NOVEL WEB Chapter 37 - The Butler Came to Provoke Lynn!
Chapter 37 The Butler Came to Provoke Lynn! What a Fair Theresa!
In order to transport the materials for the war, Lynn first had to choose the location of the frontier base. He took Lucy and gathered his supplies, then set out to find the best location for the base. Originally, it was a troublesome matter to carry all of the supplies as it required a lot of people, horses, and carriages. This way would take a large amount of time, and territories like Lynn’s had insufficient population and horses.
It usually took half a year to prepare for war, but Lynn had a legion of warriors. They could carry the boulders by themselves almost effortlessly. This allowed for a minimum amount of carriages, as they would only need to carry food. This caused Lynn to be able to deliver war supplies faster than Buno traveling to sell wine.
A day and a half later, Lynn reached a small slope. From a distance, he could see the mud brick walls of Sla City. Even though the wall was made of mud, it looked quite sturdy. The walls were also towering with a height of at least twenty meters. There were a total of four gates that allowed for travel for every side of the walls. Lynn could see even now that caravans were traveling in and out the gates.
”Where do you plan to put the stronghold?” Asks Lucy.
”Right here,” replied Lynn as he stomped his foot.
”Is it not a bit far from the city?”
Lynn looked at the half beast warriors who were eating and gave his reply.
”It is not that far. They will just have to adjust the angle they throw at and they will be able to hit the walls from here. This slope is very important.”
”Slope?” Lucy said, puzzled. Lynn nodded.
”Sla City’s regiment has three hundred heavy cavalry, one hundred archers, and over one hundred heavy infantry. The heavy cavalry with the weight of men, horses, and armor weigh more than a thousand pounds!”
The heavy cavalry actually weighed half a ton, so their charge was very powerful. As there were many variables in a war, Lynn was not complacent from the combat effectiveness of his army. He had to make sure most of the variables fell into his favor, such as favorable terrain and war materials. Lynn also had to figure out a way to use his 1,900 mana points.
Lynn thought for a while and when the half beast warriors were done with placing the supplies, he had them return to the territory in order to continue delivering supplies. He estimated that he would need yet another trip to complete transporting all the supplies.
Transportation was an issue for Lynn’s territory as there were not enough horses and carriages. Except for the boulders, only four thousand pounds of food was delivered. This was enough for the warriors to eat for two days, but Lynn felt that was enough anyways. The war would not last that long.
According to Lynn’s plan, the war would end on the same day that it started. Lynn and Lucy stayed in the stronghold as the beasts’ travel time was short. A short while later, a group of cavalry approached.
”Who are you?!” The other party asked in a loud manner. Lynn got up to greet them.
“I am Lynn, the Lord of the Maple Mountain Range.”
“Master Lynn, why are you hoarding stones here?”
“To attack you,” Lynn said plainly.
The cavalry went silent along with Lynn’s surrounding attendants. They all thought he was being too honest.
“Where is the declaration of war?” The heavy cavalry’s leader asked. “Do you wish to attack Sla City before it is issued? To violate the agreement between the Northern Nobles?!”
Lynn took out the letter and gave it to the attendant next to him. The attendant walked down to the cavalry and handed the letter to the opposing soldiers. After seeing the declaration, the other party did not speak but turned and left.
Lynn did not care about them, nor was he afraid of their retaliation. Two days passed by in the blink of an eye, and everyday the other party came to watch Lynn. He would also observe their actions as well. The distance between the two sides shrunk as the conflict gradually intensified. At last, on the third day the half beast fighters arrived. They brought a hundred stone ammo with them. Along with them was the carts that brought a total of 6,000 pounds of food. Lynn sent Buno with an escort of five warriors to inform Ino that the siege would start tomorrow. Under his orders, Buno left while Lucy stood beside Lynn.
“More and more people are coming to watch the battle,” she commented.
News of the war had spread fast. Many tents with family crests had been raised all around the land as there was no law against nobles watching a battle. However, they could not aid any side.
“It does not matter, as long as they do not help,” Lynn said. Lucy took his arm.
“Do not worry, they are afraid to help. Theresa surely has sent someone to ensure the fairness of the war, but they may not be here just yet.”
Lynn nodded as he was not in a hurry. War required patience. Buno stayed in the city for about half an hour before he exited. He was surrounded by two people who looked like butlers. Buno looked for Lynn and brought the two men to him.
“Master Lynn, this is a butler called Cheryl. He represents Ino Sla, and he wished to speak with you,” said Buno.
“What do you wish to speak about?” asked Lynn.
“We wish for you to retreat and stop this useless war,” said Cheryl respectfully. “Of course, we shall give you compensation. How is one hundred gold coins?”
“One hundred gold coins?!” Lucy scolded in a shout. “You dare look down on my fiance like this?!”
A hundred gold coins was very few for compensation for an armistice agreement. It was basically an insult. It was as if they were saying, ‘Look at you! Do not fight, just take a hundred gold coins and go home. Live a good life.’ It was clear that Ino did not think Lynn would win.
“You do not even have a siege vehicle. How could you win this war? I admit your half beast warriors are very strong, but you cannot break through the walls. You are too young to understand how to siege or the strategy involved,” says Cheryl.
The faces of Buno and Lynn’s followers turned ugly with hatred, yet Lynn was calm.
“How to win is something I need to think about. Do tell Ino Sla that the siege will begin tomorrow morning, and to be prepared.”
The butler was driven away, and Buno walked up to Lynn. He knelt on one knee and pleaded his case.
“Master Lynn, I beg you. Let me participate in tomorrow’s charge. I will fight for your reputation! This insult will not stand!”
“Uncle Buno,” Lynn said with a smile. “Do not be angry. Falling for the enemy’s ridicule will cost us a lot. We must fight according to the original tactics. Victory shall wash away any shame they throw at us. We will use this war to make Sla understand how ignorant he is.”
That evening, Theresa came to the battlefield herself. There was a plethora of nobles who had come to spectate the war.
“This is your first battle,” Theresa said to Lynn. “We have all come to witness your battle. I promise that no one shall interfere with the justice of this war!”
Lynn expressed his thanks. Theresa did not say much to avoid suspicion, but at night a group of people threw down twenty sets of heavy armor for Lynn’s half beast warriors to use. They left it where no spectators would be able to find them. They then quickly left. Lynn could neither laugh or cry as he only thought about how honorable Theresa was.