Chapter 164: Chapter 143: What to Do? Only Kill
Ever since a mysterious great hand had bestowed upon him his armor and great axe, Henry’s heart had been fraught with suspense. The moment he saw the Cold Lizard, that suspense died completely.
Henry realized the difference between Caladia and Warhammer Fantasy. A profound sense of loss swept over him, as it did over everyone in Hubia City.
When he was cleaving through Centaurs and taking on Minotaurs single-handedly, Henry had thought himself one of the mightiest warriors in the land.
When he was overthrowing Barons and fighting Counts, Henry had believed Caladia was his for the taking.
But now, reality had shown him that in this mysterious, unknown, and massive world, he was nothing more than a "newbie."
’Things have come to this... Might as well eat first.’
Henry savored a delicious fruitwood-roasted goose, his mouth glistening with savory juices. In a desert region, such a delicacy was a true rarity.
The region lacked the proper fuel and environment for preparing such a refined dish. To have one, especially during wartime, was an almost absurd extravagance.
The fragrant aroma of the roast goose filled the air. Its meat was tender and juicy, its skin crispy, and the subtle scent of fruitwood made Henry forget the sandstorm blowing outside his tent.
The goose meat parted effortlessly under his knife, revealing the pink, juicy flesh within.
Henry placed a piece of goose in his mouth, closed his eyes, and chewed slowly, savoring the exquisite burst of flavor as the juices flooded his tongue.
Ailia stood nearby, smiling as she watched Henry enjoy the hard-won delicacy.
"Ailia, this roast goose is fantastic. Orianna’s cooking is getting better and better," Henry said with appreciation, opening his eyes.
Ailia nodded and replied, "Yes, my lord. Orianna put a great deal of effort into this dinner."
Henry sighed softly. "Yes, things have been exhausting lately. You should have some, too. Cut off a portion and take it to Orianna."
"Yes, my lord."
Just as Henry was enjoying his meal, shouting erupted outside.
"The Legion Commander is about to execute the Quartermasters! Hurry up and watch!"
"Why is His Highness executing the Quartermasters?"
"Who cares why! Just hurry up! If you’re late, you’ll be stuck in the back."
Henry wiped his mouth and stepped out of his tent. He saw swarms of soldiers running toward the north gate of Hubia City. Blinking, he decided he might as well follow the crowd and have a look.
Outside the North City gate of Hubia, the Third Prince’s face was as black as thunder. He stood in full armor on a platform, below which knelt three Quartermasters.
More and more soldiers gathered. The crowd was noisy at first, but gradually, everyone held their breath, awaiting the Third Prince’s verdict.
"You three. You deceived me, you hid the truth from the soldiers, and you embezzled massive amounts of grain and military pay. Did you think I wouldn’t find out?"
The three Quartermasters bowed their heads even lower, their bodies trembling so violently it seemed they might collapse at any moment.
"Mmmph... mmmph..."
Henry, who had used the imperial robes he wore to push his way to the front, frowned at the scene.
’If I’m not mistaken,’ he thought, ’those three Quartermasters might have already had their tongues cut out.’
"Your actions have severely damaged the army’s morale and combat effectiveness! This is an unforgivable crime!"
The Third Prince’s words struck the three Quartermasters’ hearts like a sledgehammer.
"Guards!"
The Third Prince’s voice rose sharply. Three soldiers stepped forward.
"Execute these three men immediately!"
Without a moment’s hesitation, the soldiers swung their axes cleanly at the necks of the three Quartermasters.
Blood spurted. Heads rolled.
The Third Prince’s gaze swept over everyone present as he declared loudly, "I know the lives of you soldiers are hard! You need food and pay to survive! As your Legion Commander, I have a duty to ensure you are treated fairly!"
The Third Prince paused, then continued, "I have already recovered some of the grain and pay. I have now decided to issue two months of back pay to the four Legions and to increase the daily food rations for all soldiers."
The atmosphere at the city gate changed in an instant. The soldiers’ eyes filled with surprise and gratitude. They exchanged glances, long-absent smiles appearing on their faces.
"His Highness is wise!" a soldier couldn’t help but shout.
"Long live His Highness!" another soldier echoed.
The soldiers roared their approval, cheering the Third Prince’s decision. Looking out at the sea of men, the Third Prince revealed a satisfied smile.
This move would greatly boost the soldiers’ morale.
Henry stood in the crowd, watching it all unfold, a faint smile touching his lips.
’This method... I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.’
As for whether the three Quartermasters were truly corrupt, perhaps no one would ever know.
Nevertheless, the soldiers’ lives had improved, and their morale would soar as a result. This was undoubtedly a massive boon for the coming battle.
「Two days later.」
The area under the walls of Hubia City was bustling once more.
