Chapter 40: Tensions Escalate

Early morning.

Blake arrived early at the courtyard where Kana and the others were resting.

"This is the Count's reply."

Kana took it but did not check it immediately. Instead, he looked at Blake. "Do you have something to say?"

After all, there was no need for Blake to deliver a reply in person.

Blake nodded, stood up straight, tapped his chest with his right hand, and performed a knight's salute.

"Forgive me, Your Highness, but I may have to return to Lakeview City. The situation on the front lines is becoming tense. I have received an order from the Count; I must go there to fight and can no longer guard your safety."

Aliris, standing nearby, glanced at him and muttered to herself: *I am the Highness's guardian knight.*

"Is that so? Then you must be careful. As for my safety, do not worry; we are still quite far from the front lines."

Hearing Kana's words, Blake nodded, looked at Aliris, and finally said, "I leave Your Highness's safety in your hands."

*I am the Highness's guardian knight! I don't need you to teach me!*

Aliris screamed inwardly, but since she disliked arguing with others, her words came out as: "I will."

*Damn it! Aliris, you should have refuted him fiercely!* She was dissatisfied with her own response.

Blake took his leave.

Only two people and one mouse remained in the courtyard.

As for the mouse, she was sitting on the stone table in the middle of the courtyard, silently eating.

"Are you guys at war?" Popot asked.

She had just heard Blake's words; it sounded as if a war was underway, and it didn't seem to be going very well.

"That's right. We are being driven out of our own country, and there is almost no hope of victory."

Hearing this, Popot hurriedly jumped down, scurried over, and asked urgently, "Did something happen? Why haven't I heard about this before?"

If something this significant had happened to this country, she should have heard something even if she were on a ship at the port. After all, while she couldn't disembark, the sailors could.

She had only been kidnapped into the forest about a month ago. In such a short time, had something earth-shattering happened to this nation?

"A new race has emerged in this country—the Vampires, an undoubtedly evil and dark race. Except for my uncle's Lakeview City, all other cities have fallen. A massive number of refugees are fleeing toward the Kingdom of Cohen."

Kana gave a brief summary.

Popot's eyes widened in shock. It had only been a month; how could something so terrifying happen so suddenly?

She couldn't help but ask, "An evil race? And they've overthrown the whole country? Then why not seek help from the Church of the Holy Light? They should be more than willing to resolve these issues, right?"

At this, Kana glanced at her and said quietly, "You should have a basic understanding of this country; it is extremely exclusionary of foreign organizations. Almost no outside organization or power is permitted to enter this country, and that naturally includes the Church of the Holy Light."

Popot nodded; that seemed to make sense.

"Then you could ask the Church in the Kingdom of Cohen for help. In the fight against evil, I believe they would set aside past grievances."

That might be true in theory, but in practice, there were always complications.

Kana simply went to his room, brought out a map, spread it on the stone table, and began explaining it to Popot and Aliris. He also used the opportunity to organize his own thoughts.

"Do you see? Only the area near the mountains and this canyon on the left are still under our control. The rest of the territory has been rapidly occupied by the Vampires."

"Are these so-called Vampires really that powerful?" Popot asked, puzzled, given the short timeframe.

She did not know that the Vampires were actually the country's nobility.

Kana did not explain and continued.

"The area where the Kingdom of Cohen borders the Kingdom of Safro actually only consists of this western canyon, which is protected by a fortress. The rest of this vast area, including the region near the mountains, has never been effectively developed by the Kingdom of Cohen; it is almost entirely wilderness. There are only scattered residents living here, mostly wild creatures."

Listening to Kana's explanation, Popot, who had a better understanding of the outside world, roughly understood. Most parts of the world were like this.

"In other words, most of the Church of the Holy Light's influence within the Kingdom of Cohen is distributed in the western part of their country? And since the crisis broke out so suddenly, by the time these refugees pass through and the Church receives the news, it might be half a month or even a month later. The Church would still need to organize personnel for communication, and by the time the main force arrives to support, it will be at least two months after the crisis began."

Based on the map and Kana's information, Popot, who knew about the Church, provided a reasonable deduction.

Kana nodded. "Exactly. And do you know how long it has been since the crisis broke out? About two weeks. But as you can see, after two weeks, the problem is more exaggerated than we imagined. In another half month, I think we will either die here or be forced to flee this country. Most of the refugees might only just be passing through the canyon fortress into the Kingdom of Cohen now."

After hearing Kana's account, Popot was even more confused. She looked at Kana with bewilderment, then looked around.

"Then what about this town? Why is this town still so peaceful? Logically, everyone should be making an emergency escape right now; otherwise, they won't be able to run in time."

It should have been so, but unfortunately, Popot was viewing this from an outsider's perspective—an outsider's perspective that Kana was intentionally guiding.

Those living within the situation could not make such precise judgments due to various factors.

For instance, the Count had already tried his best to overestimate the strength of the Vampires, given that he himself was a member of the royalty. Yet, he had still underestimated them.

More importantly, since learning of this, the Count had been preparing his territory for this very moment. He did not want to be driven out so simply and pathetically; he wanted to hold onto a piece of land. After all, he had prepared for years; if he couldn't even hold out for a month when the fighting actually started, he wouldn't be able to face himself.

Thinking of this, Kana opened the envelope and read the message inside.

After reading it, Kana couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Although it did not grant him the manpower and authority he had requested in his letter, it at least met the basic expectations he had envisioned.

The letter stated

Kana is permitted to lead and recruit a 10-man soldier squad, with salaries and logistics provided by the town.

Kana is permitted to recruit a certain number of villagers and craftsmen for the construction of ships and rafts. However, the total number of recruited personnel must not exceed 30. Salaries and supplies will likewise be provided by the town.

This was far from the requirements Kana had specified in his letter, but it was better than nothing and was sufficient for his plans.

If nothing went wrong, Joniel should be ready.

"Come, let's go to the barracks."

Kana led Aliris and Popot.

As expected, Joniel had been waiting there for a long time; he had also received clear orders.

"I want the soldiers who acted with us last time. Plus one George—you won't mind, will you?"

Hearing Kana's words, Joniel nodded. It was just one extra hunter; he certainly wouldn't argue over such a small matter.

"As for the labor force, call those two shipwrights over first."