They would only obey orders from people like Rufus and Jed who came from a powerful background."Rufus, are you sure your men are ready?" Illya asked tentatively. Although he had used Jed's authority to bring over more than forty thousand men to Rufus's side and deceived them into joining forces against the main forces of Obscura, Illya still had some doubts. How had Rufus managed to persuade the hundred thousand men under his command to surrender to Obscura?"Yes, they are all prepared. There were some dissenting voices among the forty thousand men from your side, but I've dealt with them using military law," Rufus replied confidently.Illya pondered for a moment and realized where Rufus's confidence came from. Compared to Jed, who had ambitions but lacked real power, Rufus had a better grasp of the situation. The reason these men accepted the situation so quickly was probably because he had started indoctrinating them early on.As Illya had expected, Rufus had started his plan wh
Although Sid was not the strongest in Obscura, his military reputation had remained steadfast for decades. His position in Obscura was akin to that of Ronan in Silverboa. Both were figures akin to the Great Commander. Jeremiah was from a branch of the royal family and even a powerful fighter, and being able to remain calm in front of Sid was commendable. He had experienced the feeling of facing a true powerhouse before. He remembered the day when Adrian had scrutinized him coldly before leaving the fortress on the coastline. Sid was nothing compared to Adrian and the attack that almost took his life afterward."Honestly, I can't tell how strong he is either," Sid replied.Jeremiah felt a chill down his spine. He had not expected Sid to not be able to tell how strong Adrian was, and he even started to speculate that Adrian was on the same level as Ronan. However, he found it difficult to believe. After all, it was impossible for someone as young and as powerful as Adrian to exist in
The power fragmentation was not based on territorial division but on class division. The real power was not held by the city lord of Obscura but by those major aristocratic families like the Chocrans and Jacksons. They were both well-known major families within the city, and the warriors under their command were their family's private troops.As for the royal family of Obscura, the Kesters, were just the largest aristocratic family in the city. They wielded the greatest power and could rule over the entire city. However, the privileges of the aristocracy were not something Sid could simply strip off. The nobles even had the right to disobey his orders.This way of life contributed to the current situation in Leafall. The fragmentation among the aristocratic families had left Sid unaware of what was happening with the troops in front. Not only did he not know what Adrian had been doing in Leafall these days, but he was also unaware that Jed was dead, and even Illya and Rufus had decid
Sid frowned as he observed the situation unfold. He then ordered the front army to change formation and adopt a defensive strategy. After a full hour had passed, the 200,000-strong army endured nearly 20,000 casualties before managing to stabilize their position.Rufus appeared ferocious as his inner ferocity was unleashed on the actual battlefield.Ilyas on the sidelines continued to fuel the fire, declaring, “You’ve accomplished a great feat, Mr. Rufus!"This made Rufus restless. He knew the army ahead as being led by their Great Commander, Sid. In fact, due to Sid's persistent efforts to reclaim noble privileges over the years, he had a strained relationship with many nobles, including Rufus. Rufus felt a sense of satisfaction in seeing Sid, who was almost like an enemy to him, being defeated.But before he could revel for long, Sid's forces began to counterattack. Over a hundred thousand troops surged forward. Sid's title as a Great Commander was well-deserved. Under normal cir
"It appears that the people from Obscura City are not as naive as we thought," he mumbled.Adrian’s recent actions had borne no fruit. While facing Jed and others previously, although he encountered some challenges with his assassination attempt, he ultimately succeeded. But this time was different. He hadn't even caught sight of the enemy's commander.Over two hours ago, he had infiltrated the enemy's central camp. According to his plan, this was the perfect opportunity to assassinate the enemy commander. However, the final outcome revealed that he had encountered someone who could barely be considered his match.In the central camp, he failed to spot the figure of the enemy commander. Or rather, he did see the person, but the one he spotted was a decoy. Two hours ago, Adrian had blended in among the army caravans, clad in the attire of a low-level warrior from Obscura. With his appearance and posture, he appeared indistinguishable from a low-ranking warrior of Obscura.Then he us
Simultaneously, Alfie felt a pang of shame as he realized that regardless of his actions, his focus remained solely on the present. Adrian, on the other hand, possessed the foresight to anticipate everything that would unfold afterward."I'll go open the gate," Alfie said, departing.Less than two minutes later, the defensive formation opened, revealing an entrance toward the city tower. Rufus and his fleeing companions were ecstatic, racing into Leafall with fervor. Alfie, managing the defensive formation, observed their entry and promptly closed it again, thwarting any pursuers from following.After Rufus, Ilyas, and their dozens of elite Grandmaster guards entered the city, they gasped for breath at the city gate. Upon looking up, they beheld a young man standing before them. With the exception of Ilyas, none of them recognized Adrian.Rufus, upon seeing Adrian, surmised that the latter was likely one of the individuals from Silverboa now occupying Leafall. He perceived Adrian a
"Jed is dead, and you used his identity to deceive me?" Rufus released his grip on Ilyas, stumbling backward in disbelief. The few guards standing nearby also realized they had been duped by Ilyas."Sir! Allow me to execute this traitor for you!" one of the guards said."Leave!" Rufus bellowed in anger.Rufus, renowned for his wisdom and valor, discovered himself deceived by Ilyas at this crucial moment.‘Jed’s dead?’ Disappointment crossed Rufus’s face. He and Jed had competed fiercely for decades, harboring mutual hatred. He had long wished for Jed's demise. Yet, upon learning of Jed's death, a twinge of sadness washed over him."He's gone..." Rufus muttered to himself."Sir, this isn't a setback! With Jed's demise, you'll be the first to surrender to Silverboa. You'll surely earn their favor!" Ilyas said.Bang!Rufus, consumed by his emotions, erupted in rage, “The first to surrender? Yes, it may bring benefits, but it will also brand me with the mark of shame!"After being
"You truly are an exceptional individual. Rest assured, now that we've chosen this path, I will treat you with respect," Rufus declared earnestly.This time, Rufus meant it. Despite his previous deep suspicions of Ilyas, he now placed full trust in the latter.Once Ilyas had been attended to and bandaged, Rufus asked softly, "So, what's our next move?"Ilyas's eyes gleamed, but he said calmly, "Do you know who that man was just now?""No. Do you?" Rufus asked, his curiosity over Adrian's identity piqued."I can't say for certain, but I have some suspicions," Ilyas replied. Gazing up at the city tower, he continued softly, "Do you know why Silverboa unexpectedly clashed with Obscura?"Rufus appeared puzzled."It's because of recent events in the capital of Silverboa. There was a shift in power dynamics between the pro-peace and pro-war factions...""You're referring to the replacement of the crown prince of Silverboa?""Exactly. After the crown prince was replaced, the pro-war