Chapter 247: Chapter 246: Heavy Casualties

“What’s the matter, my Lord Count?” Carolina asked with concern.

Wiggin lifted his head to look at the liaison officer from Wushan Castle. Perhaps from sheer rage, his eyes had turned red, and his furious expression gave her a start.

’She knew something must have happened at Chishan Town—and it was something terrible!’

Wiggin panted heavily, struggling to calm himself. “Carolina, I need you to go inform Sir Toru, Ronin, Kabil, and the others. Tell them I’m in Wushan Fortress…”

“No, just push me over there.”

Wiggin hadn’t planned on interrupting the banquet, but the situation was urgent. He decided it was best to inform the nobles and Knights present as quickly as possible.

In the grand hall, the lights still glowed and the music played on.

But the guests were growing tired. Most had sat down to enjoy dessert, chatting and laughing as they shared amusing stories.

At this point, the night’s banquet was about to draw to a successful close.

Dianey, who had sat down to enjoy some dessert, breathed a sigh of relief.

She had been the one to propose to Lurans that she host the banquet personally, so its successful conclusion was a weight off her shoulders.

The sound of rolling wheels announced that Carolina was pushing Wiggin back into the hall.

“What’s this?”

Dianey noticed them immediately, her eyes drawn to the expression on Wiggin’s face.

’After so many years with her husband, she knew instantly that something major had occurred.’

She quickly rose and walked over. Glancing at Carolina, she then asked, “Wiggin, why do you look so pale?”

Wiggin’s temper had improved somewhat since he broke his leg.

In the past, he would have bellowed for all the outsiders to leave. The fact that he was restraining himself now was quite impressive.

“Toru, Kabil, Ronin. And you, Albert, Curry. Come with me.”

He glanced back at Carolina. “Push me into the adjoining room.”

The men whose names were called exchanged glances, unsure of what had happened.

But seeing Wiggin’s grave expression, they didn’t ask any questions and immediately followed him.

Seeing the key figures depart, the remaining nobles, their families, and the performers all ceased their revelries.

Dianey clapped her hands. “Alright, everyone, the banquet has come to an end for tonight. Holwart, please handle the remaining arrangements.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Dianey beckoned to Bretton. “Come, let’s go see what’s happening.”

In the adjoining room, once everyone was inside, Wiggin dropped a bombshell that left them all stunned.

“Chishan Town has fallen to the Polante Thief Gang!”

Ronin’s heart skipped a beat. ’How could they be so fast?’

A Message Bird’s flight from Chishan Town to Wushan Castle took less than six hours. Just the day before yesterday, Coren had sent a message saying they were reinforcing their troops at Casier Town.

’In other words, Chishan Town was conquered in less than two days?’

“That’s impossible!”

Kabil said in disbelief, “But there’s an entire Knight Order stationed there! Both Coren and Hahn are quite capable. How could this…”

Then, Wiggin dropped the second bombshell.

“Vice Leader Hahn has been killed in action. The Fifth Knight Order has lost over half its men. Coren is now leading the survivors in a retreat to defend Giant Stone City!”

“How is that possible!”

They could have reluctantly accepted a simple defeat.

But to lose over half the Knight Order and have the Vice Leader killed in action… that was simply unbelievable.

Knight Toru stepped forward in disbelief, took the letter from Wiggin, and began to read. His expression grew terrifyingly grim.

“This… How is the Polante Thief Gang so strong?”

The Polante Thief Gang only holds one city and three towns. How did they suddenly become so powerful?

“I’ve been to Chishan Town and seen its fortifications. Unless there was gross negligence, even a full-frontal assault should have cost the enemy dearly.”

Kabil frowned, analyzing the situation. “Could the Polante Thief Gang have raised two new Knight Orders during this lull? Or perhaps they had several Golden Knights leading the charge?”

Ronin also took the letter and glanced over it. It didn’t mention any specific details about the defeat. He wondered if Coren had simply forgotten to include them, or if he was trying to hide his own mistakes.

Regardless, Wushan Ridge had lost another border town. This was a matter they could not let stand.

“Speculating now is useless. What’s crucial is what we do next.”

Wiggin cut off everyone’s conjecture.

He was extremely anxious.

He had just struck a business deal with Ronin that very afternoon. He’d been on the verge of earning a large sum, and now Chishan Town was lost.

The loss of territory and the casualties in his Knight Order pained Wiggin, but the nearly two thousand Gold Coins in annual revenue he’d lose from Chishan Town pained him just as much.

“We cannot simply let Chishan Town be lost!”

Wiggin’s gaze was resolute. “I have decided to issue a call to arms, ordering all the nobles of Wushan Ridge, great and small, to dispatch troops to reinforce Giant Stone City and retake Chishan Town!”

Kabil and Toru exchanged a look. They didn’t immediately voice their approval, but it was impossible to refuse such an order.

Ronin thought for a moment before offering a suggestion. “The priority right now should be to quickly dispatch troops to reinforce Giant Stone City. We can’t let the Polante Thief Gang advance any further.”

A full war mobilization takes at least a month, and could even last two or three. It was doubtful whether Giant Stone City could hold out that long.

“Yes, you’re absolutely right!”

A gleam appeared in Wiggin’s eyes; he agreed completely.

“Ronin, my son, I want you to lead this campaign in my stead, to represent me and the Wushan Clan!”

The nobility and military affairs were inextricably linked. As a rule, high-ranking nobles personally participated in wars they initiated. Even if they couldn’t, they would dispatch a suitable proxy to represent them.

With Lurans currently injured and Wiggin having a broken leg, only Ronin and Bretton were left to lead the campaign in their place.

Bretton was still young, only fourteen years old. Ronin, on the other hand, had just turned eighteen and was also the Viscount of Wubei Territory. His status made him the perfect proxy for Wushan Castle.

Ronin hadn’t expected Wiggin to drop such a monumental task on him, and he didn’t respond for a moment.

He had agreed to escort supplies to the front for Wiggin before, but that was because he wouldn’t have to set foot on a battlefield or supply his own troops and rations.

But this was different. Answering the Lord’s call to war meant he would either have to lead his own Knight Squad into battle, providing his own food and supplies, or, if he didn’t send soldiers, provide Wushan Castle with materiel or logistical support.

Ronin would have difficulty providing either.

To be honest, he didn’t want to join the battle right now, even if a victory would bring him considerable prestige.

“Father, I’m afraid Wubei Territory has neither enough soldiers nor the grain to offer as support. My ability to help in this battle will be limited.”

“That doesn’t matter!”

Wiggin didn’t care in the slightest how many Knights Wubei Territory could send or how much grain it could provide.

“The Wushan Clan needs a representative in this war. I can’t go, your grandfather can’t go, and neither can Bretton.”

Wiggin did have a point.

“So, I just need you to command the battle in my place. The other Knight Orders and nobles will provide everything else.”

Ronin was taken aback. ’Could it really work like that?’

He glanced at Toru and Kabil, but neither of them commented.

But Ronin frowned.

’If things went as Wiggin said, would he even be able to command the others?’

’After all, he had no personal forces with him, no real authority.’

’He also had no command experience and had never even been on a battlefield. To others, putting someone like him in charge would be tantamount to a death sentence for their men.’

’Why would the other nobles be willing to hand over command of the Knight Squads they had painstakingly trained to someone like him?’

Ronin considered this carefully. “For a matter of this magnitude, shouldn’t we hear Grandfather’s opinion first?”

Toru and Kabil nodded slightly in agreement.

Wiggin thought for a moment and seemed to agree it was necessary.

“Fine. Let’s go to the rear courtyard now. We will settle this matter tonight!”

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