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

get to Harol

Harol

looked around

more extravagant than Roan’s

the interior had a completely different

‘It’s pretty empty.’

people around. Furthermore, those who came and went did

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

defeat all

was it

because they weren’t in the central palace, he noticed that the government officials, knights, and guards all gave

‘That’s what I’m saying.’

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

this kind of atmosphere is probably

that made everything seem like it was

who was in front of him,

know about

people

Our side.

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

‘Ha!’

finally realized what was

air of helplessness aren’t

Cale started to speak.

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

a moment and then

As expected, you’re

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.

where the royal

was still

and the non-mage faction tore down the Magic Tower

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

the innermost part of the central palace before he even

more

addition, there were familiar-looking warriors

could be clearly felt

the

citizen warriors glancing at Toonka as they stood by both sides

asked the warriors a

“What is it?”

“Commander, it’s just that…”

unable to answer. Toonka, who saw this, knitted his brows as he forcefully opened the

Click.

unhesitating Toonka. Thanks to him, Cale could hear

are you rejecting

was not a familiar

Harol as well as his advisors

the crown and speaking, the one who just spoke was

recalled the

the Magic Tower and the kingdom’s people were heavily taxed and treated

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

Whipper Kingdom who suffered from poverty, the Whipper Kingdom’s royal family lived a

when he saw Toonka. However,

“Chief Harol! Say something!”

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

the royal family intact after taking

never stepped in to manage the affairs of

raised his voice when he heard of the Empire’s invasion. He shouted at Harol with

finished if the

We’re finished.

bit his lips at the statement. It was to

was the royal family and

Whipper Kingdom were not included in that

That was why he kept his eyes on the king even though he was aware of Toonka

majesty, the Empire does not just

and the royal faction said that they should accept the

that the Empire

speak. He recited

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

Cale gulped.

Harol was

be solely made up of the Whipper Kingdom’s citizens, numbering 100,000 people, and the kingdom

Cale closed his eyes.

Isn’t that just saying the Whipper Kingdom’s citizens will do

‘Exactly.’

people yearly to work free of charge for 80 years was basically demanding them to send

voice was heard

you understand what

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

would not kill the king

support the

continued with a

would accept the

Harol started to frown.

should have

Magic Tower. He had kept him alive because he didn’t want

in the face of war, the people of the Whipper Kingdom, who should come together and fight

swallowed his anger and

thousand people to labor as

exclaimed with

simply requesting for a temporary labor force? If

‘Ha.’

Harol was stunned.

And

king, who knew the Empire’s intentions yet

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

help but

where will you

he planning to send to the Empire to become

answered immediately as Harol

“It’s not much!”

It’s not much?

contorted

king

there many proud Whipper citizens outside of the royal palace

Cale swallowed a sigh.

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

The king was confident.

nobody would die. Isn’t that quite peaceful? If the Empire

king was probably just afraid

Cale frowned.

when Toonka invaded the Empire,

Empire that he watched from the sidelines because he was afraid

it was different this time as it was

100,000 of his people for 80 years in order to save his own life. He then caught sight of

Toonka was silent.

his fury could

was at that

voice was

of why people followed us, the non-mage

Harol’s eyes were cold.

led the people of

make ends meet.

his voice

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

glanced at the silent Toonka and started to speak

out, we may all die! You can’t think of the