Chapter 281: Domineering
This voice seemed to carry a kind of power, transmitting down into the depths of the lake.
Salvador suddenly opened the countless eyes on its back.
It actually did not want to respond, but when it thought of that human’s strength, thought of the exchange it had with the Dragon-Eagle Crulud a few days ago, thought of that bell it heard back then, and thought of the changes in the Earth Vein’s support to its magic during this period of time, it did not dare to ignore it.
Thus, its will burst out from the bottom of the lake, directly charging toward Agamemnon.
On the shore, George moved, standing before Agamemnon, golden light shining in his eyes.
“Buzz—” The air before him seemed to twist as if distorted. His will collided with Salvador’s will, like a solid wall, blocking Salvador’s advance.
Salvador’s massive body shifted at the bottom of the lake, faintly shocked and doubtful. It sensed a will not inferior to its own.
“Human, my agreement with that one was only to stop those Fishmen from the east, not allowing them to pass through this lake.” Its voice echoed around Agamemnon and George.
Agamemnon said, “With the Fishmen’s current strength, can you really stop them?”
Salvador fell into silence. It could feel it—within the Fishmen, there already existed the will of a god.
Deep Divers that entered the lake, it could kill however many came.
As for the Explorers, though it felt some dread toward them, if only one or two entered the lake, it could also kill them.
But if an existence above the Explorers appeared, it could only flee.
This lake was its domain, yet those Fishmen were creatures of the sea to begin with.
Salvador said, “Why does that one not strike and kill that god? If that god dies, I can block all the other Fishmen.”
Agamemnon said, “That is the Church’s affair, it has nothing to do with you.”
A bad premonition arose in Salvador’s heart. It said, “I am still fulfilling the agreement with that one.”
Agamemnon smiled as he spoke, “Yes, you have done very well, and the Pope is satisfied. But do you not desire freedom?”
Salvador coiled uneasily at the bottom of the lake.
Of course, it wanted freedom. Otherwise, in the past, to escape the human nobles, it would not have dug the lakebed so deep.
Yet now that Agamemnon mentioned it, unease filled its heart instead.
Agamemnon did not wait for Salvador’s reply, but continued, “You can help us, clear out those Fishmen. That way, you no longer need to block them, because there will be no Fishmen left, will there?”
“And how can this mere lake grant you freedom? With such a powerful body, you should be roaming the boundless sea. That is true freedom.”
Salvador understood Agamemnon’s meaning, and was both shocked and enraged.
This was to drive it away.
The sea was vast, far broader than the lake, but it was also dangerous. It had come ashore only because it feared one day falling asleep in the sea and never waking again.
The countless eyes on Salvador’s back all opened, releasing dense rays that blasted countless craters across the lakebed, countless fish blown into fragments.
Its angry voice rang out, “You mean to expel me? Is it his will?”
Agamemnon did not answer, but said, “You are too powerful. Your presence in this lake is extremely unsafe for the people living on its shores.”
Salvador repeated, “Is it his will?”
Agamemnon said, “Right now, I am making a transaction with you. If this negotiation fails, then it will be the Pope himself who comes to speak with you.”
Salvador fell silent.
Suddenly, it felt envy for Crulud.
Though before it had mocked Crulud for letting a human ride on its back, now it thought about it—at least that way Crulud lived well, freely soaring through the skies, humans even offering it food, without being forced to remain in a forest, relying on slumber and Earth Vein magic just to survive.
And now, it did not even need to fear humans dying just from glimpsing its form, and then being troubled by that one.
At the bottom of the lake, Salvador thrashed, venting its rage, while the lake’s surface remained calm.
Agamemnon patiently waited. Before him, George was silent, only watching Agamemnon’s domineering stance.
At last, Salvador answered. It said, “I demand to dwell near the coast.”
Agamemnon said, “From the shoreline outward for a hundred miles is all under the Lundex name. I will arrange a suitable place for you.”
Salvador said, “The place you mention holds Fishmen. That is their nation.”
Agamemnon repeated, “It bears the Lundex name.”
Salvador was silent. After a while, it said, “I need time to condense magic.”
Agamemnon said, “Half a month later, you will depart from here. Knight George will cross over with you.”
Salvador gave no reply. At the bottom of the lake, the blue patterns upon its body slowly began to glow, absorbing magic from the Earth Vein.
On the shore, Agamemnon said to George, “It looks like it will take some time. Perhaps in the meantime, you can take a good look around York City.”
George gave Agamemnon a pitying look, then said, “The children of Lever Town need some things.”
Agamemnon avoided George’s gaze and said, “For however many coins are needed, you can go to Councilor Jeffrey to withdraw them at any time. Over the years, your subsidies as Guardian Knight have all been recorded with him. Moreover, now as a Holy Knight, you can withdraw ten thousand gold coins from him at any time. Of course, these withdrawals must be repaid.”
George silently nodded.
…
At Fog Fortress, Crulud lay comfortably upon a high platform specially built for it, basking in the Morning Star, when it suddenly opened its eyes, gazing toward Lake Salvador.
Sensing Crulud’s unease, Richard, lying nearby, stripped down to just his shorts, baking under the Morning Star, sat up and asked, “You seem uneasy?”
Crulud replied, “That fish is drawing upon the Earth Vein’s magic.”
Richard said, “Haven’t you also been drawing on the Earth Vein’s magic lately?”
Crulud said, “I was only replenishing magic. That fish, however, is condensing magic. It wants to do something.”
