war. Even if the Cronon Kingdom got involved in the warter, the allied forces could devastate Steelwall Estate before that to Count ud’s joy.


    Furthermore, there was the question of whether the enemy’s detachment would even be able to aplish their goal. The Pinne Estate had also prepared its defenses, and it seemed like a huge feat for the detachment to capture the Pinne Estate with theirparably tiny numbers. No matter how much Count ud thought about it, the losses and gains didn’t match up.


    ‘However, it’s currently true that those guys split up their army.’ If they only thought about this point, this wasn’t bad news for the allied forces.


    ‘I will postpone thinking about the other intentions they might have. It’s not like I can deduce that with my current information.’ Who knew? That arrogant Steelwall bastard could have simply gone crazy under the pressure of this war (although there was a meager chance of that).


    ‘Then, what should I do now? Should we continue to attack their main base like this or split our forces to chase after our enemy’s detachment? No, as I thought from the beginning, it’s bad to devastate the Steelwall Estate first.’ Count ud had many choices and each one had its own advantages. Count ud racked his head to see which one was best for the allied forces—no, for<i> him</i>. Then, as he was thinking these thoughts, the guard outside let him know that there was a visitor.


    “Sir Count! Viscount Pinne hase to see you!”


    “Let him in!” Count ud wondered why the Viscount came to see him. ‘I hope it’s not anything troublesome…’


    The Count made his wish, but it was immediately crushed. Unlike his usual self, Viscount Pinne looked extremely on edge and nervous.


    “What is it?”


    “I’m sure you heard that the Steelwalls are sending a detachment to our estate, sir,” Viscount Pinne said.


    “Of course I did.”


    “We have to stop them immediately! Send the troops here who belong to my estate!”


    Count ud’s face contorted grimly. He was annoyed that the Viscount had rushed in to say something of that level. Even if his estate’s matters were important for Viscount Pinne, he was themander-in-chief of the allied forces. It wasn’t up to the Viscount to tell him to do this or that. Furthermore, the Viscount had asked him in amanding tone rather than making the request politely.


    ‘Was I too lenient on him?’ Count ud wondered. The Count had treated Viscount Pinne nicely unlike his usual bad-tempered self since the Viscount was the main reason why they were able to keep this war an internal strife within the Cronon Kingdom, but the Count began to wonder if he had made the wrong decision by doing that.


    ‘I should show him who’s the boss.’ Of course, Count ud couldn’t immediately sever Viscount Pinne’s head or remove him from his position. They still had to act like equalpanions in this alliance. Whatever benefits Viscount Pinne brought for him, there was still arge gap in their powers; the person who would lose the most if the allied forces failed was Viscount Pinne. There were many ways Count ud could use to crush the Viscount’s pride and dignity. Yet, Count ud soon couldn’t put his ns into action.


    Viscount Pinne nced at the guards standing outside his tent furtively and looked toward the tent. Then, he arched his back and ced his face close to the Count’s ears and said in a quiet voice, “That is, if you don’t want others to find out that you coborated with the Bellids, sir.”


    Count ud abruptly got up from his seat. His hand instinctively reached for a sword on his waist, but his swordy in the corner of the barracks. Still, the Count’s bloodlust didn’t calm down and his fingers twitched. It looked like he wanted to reach out with his hands and choke Viscount Pinne’s neck. Sensing the Count’s bloodlust, Viscount Pinne hurriedly said, “Calm down. I am also a Bellid follower so there’s no way I’d tell others about you.”


    Count ud stopped moving. “…You are a Bellid follower?”


    “Yes.”


    “Ha!” Count ud felt a deep sense of relief and slumped back to his chair. After letting out a big sigh, he looked to Viscount Pinne. Even if he was coborating with the Bellids, it came as a huge shock that Viscount Pinne was a Bellid follower. Maybe the idea that his connection to the Bellids might have spread to the outside world unsettled him so much that the Count easily epted that Viscount Pinne was a Bellid follower.


    “I now know what it feels like to die from shock. Please be careful so that you don’t cause too much strain on this old man’s heart.”


    “You still seem healthy and well, sir. The way you moved to kill me just now left a big impression on me,” Viscount Pinne said, and his expression turned serious. “That’s enough chit-chat though. This is a very urgent matter. We have to kill the Steelwall’s detachment right away.”


    “I see. If you are a Bellid follower, there must be traces of the Bellids in your estate’s castle.” If the news that the Pinne family was connected to the Bellids was revealed right now, it would have a critical effect on the allied forces. Yet, the situation was far worse than what Count ud had imagined.


    “There aren’t just traces there. I’m sure you know that the Bellids’ northern base was demolished.”


    “I know. The Karuwimans vigorously spread that news all over the world.”


    “The Pinne Estate is the new northern base and will rece the old one.”


    “What?”


    “And I am the one who will be in charge of that base.” The importance of a simple Bellid follower and a manager of the Bellid northern base was incredibly different. Count ud’s expression tensed upon hearing Viscount Pinne’s important position.


    “The reason why we coborated with you is because we wanted to expand and secure our new northern branch.”


    “…So you were using me.”


    “Isn’t it the same for you too?”


