Chapter 99: Darenna’s Report

  Just after watg the military drill, Cassius returo the cave, where the hobgoblied another secret report.

  He browsed it carefully.

  The report was titled “Notes on the Northern Three-Kingdoms Alliance.”

  “In terms of direct strength parison, the Duchy of Bosk is clearly far superior to the birength of the La and Nort Duchies.

  Bosk is the victor of the internal struggles within the Northern United Kingdom, seg a special status in the ‘Lio ant’ a tury ago and has since held the title of nominal troller of the United Kingdom, stationed in the southern part of the Aa Wastend.

  However, its retionship with the other duchies remains delicate and distahe current Grand Duke of Bosk dreams of a unified, united kingdom, so he wouldn’t fully it to aiding any oion, instead enjoying the sight of his neighbors’ strength weakening.

  Among this so-called thirty-thousand-strong coalition, Bosk’s forces amount to fewer than five thousand, all of whom are merely minor buards. The Nort Family’s ‘Double-Headed Eagle’ requires La as a buffer and is willing to help to its full ability, but limited by its own strength, it only dispatch three thousand soldiers.

  As for the bulk of this so-called allia is the La Duchy’s army. Si s matters of survival, they are making a full-scale mobilization.

  My aim with these notes is to record the military dition of the La Duchy.

  At the lowest level of the army, the most on soldiers are scripted borers. Before the war, they were likely farmers, with no systematic military training. Besides low-grade ons, they barely have any armor, or rather, their main job is not to fight but to feed horses, transport supplies, or serve as on fodder ahead of the elite forces.

  In the La Duchy, they are oftes or serfs under local gentry and ndlords. They are pitiful people without personal freedom, g even the right to own spoils; as or loot they gain are recorded in the name of their masters.

  A bit better are the sed-tier soldiers—those who join the army as free men under military service. They keep their own spoils; though limited financially, they often fight with ons passed down through geions.

  Within the duchy, they are self-sustaining farmers gathered uhe lord’s service. Military service is their duty to their lord. In theory, they hold equal status with the local gentry, as these individuals are essentially self-sustaining farmers with more nd and no need for manual bor.

  The third tier prises soldiers closely ected to the lord, true professional soldiers whose bat enthusiasm far exceeds that of scripts. They are often the lord’s retainers or local gentry. Supported by the lord’s stipend or their nd’s ihey possess enough wealth to afford quality ons and equipment, obtaining further bes through warfare.

  There is also a group between the sed and third tiers: meraries. Although they don’t own as mud as the gentry, due to their long-term bat experiehey prefer to vert their curreh into better ons and equipment to survive otlefield and secure more victories.

  scripted soldiers from peasant backgrounds, after gaining spoils, oftehem on daily life. Though meraries ck systematic training like third-tier soldiers, years of fighting serve as excellent military training—provided they survive.

  The fourth tier, the most elite soldiers, have enough wealth to afford top-grade ons and equipment, and their military education qualifies them for low-ranking officer roles.

  Only this group produce rge-scale cavalry. They often serve as knights or low-ranking nobles like barons uhe lord. Their representation is in the ‘Northwind Eagle Guard’ knights.”

  The final signature reads, “Your loyal servant, whom you have not met, the lowly pureblood serpentfolk, Darenna Poisoness.”

  “Iing…”

  Cassius observed these words, thinking to himself.

  This is no mere military report; it’s a prehensive summary of the social ditions in the northern kingdoms, or more accurately, a showcase of one’s abilities.

  Whatever Darenna’s iions may be, she has successfully piqued the Red Dragon’s i.

  After a moment of thought, Cassius anded, “Dol me the report’s author.”

  Dolo quickly responded, “Master, that serpentfolk has been waiting at the door for a long time. I was sidering driving her away…”

  “Let her in.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  Moments ter, Dolht her inside.

  Cassius scrutihis pureblood serpentfolk carefully. She wore a heavy headscarf and a purple robe that atuated her fine figure, making her appear no different from a human.

  Fag Cassius’ pierg gaze, Darenna removed her headscarf, uatingly raising her head with a flirtatious smile.

  Her beautiful face exuded a hint of danger. Her slit-shaped pupils, sharp fangs, and forked torayed her serpentfolk identity.

  “Lord Cassius, it’s an honor to meet you. I knew you’d let me in.”

  Her voice was charmingly seductive, with a hint of serpentine rasp.

  Cassius looked down at her from above.

  “Writing something like this shows your skills are det. You could easily find a good post among humans, so why e to this desote Ember ?”

  A fttery-filled smile instinctively appeared on Darenna’s pretty face as she replied with entig charm, “Lord Cassius…”

  However, her words were cut off.

  “Do not use your lowly charms for humans on a noble dragon.”

  Cassius’ tone was dangerously serious, exuding a subtle aura of draic might.

  It was at this moment that she truly realized she stood before an authentic, ruthless Red Dragon, not some gluttonous human lord.

  Overwhelmed by the intense pressure, Daren instinctive fear, trembling as she lowered her head, kneeling.

  “My identity…”

  “In serpentfolk society, I’m a lowly outcast, and among humans, my bloodline prevents me from dispying my talents, so I came here…”

  Cassius said calmly, “See, you speak straightforwardly.”

  “I prefer straightforward words. So tell me—what do you seek from Ember ?”

  Darenated briefly before responding with gritted teeth,

  “Power, status.”

  She fell silent, kneeling, awaiting her final judgment.

  The air nearly solidified. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead as she waited.

  Cassius g her, his golden pupils fshing faint magical light.

  【Detect Lie】

  The spell showed she wasn’t lying.

  Cassius’s calm voice resounded again.

  “Good, you didn’t lie to me. Otherwise, you’d already be a pile of ashes.”

  Darenna sighed in relief.

  “At Ember , we always wele talent. I don’t mind ambition; in fact, I ence it—as long as you prove your worth…”

  “Do you uand?”

  Darenna quickly nodded in agreement.

  “Go to that ugly tower and find my steward, Langpu. He’ll assign you an appropriate task.”

  “Yes.”

  “…Master.”

  FAL