Regressor of the Fallen Family

Episode 62: Prelude to War

Amidst the watchful eyes of the McLain command, including Logan, the envoys boldly proclaimed with an arrogant demeanor.

“Our Fereta demands the return of the eloped vassals and, as compensation for preventing future occurrences, we claim the Teslon Plains adjacent to the Fereta territory and the newly developed wastelands to the southwest.”

“We, Sylvan, demand dominion over Teslon Castle and the transfer of the northwest part of the newly developed wastelands.”

Logan’s predictions were spot on.

The envoys had the audacity to utter such ludicrous demands.

They wanted an entire castle handed over and half of the newly developed lands. Their claims were no different from an outright threat, essentially challenging McLain to war.

‘What do you think?’

Logan sent a look that asked whether his predictions weren’t correct, to which Patrick sighed softly and nodded with a serious expression.

With a hardened expression, Heinke stepped forward and shouted loudly.

“Are Sylvan and Fereta proposing warfare against McLain?”

“Insane!”

“How dare they!”

“Have they lost their minds, declaring such nonsense here?!”

Simultaneously, 30 knights lined up in front of the hall stepped forward in unison to protest.

One of them even hastily drew his sword, and the atmosphere in the hall became deadly in an instant.

The envoys hesitated for a moment but soon came forward more confidently than before.

“There is no rule that permits threatening an envoy, my lord! If you truly do not wish for war, I urge you to withdraw your knights.”

“We are the ones threatened here. When faced with a challenge, how can we refuse? McLain does not fear war.”

But, contrary to their belief, Patrick’s attitude was even more resolute.

The envoys’ expressions stiffened at this unexpected response.

“McLain would not leave a single blade of grass alive. Do you truly wish for such destruction?”

“You must be under the illusion that we will yield under pressure, Baron?”

The mustached envoy from Sylvan and the fox-like man from Fereta shifted their tone to a more overt threat.

The knights standing behind them only slightly widened their eyes but remained seemingly unfazed.

It was clear they still believed they held the advantage.

‘Maybe it’s time to crumble their foundation.’

Thinking of how enjoyable it would be to see their reactions change, a frosty smile formed on Logan’s lips.

“Fugitives fleeing tyranny are not bargaining chips. Father, we have no need for negotiations with these individuals.”

With a decisive word and step forward, all of McLain’s knights drew their swords in an instant.

Only then did the envoys’ expressions vastly change.

“Are you, are you serious about going to war?”

“Are you mad? Do you want to die?!”

Their roaring was met with only mocking smiles from the McLain knights.

The envoys reacted sharply in the face of such ridicule.

“You, you people…”

“Are you out of your mind? It’s war if it comes to this! Do you think McLain will survive?!”

While the Fereta fox hesitated with a stern expression, the mustached man from Sylvan yelled out as if in desperation.

At that moment, Logan eagerly responded.

“Ho-ho? Mad? How brazen you are. Daring to point fingers and hurl insults at this land’s lord? Are you in your right mind?”

“No, no, that was you who…”

Logan didn’t bother to listen anymore and continued forward.

“Stop him!”

Unable to ignore the escalating threat, the envoys’ guardian knights rushed to the forefront.

But Logan was quicker.

In the blink of an eye, a guardian knight grasped his gushing throat and collapsed.

In a lightning-fast succession, Logan’s sword dance left the entire envoy frozen in terror.

With the collapse of the knights in merely a breath’s span, the envoys, painted with horror, glared at Logan with blame and rage.

“One should be prepared for death when unsheathing a sword on foreign soil.”

Logan remained calm as he wielded his sword once more.

“I, I am an envoy…!”

With a slash, the mustached man from Sylvan collapsed, spraying blood.

The Fereta fox immediately fell flat on the ground.

“I will convey McLain’s wishes in full to our lord. Please forgive our trespass.”

Though slightly trembling, his voice was clear enough for all to hear.

“… Smart move.”

Before the prostrated Rihalt who dared not raise his head, Logan laughed and turned around. In the presence of all, including the enemies’ retinue, a death with excuse could serve as a pretext, but killing one who begs for mercy would only bring criticism.

Moreover, his primary objective was already achieved.

‘Luckily, those Sylvan fools are dim-witted.’

Satisfied, Logan bowed towards his father.

In response, Patrick spoke to everyone with an imposing voice.

“Let the knights of McLain prepare for war! To protect our sovereignty!”

His authoritative voice echoed through the hall, and the knights raised their swords in response.

* * *

“Truly, do you believe you can win against us?”

The Fereta fox, chased away and with a confused gaze, questioned.

Logan, with a sneer, responded without a word.

That day, McLain sent magical communications to the two counties.

“[We express our grave disappointment at their severe insolence and blasphemy…]”

Though the long, flowery communication was essentially a complaint.

– The envoys messed around and got themselves killed. We’re annoyed. What will you do about their insolence?

Contrary to the last word of the communication, which seemed to await a response, the entire McLain Knights’ Battalion immediately charged toward Teslon Castle.

