Chapter 420 - 284: Fox Noble, Part 2

"If you lost, the family's reputation and strength would both be damaged... Most importantly, I don't want to lose you."

Charles fell silent for a moment and pouted. Although he still felt a little resentful, he knew his father had a point.

He sighed and said in a low voice, "Alright, Father. I'll listen to you. We'll let this matter drop."

Baron Chase gently patted Charles's shoulder, a gratified smile on his face. "That's my good son. The future of the family rests on your shoulders. Don't take risks over a matter of pride.

Once your wounds have healed, we will plan carefully how to find a foothold for ourselves here in the heartlands of the empire."

Baron Chase's eyes narrowed as he continued, "It's even possible... that Alvin is thinking this way because of your younger brother.

No matter which of you won, Altan was still the one most likely to die. Think about it."

Altan was being carefully supported by his Knights. He was injured as well, but his wounds were lighter than Charles's.

The Knights had originally planned to take him back to the city to recuperate. After all, the medical facilities there were much better, and it would be a safer place for him to recover.

However, Altan shook his head, firmly rejecting the suggestion.

He simply had the accompanying physician give him a quick bandaging, applying some styptic and anti-inflammatory ointment.

His eyes betrayed a sense of urgency, as if some important matter was waiting for him.

"We're returning to camp immediately!" Altan's voice was a bit hoarse.

Though the Knights were worried, they immediately complied with his order.

Altan mounted his warhorse. Though the steed was also weary, it still waited faithfully for its master's command.

He glanced at the Knights behind him and frowned slightly, but his expression quickly returned to one of calm.

"Full speed ahead! After we return to camp, our contingent is to leave the Feikawen region as quickly as possible!" Altan shouted.

His Knights quickly formed up and followed him, galloping wildly.

The rapid thunder of hooves echoed on the road, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Altan's face was set with determination. He knew this conflict was only the beginning. He had to get back to his camp as soon as possible and prepare for everything that might happen next.

Only his most loyal Knights, his Personal Guard, and the corps of Attendants formed from orphans could give him a sense of security.

A grim look flashed across Altan's face. He knew full well that his situation had become exceptionally dangerous.

His every move was like part of an elaborate chess game, and he was nothing more than a piece on the board.

'Heh, I've played chess my whole life, and now I'm just a piece.' The feeling was deeply unsettling to Altan, and he found it unacceptable.

But Altan was by no means a pawn to be manipulated at will. He had his own wisdom and strategy.

Along the way, Altan's eyes constantly darted around, scanning their surroundings for any possible sign of an ambush.

Alvin would never let him go easily. Especially after this conflict, he had become a thorn in Alvin's side that had to be removed.

'He just can't beat Henry...'

"My lord, isn't it too risky for us to be traveling at full speed like this?" one of the Knights asked quietly, cautiously approaching Altan.

After all, they were currently in enemy territory and could be ambushed at any moment.

To be riding so hard, not sparing the horses, while only lightly armored was far too dangerous.

If they ran into an enemy ambush while the men and horses were exhausted, they would truly just be waiting for death.

Altan smiled faintly, but his smile held a chilling coldness. "Risky? If we don't take a risk now, should we just wait for that old bastard Alvin's 'accident' to befall us?

I know his methods all too well... I am also a Count. As long as I'm alive, he will do everything he can to get rid of me. I've already guessed what he's thinking...

Rather than sit here and wait to be killed, it's better to seize the initiative."

He paused, his tone growing more serious. "Besides, the liquid assets I'm carrying are enough to make Alvin's eyes red with greed. He won't pass up any opportunity to eliminate me, even if it's by way of an 'accident.'"

Hearing this, the Knights' faces all showed a trace of terror.

They were like duckweed without water, a tree without roots. They had just left their homeland and had yet to even gain a foothold in this new environment, and now they were already being targeted by another powerful Count.

It terrified them!

They had managed to escape from Henry once; could they really escape from Alvin a second time? No one was willing to bet on it.

They wouldn't gamble with their lives.

"My lord, what should we do next?" another Knight asked, his voice laced with urgency.

Altan let out a long sigh, a flash of helplessness and resolve in his eyes.

'What can we do? We do it the hard way! We endure! What else can we do!'

He raised his head and gazed at the distant horizon, as if he could see his future in the Battania bay region.

"We just have to lead our people out of the Feikawen region as quickly as possible." His voice was low, filled with unquestionable resolve.

Logically speaking, given their current situation, these Knights could have completely ignored him, or even ganged up to kill him and divide his wealth to live as rich men.

But they hadn't done that, which meant Altan had to seriously consider everyone's safety.

"From now on, unless it's for essential supplies, we are to stay far away from any large cities. Those places are too dangerous for us right now."

The Knights fell silent. They knew Altan was right.

In the Feikawen region, they were like lambs exposed to a wolf pack, liable to be torn to shreds by Alvin's minions at any moment.

There was a common understanding in noble circles: the nobles of the Northern Lands were coarse, the nobles of the steppes were reckless, the nobles of the west were materialistic, and the nobles of the south were wealthy. As for the central lands...

The closer a noble was to Lukaron, the more insidious, cunning, shameless, and vile they were...

They played political games and stirred up trouble. When you met them face-to-face, they would be all smiles while secretly cursing you out in their heads.

And you think that's the end of it?

Not at all. They would keep their eyes on you, waiting to stab you in the back when you least expected it.

Only by getting far away from this land of intrigue could they temporarily escape those greedy and insidious eyes.

"Once we reach the Battania bay region and establish our own village and earthen fort..."

Altan's voice held a hint of longing, as if he was already sketching out the scene in his mind...

"I will still be a noble, and everything will be alright."

It was as if that bay region was his safe harbor; as long as they reached it, all their problems would be solved.

The Knights were inspired by his words, and the heavy atmosphere seemed to lighten somewhat.

"There, we can start over."

Altan continued, "We will build strong defenses, cultivate our own strength, and make anyone who wishes us harm balk. We will become stronger—so strong that other nobles wouldn't dare to move against us again."

Indeed, Altan's wealth wasn't just the money with his retinue; he also had a large amount of "deposits" stored at the imperial offices.

The empire wouldn't embezzle such funds, because doing so would trigger a furious uprising from the entire imperial nobility. It was the simple principle of "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold."

The relationship between the empire's nobles and the emperor was one of both subordinate and superior, as well as one of opposition and confrontation.

The nobles could accept their fiefs and fortunes being seized by a victor in a conflict, but they could never accept them being secretly encroached upon by the emperor.

That was absolutely unacceptable!

No emperor or king throughout history had ever tried to lay a hand on this vast pool of wealth. Not even the most powerful, most centralized rulers had done so, because the potential losses far outweighed the gains.

If it were ever exposed and the other nobles found out, it would immediately spark a massive rebellion, one that couldn't be suppressed unless one was willing to spend more than a decade on slaughter...