Trash of the Count's Family

However, aside from feeling flabbergasted, Cale felt a strange vibe.

He couldn’t see the person who could be considered a set with Toonka.

“Where is Chief Harol?”

Chief Harol Kodiang. Cale didn’t see the crazy bastard born from the unfortunate fate between the master of the Magic Tower and the citizen.

He was the calm yet insane bastard who hated mages and wanted to rid the world of magic.

‘Clopeh is a peaceful bastard in comparison to this guy.’

However, he couldn’t be seen even though Cale and Choi Han had arrived.

In order to avoid the eyes of the Whipper Kingdom’s people who were hostile against magic, a teleportation magic circle was secretly created in the basement of the royal palace.

It was a place that was under close supervision since it was a space used by a part of the royal family and the kingdom’s leaders.

That was why Toonka and his subordinates, as well as the mages dispatched by the Roan Kingdom, were the only ones there.

But Harol Kodiang, the one commanding the military operation and everything related to the war, wasn’t there with them?

It didn’t make sense

‘Looks like something happened.’

Cale realized that something must have happened in the Whipper Kingdom.

Did Toonka notice the look in Cale’s eyes? Toonka started to frown. The combination of Toonka’s big build and fierce looks made his grimacing face look scarier.

Cale observed Toonka’s expression and started to think.

‘If he fought with that face, all the Empire’s knights would be frightened.’

However, despite his vicious-looking face, Toonka looked at his subordinates and spoke with a sigh.

“Follow me. We will head over to where the Chief is.”

Toonka turned around and headed towards the entrance first. He could hear Cale’s voice coming from behind him.

“What’s the problem?”

Toonka hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

It was something that Chief Harol was supposed to talk about with Cale, but it wouldn’t make a difference even if he was told ahead of time.

“After the Imperial Prince made his speech, the Empire sent the Whipper Kingdom a secret correspondence.”

‘What?

The Empire’s Imperial Prince sent the Whipper Kingdom a secret correspondence?’

Cale, who had been busy meeting the Dwarves and Bears and completing other preparations after the Imperial Prince’s speech, frowned at this news he heard for the first time.

‘Why did the bastards who declared war on the Whipper Kingdom suddenly send them a secret correspondence?’

Creak.

The door opened. Toonka could not see Cale nor his subordinates and looked straight forward as he stepped out and responded.

“The Empire offered a proposal.”

Commander Toonka currently felt angry and frustrated.

Cale recalled the Toonka from the past who would smash everything to pieces and never looked back as he ran off. He liked that kind of Toonka.

Unfortunately, Toonka couldn’t act as he used to in the past due to his current circumstances. Suppressing his frustration, Toonka informed Cale about the current situation.

“The Empire stated that they loved peace and that we should surrender Maple Castle if we didn't want to see everyone in the Whipper Kingdom die.”

‘Ha!’

Cale could not believe it.

The Imperial Prince of the Empire had instilled a sense of pride in the hearts of his people as by stating that they would fight a fair and just war. While playing the part of the proud Imperial Prince up front, he was splaying out negotiations and threats behind the scenes.

But was that bad?

‘Not at all. In fact, he is doing very well.’

Blood is shed during war.

People die.

Under such circumstances, it was clever of the Empire to demand the return of Maple Castle through threats or conciliation or whatever, as opposed to war.

Perhaps it was a wise move to use the position of the Empire.

‘Furthermore, Toonka and the Whipper Kingdom are known as loners.’

The loners of the Western continent.

It made it easier for the Empire to covertly pressure the Whipper Kingdom who was known to be the loner.

As such, Cale couldn’t help but be wary of Imperial Prince Adin.

If it was crown prince Alberu of the Roan Kingdom, he wouldn’t act as Adin had done.

‘Alberu keeps his promises to his people.’

If the people were told that they would be fighting fairly, that is what he would have done.

This was the reason Cale thought Alberu was the most similar yet different from him.

It was also the reason why Imperial Prince Adin was similar to crown prince Alberu, but ultimately different as well.

This made Cale feel uncomfortable with Adin.

Adin’s resemblance to crown prince Alberu meant that Adin was somewhat similar to Cale as well.

So, Cale started to speak as he stared at Toonka’s back.

“And?”

Return Maple Castle.

It didn’t end with just that.

It wouldn’t end with just that.

The Empire’s pride and ambition wouldn’t let them just stop with Maple Castle.

If that was the case, why would Toonka be worrying and talking so wearily?

Toonka scoffed and answered Cale’s question.

“They want 100,000 people of the Whipper Kingdom for 80 years.”

“…What?”

‘They wanted what?’

This time, even Cale struggled to understand immediately. There was something that came to mind, but it was difficult to confirm that as the answer.

“Harol will explain it to you. Follow me.”

Toonka walked out the door.

Cale followed suit with a sense of foreboding.

