In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

Philip threw the letter aside, venting his dissatisfaction. His father's words were vastly different from what he had been told when he was first sent here. It felt like his father was exiling him to this remote place to die for his older brother's benefit.

Initially, Philip had been scheduled to join the war from the northwestern palace. He had expected to earn merits there alongside his father's subordinates, just as before. But now, the letter merely instructed him to remain in the northeastern planet and make contributions from there.

"Is this an attempt to isolate me? To cut me off completely from the family?"

In truth, the duke had ordered Philip to stay in the northeastern planet for his own safety—a strategic decision to avoid putting all eggs in one basket. Although Philip was an illegitimate child, he was still his father's blood. However, to Philip, who had been experiencing a series of misfortunes lately, the letter seemed like nothing more than a plot to distance him further.

"What now? I was supposed to join forces with Father's subordinates at the northwestern palace. That way, I wouldn't need to ally with the nobles here, and I could earn merits. But now I'm expected to survive here alone. Does this even make sense?"

Philip's voice carried despair. The butler, who had raised him since childhood, stepped forward.

"My lord, please don't worry too much. Surely there are nobles here willing to cooperate..."

Philip shook his head at the butler's naïve optimism.

"Can't you see the state of the territory? This place is full of people who would rather devour me than cooperate. If they don't stab me in the back, I'd consider myself lucky."

Philip sank into deep contemplation. The 500 soldiers his father had assigned him might make him one of the stronger barons in the northeastern planet. However, that was only relevant in territorial disputes or rebellion suppression—not in a full-scale war.

For survival, nobles were encouraged to ally and form coalitions, typically organizing armies based on proximity or familial ties.

On the northern border, the Lania Kingdom was already at a numerical disadvantage. Unity was crucial for survival. Yet, there were no nobles in the northeastern planet willing to ally with Philip.

Should he defy his father's orders and recklessly return home? Philip gritted his teeth. That was out of the question. Without an official command bearing his father's seal, he could not leave the northeastern planet on his own accord.

Protecting the territory was a noble's duty. Even if the only freemen left were the families of the soldiers he had brought, it remained his responsibility. Abandoning his territory would mean losing everything as a noble. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire

But allying with small forces? What would that achieve? Minor forces couldn't change the tides of war or earn significant merits.

The more Philip thought about it, the more resentment he felt toward his father for sending him to such a place.

"Hmm... If I may give you a hint, yes. It seems the war won't be limited to the northern region but will engulf the entire kingdom. Dispatches will soon be sent to every castle," Dominic said.

The confirmation of what he had dreaded turned Lord Broad's face pale. For a mere knight who had not even ascended to the rank of baron, this news was like a bolt from the blue. After hesitating briefly, Broad finally got to the point.

"Forgive my audacity, but I have a request. From what I can see, Lord Dominic and Sir Michael are more than capable of leading an entire legion. The North has always been the first region to be engulfed in war. My family, though modest, is also making preparations." Broad carefully observed Dominic and Michael's reactions before continuing.

"When war breaks out, armies are often formed based on regions, but they are also sometimes freely organized. Compatibility among forces is crucial for effective combat. Though my family is small, I can muster about 100 soldiers. If possible, I would like our forces to be integrated into Lord Dominic's legion during the war..."

Dominic, who had already discussed such scenarios with Michael, maintained a neutral expression, neither accepting nor rejecting the proposal. Broad, growing anxious at Dominic's ambiguous response, decided to speak more directly.

"If you accept, I will lead my entire household to the Crassus Barony and stand with you in life and death," Broad offered.

Dominic smiled at the reply he had been waiting for. Simply joining a legion would not be enough to make it worthwhile. It was crucial to determine if Broad could become a reliable ally. Michael had no intention of laboring on behalf of others without a clear gain.

Lord Broad trusted his instincts. Though the Crassus family might not be the most powerful in the northeastern planet, they had been blessed with good fortune so far. Momentum was a formidable force, especially on the battlefield. Reflecting on recent events, Michael had experienced nothing but success.

Among the populace, there were even whispers that Michael, who commanded a sphinx and a dragon—both high-class magical beasts—was the reincarnation of a great being. No one could stand against a man blessed with public favor and good fortune.

Broad believed that this moment was the time to stake everything his family had. Only by taking a firm stance now could his family remain under Michael's protection. Other minor nobles with similar thoughts began to approach Michael as well, each seeking a powerful protector to shield them from the looming storm of war.

Michael inwardly smiled. The more people under his command, the better.

Meanwhile, preparations for war were not limited to the Lania Kingdom. The neighboring Pasha Kingdom and Elonia Kingdom were also accelerating their preparations. These two kingdoms, allied with Lania to resist the Pamir Empire's aggression, were in slightly better circumstances than Lania.

Unlike Lania, which often bore the brunt of full-scale wars, these two nations had only faced small-scale invasions in the past. When Lania announced its plans for a full-scale war, both kingdoms were greatly alarmed.