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?’

Toonka out of the basement and sternly started to

to Harol

Harol more than anything right

Toonka out and looked around the Whipper

extravagant

interior had a completely

‘It’s pretty empty.’

people around. Furthermore, those who came and went did not

priest, looked around the royal palace, which was the center of the Whipper Kingdom, and

sense of defeat all around

it like

he noticed that the government officials, knights, and guards all gave off and air of defeat from their expressions.Human, it feels like we already lost! Why is

‘That’s what I’m saying.’

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

kind of atmosphere is probably a

that made everything seem like it was limp and

who was in front of

many people know about that

2 or 3 people

Our side.

the natives who were the initial members of the non-mage faction with

‘Ha!’

finally realized what was

by with an air of helplessness aren’t the

Cale started to speak.

those that are on our side at the central

for a moment and then

As expected, you’re

like

then that Cale noticed all the people glancing furtively at Toonka while passing by. There was a mixture of

Toonka’s continued to speak.

is where the

was still a

Magic Tower and emerged as influential people

royal family remained the same, as well as the royal family’s faction of the nobles, and

the innermost part of the central palace before

were no more

addition, there were familiar-looking

clearly felt as

the

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

the warriors a

“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 as he

Click.

Toonka. Thanks to him, Cale could

why are you rejecting the Empire’s

not a familiar

open door. Cale could see Chief Harol as well as his advisors through the gap, confronting someone who was wearing a

speaking, the one who just spoke was the

the Whipper

kingdom’s people 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 Mage

became rich from the magic items created from the only Magic Tower on the

poverty, the Whipper Kingdom’s royal family lived a more affluent life

saw Toonka. However, he quickly turned away from Toonka and looked at

“Chief Harol! Say something!”

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

faction kept the royal

king never stepped in to manage the affairs of his

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

if the

We’re finished.

It was to prevent himself

that the king spoke of was the royal family

the Whipper Kingdom were

was why he kept his eyes on the

Empire does

the royal faction said that they should accept

isn’t there another demand that the Empire made

Harol glanced at Cale and continued to speak.

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 the portion of land that will be given

Cale gulped.

Harol was not

is to be solely made up of the Whipper Kingdom’s citizens, numbering 100,000 people, and the kingdom must fulfill this quota yearly for 80 years to promote the development

Cale closed his eyes.

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

‘Exactly.’

Kingdom 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

was

majesty, don’t you understand what

a calm expression. He had steeled

only able to do this because he believed they would not

support the

continued with a tight

accept

Harol started to frown.

should have killed him

tore down the Magic Tower. He had kept him alive because

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

his anger and

a hundred thousand people to labor as such is basically making them slaves, isn’t

exclaimed

temporary labor force?

‘Ha.’

Harol was stunned.

And

the Empire’s intentions yet feigned ignorance,

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

couldn’t help but raise

you find those 100,000

to send to the Empire

king answered immediately as Harol

“It’s not much!”

It’s not much?

face contorted

the king

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

Cale swallowed a sigh.

the citizens outside of the royal palace

The king was confident.

that quite

probably just afraid

Cale frowned.

Toonka invaded the Empire, the

the Empire that he watched

was different this time as it was the Empire who was going to

80 years in

Toonka was silent.

his fury could be

at that

voice was

you unaware of why people followed us, the non-mage faction, in

Harol’s eyes were cold.

all mages, so he led the people of the non-mage faction. However, he also understood the hearts of

was hard to make ends meet. That’s why

raised his voice

you unaware of how much the mages oppressed your citizens? Do you know how many people died

moment, but quickly glanced at the silent Toonka and

may all die! You can’t think of the Empire as the same one from Maple Castle! The real Empire is