The Empire wanted 100,000 people from the Whipper Kingdom for 80 years.

‘Why does this sound like the Empire wants the power to use 100,000 Whipper Kingdom people as slaves for 80 years?’

of the basement and sternly started

get to

Chief Harol more than

looked around

looks more extravagant

interior had a completely different

‘It’s pretty empty.’

around. Furthermore, those who came and went did not have happy

disguised as a priest, looked around the royal palace, which was the center of the Whipper Kingdom, and noticed the surrounding

sense of defeat all around

was it

officials, knights, and guards all gave off and

‘That’s what I’m saying.’

something was off. He glanced at Choi Han who was beside him. Choi Han, whose appearance was hidden with

kind of atmosphere is

everything seem like

recalled that mood and asked Toonka, who

know about

3 people other

Our side.

the natives who were the initial members of the non-mage faction with Toonka and Harol, which

‘Ha!’

what

passing us by with an air of helplessness aren’t the people on Toonka’s

Cale started to speak.

many of those that are on our

hesitated for a moment and

expected, you’re very

More like it’s just

noticed all the people glancing furtively at Toonka while passing by. There was a mixture of discontent, dread, and

Toonka’s continued to speak.

central palace is where

was still

the Magic Tower and emerged as

same, as well as the royal family’s faction of the nobles, and the government officials within

of the central

were no more

were familiar-looking

be clearly felt as ‘Toonka’s

the operations

of the operations room. However, there were native citizen warriors glancing at Toonka as they stood by both sides

the warriors

“What is it?”

“Commander, it’s just that…”

the warriors looked at Cale and hesitated, unable to answer. Toonka, who saw this, knitted his brows

Click.

hot-tempered, unhesitating Toonka. Thanks to him, Cale could

Harol, why are you rejecting

was not

of the open door. Cale could see Chief Harol as well as his advisors through the

wearing the crown and speaking, the one who just spoke was the king

the

the citizens were used as experimental guinea pigs in the Magic Tower and the kingdom’s people were heavily taxed and treated as slaves, the Whipper

items created from the only Magic Tower on

Whipper Kingdom who suffered from poverty, the Whipper Kingdom’s royal family lived a more affluent life than

ruled the royal palace and the kingdom, flinched when he saw Toonka. However, he

“Chief Harol! Say something!”

Kingdom’s royalty watched the Mage faction from the sidelines, they also did not suppress the Anti-mage faction when they

was why the non-mage faction kept the royal family intact after taking down

king never stepped in to manage the affairs of his

invasion. He shouted at Harol

if the Empire attacks

We’re finished.

lips at the statement. It was to prevent himself from bursting into

of was the royal family and the powerful

of the Whipper Kingdom were not included in

about that than anyone else. That was why he kept his eyes

does not just

royal faction said

another demand that the Empire

Harol glanced at Cale and continued to speak. He recited the

portion of the Whipper Kingdom’s land surrounding that area must be included. In addition, the Whipper Kingdom must provide free manpower to develop the recently devastated Maple Castle and the surrounding area, as well as

Cale gulped.

was not

100,000 people, and the kingdom must fulfill this quota

Cale closed his eyes.

Whipper Kingdom’s citizens will

‘Exactly.’

free of charge for 80 years was basically demanding them to send 100,000 people to the Empire to

was heard

you

had steeled himself

believed they would not

support the non-mage

then continued with

accept the Empire’s

Harol started to frown.

should have killed him

tore down the Magic Tower. He had kept him alive because he didn’t

against the king and killed him in the face of war, the people of the Whipper Kingdom, who should come together and fight against the Empire,

his anger

demanding a hundred thousand

king exclaimed

Isn’t the Empire simply requesting for a temporary labor force? If

‘Ha.’

Harol was stunned.

years was temporary? And that didn’t make

the Empire’s intentions

time when the mage faction and the non-mage faction were fighting, the king feigned ignorance and fully immersed

help

majesty, where will you find

planning to send to the Empire to

answered immediately as

“It’s not much!”

It’s not much?

contorted with

the king

nobles are going. Aren’t there many proud Whipper citizens outside of

Cale swallowed a sigh.

citizens outside of the royal

The king was confident.

be no war and nobody would die. Isn’t that quite peaceful? If the Empire truly invades our country, we’re

king was probably just afraid that he

Cale frowned.

invaded the Empire, the king had an

could simply tell the Empire that he watched from the sidelines because he

as it was the Empire who was

abandon 100,000 of his people for 80 years in order

Toonka was silent.

his fury

at

Harol’s voice

people followed us, the non-mage faction, in our fight

Harol’s eyes were cold.

so he led the people of the non-mage

ends meet.

his

much the mages oppressed your citizens? Do you know how many people died after being dragged and experimented on in the Magic

glanced at the silent Toonka and started

we all be able to live? If war breaks out, we may all die! You can’t think of the Empire as the same one from Maple Castle! The real Empire is