Chapter 167 - 154: Fully Armed
Chapter 167: Chapter 154: Fully Armed
"Baron, in this situation, there is something I need from you." Prince Noah let out a sigh of relief. The fact that he could say this meant Robson was at least willing to talk.
He hadn’t outright refused due to prejudice or some other reason.
’As long as he’s willing, this will be easy. Everything else is just a matter of interests.’
’The issue of interests seems complex, but in some ways, it’s the simplest thing in the world.’
’If something can’t be done, it just means the offered interests aren’t sufficient. There’s no need for all the convoluted nonsense—pay to get things done. That’s the noble way.’
"Please speak freely, Your Highness," Robson said.
"I imagine Baron Robson has heard of a place called Thermopylae." As Prince Noah spoke, he took out a map from behind him, spread it on the ground, and used the campfire’s light to show it to Robson.
"Thermopylae?"
Of course Robson knew of Thermopylae. It was the very place he had set out from at the start of his military career.
"That’s right. Centuries ago, the Kingdom’s ancestors began their campaign to vanquish the undead from here..."
"Behind Thermopylae is Storm Province. Past Storm Province is the rear of the central front, Ukri Province... Since ancient times, this has been a strategic location, a matter of life and death for the Kingdom. To think that, because of a moment of my own carelessness, this place has been plunged into peril," Prince Noah said with a sigh.
"The defeat on the Western Front is already a foregone conclusion, but I’ve been wanting to make amends. Unfortunately, I’m left with only a few dozen cavalry, hardly enough to be of any real use," Prince Noah said.
Robson looked at the map, at the position of Thermopylae, and recalled the path he had taken to get here.
The place couldn’t be called a natural stronghold; you could barely build a wall there.
’Without a doubt, anything that could give Prince Noah this much trouble was definitely not going to be simple.’
Robson felt a wisp of warm air on his neck.
"Thermopylae is a key point on the Western Front, and it’s also our next objective.
The enemy has dispatched at least nearly thirty thousand soldiers from the Beastman Corps and several thousand Wolf Cavalry...
Robson, think carefully. Be cautious."
It was Valentino’s voice.
Nearly thirty thousand soldiers from the Beastman Corps! Robson was stunned.
The Beastman Corps was synonymous with "elite" anywhere you went, especially since the Beastman Imperial Family had begun implementing its elite soldier program in the last century.
"Ahem, actually, Earl Wei Man and Marquis Oscillate are both rushing toward Thermopylae as we speak.
We just need to arrive before the enemy and hold our ground for a few days to buy time for the main army." Although Valentino had spoken into his ear, Prince Noah had clearly heard her.
"Sir Robson, you can think it over carefully. If there are difficulties, we can discuss them. Everything is for the great cause of resisting the Beastmen," said Prince Noah.
To be honest, Prince Noah hadn’t even been this nervous when he met with Gallidus in the Algeria Kingdom.
On one hand, his own personal future and destiny were at stake. On the other, as a Prince, the Kingdom’s fate—the turning of the tide of this war—very likely hinged on this single battle.
Robson shook his head.
"Your Highness is overthinking it. As a noble of the Kingdom, it is my bounden duty," Robson said.
Robson didn’t even have to think too hard about it. There was really no other choice.
’When the nation’s survival is at stake, playing political games and fussing over personal gains and losses is nothing more than petty cleverness, even if you do come out ahead.’
’Right now, it seemed like he had a choice, but if he didn’t go to Thermopylae, in the short term, the entire Western Front could be trapped outside the pass, unable to retreat. The power of the resulting public outcry would be immeasurable.’
’In the long term, he would fail to curry favor with either Marquis Oscillate or the Royal Family. Robson intended to continue making his way in the Frank Kingdom. Right now, everyone was too busy to bother with him, but once they had time to reflect, they would surely hold it against him.’
’Conversely, if he stepped up now, he would not only earn the gratitude of the nobles on the Western Front, but Marquis Oscillate and the Frankish Royal Family would surely not treat him poorly in the future.’
’For the nobility of the Frank Kingdom, fighting the Beastmen was a calling; it was the tide of the times.’
’No matter how critical the battle, even if it meant his troops could be wiped out, he had to take this on. As long as he did it, he wouldn’t be forgotten or wronged.’
Upon hearing this, Prince Noah’s eyes lit up. He was just about to open his mouth to offer praise when Robson’s next words cut him off.
"I’m not finished. I can cooperate on this matter, but you must give my army the assistance it’s due," Robson said.
’He was facing, after all, tens of thousands of Beastmen. If reinforcements didn’t arrive in time, he might have to face those brutes in an open field battle. Even though Robson had faith in his soldiers, he wasn’t arrogant enough to think they could go head-to-head with a Beastman Corps several times their size.’
"That is only right. Please, speak freely!" Prince Noah said with a nod.
"I need the equipment from Sirich City, as well as the equipment that was withdrawn from the various forts and strongholds.
The combat prowess of the Beastman Royal Family is far superior to ours. Without high-quality weapons and gear, I cannot guarantee my troops’ combat effectiveness," Robson said.
"No problem. We will naturally support you, Sir. In fact, that was one of the purposes of this trip." The one who replied was not Prince Noah, but Viscount Paking, one of the nobles left to guard Sirich City.
With Viscount Paking taking the lead, many of the other nobles chimed in with their agreement, but some still mumbled and hesitated. It seemed this was a spontaneous decision on the Viscount’s part.