The 70 or so cavalrymen cut through the center of McLain Town and charged across the plains unimpeded.

The fierce-looking red-haired middle-aged man at the forefront, running side by side with his son, inquired.

“Do we need to hurry so? They might not know, but surely you understand our military might could easily crush a single county.”

Between the thundering hooves, the voice clearly struck Logan’s ears.

Patrick, who had trusted Logan and held back his curiosity until the command to rush to Teslon Castle was issued, finally let out his words.

“So why the rush?”

Logan had a plan in mind from the moment he sent communications to the counties.

It was clear that Sylvan, or rather the side with the slain envoy, would protest vehemently.

“That’s why… we need to use it as a pretext.”

“You want to declare war first?”

“Yes. As soon as they make their move, we must swiftly capture Sylvan. The stronger the display of force, the less these trivial provocations will occur.”

Sylvan Castle was more than twice the size of the developed Teslon Castle, an even greater fortress than McLain Castle.

It boasted a military strength that made even the counts of Fereta envious.

But even so, Patrick just nodded and smiled at Logan’s words to quickly conquer Sylvan Castle.

“There is sense in your words. There’s no need to prolong the war unnecessarily.”

“Yes. There is no need to conscript additional soldiers. If we quickly capture Sylvan with our regular forces, Count Max Fereta will not act rashly. He is much too cautious for his own good.”

Max Fereta disliked taking any losses, was slow to decide, and even slower to act.

Logan did not bemoan the fact that he knew this from his past life.

Fortunately, his father did not ask how he came by such knowledge of Max Fereta’s disposition.

Instead, he focused on what was currently necessary for himself and for McLain.

“The crux of the matter is how quickly Sylvan falls.”

“Yes!”

There was no one who thought this conversation absurd, not the speakers nor any who listened in.

Their overflowing confidence accelerated the McLain Knights’ charge ever faster.

When McLain’s Knights Battalion reached Teslon Castle, nervousness was naturally expected among the soldiers ordered into combat readiness during their regular training.

However…

“Regular soldiers, excluding those on duty at McLain Castle, number 1,389. The mercenary corps adds another 313. All are armed and awaiting orders,” reported Kai, excitement overtaking any semblance of tension.

“…You’ve done well. Until the next orders, they can rest.”

The stone bolt cavalry that had turned last year’s territorial wars upside down had now quintupled in strength.

With the addition of the father and knights who had attained higher realms by mastering the Blood Iron Sword, their confidence was well justified.

‘Sylvan and Fereta, whichever it is, one of them will easily fall.’

Of course, battling both didn’t seem losing, but there was no need to do so, hence it should not be done.

It wasn’t merely about minimizing the damage that the war would bring.

‘If we integrate Sylvan and Fereta, we would have five castles in our domain, equating to territories comparable to the border counts.’

It wasn’t necessarily the case that a larger territory guaranteed an increased title, but the moment it happened, both factions of the first and second princes would be desperate to pull McLain to their side.

The focus of those central factions must not be drawn here to the southwestern countryside, at least until the civil war.

So Logan worked hard to create even a pretext for war.

Immersed in these thoughts.

“…there is good news,” came a voice.

Looking up, Kai still hadn’t left the room.

Logan had to inquire, driven by curiosity from the look on his face.

“Hm? Good news?”

“Victor has become a force user. He’s been waiting to report directly to you.”

“Aha! Finally!”

With an involuntary rise to his feet, Kai sighed softly and opened the door.

Although he could guess why that look was on his face, there was no time to give it thought now.

Right before the opened door stood a somewhat flushed Victor.

“Logan sir, I…”

“No need for long speeches, show me.”

His eyes, each a different hue of red and blue, blazed with energy. Then suddenly, a dim grey mist emitted from his figure.

A unique force color, not at all inferior to Logan’s golden hue.

Yet, it was also the mark of Victor, the noble slayer from the past life.

“Ha. Haha. It’s true. In just two years…”

The resplendent talent that had risen from mere slavery to a force user in the previous life remained unaltered in this one.

Victor’s growth felt like a signal that all would turn out well, and Logan couldn’t hide his joy.

Two days after arriving in Teslon, just as Logan started to wonder about the delayed response, the anticipated communication from Sylvan finally arrived.

“[We express profound regret at the blatant disregard for legitimate protest and the threatening use of force by McLain…]”

Much like McLain’s previous communication, this lengthy message was full of courtesy and decorative language.

But stripping it down to the bare essence:

– If you don’t want war with the Sylvan-Fereta alliance, hand over the escaped vassals, remit ten million gold each in reparations, and give up the Teslon Plains. You have one month.

McLain responded immediately and clearly without delaying:

“[Doubt surrounds the legitimacy of your protest, given the insolence displayed in our territory…]”

Putting the verbiage aside, the core message was:

– Stop babbling and fight!

Right after, a massive cavalry troop numbering nearly 1,800 charged from Teslon Castle towards the northwest.

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