43. Annexing Territory

Just as Cain was preparing to lead the cavalry out of the city, Elder Orff called out, “Cain, wait a moment.”

“Elder, is there anything else you wish to instruct me?”

“I forgot to ask earlier—we still don’t know where these people come from. When the time comes, you must pay attention and find out their origins. They must be organized.”

“I understand. I’ll find out, and when the time comes, I’ll eradicate them root and branch.”

“If you need more men, have someone return and inform me, and I’ll arrange for reinforcements.”

“Very well. I’m off.”

A company of five hundred cavalry set out once again beneath the glow of the evening sky. If they hurried, they could reach their destination before dawn, just in time...

Their timing was perfect. When Cain’s team arrived, the squad leader and his men had just rescued the family of the caravan leader. However, the guards had discovered them, and the group was fleeing with their pursuers hot on their heels. As they fought back with crossbows, Cain and his forces arrived. Five hundred Death Knights quickly surrounded the small manor.

“Have we offended you in some way?” The speaker was the young merchant who had negotiated the shipping deal with the caravan leader. He knew all too well who these men, exuding the aura of death, were. In these parts, who but the City of Death wielded such power?

“You have not directly offended the City of Death, but you have offended our allies. To offend the allies of the City of Death is to offend the City of Death itself,” Cain replied, a touch verbose.

“We are guards of Prince Grelly. We did not know the caravan was under your protection. Please forgive us for any offense!” He thought that revealing his allegiance to Prince Grelly would earn him some respect from the City of Death—after all, an imperial prince surely outranked them.

“Attack!” If he hadn’t spoken, it might have been better, but his words only fueled Cain’s fury. He remembered all too well what Grelly’s elite cavalry had done during the city’s migration. The moment he learned these men were also Grelly’s, his anger erupted.

With a single command, over a hundred guards in the front line fell under a rain of arrows. The young merchant who had spoken to Cain was cleaved in two by Cain’s sword.

“Level this manor for me.” There were still people inside; rather than search room by room, it was simpler to raze the place entirely.

“Yes, sir!”

Two hundred heavily armored knights charged their mounts into the manor. The battle was over in an instant—no suspense. From the next day forward, this manor would serve as the Dark Night’s base in the small town.

With the rescued captives in tow, dawn finally began to break.

The caravan leader had rushed back from the City of Death overnight, but only returned home after daybreak. Seeing his wife and children waiting at the door to greet him, he was momentarily speechless. When he noticed Cain, fully armored and standing nearby, he realized just how wise his decision to seek help from the City of Death had been.

Cain approached, clapped him on the shoulder, and said, “Chief, in a while, a squad will be heading back to the city. You may have to make another trip to the City of Death yourself.”

“What…” Having just rushed back overnight, the caravan leader was dismayed at the thought of heading back again. If he’d known, he would have waited another day.

“It’s like this. The city has many new matters to attend to, and we’re short-handed for the guild’s cargo shipments. Our vice-lord invites you to discuss this matter.” Seeing the man’s confusion, Cain explained patiently—something he rarely did.

A few days later, when Cain set out with reinforcements from the City of Death toward Prince Grelly’s domain, the caravan leader finally realized that it was a royal prince who had plotted against his guild. At the same time, he was deeply moved. The City of Death's readiness to go all out for an ally won his complete loyalty. Those from Mofei’s territory who had visited the City of Death and heard how Cain had sent troops against an imperial prince for the sake of a so-called ally who had not even done much for the City of Death, were even more devoted.

After Cain sent word to Elder Orff about the events, the elder agreed to the campaign against Prince Grelly’s lands. Having such a troublesome neighbor was never good, and since Grelly had made trouble in their territory first, striking back was justified. However, the question of whether to kill Prince Grelly remained undecided. Cain had to instruct his men to leave that decision to Elder Orff during the siege.

When Cain’s army advanced on Prince Grelly’s domain, the prince, upon hearing the news, gathered his retinue, packed his valuables, and fled to the imperial capital, Dragonrock City. The Death Knights captured his lands with little effort, leaving them frustrated—they had marched so far without firing a single arrow, which was especially galling for a force eager for battle.

There was nothing Cain could do. Prince Grelly had vanished without a trace, fleeing at the first sign of trouble. When the cities saw the army of the City of Death, their gates were flung wide, and the officials greeted them with broad smiles. Was Cain supposed to start killing just for show? He had no intention of letting Prince Grelly go, however. After taking the territory, he announced a military presence and decreed that the City of Death’s domain now included Prince Grelly’s lands. Anyone in the new territory who dared resist would...

With the military might of the City of Death on display, who would dare defy them? Besides, the city’s generosity and fair treatment of its people were renowned throughout Dragonrock Empire. Even the officials of Prince Grelly’s former lands dared not protest. Cain’s announcement was met with universal support, which surprised him. He had no choice but to declare that the new lands would be governed by the same policies as the City of Death.

Meanwhile, after fleeing to the capital and entering the palace, Prince Grelly knelt before Emperor Tyron, weeping and pleading for justice. He did not admit his own wrongdoing, but accused Mofei of coveting his territory and sending troops to seize it. However, the affair was already well known to the imperial intelligence network. Emperor Tyron merely said, “Who told you to provoke him? Though he is now my son-in-law and I can issue orders, whether he listens is another matter. If you held such a vast territory, would you give it up willingly? Don’t get your hopes up. Mofei is in the capital—why don’t you talk to him yourself?”

Left with no other hope, Prince Grelly could only pray that Mofei’s army would withdraw upon seeing the emperor’s decree. But that was impossible. Once Cain announced the takeover, Elder Orff immediately dispatched permanent administrators from the City of Death to the new territory, formalizing the annexation. From then on, none of the empire’s other nobles dared provoke the City of Death, not even giving them a pretext. All trade with the City of Death and its lands was given the green light, and people from their territory were treated with utmost courtesy. This greatly increased the loyalty of those who had joined the City of Death’s domain—they all felt superior to those from other lands. Even the usual scuffles at the borders ended in their favor, as their neighbors were strictly restrained.

At this time, Mofei, accompanied by Vivian and Irene and preparing to visit old friends at the imperial academy, heard the news and responded as if he had known it all along, much to the astonishment of the two women.

“Mofei, you act as if you knew beforehand. Did you arrange this before you left?” Vivian asked curiously.

“Not at all. Whether or not this happened, we would have taken Prince Grelly’s lands eventually,” Mofei replied calmly.

“Why?” Irene asked, puzzled.

Mofei recounted what had happened during the city’s migration. If he hadn’t been busy with the affairs of the Elven Kingdom afterward, he would have sent troops long ago.

At the mention of the Elven Royal City, Irene said, “Thank you, brother. If not for you, my mother would have been in grave danger. And thank you for helping us find such a good place for the Elven Royal City.”

“Your mother is my mother, too! A son helping his mother is only right—you shouldn’t keep it in your heart.”

Vivian smiled as she watched the two, showing not a hint of jealousy. After spending so much time together, Vivian had grown very fond of the gentle and kind-hearted Irene, knowing that she, too, loved Mofei deeply.

Mofei was equally content to have won the favor of two princesses, and silently vowed never to let them come to harm.

Blushing, Irene smiled happily. She had liked this quiet yet handsome young lord since their days in Mist City and recalled how happy she had been to find excuses to spend time by his side. Her brother always seemed to know so much, and she was never done asking questions. Although he could be strict and often sent people off to fight or kill without saying much, it was always because his people had been hurt—and those he sent to be killed truly deserved it.

To love someone is to love all of them. Right or wrong, Irene had set her heart on this dark-haired, golden-skinned young man.