The Kingdom

Chapter 7: War Has Arrived

As dusk settled, the tranquility of the castle was shattered by the arrival of an urgent dispatch.

The Skull Order had launched a rebellion in Dardir City, massacring countless nobles, including Viscount Alphonse. Enraged by this atrocity, Count Pierce, governor of the southeastern province, issued a province-wide conscription order, summoning the nobility to suppress the insurrection.

The consequences of an information blackout had now fully manifested. Though the rebellion had erupted over a month ago, the Koslow family had remained entirely oblivious.

Now, with the summons in hand, Baron Redman knew nothing of the front-line situation and had no choice but to comply passively.

One hardly needed intelligence reports to grasp the severity of the situation. A minor rebellion would have been swiftly quelled by the surrounding lords—there would have been no need for a province-wide conscription.

The demand alone was staggering—five hundred men from a single barony. The last time such a large-scale mobilization occurred was during the orc invasion a century ago, and that had been under the premise of extensive preparation.

To issue such an order now, with so little notice, made Hudson suspect that Count Pierce had been so overwhelmed by the crumbling situation that he had lost all reason.

A larger army did not equate to a stronger force. A hastily assembled band of five hundred untrained serfs would be little more than cannon fodder—far inferior even to the castle’s small but disciplined guard.

Worse still, they had only three days to prepare. How were they supposed to gather weapons, armor, and provisions in such a short time?

This was a purely obligatory conscription, with no rations or supplies provided by the higher-ups—each lord was expected to bear the cost. Resentment among the vassals was inevitable.

"The situation is dire, Hudson. What do you make of this conscription?" Baron Redman asked, rubbing his temples in frustration.

With his two elder sons absent, he had no choice but to seek counsel from Hudson, who at least showed some semblance of military acumen.

As for consulting commoners? That was out of the question—Baron Redman was a traditional noble through and through.

"Father, the situation remains unclear. It would be unwise to commit our family’s main forces to this war.

The decree calls for five hundred troops—that is all we need to provide. We should conscript five hundred able-bodied men, put them through rudimentary training, and fulfill our obligation without unnecessary risk," Hudson replied cautiously.

Their castle guard was only a few dozen strong, but it had taken Baron Redman decades to cultivate. If lost, it would take years—perhaps decades—to recover.

By contrast, serf militias were expendable. Even if they suffered heavy casualties, the family's dominance over its lands would remain unshaken.

For nobles, war was not always a curse—it was an opportunity to cull the excess population.

"Hmm… Dardir City is one of the largest strongholds in the southeastern province, and its noble defenders were not weak. For the rebels to have annihilated them so swiftly, something far more sinister must be at play.

It’s a pity we received word too late. Had we been given time to prepare and train an elite force, you might have had a chance at securing a noble title of your own," Baron Redman lamented.

The opportunity was there, but a lack of preparation rendered it useless—an all-too-common tragedy.

Of course, this was merely wistful thinking. Even if given the chance, Baron Redman doubted he would have dared to gamble everything on a reckless bid for power.

At the end of the day, the Koslow family was already wearing shoes—perhaps not the most comfortable ones, but taking them off to bet on uncertain gains was a risk they were unwilling to take.

"Father, there’s no need for regret. The world is never short of opportunities, and where none exist, they can always be created. The key is strength.

Many eyes must be watching this rebellion closely. For the Skull Order to have grown so powerful so quickly, I suspect unseen hands have been fanning the flames.

With our current strength, even if we achieve great military success, we would be granted nothing more than a meager knight's fief.

Count Pierce has never been one for generosity. Seeking advancement under him would be an uphill battle," Hudson said with a cold smile.

He had never slaughtered a pig himself, but he had certainly seen them butchered.

For the rebellion to have raged on for over a month without any military response—or even news of it spreading—there was no plausible explanation other than Count Pierce’s deliberate inaction.

The innocent suffer for the wealth they possess.

The inheritance left behind by the massacred nobles had clearly been targeted long ago. The only obstacle was the game’s rules, which prevented direct conquest.

The Skull Order's uprising was simply a convenient excuse, a timely event that allowed the true players to seize their prey.

Under such circumstances, would Hudson dare to snatch food from a tiger’s mouth?

"You doubt Count Pierce?" Baron Redman asked, his brows furrowing.

After months of observing Hudson, he had come to realize that his youngest son was far from ordinary. Whatever mediocrity he had displayed in the past had likely been an act—a deliberate effort to hide his true capabilities.

As the third son, any overt displays of talent would have made him a threat, drawing hostility from both his stepmother and his eldest brother.

But now that he was preparing to carve out a domain of his own, those concerns no longer applied. It was only natural for him to reveal his ambitions and vie for the family’s support.

Whether or not his father fully understood, one thing was clear—Hudson’s influence within the household had grown significantly. The fact that he was now included in late-night strategy discussions was proof of that.

"The hearts of his vassals are already wavering. Leading such an army will not be easy.

On the surface, Count Pierce’s plan appears flawless—masterfully orchestrating events so that blame cannot be traced back to him. But in the world of nobility, who needs evidence?

The simplest logic is often the truest—whoever stands to gain the most is the one pulling the strings.

Even if he manages to claim the largest prize this time, what then? He is already one of the twelve great earls of the kingdom—how much more power can he possibly amass?

To risk alienating his own vassals for such marginal gains is sheer folly.

Many of the massacred nobles were his direct subordinates. What kind of ruler treats his vassals as disposable? Such a master is not one I would ever pledge loyalty to," Hudson said, his tone dripping with derision.

He was a master of rhetoric. In his past life, he had been an internet warrior, adept at crafting arguments for any stance he wished to take.

Now, his goal was simple—to manipulate Baron Redman into adopting a more passive stance in the coming war.

Morally questionable? Perhaps. But it was certainly the safest course of action.

After all, their family was not even Count Pierce’s vassal. They owed him no loyalty. Even under conscription, they retained considerable autonomy.

"I understand. I will consider this carefully," Baron Redman said hesitantly.

Regardless of Count Pierce’s true nature or future prospects, he remained the overlord of the southeastern province.

Defying such a man, even subtly, required courage. Unless the lesser nobles collectively resisted, any individual dissenter would be swiftly crushed.

"Father, why not let me lead the troops this time? You can remain in the territory, ensuring we have a fallback if anything unexpected occurs.

The conscription was issued in haste—most lords will struggle to muster a proper force in time.

As long as we train the serfs briefly and present them as a passable militia, blending them into the larger army, we should be able to get through this without issue," Hudson proposed, feigning confidence.