Thunder Mountain — within Count Weiss's fortress.
Staring at the battle report sent back from Zero Crossing County, Count Weiss's face was dark with fury. He slammed the table heavily.
"I thought the Miles family, though aging, wouldn't have fallen this far. I overestimated that old fool. Thirty years holding Zero Crossing County, and he's actually been defeated by a baron!"
"Ryan Rimehart…"
Count Weiss muttered the name. He hadn't expected the baron who had once survived an assassination attempt to possess such ability. Or perhaps... was Ryan already a core figure of the Rimehart family?
His expression twisted. He had thought this plan would go smoothly. As the first step in his grand design, he needed to seize control of Zero Crossing County and make the Miles family his proxy. From there, he could begin maneuvering to take the other counties of Northwind Province, eventually completing his plan to restore his kingdom and place the royal crown upon his head, justifiably.
But now, he had already stumbled at the very first step.
"I must act quickly. If those nobles turn to those two others instead, things will get troublesome…"
Icepeak Forest.
Ryan, Baron Barnes, and Baron Leon left behind 1,500 "soldiers" to oversee the mines in the forest—especially the magic crystal mines and gold mines, which could not afford even a day's delay.
As for the soldiers… they were no longer soldiers. With weapons in hand, they were fighters. But with weapons set down, they were now miners of this forest.
Naturally, Ryan and the other nobles departed and returned to the Castle of Northwind's Flower.
"My family, since my grandfather's time, has held one dream—to turn Northwind's Flower into an independent dominion."
"That would require expanding the castle walls to encompass the farmlands."
At a banquet, Baron Barnes was completely drunk, and his baroness could only keep patting his back, offering Ryan repeated apologies.
Ryan could tell that Baron Barnes was overwhelmed with emotion. The victory in this war had brought them enormous gain.
But he also understood: turning Northwind's Flower into the kind of city Barnes described was far beyond the ability of an ordinary baron. In fact, even ninety percent of counts wouldn't have the money or manpower to construct such a fortress-like city.
Were there places like that? Yes…
Ryan could hear the ambition in the Barnes family—but since the time of Baron Barnes's grandfather, this ambition had remained just that: ambition.
Yet now, Baron Barnes could finally speak to his father and grandfather—he had begun the journey toward realizing that dream.
However…
Ryan didn't hesitate to interrupt him.
"Baron Barnes, I believe that of our 50% share of Icepeak Forest's mineral rights, at least 30% should belong to me."
In that instant, Baron Barnes sobered up. He widened his eyes, staring daggers at Ryan, gritting his teeth.
"Baron Barnes, don't forget, we agreed to divide the spoils based on military merit."
"So tell me—what key contribution did you and your army make in that war?"
Barnes had no words. He didn't want to admit that he had panicked back then, but neither could he bear to give up the wealth within arm's reach.
"But 30% is too much! You can take 25%, and the rest goes to me and Baron Hutton."
Ryan shook his head.
"Baron Barnes, the division should not be done this way. In fact, in Icepeak Forest, your contribution is even smaller than that of Baron Hutton."
"You're going too far, Ryan!"
Baron Barnes roared. He had believed that, as the leader of the tri-baron coalition, he should be the one calling the shots—the one leading a mighty army and conquering everything.
"I absolutely will not accept such a division."
"20%! I must have at least 20%."
Ryan looked at Leon and said:
"You'll have to ask the Hutton family about that."
Leon stood up and looked at Baron Barnes.
"My lord baron, my father would never agree. Our forces took heavy losses in this war. We must have at least a 10% share."
"Ten percent?!"
Barnes shouted.
"No! Absolutely not! I still have to reward my knights—how could that possibly be enough?!"
The banquet ended in discord. But the very next day, the nobles of Northwind's Flower gathered once again.
Because the army of Count Weiss was advancing toward Zero Crossing County.
"According to Viscount Dragon's intelligence, there are at least 5,000 soldiers, including 1,500 semi-professional troops. The rest are peasant conscripts. Among them, at least 300 are brutish types."
"Damn it! How does Count Weiss command so many troops?!"
Baron Barnes pounded his fist onto the solid wooden table.
Five thousand—indeed a formidable number. But Ryan wasn't particularly surprised. Truth be told, it was nothing more than stuffing slaves into uniforms and calling them an army. In reality? Those slaves wielding shovels, hoes, and pitchforks—how could they be real soldiers?
That's not an army. That's a population count.
"Count Weiss's troops must be coming to support Viscount Miles. What should we do now? Viscount Dragon has sent word asking us to move our armies to his territory and resist together."
On this point, neither Ryan nor Barnes had expressed a stance.
"With Count Weiss's forces arriving, all of the military costs will be borne by Viscount Miles. For those slave soldiers, this will be one of the few chances to feast and drink their fill. Viscount Miles will be under heavy pressure to supply provisions."
"So—he will definitely attack."
"But where will he strike first? Us—or Viscount Dragon?"
Ryan had just posed the question when a landed knight stood up and said:
"Surely it will be Viscount Dragon. He is their greatest enemy."
Baron Barnes nodded in agreement.
"Right. Viscount Dragon has always coveted Zero Crossing City. Viscount Miles knows this well."
Ryan laughed.
"But look at what just happened—we seized the wealth of Icepeak Forest right out from under Viscount Miles's nose. They could have claimed all the magic crystal, gold, and iron mines. Now they have nothing."
"Perhaps Viscount Miles resents the Dragon family more—they're the more powerful clan. But the other nobles surrounding him? They're likely to hate us even more."
"To placate those nobles, Viscount Miles may order his army to attack us instead—handing over our wealth in exchange for their support."
"Baron Barnes, as a noble, you should consider this from a noble's perspective—not from emotion."
"There's even a chance that Viscount Miles will send all 5,000 of Count Weiss's troops directly to Northwind's Flower."
As soon as Ryan finished speaking, panic rippled across the room of gathered nobles.
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