Chapter 136: The Dust Settles

In the royal capital of Gambis, the Senate convened with the heads or representatives of over a dozen powerful noble families gathered to discuss the matter of the Centaur Hills.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I need not reiterate the threat posed by the Antmen. What I must emphasize is that none of the three entrances to the Lizard Marsh lie within the York family’s domain. The Senate should urge the Kowaan and Porta families to return to their lands and fulfill their duties as lords, rather than debate elevating my duchy to a principality here,” declared Duke Embiser York, clad in his resplendent ducal robes, brandishing his stout fists passionately as he finished his statement.

The dozen or so influential nobles of Gambis turned their gaze toward Duke Wellington.

With a stoic expression, Duke Wellington said, “The Kowaan and Porta families have abandoned their lands, violating the laws of lordship and thereby forfeiting their rightful ownership. I am here to declare, on their behalf, the relinquishment of those territories. As for elevating Duke York’s domain to a principality, the Wellington family will refrain from making any comment.”

“Ha! Two domains become ownerless. Now, who desires them? Ah yes, esteemed Vice Chairman Greyward, you have tirelessly advocated for the elevation of my rank. To express my gratitude, I, Embiser York, propose granting those two domains to the Greyward family. I trust they are capable of resisting the threats from the Lizard Marsh,” York said with a sardonic tone, directing his words at Vice Chairman Marquis Greyward, who was seated prominently at the side.

The silver-haired yet vigorous vice chairman responded deliberately, “Duke York, the resources of those two lands are insufficient to sustain a large fortress. To resist the Antmen’s assault, three fortresses must be established in the Centaur Hills, requiring ample land to support a larger garrison. If you are willing to shoulder the responsibility of guarding the kingdom’s western border, the entire Centaur Hills will belong to your family and its vassals. Such extensive territory meets the standard of a principality. Therefore, there is no issue with my proposal.”

Smack! Duke York slammed the armrest of his chair, pointing a finger angrily at the vice chairman’s nose and roaring, “Put away your tricks! The York family has never contemplated leaving Gambis and has always honored its duty to defend against monsters. Amid the Antmen disaster, only three families remain steadfast in the Centaur Hills, and our York family has suffered the greatest losses. The Antmen have existed for at least fifteen hundred years; everyone knows they will return. This is not just the York family’s calamity, but the entire kingdom’s! When we needed support, you propose severing the York family from the kingdom! Listen, I have no interest in being a grand duke, nor do I desire to fight the Antmen. How about this: we trade domains, and you become the grand duke!”

Suppressing his anger, Marquis Greyward spoke gravely, “You are correct; the Greyward family lacks the strength to defend the Centaur Hills, and the York family’s performance is beyond reproach. However, the reality is that you occupy the most fertile region of the Centaur Hills. Without a hinterland and depth, which family could maintain a massive fortress with such limited land? How could they sustain two thousand soldiers? The kingdom is not abandoning you; we will provide stone to aid fortress construction, as well as food and iron. But the York family’s control of the entire Centaur Hills grants you potential for independent defense against the Antmen. You cannot expect those present to endlessly support you.”

The atmosphere grew tense upon these words. Even Duke Neo’s gaze began to flicker nervously. As a leading lord of the western kingdom and the earliest proponent of reinstating York’s ducal title, he now had to consider the consequences of York family’s dominance over the Centaur Hills. The basic assumption was that the York family would grow stronger while his own would weaken due to constant support.

Perhaps dividing the York family’s lands and limiting support served everyone’s interests best. With this thought, Duke Neo ceased glancing at York, who was sending him subtle signals.

The rotund York glared fiercely at the seemingly deaf Duke Neo, shouting, “Who said the York family occupies the entire Centaur Hills? Have you forgotten that Baron Eskri and Baron Wimbledon still hold their lands?”

A silence fell, with no one daring to speak. Baron Eskri, though somewhat notable, held less than 3,000 square kilometers. Once York grew stronger, Eskri’s lands would inevitably be absorbed. As for Baron Wimbledon, everyone knew he was the lover of Lady Rose. Such a transparent ruse failed to convince the great families present.

York’s expression darkened as he asked solemnly, “How long does the kingdom intend to support us?”

“Three years — enough time for the York family to complete reconstruction,” Greyward replied, lowering his eyelids to avoid York’s fierce glare. Sure enough, York emitted a sharp cry.

“Three years! What can be done in three years? This time, the York family suffered tremendous losses and cannot recover in less than a decade! Who knows when the Antmen will next strike? What if they come five years from now? Should the York family face those monsters alone?”

Greyward responded calmly, “Duke, I must remind you: land is immense wealth.”

Several representatives nodded in agreement; they clearly could not accept the York family’s demands for both land and long-term aid.

“I understand your fear that if we monopolize the Centaur Hills, we might become a threat,” York stood, surveying the assembly coldly. His plump cheeks twitched painfully as he said, “The York family needs to defend against the Antmen in the west and cannot also secure the northern hills. Therefore, we will cede 17,000 square kilometers from our northern lands to a family capable of resisting the northern monsters.”

The chamber erupted in murmurs.

When Grand Duke Williams received the Senate’s message during lunch, he set down his knife and fork and asked his eldest son, “Charles, what do you think of this matter?”

Charles wiped his mouth with a pristine napkin and replied, “Father, though this is not the outcome you anticipated, it is one that satisfies all parties. There is no need or possibility to refuse.”

