City of Desire: Chapter 1024 Arenthal’s Plan (Patreon)

Proofread by Thomas F

Count Viremont

“I want everyone to stay in the camp; it doesn’t matter whether they are mercenary or noble. They will stay in the camp,” I said to Gaiden, my general.

He is as old as I am, but looks slightly younger and more handsome because of his elf blood.

I have been quite envious of it in my childhood. Even now, I feel envy sometimes.

“Don’t worry, my lord. I will not let any single person out of the camp,” he replied; I know he would not.

“They will not be happy about it,” said Loxley beside me. “I don’t want them to be happy; I want them to be safe.” With that, I stepped into the carriage; he followed behind me.

We have set up a camp right at the boundary of Renwell, and I want everyone in there.

The camp is safest with the powerhouses guarding it.

There are a lot of complaints from the nobles and mercenaries, but there will be no exception. I want them in one place until I achieve my aim.

“Do you really think they will try to assassinate you in the city?” asked Loxley.

“You should know the answer to that yourself,” I said to him, and he laughed. The man himself nearly got assassinated in the capital itself. If it could happen in the capital, it could happen everywhere.

Given the incidents that happened during the opening of the legacy, I trust Inam even less than before.

I looked out of the window; it would take an hour to reach the city despite how fast it was going. Riding would have been much faster, but I can’t ride my warbeast.

I am a noble; I have to follow certain rules.

“What do you think she wants?” he asked after a few minutes of silence.

“She could want a lot of things,” I replied. As for particularly what, I don’t know. I hope it’s nothing detrimental to me; she couldn’t defeat me, but she could create a lot of trouble.

Especially if she joins Silver or Grimvale.

Soon, the city comes into view, and its massive port. Inam is the envy of all, and it has become even more important in this war. The legacy had increased its value further.

The legacy, which would be mine as long as I defeated Silver and conquered Greltheaven.

I will.

Soon, the carriage reached the port. Most of my army had gathered, but still some small part of it remained, and two powerhouses would arrive by tomorrow.

The day after that, I will march into the Renwell region.

The carriage reached the gates and entered. I could feel Loxley activating his skill.

He might seem careful, but he can be cautious when he needs to be. It's an amazing skill; with it active, the thief would have a very hard time sneaking up on us.

Though I wish someone would. These weeks and all Silver’s machinations had filled me with such anger that I want to kill someone.

I could have sparred to let some out, but I am keeping it all contained to destroy Silver.

Finally, the carriage reached its destination. A large, magnificent manor, with an enormous garden. They might have wanted a meeting, but the venue is mine.

This is a family manor; it has been in our hands for centuries.

“Sire Viremont, welcome back,” said the white-haired man.

“Salal, how are things?” I asked the major-domo. “Everything is well, my lord—except that you spend too little time here for us to serve you properly.” I laughed at that.

I had spent a lot of my childhood here. I have many fond memories of it.

“Don’t worry, Salal. I am going to be here a lot more,” I said and walked inside. Once I conquer Greltheaven, I will be making trips to Inam.

“Has the guest arrived?” I asked, and he nodded.

“Yes.”

“I have him in your office, as you had instructed,” he replied. I nodded, walking through its hallway. I looked around, remembering the fond memories I have of this place.

“What happened?” I asked Loxley, seeing him looking back. “I am feeling like someone is watching me.”

I frowned as I heard that and focused on my class, but didn’t sense anything. I activated my presence skill and pushed my aura, but didn’t sense anything.

Still, I didn’t relax.

“Are you sensing anything?” I asked, and he frowned. “That’s the thing, I am not, but I am feeling  an eye on me.”

“Keep looking,” I said, hoping I had a privacy artifact, but I did not. Those are a very rare kind of artifact; even trinkets command value equal to the true artifact.

“It’s gone,” he said suddenly, and I frowned.

“Could you have imagined it?” I asked.

If it had been anyone else, even me, I might have blamed stress. It happens in times of war; I have seen it many times. It takes its toll, even on the strong-willed.

