Free Web NovelChapter 70: Where Are They?
Dunmere.
The ravages of the reaver invasion three years ago had left this city scarred and struggling to recover. The once-thriving Dunmere now had a population of only thirty thousand.
The city was a shadow of its former self, with a dwindling population and abandoned industries. However, since the government issued the farmland reclamation order during the winter, some residents had gradually returned to cultivate the land.
Despite the sparse population, the city was bustling with merchants. Some carried official permits, but many more were smugglers without proper documentation.
The Eldorian Empire had always strictly controlled trade with the reavers. However, under pressure from the reavers, the empire had no choice but to open its borders to trade. Yet, certain types of trade were strictly prohibited.
The first was coal and iron, and the second was horses. Generally, any trade involving war materials was banned unless accompanied by official documentation.
When the Goldwynd family had previously discussed trade with the reavers with Simon, they had been terrified because they were secretly involved in the coal and iron trade.
Unlike usual, at noon that day, a group of heavily armed cavalry entered Dunmere. The sight of their armour nearly frightened the city’s residents to death.
The cavalry wore reaver-style armour, and their horses were as robust as those of the reavers. At first glance, it seemed as if a reaver cavalry had entered the city. It wasn’t until they saw the Brambleford military flag that the residents felt somewhat reassured.
Acting on Simon’s orders, Lancelot had led the elite cavalry of Brambleford, travelling day and night to reach Dunmere in just two days and one night.
His mission was to arrest Dunmere’s governor, Luigi, and Dunmere’s military commander, Mario, and bring them to Brambleford. If they resisted, they were to be executed on the spot!
Upon entering Dunmere, Lancelot and his thirty cavalrymen headed straight for the Dunmere government office.
Luigi and Mario, one was the son-in-law of the Chandlier family, and the other was a member of the Duskry family. In Lancelot’s eyes, neither of them was any good, and the four great families deserved to be torn to pieces.
Three years ago, when the reavers invaded, their iron hooves trampled the lands of the six cities, and the people wailed in agony under their oppression. Meanwhile, the local powerful families hid in their fortified manors, gathering their private armies for self-defence and refusing to come out.
At that time, there were only about two thousand reaver cavalry in the six cities, while the private armies of the four families numbered nearly ten thousand. Yet, these families were unwilling to risk their forces in battle.
It wasn’t until Lancelot led three thousand soldiers in a bloody battle in Brambleford and defeated the reaver vanguard that the private armies of the four families finally arrived. Luigi and Mario, seeing the reavers retreat, joined in the pursuit of the remaining reaver cavalry.
Afterwards, they claimed credit for the victory, and the Chandlier family sought rewards from the Prince of Brambleford, who had just returned to Brambleford from Eldora, still shaken from his expulsion.
Seeing Dunmere recaptured, the Prince of Brambleford, overjoyed and without investigating further, appointed Luigi as the governor of Dunmere and Mario as the military commander. For three years, the two had controlled Dunmere, one in charge of administration and the other of military affairs.
At the time, Lancelot could understand the prince’s feelings. The limited forces of the domain had suffered heavy losses in the battle against the reavers, and they had no choice but to rely on the private armies of the local powerful families. This was why, apart from Brambleford, the other five cities were controlled by the four families.
"Heh, I never thought you’d have a day like this!" Lancelot thought with great satisfaction as he galloped through the city.
For three years, he had been seething with anger but dared not speak out. How could the blood of thousands of soldiers be exchanged for Dunmere, only to hand it over to such cowards? Now, with Simon’s order, these two scoundrels were finally going to be executed.
When they reached the Dunmere government office, Lancelot dismounted and entered, his voice booming like thunder. "Governor Luigi, where are you? The prince has issued an order. Come and receive it!"
The office was nearly empty, with only a few clerks present. One of them timidly replied. "Captain Lancelot, Governor Luigi is not here!"
"Not here? Then where is he?" Lancelot’s eyes widened in anger. "Speak quickly! If you delay my mission, I’ll skin you alive!"
