Chapter 407: The March To Stoneguard Fortress

Somewhere in the Frontera Viscounty...

"Is everyone ready to go?" Marcus asked.

""Yes, My Lord!""

Marcus, who was the land’s viscount and Leone’s father, scanned the faces of the soldiers who would accompany him in the upcoming war.

They all looked ready for war, but they were only assigned to handle the logistics.

Originally, he only wished to bring five hundred light cavalry for this campaign.

However, the other nobles had complained, saying merely five hundred men couldn’t simultaneously handle and guard the supplies that would play an important role in the war.

That being so, Marcus compromised and brought a thousand soldiers with him.

His eldest son, Edward, had also volunteered to go. At first, Marcus denied his request. But Edward told him that he would like to gain experience and see what a real war looked like.

Aside from that, Edward knew they would face the forces of his younger brother. He wanted to be present to ensure that there would be no mishaps in their operation.

After a few back-and-forths, the young man successfully convinced his father and was finally allowed to go.

"Bwadder, if you see Leyawn, tell him I miss him?" Elizabeth said to Edward, while clinging and looking up to him cutely.

"I will tell him that our Elizabeth misses him very much," Edward said back with a smile, making his little sister’s smile widen.

Helen glanced at this scene fondly before shifting her attention to her husband.

"Leone said he will put something in the wells inside the Stronghold Fortress," Helen said in a volume that only her husband could hear. "He asked me to tell you to arrive half a day later than the agreed time so you won’t be suspected of sabotage."

"Will he use poison?" Marcus asked in a serious tone.

"Not poison." Helen shook her head. "There are many civilians who live inside the fortress, including merchant groups. Plus, Leone doesn’t want to kill the innocent. If I remember correctly, he plans to sprinkle some Feverbane Powder into the wells in order to cause chaos inside the fortress."

Marcus narrowed his eyes. Feverbane was a plant that, when ingested, caused temporary fever, nausea, and weakening of the body. It wasn’t lethal, but it was enough for people to feel sick for two to three days.

Medicinal herbs and pills could fully cure it within a day. Clerics could also use their healing abilities to help sick patients recover faster.

But, if thousands of people suffered at the same time, no amount of clerics and medicinal herbs could undo its effect on everyone’s morale. Many people would remain under the weather even as the march to the Borderlands began.

"I have already packed enough medicine for you and your men just in case they happen to be affected by it," Helen added. "In fact, letting a few of them get sick will further help you avoid suspicion."

"You are a life saver." Marcus hugged his wife. "I’m so lucky I got to marry you."

Helen returned the hug and held her husband for nearly half a minute before reluctantly taking a step back.

"Don’t worry about us," Helen said. "I have already made arrangements for the security of our home. If anyone ever tries anything funny while you are away, they will experience a torturously long death."

Marcus smirked at that. "I leave our home to you, Helen."

After saying those words, Marcus finally mounted his warhorse and ordered his men to march.

The wagons that contained food, as well as other valuable resources for the upcoming war, followed behind him.

As they paraded along the streets of Frontera Viscounty, the denizens greeted and cheered for their Lord.

Marcus was very popular among his people. Unlike other corrupt nobles, he made sure that they were all safe and well-fed.

The crime rate within the viscounty was extremely low, and even the underworld was secretly under Helen’s control.

Also, no bandit group dared to camp within the Frontera Family’s territory.

Those who did had long been wiped out by Hassan and his comrades, who made sure that their Mistress wouldn’t have to worry about any scoundrels attacking merchant caravans within their domain.

"Father, you’re really popular with our people," Edward said with pride.

"When it’s your turn to become their Lord, I hope that you take good care of them, Edward," Marcus replied. "Because if you do, they will not hesitate to fight to defend our family."

"I’ll remember that, Father." Edward nodded.

An hour later, the thousand-strong cavalry of the Frontera Viscounty finally left the city gates.

They were now headed to the Stoneguard Fortress, where they would regroup with the other noble families.

It would take them three days to reach their destination because Leone had asked him to delay his trip by half a day.

As much as Marcus didn’t want to admit it, he was very worried about his son. After all, the Britannian Army was a mighty army that had both air and land superiority.

The Gryphon Battalion dominated the skies, while the Wolf Cavalry dominated the land.

They were the kingdom’s vanguards against any foe they chose to point their swords at.

Leone’s tribe, with the addition of the Ravage Tribe, numbered less than four thousand.

Marcus still didn’t know how big the united army would be once they all gathered within Stoneguard Fortress.

But at the minimum, at least fifty thousand soldiers would gather for the upcoming war.

"Are you worried about Leone, Father?" Edward asked after seeing that his father had suddenly become silent.

"Yes," Marcus answered. "I still don’t know how he will fend off the Britannian Army with his tribe."

"If it’s Leone, he will find a way." Edward smiled faintly. "He has accomplished something even Alphonse and I couldn’t have done if we were in his position. So, let’s trust him, Father. I’m sure he will give us an unexpected surprise."

"An unexpected surprise..." Marcus muttered.

He still had no idea how his son would mess with the wells within the Stoneguard Fortress.

By now, it should be heavily guarded and teeming with soldiers provided by various noble houses.

If Leone could really make the entire population sick with his methods, Marcus would feel more assured. Succeeding there meant that his son had capable helpers who could ensure that Leone would be safe from harm.