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 sternly started to

get to

had to meet Chief Harol

followed Toonka out and looked around the Whipper Kingdom’s

extravagant than

the sparkling exterior, the interior had

‘It’s pretty empty.’

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

palace, which was the center of the Whipper Kingdom,

defeat all around even before the

was it like

of atmosphere surrounded the soldiers and warriors because they weren’t in the central palace, he noticed that the government officials,

‘That’s what I’m saying.’

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

atmosphere is probably

mood that made everything seem like it was

recalled that mood and asked Toonka, who was in front of

people know

3 people other than

Our side.

members of the non-mage faction with Toonka and Harol, which were namely his

‘Ha!’

what was going

an air of helplessness

Cale started to speak.

seems that there aren’t many of those that

for a

expected,

More like

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

Toonka’s continued to speak.

is where the royal family

Kingdom was still a

and the non-mage faction tore down the Magic Tower and emerged as influential

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

of the central palace before he even realized

more passersby

addition, there were familiar-looking warriors

be clearly

the

native citizen warriors glancing at Toonka as they

the warriors

“What is it?”

“Commander, it’s just that…”

answer. Toonka, who saw this, knitted his brows as he

Click.

was still the hot-tempered, unhesitating Toonka. Thanks to him, Cale could hear

you rejecting the

was not a familiar

door. Cale could see Chief Harol as well as his advisors through the gap,

crown and speaking, the one who

the Whipper

treated as slaves, the Whipper Kingdom’s royal palace

magic items created

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

flinched when he saw Toonka. However, he quickly turned

“Chief Harol! Say something!”

the sidelines, they also did not suppress the

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

in to manage the

voice when he heard of the Empire’s invasion. He shouted at

if the Empire

We’re finished.

his lips at the statement. It was to prevent himself

king spoke of was the royal family and the powerful

Whipper Kingdom were not included in that

about that than anyone else. That was why he kept his eyes on the king even though

majesty, the Empire does not just want Maple

king and the royal faction said that they

another demand that the Empire made in

at Cale and continued to speak. He recited

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 to the Empire from this

Cale gulped.

Harol was

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.

through his head.Human! Isn’t that just saying the 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 become slaves for

was

majesty, don’t you understand

before speaking with a calm expression. He had steeled himself before coming

course, he was only able to do this because he believed they would not kill

the

with a

accept

Harol started to frown.

have

should have killed him when he tore down the Magic Tower. He had kept him alive because he didn’t want to

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

his anger and

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

exclaimed with

simply requesting for a temporary labor force? If we just accept that offer, we can

‘Ha.’

Harol was stunned.

years was temporary? And that didn’t make them

king, who knew the

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

Harol, couldn’t help

majesty, where will you find

he planning to send to the

immediately as

“It’s not much!”

It’s not much?

contorted with

king spoke

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

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 slaves, and not

The king was confident.

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

just

Cale frowned.

Toonka invaded the Empire, the king

the Empire that he watched from the

different this time as it was the Empire who

the king who was willing to abandon 100,000 of his people for 80 years in order to save his

Toonka was silent.

his fury could be

at that

voice

us, the non-mage faction, in our fight

Harol’s eyes were cold.

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.

raised his voice

citizens? Do you know how many people died after being dragged and

but quickly glanced at the silent Toonka and started to speak once

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