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

to meet Chief Harol more than anything

followed Toonka out and looked around

looks more extravagant

sparkling exterior, the interior had a completely different

‘It’s pretty empty.’

around. Furthermore, those who came and went

who was currently disguised as a priest, looked around the royal palace, which

all

was it like

the central palace, he noticed that the government officials, knights, and guards all gave off and air of defeat from their expressions.Human, it

‘That’s what I’m saying.’

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

kind of atmosphere is probably a first for

that made everything

recalled that mood and asked Toonka, who

many people know

3 people other

Our side.

initial members of the

‘Ha!’

realized what

air of helplessness aren’t the people

Cale started to speak.

of those that are on our side

hesitated for a

As expected, you’re

More like it’s just

Toonka while passing by. There was a mixture of discontent, dread,

Toonka’s continued to speak.

central palace is where

Kingdom was still a

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

royal family remained the same, as well as the royal family’s

of the central palace before he even realized

more

there were

clearly

is the operations

citizen warriors glancing at Toonka as they

the warriors a

“What is it?”

“Commander, it’s just that…”

unable to answer. Toonka, who saw this, knitted his

Click.

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

you rejecting the Empire’s

not a

well as his advisors through the gap, confronting someone who was wearing a crown and surrounded

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

recalled the Whipper

citizens were used as experimental guinea pigs in the Magic Tower and the kingdom’s people were heavily taxed and treated as slaves, the Whipper Kingdom’s royal palace

items created from the

poverty, the Whipper Kingdom’s royal family lived

the royal palace and the kingdom, flinched when he 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

kept the royal family intact after taking down the Magic

in to

heard of the Empire’s invasion. He shouted at Harol with

finished if the Empire

We’re finished.

lips at the statement. It was to prevent

of was the royal

the Whipper Kingdom were not

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

does not

royal faction said that they should accept the Empire’s

isn’t there another demand that the Empire

to speak. He recited

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.

Harol was

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

Cale closed his eyes.

head.Human! Isn’t that just saying the Whipper Kingdom’s

‘Exactly.’

demand that the Whipper Kingdom provide 100,000 of its able-bodied people yearly to work free of charge for 80 years

was heard

majesty, don’t you understand what this

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

he believed they would not kill the king right now. He spoke calmly and with a

the

with a

would accept

Harol started to frown.

have killed him

him when he tore down the Magic Tower. He had

kill the king so carelessly. If he revolted against the king and killed him in the face of war, the people

his anger

hundred thousand people to labor as

king exclaimed with

Isn’t the Empire simply requesting for a temporary labor force? If we

‘Ha.’

Harol was stunned.

temporary? And that

found the king, who knew the

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

couldn’t help

where will you

was he planning to send to the Empire

answered immediately

“It’s not much!”

It’s not much?

contorted with

the king

nobles are going. Aren’t there many proud Whipper citizens outside of the royal palace who could work in

Cale swallowed a sigh.

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

The king was confident.

war and nobody would die. Isn’t that quite

king was probably just afraid that he would

Cale frowned.

the Empire, the king

he watched from the sidelines because he was

as it was the Empire who was going to

of his people for 80 years in order to save his own life. He then caught sight of Toonka’s fists that were

Toonka was silent.

his fury could be

was at that

voice was

of why people followed us, the

Harol’s eyes were cold.

people of the

to make ends meet. That’s why they followed

raised his

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

flinched for a moment, but quickly glanced at the silent

may all die!