City of Desire [Kingdom Building] - Chapter 891: Test or Real

Proofread by Thomas F

“What do you mean by closing the border?” I asked. I know what it means, but I want more context.

I really hope it’s a minor problem, not what I am thinking. I really don’t want that to happen right now, when things are going so well in here.

“They closed the border,” she repeated. Giving me such expression, which conforms to what I am thinking.

“Bastards!” Hendriks cursed, understanding what we all were thinking. “Apologies, my lord,” he apologised.

“You are not the only one who wants to curse Hendricks,” I replied before getting up.

“General will meet you in the war room,” Zela informed, and I nodded and walked out of the office.

As I stepped out of the building, I saw a group of guards already waiting for me, led by a middle-aged woman, along with my own guards.

“Lord Silver, General had asked to lead you to the war room,” she said. “Lead the way, Major,” I replied and began walking with the woman.

I had just taken a few steps when the loud horn rang out through the fortress.

It surprised the regular people and soldiers alike.

“Attention, everyone, it’s code red. Please return to your inns and abodes or closest building immediately.” As the order rang out, the soldiers immediately sprang into action.

I saw them guiding the people inside the buildings.

“The soldiers are managing it well,” I said, looking around. “We are in a place that could be attacked any time; the General had made sure every soldier is trained to deal with it,” she replied.

We moved fast, with soldiers clearing the way. It didn’t take us long to get out of the town.

As we entered the fortress, I saw a group of soldiers moving around. I could see the fear in their eyes, but also resolve, with their legs moving with purpose.

A few minutes later, I appeared in front of the war room, before stepping inside.

“Lord Silver,” They greeted.

The officers occupy every chair, but for one. I nodded at them before sitting down.

“What is the status?” I asked. “They have closed the border. We have trying to contact them, but there is no response from them,” replied Cardin.

“This is very likely to result in an attack; the question is whether it is a real attack or a test,” said Major General Irab.

“Whatever it might be, we have to prepare to fight,” added Brigadier General Belian. “We will, if it is an attack, but we have to determine whether it is a genuine attack or if they are just testing us,” replied Cardin.

They discussed while I listened. I didn’t interrupt; they are career soldiers, and I do not, for a moment, believe that I am better than they are at planning or strategy.

I listened carefully, noting everything mentally.

“Our scouts have noticed the movement,” informed the mage suddenly. The next moment, his staff lit up, and a couple of images projected in front of us.

A sigh rang out across the room as we saw a horde rising through the ground.

Given how clear the images are, they are not producing any interference. They want us to see their horde.

“Well, it confirms the question. This is an attack!” Cardin said, as everyone nodded, a heaviness filling the room; it became clear that the undead were going to attack.

…

Leonas Cardin

“The numbers have stabilised; it is half a million,” informed Kales as I walked down the stairs.

I had expected it, but it didn’t make me feel good.

“Any response to our messages?” I asked. “No, it’s completely silent,” he replied, and it made me want to hit the wall, but I had calmed myself down.

If you are going to attack, just damn well tell us you are going to do it. You are already showing us that talking a few words in a message will not hurt them.

I took a deep breath and kept walking, and soon, I reached the back of the fortress, where a large army had gathered in front of the eastern gate.

The whole fifty thousand, armoured and ready to battle. It made me proud to see them gathering with incredible speed.

All of them are experienced soldiers; they have fought people and the undead. More than half of them are from Greltheaven; the other half belongs to forces we swallowed from Gailhorn, Nakar, and this fortress.

I could feel their presence on me and the emotions they contained within.

“Our scouts have spotted, Necromancer Mardam,” informed Kales, nearly stopping me on my track. I opened my mouth, but closed it, feeling the eyes.

It would not be wise to show such emotions in front of the soldiers.

“Are they sure?” I asked after a moment of silence. “Yes,” he replied, and I took a deep breath, controlling my emotions.

Vaessa Talonfall is the commander; that woman alone is going to be a challenge to deal with, and now there is a terror like Mardan. He is a necromancer and a powerful one at that.