The clerk was terrified. He had seen Lancelot during his previous visit to Dunmere a few days ago, and Lancelot’s fearsome reputation from three years ago was well-known to him. Frightened, he stammered, "The governor and the commander have gone to the Love Garden in the city."
"Humph! Those two scoundrels!" Lancelot stormed out of the office, mounted his horse, and shouted. "Follow me! Surround the Love Garden!"
"Yes, sir!" The thirty cavalrymen roared in unison, their hooves thundering as they rode off.
The clerk finally caught his breath. Seeing Lancelot’s demeanour, he realized something serious was happening. He hurried out of the office and headed for the military headquarters.
Meanwhile, at the Love Garden, Luigi and Mario were drinking and toasting, each with a beautiful woman in their arms. Across from them sat a richly dressed merchant.
"Governor Luigi, Captain Mario, thank you for your help in smoothly transporting one thousand warhorses out of the city. This is a small gift from Prince Gerad. Please accept it!" The merchant raised his cup in thanks.
Luigi opened the wooden box the merchant had pushed toward him. Inside was a layer of gold ingots. Mario glanced at it, exchanged a look with Luigi, and both nodded slightly.
Since the two had taken control of Dunmere, every merchant involved in border trade or smuggling had to pay them tribute to pass through without trouble.
In just three years, the two had amassed hundreds of thousands of caps of silver.
As the three raised their cups, a commotion erupted outside. The sound of shouting and horses neighing filled the air, followed by the screams of women from the first floor of the Love Garden. Before they could react, the door to their room was kicked open.
Lancelot strode in, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Captain Lancelot!" Luigi and Mario were both startled.
Regaining their composure, Mario said, displeased. "Captain Lancelot, what are you doing here? What is the meaning of this?"
Luigi also looked disdainful. The two, stationed far away in Dunmere, were unaware of the changes in Brambleford. Relying on their status as members of powerful local families, they looked down on Lancelot, a mere brute.
Lancelot took in the scene, a table laden with delicacies and beautiful women in their arms.
He was already angry at Mario for his half-hearted efforts in building the military farms and delaying the land reclamation. Thinking of his soldiers toiling in the fields, surviving on thin porridge, his anger flared. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
But then, he suddenly smiled and spoke. "My apologies, my apologies. A few days ago, I received an order from Prince Simon to come to Dunmere. Learning that the two of you were here, I came to deliver the order."
Mario, seeing Lancelot’s apologetic demeanour, felt smug. No matter how formidable Lancelot was in the military, his humble origins meant he still had to defer to them.
He said indifferently. "What instructions does His Highness have?"
"Instructions? Not at all. His Highness, recognizing your three years of service in guarding Dunmere, has sent me to reward you. Let me read it to you." Lancelot continued to smile.
Luigi and Mario exchanged glances and smiled.
The merchant sitting across from them couldn’t help but sneer. These two had been embezzling in Dunmere, colluding with the Prince Gerad internally and the reavers externally. Yet, Prince Simon was now rewarding them. How absurd! Truly, the most useless of the princes.
Lancelot began reading. "Governor Luigi Tencent and Commander Mario Duskry of Dunmere, hear the order!"
Luigi and Mario stood up and bowed. "Your servants are here!"
"Luigi Tencent and Mario Duskry, as governor and commander of Dunmere, have neglected their duties to defend the border. Instead, they have secretly colluded with merchants to smuggle warhorses, embezzling funds and undermining the prince’s military farm decree..."
At this point, Luigi and Mario turned pale with shock. Mario immediately reached for the hilt of his sword, but the soldiers behind Lancelot quickly stepped forward and pinned the two to the ground.
"...From this day forward, you are relieved of your positions as governor and commander. You are to be taken to the Brambleford prison. Any resistance will be met with immediate execution!"
"Lancelot, you’re lying! I don’t believe this is the prince’s order! I demand to see the prince!" Luigi roared.
Mario threatened. "Lancelot, half of Dunmere’s garrison is made up of my family’s private army. If you dare harm a single hair on my head, you’ll never leave Dunmere alive!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of horses neighing and soldiers clamouring erupted from downstairs.
