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?’

the basement

get to Harol

to meet Chief Harol

looked around the Whipper

more extravagant than Roan’s

interior had a completely different

‘It’s pretty empty.’

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

palace, which was the center of the

all around even before the

it

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

‘That’s what I’m saying.’

at Choi Han who was beside him. Choi Han, whose appearance was hidden with a robe, was also

of atmosphere is probably

made everything seem like it was limp and

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

people know about

3 people

Our side.

were the initial members of the non-mage faction with

‘Ha!’

finally realized what

air of helplessness aren’t the

Cale started to speak.

of those that are on our side

a

As expected,

More like it’s

at Toonka while passing by. There was a mixture of discontent, dread, and fear in

Toonka’s continued to speak.

central palace is where the royal family

Kingdom was still

down the Magic Tower and emerged as influential people in the

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

the innermost part of

were no more

were familiar-looking warriors

clearly felt as

is the operations

stood in front of the operations room. However, there were native citizen

asked the warriors a

“What is it?”

“Commander, it’s just that…”

Toonka, who saw this, knitted his brows as he forcefully

Click.

Thanks to him,

why are you rejecting

not a familiar

as well as his advisors through the gap, confronting someone

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

recalled the

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

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

from poverty, the

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

“Chief Harol! Say something!”

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

non-mage faction kept the royal family intact after taking

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

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

finished if the Empire attacks

We’re finished.

It was

was the royal family and the powerful elites at

Kingdom were not included in that

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

majesty, the Empire does not just want Maple

and the royal faction said that they should

demand that the Empire made

glanced at Cale and continued to speak. He recited the offer proposed by 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 the portion of land that will be given to the Empire from

Cale gulped.

was

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 of the

Cale closed his eyes.

Whipper Kingdom’s citizens will do all the

‘Exactly.’

Whipper 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 people to the Empire to become slaves for 80

voice was

you understand what

He had steeled himself before coming to look

to do this because he believed they would not

support the non-mage

with a

would accept

Harol started to frown.

have killed

tore down the Magic Tower. He had

so carelessly. If he revolted against the king and killed him in the

swallowed his

demanding a hundred thousand people to labor as such is basically making them

king exclaimed

a temporary labor

‘Ha.’

Harol was stunned.

was temporary? And

found the king, who knew the Empire’s intentions yet

non-mage faction were fighting, the king

couldn’t help but raise his

where will you find

who was he planning to send to the Empire to

answered immediately

“It’s not much!”

It’s not much?

face contorted

the king

going. Aren’t there many proud Whipper citizens outside of the royal palace who

Cale swallowed a sigh.

if it was just the citizens outside of the royal palace who were going as slaves, and not the royal family nor

The king was confident.

would die. Isn’t that quite peaceful? If the Empire truly invades our

was probably just afraid

Cale frowned.

the Empire, the king had an

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

it was

in order to save his own life. He then caught sight of Toonka’s fists that were trembling with

Toonka was silent.

fury could be

was at that

Harol’s voice was

us, the non-mage

Harol’s eyes were cold.

he led the people of the non-mage faction. However, he also understood the

ends meet. That’s why they

his

of how much the mages oppressed your citizens? Do you know

flinched for a moment, but quickly glanced at the silent

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