The information the merchants had provided us stated that he is at least Lv. 45 necromancer.

He is powerful and impulsive; just a few years ago, he killed a powerful noble in a duel. It was supposed to be a friendly duel, but he killed the man.

He is also a student of Yatsal, a Grand Mage.

We have fought a Great Mage Necromancer before; Lord Silver had killed one in the last battle against the undead, but Mardan is a league above, and his nature makes it harder to deal with him.

Now, I am really glad Lord Silver is here. Well, he might be the reason they are attacking us.

To test his strength and ours.

Finally, I appeared in front of the army, their eyes and intent focused on me.

“Navr is attacking us,” I stated. There was no surprise; they are the only enemy we have before us here.

“It might be a test or a real attack, but it didn’t matter to us; we will fight like we have fought all the other enemies that came against us,” I said with many nods; many of them were part of those battles.

“However, Navr isn’t an active enemy; we want to de-escalate things, even if they are the ones starting it.”

I could see the surprise in their eyes; they were not expecting it.

“So, when we fight, refrain from killing the pillars and officers; only the undead are free game, unless I order it explicitly.” They don’t like it, I hate it too, but there is no choice.

Navr is too powerful; we are in no position to escalate things with them.

One day, we will be powerful enough to go against them, but that day will not come if we act recklessly. We have dealt with it carefully until we gain the strength to fight head-on.

…

Necromancer Mardan

“Necromancer Mardan, please don’t escalate things,” cautioned the woman for the third time in an hour.

“My teacher had already warned you not to do the same, Commander,” I replied to the woman, who met my eyes. She is weaker than I am, but she is strong.

Most importantly, she is one of Lord Pharon’s.

“I don’t want to repeat myself either, Necromancer Mardan, but I had been ordered to and also been informed that my order will be final to you,” she stated, her voice firm.

Even after years, they still won’t let that thing go. You kill a one pesky noble, and they put you on a leash.

I only wanted to have fun when he began to show his strength. It was not my fault when he failed to defend against the spell and got himself split into several parts.

For the first three years, they never let me fight anyone, and after that, I was very restricted.

I could only fight those who were way stronger than me, which was fun for a while and even helped me advance, but I still have to fight someone as strong as me or slightly stronger.

It is why I am a little excited here. I heard so much about this Silver; he even killed Wraitheath.

I had fought with him a decade ago, and it didn’t even take me ten minutes to bring him to his knees. So, I didn’t think killing him was a big deal.

Still, I hope fighting him would be exciting.

I am not going to kill him; I am not an idiot. He is a master of Grade IV legacy. Even my teacher would be in a world of trouble if I did that, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t do anything else.

There are restrictions on what I can do, but I can stretch them to make it fun.

It has been quite a while since someone had begged me in the fight. It would be amazing for Silver to do that; besides, there is something I want from him.

A minute later, the woman led the horde, while I followed from behind, sitting on the head of the bone giant, which had been fashioned into a seat.

It is my newest construct; I want to test it in the battle.

Soon, the horde reached the border of the empire and crossed through it.

The other side is an army. I am surprised that they are not fighting from the fortress, but have brought out their whole army, with their commander in the front.

I only looked at him for a moment before turning to the man looking at me from the battlement.

He is young.

I know he is, but I am still surprised. He is wearing light body armor and riding a purple bronze stallion. Seeing it, a smile couldn’t help but appear on my face.

That’s the thing I want.

My new skill would be very useful with the stallion if I could harvest its bones without losing any energy. I would get the main material to craft my next bone construct.

I may have killed those nobles, but it was not without a cost. It had cost me my stead, which I had spent countless resources to craft.

I had built a few more across the years, but they were not as good as my original. Though looking at the monster stallion, I have a feeling that this will give me what I have been searching for.

Minutes passed, and finally, the horde stopped a hundred meters away from the army.

I hope she will not waste too much time talking. She is the commander of the battle, and I will have to follow her orders. That means I cannot attack until the battle begins.

Read 50+ chapters early, unlock exclusive art & maps on Patreon.