But Loxley never feels pressure. Sometimes I wondered if he felt anything.

Fear never shook his voice, anger never ruled him, and guilt seemed like something he understood only by watching other people.

Even his warmth is copied—a smile when one was expected, concern shaped to fit the moment. He played the part well, but his eyes always gave him away.

Those who know him truly well shudder at his name.

“Maybe. I don’t know,” he replied. Hearing doubt from him unsettled me more than the warning itself. Loxley carried confidence past reason, almost to the edge of madness.

So, there is good reason: someone is spying on us. There are too many skills, artifacts, and other things that could do that, and I do not believe I am powerful enough to sense it all.

It's why I didn’t deactivate my presence and formed a layer around me.

Soon, I reached the door, and guards standing by it bowed before opening it. I stepped inside, and there was a man; he got up as I stepped inside.

“Count Viremont, Viscount Loxley,” he greeted.

He was the same age as me, shorter and built stockily. He was average, the last time I saw him, but like everyone, the war had changed him.

“Viscount Larcastle,” I replied, before sitting down in my chair.

Loxley sat beside him, and I could see the man instantly become serious, with his hands slightly moving toward his blade before stopping.

He noticed the reaction and his lips curved a little.

“So, what does the Marchioness want? Is she finally ready to join me?” I asked. The man seemed surprised; he did not expect me to be direct, but I don’t have time for pleasantries.

I have barely a day and a half, and I have a lot of people to meet. 

Inam has a lot of powerhouses, and I will be meeting them. If even I could convince a small number of them, it would help me tremendously in conquering the region.

“The non-aggression pact,” the man replied simply, while I laughed.

“Why the hell would I do that? She refuses to join me, has  the city I wanted despite stating my desire for it openly.”

“Tell me, Viscount, why would I do that? Instead of conquering Almin, with the army I have and the powerhouses with it, it wouldn’t take me long to do that,” I asked.

The man didn’t say anything; even his expression didn’t change.

“Because if you didn’t. We will join Greltheaven against you,” he replied, and immediately, my presence covered the whole room, shaking it with aura powering it.

The man only twitched; that too disappeared. I looked at him before pulling back.

So, that was her plan; quite simple, actually, but genius.

“I believe you will be offering the same pact?” I asked. Silver’s representative in Almin, and it’s not easy to guess; she will be presenting the same agreement to him.

“Yes,” he replied.

“You know, old man, no agreement is foolproof. As long as one is willing to bear the cost, it could be broken,” said Loxley, while Larcastle smiled.

I wanted to bang my fist against the table.

Nobody would break the agreement, nor would I or Silver, because we aren’t the only two in the region. If we did, she would join Grimvale and the combination of the two would be very dangerous.

I am sure she would be signing some agreement with Grimvale as well.

She had sent her representative to him.

So, here I sign the agreement; if I didn’t, she would join Silver. If I break it, she will join Grimvale against me, and he is not a threat I take lightly.

Silver might have the most potential, but currently, Grimvale is the most dangerous in the region.

More than Silver or the undead.

“Let me see the agreement,” I said, holding back a grimace. She’d played this well, but her plan still had a hole in it. All I had to do was take Greltheaven.

After that, they could all team up, and it still wouldn’t be enough to stop me.

…

Remus Silver

“Agree to it,” I said to Hardt.

‘As you wish, my lord,’ replied Hardt before cutting the call. Non-aggression for three years, it's good.

I have no desire to attack her or anyone. If people leave me alone, I will leave them alone. I am ambitious, but I will be satisfied with what I have; it’s more than enough for me.

“She played it quite well,” said Argis; he is quite impressed with her.

“It’s a house of cards. She gambled on a lot of things. She gambled on Viremont not attacking, us defending ourselves, and Grimvale allying with her.”

“If anything didn’t go as she expected, everything would collapse.”

Still, I have to give it to her. If there had been anyone else, they wouldn’t have stopped themselves from allying with one of us, but she seemed to want to be independent.

I would like her to be an ally, but I am fine with her not joining others against us.

It’s the best thing I could hope for.