Richard realized the severity of the matter. He rose to his feet and beckoned, attendants quickly rushing to dress him.
Richard asked, “If that fish condenses its magic, what consequences will follow?”
Crulud said, “If it truly draws to the extreme, it could flood half of Greenwood.”
Half of Greenwood—not just one principality, but the entire Greenwood.
Richard’s expression grew grave. He asked, “Where is Marl?”
Crulud said, “He is at Fortress No. 4, inspecting defenses. The Fishmen have already marched south; who knows when they will strike us here.”
Richard said, “Come, quickly, let’s find Marl.”
…
“Salvador is drawing magic?” Marl froze, then his face grew stern. He said, “York Territory is preparing to act.”
Richard asked, “Then you mean?”
Marl said, “You should summon the army.”
Richard trembled and said, “Alright, I will summon the knights at once.”
Marl’s face darkened, “The army—not just the knights!”
Richard’s eyes wavered, “I only remember the knights in the territory. As for the registered warriors, conscripted soldiers, and reserve arms, you should recall them more clearly than I.”
Marl took a deep breath, “You are the lord.”
Richard shamelessly said, “Yes, yes, I am the lord. But the honorable Bishop Marl surely would not wish to see a lord who knows nothing of his own territory turn it into chaos, right?”
Marl closed his eyes, “Get out.”
Richard happily said, “Alright then.”
He stepped onto Crulud’s wings with the look of one who understood nothing, leapt onto its back, and the Dragon-Eagle, equally oblivious, spread its wings and flew.
Marl’s chest heaved violently before calming. He beckoned, and a White Dove flew over.
…
Unlike Marl, whose workload suddenly increased, Jeremiah had long been prepared. Upon receiving Marl’s message, he immediately handed Gregor a list.
On it were recorded all the vassal nobles, the exact number of knights each could mobilize, how many warriors they should muster, and how many conscripted militia they must bring.
“These are the warriors your vassal nobles can muster. And the warriors already gathered at your castle will also march with you.” Jeremiah said, “Your time is short. At the latest within seven days, you must lead these warriors to assemble at the border.”
Gregor once more sighed at how useful Church people were.
But soon doubts arose in his mind.
He opened his mouth, but Jeremiah cut him off.
“This is a Holy War of the Eastern Expedition, so I will also march with you.” Jeremiah said.
Gregor suddenly felt all those doubts vanish.
He nodded, then went with his knights to check the list and demand men one by one.
…
The two Earls continued mobilizing, while York Territory also began to stir.
Though indeed there was intent to send nobles to their deaths, Councilor Julian could responsibly say that they truly had not yet finished reorganizing their army.
The forces brought back by the seven Personal Guards all needed re-ranking and reorganization.
Even with the seven Guards’ approval, this was not easily carried out.
For though the seven had already settled their prices, the captains beneath them were unwilling to give up power so easily.
Julian was a councilor, but before these warriors who could crush all foes, he was but a knight. In this force, every captain was a match for a knight.
Yet when the Senate arranged staggered vacations, let them witness York City’s prosperity, and finally promised that after re-ranking and reorganizing they would receive handsome monthly stipends—then even those captains firmly supported the Senate’s decision, actively cooperating with the monastery’s apprentices to determine their ranks.
The mercenaries lingering in York City during this time found the atmosphere strangely familiar.
After integration, these former Personal Guard troops became the Lundex First Legion, directly under the Senate. It held thirty knight-level captains, three thousand elite upper-ranked warriors, and the Senate spent heavily to fully arm them all.
Moreover, in this Eastern Expedition, the seven Guards themselves would march as legion commanders’ guards, as they too needed visible achievements.
Puniel grew excited just thinking about this force, luxurious in both men and equipment.
A few years back, when he was still only Baron Puniel with his own small territory, he would not have dared dream of commanding such an army.
He thought that as the one who had recently conquered the Principality of Corlay, he should naturally lead this army without dispute.
“This legion will be led by Councilor Julian.” Agamemnon said.
Julian gravely nodded.
The army was indeed powerful, but they faced Fishmen in the millions—just the numbers alone weighed heavily on him.
Seeing Julian nod, Agamemnon turned to Puniel and said, “Please, Councilor Puniel, summon some mercenaries and some logistics soldiers to maintain the legion’s supply. Over there, the Fishmen have gnawed away even the grass roots. The legion cannot rely on warfare to feed itself.”
True, if desperate they could butcher Fishmen to eat, but not only did they taste foul and offer little nourishment, the Kingdom of Lundex did not endorse eating sentient beings.
Puniel forced down his dissatisfaction, keeping his face stiff, and said, “Those mercenaries may prefer to kill Fishmen and earn merit. Though they are not nobles, they can choose to accept nobles’ wartime contracts. You must know, they are mercenaries, free to choose their employers—that is the freedom the Lord grants them.”
Still, he did not dare openly object.
For he understood that compared to Julian, who could be considered the Church’s direct line, he, as a noble, was not worthy of claiming the greatest merit in this war.
Moreover…
He glanced at Bevan and Jeffrey.
Compared to those two, who would gain almost nothing, at least he could still scrape some merit.
Agamemnon saw Puniel’s dissatisfaction, but ignored it. He said, “Then hire more logistics soldiers. It is only to transport supplies. The Fishmen will not cross the defenses to attack the supply lines.”
At that point, Puniel could only nod.
Finally, Agamemnon looked at Julian and said, “After your departure, the monastery will also dispatch apprentices from the disciplines of Magic and Mechanics to join you.”