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 and sternly started to

to Harol

meet Chief Harol more than anything

looked around the

extravagant

exterior, the interior had a completely

‘It’s pretty empty.’

weren’t many people around. Furthermore, those who came and went did not

was currently disguised as a priest, looked around the royal palace, which was the center of the Whipper Kingdom, and

of defeat all around

it

they weren’t in the central palace, he noticed that the government officials, knights,

‘That’s what I’m saying.’

Choi Han who was beside him. Choi Han, whose

atmosphere is probably

that made everything seem like

Toonka, who

many people know about that

3 people

Our side.

the non-mage faction with Toonka

‘Ha!’

what was going

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

Cale started to speak.

there aren’t many of those that are

hesitated for a moment and then

expected, you’re

More like it’s just

furtively at Toonka while passing by. There was a mixture

Toonka’s continued to speak.

is where the royal

Kingdom was still a

non-mage faction tore down the Magic Tower and

the 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 realized

were no more passersby around

there were familiar-looking warriors

clearly felt as

is the

there were native citizen warriors glancing at Toonka as they stood by both sides of

the warriors

“What is it?”

“Commander, it’s just that…”

warriors looked at Cale and hesitated, unable to answer. Toonka, who saw this, knitted his brows as he forcefully opened

Click.

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

Harol, why are you rejecting

was not

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

speaking, the one who

the

Magic Tower and the kingdom’s people were heavily taxed and treated as slaves, the Whipper Kingdom’s royal palace quietly spectated from the sidelines as they reaped the

Kingdom became rich from the magic items created

Whipper Kingdom who suffered from poverty, the Whipper Kingdom’s

the kingdom, flinched when he saw Toonka. However, he quickly turned away from Toonka and

“Chief Harol! Say something!”

from the sidelines,

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

king never stepped in

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

if the Empire attacks

We’re finished.

his lips at the statement. It was

spoke of was the royal family and

Kingdom

than anyone else. That was why he kept his

the Empire does not just

royal faction said that they should accept the

that the Empire

at Cale and continued to speak. He recited

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

Cale gulped.

Harol was

work force is to be solely made up of the Whipper Kingdom’s citizens, numbering 100,000 people, and the kingdom must fulfill this

Cale closed his eyes.

Kingdom’s

‘Exactly.’

of its able-bodied people yearly to work free of charge for 80 years was basically demanding them to send 100,000 people to

voice was heard

majesty, don’t you

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

this because he believed they would not

support the

continued with

accept

Harol started to frown.

should have

Tower. He had kept

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

swallowed his anger and

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

king exclaimed with

the Empire simply requesting for a temporary labor force?

‘Ha.’

Harol was stunned.

temporary? And

king, who knew the Empire’s intentions yet feigned

time when the mage faction and the non-mage faction were fighting, the king feigned ignorance and fully immersed

couldn’t help

where will you find

he planning to send to the Empire

king answered immediately as

“It’s not much!”

It’s not much?

contorted

the king

the non-mage faction, the natives, or the nobles are going. Aren’t there many proud Whipper citizens outside of the royal palace

Cale swallowed a sigh.

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

The king was confident.

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

probably just afraid that he

Cale frowned.

when Toonka invaded the Empire,

watched from the sidelines because he was afraid

time as it was the Empire who was going

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

Toonka was silent.

his fury could

at that

Harol’s voice was

of why people followed us, the non-mage faction,

Harol’s eyes were cold.

wanted to get rid of all mages, so he led the people of the non-mage faction. However, he also understood the hearts of

ends meet.

raised his voice

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

but quickly glanced at

may