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?’

followed Toonka out of the basement and

get to

meet Chief Harol

followed Toonka out and looked around

more extravagant than

the interior had a completely different

‘It’s pretty empty.’

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

all

was it like

noticed that the government officials, knights, and guards all gave off and air of defeat from their expressions.Human, it feels like

‘That’s what I’m saying.’

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

is probably

made everything seem like

asked Toonka, who was in

many people know about

people other

Our side.

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

‘Ha!’

finally realized what was

with an air of helplessness aren’t the people on

Cale started to speak.

aren’t many of those that are on our side at

for a

expected, you’re very

like it’s just

people glancing furtively at Toonka while passing by. There

Toonka’s continued to speak.

palace is where

was still a

and the non-mage faction tore down the Magic Tower

as well as the royal family’s

at the innermost part of the central palace before he even realized

more passersby around

were familiar-looking warriors

place could be clearly felt

is the operations

there were native citizen warriors glancing at Toonka as they stood by

asked the warriors a

“What is it?”

“Commander, it’s just that…”

at Cale and hesitated, unable to answer. Toonka, who saw this, knitted his brows as he

Click.

Toonka. Thanks to him,

you rejecting

was not a

well as his advisors through

crown and speaking, the one who

recalled the

were heavily taxed and treated as slaves, the Whipper Kingdom’s royal palace quietly spectated from the sidelines as they reaped the benefits given by the

Kingdom became rich from the magic items created from the only

of the Whipper Kingdom who suffered from poverty, the

kingdom, flinched when he saw Toonka. However, he

“Chief Harol! Say something!”

the Mage faction from the sidelines, they also did not suppress the Anti-mage faction

royal family intact after taking down

Kingdom’s king never stepped in to manage the affairs of

heard of the Empire’s invasion. He shouted at Harol with a desperate look on his

finished if the Empire attacks

We’re finished.

statement. It was to prevent himself from

of was the royal

the Whipper Kingdom were not included in

anyone else. That was why he kept his eyes on the king even though he was aware of Toonka and Cale’s

does not just want

royal faction said that they should

another demand that the Empire

Cale and continued to speak. He recited the offer proposed by

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

Cale gulped.

was not

work force is to be solely made up of the Whipper Kingdom’s citizens, numbering 100,000 people, and

Cale closed his eyes.

echoed through his head.Human! Isn’t that just saying the Whipper Kingdom’s citizens will do

‘Exactly.’

provide 100,000 of its able-bodied people yearly to work free of charge for 80 years was basically demanding them to send 100,000 people to the

was

majesty, don’t you understand

a calm expression. He had steeled himself before coming to look for Toonka

do this because he believed they would not kill the king right

the

then continued with

would accept the

Harol started to frown.

should have

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

him in the face of war, the people of

his anger

majesty, no matter how you look at it, demanding a hundred thousand people to labor as such is basically making

king exclaimed

temporary labor force? If we just

‘Ha.’

Harol was stunned.

temporary? And that didn’t make

the king, who knew the Empire’s intentions yet feigned ignorance,

were fighting, the king feigned ignorance and fully immersed himself in

Harol, couldn’t help

majesty, where will you

send

answered immediately as

“It’s not much!”

It’s not much?

face contorted with

the king

non-mage faction, the natives, or the nobles are going. Aren’t there many proud Whipper citizens outside of the royal palace who could work

Cale swallowed a sigh.

was questioning what the issue was if it was just the citizens outside of the royal palace who were going as

The king was confident.

that quite

king was probably just afraid that he would

Cale frowned.

invaded the Empire,

Empire that he watched from the

it was different this time as it

years in order

Toonka was silent.

fury could

was at that

Harol’s voice was

followed us, the non-mage

Harol’s eyes were cold.

get rid of all mages, so he led the people of the non-mage faction. However, he also understood the hearts of those who followed

was hard to make ends meet. That’s

raised his

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

at

we accept the Empire’s offer, wouldn’t we all be able to live? If war breaks out, we may