Williams nodded and sighed heavily. Gambis needed the York family as a bulwark against the Antmen, but that did not mean allowing them to leech off the kingdom. Elevating the York domain in the Centaur Hills to a principality was a consensus he shared with Catherine. Although the Yorks controlled vast lands, they lacked the population to manage them effectively. Especially with the Antmen threat, the Centaur Hills could no longer supply tribute or resources to the kingdom. Dividing the region off placed the burden squarely on York’s shoulders. The York principality would depend on Gambis’s support for a long time, effectively under the constraints of the August family.

Williams believed other lords saw this as well but had not expected Sylvia to have the audacity to cede a count’s land free of Antmen threat. Now, he had no reason to oppose. The development of the Centaur Hills would become a significant fiscal burden for the kingdom.

“Father, I noticed Lady Rose is campaigning for Baron Victor’s elevation to viscount. It seems the handsome baron has earned Lady Sylvia’s favor,” Charles said with a smile.

Williams glanced appreciatively at his son and nodded, “I promised Soren that after a year, he would receive the merchant guild and marquis titles. Since Baron Victor lives, that promise cannot be fulfilled. I intend to grant Soren a viscountcy in the Centaur Hills as compensation. Two viscountcies under the Wimbledon family should be a pleasant arrangement. As for the other viscounty, let Her Majesty Catherine decide.”

“Father, Soren and Victor are natural enemies, and Victor is Lady Sylvia’s lover. I fear Soren would be in danger in the Centaur Hills. The York family’s elite troops are formidable; who would have thought they have seven grand knights?” Charles frowned.

“Soren will not take up the fief himself; he remains commander of the royal guard. The viscountcy will be managed by his direct relatives. We will construct a standard viscount’s castle for Soren. Once completed, the Centaur Hills situation will stabilize,” Williams said.

Charles hesitated, then asked, “Father, I don’t understand why the York family is granting Baron Victor a 300 square kilometer territory in the north?”

Williams smiled confidently, “That will be your assignment to unravel. When you understand, you can explain it to me.”

“Yes, Father. I will not disappoint you,” Charles replied solemnly.

Amid Charles’s eager and admiring gaze, Williams smiled assuredly, pondering silently: what exactly does Sylvia mean by gifting her lover that small parcel of land?

When the Season of Winds began, the Senate’s verdict was finalized. Earl York was restored to his ducal title and continued as governor of the Centaur Hills colony. The York family controlled most of the colony’s 140,000 square kilometers. They were tasked with eradicating the Antmen in the hills and building three fortresses at the great marsh entrance to block Antmen invasions. The kingdom waived the York family’s annual tribute and supplied stone, food, oil, weapons, arrows, crossbows, armor, and more, along with an annual military budget of 120,000 gold sols for twenty years.

The Centaur Hills also included three viscounts and one baron: Viscount Soren held 9,100 square kilometers in the north, adjoining Victor’s lands; Viscount Maxim of the Wellington family controlled 8,800 square kilometers bordering Duke Neo’s lands; Baron Eskri’s domain remained unchanged.

Victor was elevated from baron to viscount, his territory spanning 9,300 square kilometers, including the 300 square kilometer northern parcel. Except for the York family, other lords still paid tribute to the kingdom, though the church exempted Victor and Eskri from the tithe for three years.

Upon receiving official documents signed by the queen, grand duke, and church, Sylvia launched large-scale military operations personally leading the Rose Knights, a force comprising six grand knights and twenty-seven knights. They struck the Antmen besieging Longstone Fortress. Over six thousand Antmen relentlessly pursued the knights, finally lured outside Blackfort town.

The York family had prepared the battlefield outside Blackfort, assembling over 5,000 troops, including more than 2,000 members of the Fang Legion, over 1,000 elite vassal soldiers, 1,000 archers, 1,000 paladins, 20 priests, 141 squire knights, and the entire Rose Knights contingent.

In the chaotic battle, only two silver-ranked Antmen leaders were slain, and church clergy failed to detect any anomalies, thanks to Sylvia’s constant intervention flying Antmen leaders away from high-ranking knights.

The outcome was decisive. Over six thousand Antmen were annihilated, though twelve leaders escaped. Human casualties exceeded 1,500: 554 paladins killed, 271 severely wounded; 678 elite York infantry dead, 437 seriously injured; 14 squires and 1 knight lost. Notably, Bruce ascended to silver rank, becoming a grand knight, bringing York’s grand knights to eight. However, York’s vassal class suffered heavy losses once more.

Shortly after, the human army swiftly retreated to Blackfort town. Soon, nearby scattered Antmen were drawn by the intense battle aura to the battlefield and began attacking Blackfort. Within ten days, over 40,000 Antmen besieged the town. Yet, the Antmen were powerless against the town’s over thirty-meter-high walls, while thousands of archers relentlessly fired arrows and rocks. Whenever the Antmen faltered and began to disperse, York’s knights would sally out over the drawbridge, charge through the thinning ranks, and return to Blackfort.

Thus, the Antmen remained firmly outside the town’s walls, enduring constant missile fire. Meanwhile, Sylvia and three grand knights quietly departed Blackfort. With the aid of the Dust Falcon, they sought to intercept fleeing Antmen leaders, believing that killing the escaping commanders would truly weaken the Antmen forces.

At that time, Victor was unaware of the battle’s details. He had left Blackfort before the fighting began, needing to return to his domain before the Senate’s envoy arrived to avoid accusations of abandoning his fief.

Sylvia wished Nicole to protect Victor, but he refused, and Nicole was eager not to miss the chance to earn merit. Lilia and other villagers would have to wait until Victor’s Antmen were cleared before returning home.

In the end, Victor, accompanied by Reno and Shark, set off on their journey home.