    Count ud red at Viscount Pinne, but he didn’t show any signs of aggression like before. “…Fine. I won’t bring up stupid things like trust and belief when we’re both using each other. Why are you telling me such important information?”


    “It’s to reveal to you how important this n is for us. So, please form an army to stop them.”


    “You said you were in charge of the Bellids’ northern branch. Why can’t you stop them yourself?”


    “As you know, the reports state that Belri Weig is part of the detachment. Of course, considering the Karuwimans’ current position, he’s apanying the Steelwalls to monitor the battlefield, but that’s why it’s even more dangerous.”


    “The rest of your troops must somehow be rted to the Bellids.”


    “Yes. Without the Bellids, we only have a handful of troops.” This was extremely dangerous. If Belri Weig sniffed out the Bellids among the Pinne Estate’s soldiers, their previous n to bring the Karuwimans on their side against the Steelwalls mighte back to haunt them instead.


    “…What if I refuse?”


    “Sir, do you think you can refuse? You’re already on the same boat as us.”


    “I can feign ignorance. No one will believe the Bellids anyway.”


    “I know you won’t be so foolish. This is not just any ordinary matter—it’s about the Bellid’s new northern branch. Not only the Karuwimans, but the Cronon Kingdom will send out their forces to desperately investigate and resolve the situation. If you’re confident ining out clean, you’re wee to do whatever you want.”


    “You guys won’t ever let me off easy, right?”


    “Do I even have to say it? I’ve gathered a lot of evidence in my mansion as well.”


    Count ud had no choice but to admit that he had only one option. “Fine. I’ll send troops to the Pinne Estate.”


    “An excellent choice, sir.”


    “But!” Count ud red at the Viscount. “Remember that this is a major exception! If you guys n to treat me like a puppet, I also won’t stay idle!”


    The Viscount deeply bowed and said, “…Don’t worry, sir. I wasn’t lying about being in the same boat.”


    The anger in Count ud’s eyes lessened as his mood softened in response to the Viscount’s subservient posture. “Is that all you have to say?”


    “I sincerely apologize, but I have one more request.”


    Count ud’s eyebrow twitched. How dare the Viscount make another request even after a warning. However, the Count tilted his chin for the Viscount to continue as the Viscount maintained his subservient posture.


    Then Viscount Pinne said, “Please include Glen Zenard in this operation.”


    “…Are you mad?” Count ud’s question was harsh, but he had no intentions of insulting Viscount Pinne. He was just genuinely curious about what on earth the Viscount was thinking.


    The Count continued, “Even though that guy seems slightly—no, quite crazy right now, he’s still a Karuwiman Honorary Knight. Why would you want to leave this operation to him? Do you want to tell everyone that we’re rted to the Bellids? Perhaps, are you a Karuwiman spy?”


    “We can’t use any of our followers as long as Belri Weig is in the detachment anyway, so even if we send out a Karuwiman Honorary Knight, it won’t be a loss for us. Moreover, Glen Zenard is one of our strongest soldiers. Since there’s a high chance that the detachment is made up of Steelwalls’ most elite soldiers, it’s only right that we should send him out to bnce the difference in the quality of the soldiers on our side.”


    The Viscount’s words made sense. However, Count ud narrowed his eyes. “Is that your only reason?”


    “What other reason would I have? We’ll have a higher possibility of protecting my estate if we use a great talent like Glen Zenard. Sir, I’m only bringing this up in case you exclude Glen Zenard from this operation just because he is a Karuwiman Honorary Knight.”


    “…Fine, I’ll believe it.”


    “Then Glen Zenard will…”


    “I’ll first think about your suggestion in a favorable light. Why don’t you leave for now?”


    “…I understand. Sir, I humbly hope you think deeply of my suggestions.” Viscount Pinne gave his farewell greeting and left the tent. He first scanned the soldiers guarding the tent; they showed no signs of having heard his conversation with Count ud.


    Viscount Pinne headed towards his tent. He looked calm, but his innermost thoughts were in turmoil. ‘I revealed it in the end.’


    All his efforts to hide his identity and keep his distance from Count ud had all gone to waste. Viscount Pinne sighed, but it couldn’t be helped since he needed to protect the Bellid’s northern branch. However, he also had a huge question in his head.


    ‘They ordered me to include Glen Zenard in the pursuit team at all costs. What the hell is that about?’ In fact, the idea of including Glen Zenard hadn’te from him; it was an order from the higher-ups. Even though he wondered why they gave him such an order, he soon erased all doubts from his mind. ‘I’ll just do as I’m told.’


    However, this also brought up another problem. Count ud told him that he’d think favorably of the Viscount’s suggestion, but the future was unpredictable.


    ‘What do I do if he doesn’t include Glen Zenard?’ Giving up was not an option. He deeply pondered whether he should persuade or threaten the Count and what sort of excuses he should use to ground his reasoning. Fortunately, there was no need for him to rack his head to find a suitable excuse. As Viscount Pinne suggested, Glen Zenard was included in the pursuit team. Soon, a group of troops from within the allied forces was set out to the Pinne Estate, and Glen Zenard stood in front with his eyes full of murderous intent.