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

to Harol

meet Chief Harol

out and looked around

extravagant than Roan’s

the interior had a

‘It’s pretty empty.’

who came and went

around the royal palace, which

defeat all around even before the

it

soldiers and warriors because they weren’t in the central palace, 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 everyone’s faces like

‘That’s what I’m saying.’

something was off. He glanced at Choi Han who was beside him. Choi Han, whose appearance was hidden with a robe, was also looking

this kind of atmosphere is

mood that made everything

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

many people know about

people

Our side.

of the non-mage faction with Toonka and Harol,

‘Ha!’

realized what was going

people passing us by with an air of helplessness aren’t the

Cale started to speak.

many of those that are

a moment and

expected, you’re very

like it’s

noticed all the people glancing furtively at Toonka while passing by. There was a mixture of discontent, dread, and fear

Toonka’s continued to speak.

is where the

Whipper Kingdom was still a

Magic Tower

as well as the royal family’s faction of

of the

no more passersby

were familiar-looking

place could be clearly felt as

the

citizen warriors

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 forcefully opened the

Click.

unhesitating Toonka. Thanks to him, Cale could hear the voices

are you

was not a familiar

Cale could see Chief Harol as well as his advisors through the

and speaking, the one who

recalled the Whipper

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

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

suffered from poverty, the Whipper

palace and the kingdom, flinched when 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

the royal family intact after taking down the

king never stepped in to manage the affairs

when he heard of the Empire’s invasion. He

finished if the

We’re finished.

It was to prevent himself

of was the royal family and the powerful elites

Kingdom were not included

That was why he kept his eyes

Empire does

faction said that they should accept the Empire’s

that the

Cale and continued to speak. He recited the

free manpower to develop the recently devastated Maple Castle and the surrounding area, as well as the portion of land that will

Cale gulped.

was

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 of the

Cale closed his eyes.

just saying the Whipper Kingdom’s citizens

‘Exactly.’

work free of charge for 80 years was basically demanding them to send 100,000 people to the Empire to become slaves for 80

was heard

don’t you

He had steeled himself before coming to

because he believed they would not kill the king right now. He spoke calmly

support the

with a tight

accept the Empire’s

Harol started to frown.

have killed him

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

If he revolted against the king and killed him in the face of war, the people of the Whipper

swallowed his anger

look at it, demanding a hundred thousand people to labor as such is

exclaimed

temporary labor force? If we just accept that

‘Ha.’

Harol was stunned.

was temporary? And that didn’t

who knew the

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

Harol, couldn’t help

you

he planning to send to the Empire

immediately as

“It’s not much!”

It’s not much?

contorted

the king spoke

not like the non-mage faction, the natives, or the nobles are going. Aren’t there many proud

Cale swallowed a sigh.

citizens outside of the royal palace who were going as slaves, and not the

The king was confident.

would be no war and nobody would die. Isn’t that

probably just

Cale frowned.

Empire, the king had an

that he watched from the sidelines because he was afraid

this time as it was the Empire who was going

his people for 80 years in order to save his own life.

Toonka was silent.

fury could be

at that

voice

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

Harol’s eyes were cold.

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

make ends meet. That’s why they followed

his

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

but quickly glanced at the silent

accept the Empire’s offer, wouldn’t we all be able to live? If war breaks out, we may all die! You can’t think of the Empire as the