A grand procession arrived at Hubia City: a force composed of the Private Armies of nobles from the empire’s central regions.
Their arrival was like a fresh infusion of blood for the desert fortress.
These nobles were all clad in magnificent armor, with their soldiers following behind. The addition of these noble Private Armies significantly increased the number of defenders in Hubia City.
The original soldiers, weary from constant fighting and the strain of defense, had their morale greatly boosted by the arrival of these fresh forces.
At the same time, grain supplies shipped via the Inner Sea from Vostrom and Gasil began to arrive in Hubia City. The arrival of this food replenished the granaries, which had been strained by the long siege.
Seeing the grain, the soldiers’ hearts filled with hope and confidence.
’As long as we have food, we can hold this city!’
However, behind all this encouraging news, Henry, the other nobles, and some high-ranking officers noticed that the Third Prince did not look pleased.
In front of most people, the young Prince always maintained a firm and decisive image, but Henry could sense the hidden worry and calculation in his eyes.
Boman remarked nonchalantly to Henry, "The logistical pressure is immense. The emperor probably sent a letter putting pressure on the Third Prince, maybe criticizing some of his earlier decisions?"
Henry and Fass nodded. Boman’s speculation was not without reason.
As Legion Commander, the Third Prince had to face not only the war on the front lines but also political pressure from within the empire.
Fass shrugged. "I think the Third Prince can handle it all. He may be young, but he’s already shown his leadership skills, hasn’t he?"
On the walls of Hubia City, the Third Prince was gazing into the distance.
He was indeed under immense pressure. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, as if trying to push out all his anxieties with it.
’Bring it on. Whether it’s the Lizardmen or the damn royal council, I’ll face them all.’
The Third Prince repeated this to himself, his eyes once again becoming firm and determined.
When the new supplies were distributed, the Private Armies of Henry, Boman, and Fass received their due share.
The soldiers carried sacks of grain, fresh fruit, dried millet, fine wheat flour, essential salt, and enough dried meat to sustain their strength.
Salim sat in a corner of the camp belonging to Henry’s army, an apple in his hand, which he nibbled on slowly.
His heart was filled with uncertainty about the future. In Henry’s Private Army, he had experienced many things he could never have imagined before.
Although this life, full of excitement and challenges, gave him an unprecedented experience, deep down, he longed for stability and peace.
"Salim, what’s wrong?" Henry asked, noticing Salim’s unusual mood.
Salim looked up at Henry and gave a weary smile. "My lord, I’ve seen so much while following you... but I just really want to go home and rest."
Henry patted Salim’s shoulder comfortingly. "Salim, all wars come to an end eventually. Just wait until this is all over."
Just when everyone thought the war was stabilizing and turning in their favor, the Lizardmen dealt them a crushing blow.
Night fell. Torches were lit on the walls of Hubia City as soldiers patrolled their posts, remaining vigilant for any potential attack, just as they did every night.
They did not realize, however, that the Lizardmen forces had already assembled under the cover of darkness.
The Lizardmen’s eyes could capture the faintest glimmer of light in the dark, and their skin allowed them to blend seamlessly with their surroundings.
As the Lizardmen army drew nearer, the rustling sounds of Lizardman Warriors and Cold Lizards caught the attention of a team of experienced Scouts.
They immediately realized the sound could only mean one thing: a surprise attack.
Just then, blurred figures began moving rapidly across the sand in the darkness. The Scouts sounded the alarm with their horns as they retreated.
The horn’s blast pierced the night, setting off a chain reaction of horns and war drums that instantly jolted the entirety of Hubia City awake.
Resting soldiers quickly donned their armor, rushed out of their tents, grabbed their weapons, and formed ranks under the command of their officers, awaiting further orders.
Henry, Boman, and Fass led their Private Armies, preparing to enter the city and reinforce the defenders on the walls. ’The outer camp doesn’t matter. The Legion’s supplies don’t matter either. If the Legion’s soldiers can hold the camp, fine. If not, so be it.’
’What’s important is Hubia City. The city cannot fall.’
On the city walls, a large number of nobles and officers followed behind the Third Prince, directing the soldiers to strengthen their defenses.
The entirety of Hubia City and its surrounding camps entered a state of high alert.
And to the south of Hubia, the Lizardmen army immediately quickened its pace upon hearing the alarms.
Even on the city walls, one could feel the tremors caused by the massive Lizardmen army marching across the desert.
"Does anyone have any ideas?"
The commanders and nobles fell silent, especially the nobles who had only just arrived.
The Third Prince sighed. ’If the leadership is already like this, how can we expect the soldiers to fight to the death?’
Suddenly, the tallest, strongest figure on the wall—a warrior clad in black helmet and armor, wielding a great axe—stepped forward.
"What’s to be done? There’s only one thing to do: kill!"
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