Chapter 1170 - 185: Marle Castle Besieged · The Terrified Nobles (Part 3)

Chapter 1170: Chapter 185: Marle Castle Besieged · The Terrified Nobles (Part 3)

If Su Li does not pay the bribe, how can he expect others to pay? If no one pays, how will they complete their tasks? If everyone refuses to pay the bribe, what is the point of the Electorate Council expanding the Border Prince’s Territory?

Every act of corruption is not merely an individual’s choice; it involves massive political interests behind it.

Therefore, they act fearlessly. This year, the number of Pioneer Lords stuck without noble promotions in the Border Prince’s Territory has increased dramatically, possibly approaching a hundred.

Su Li is just an ordinary member among these hundred people, while Helmuth, for the sake of face, conceals his humiliating experience in Hesse Territory without detailing Su Li’s specific response to him.

Others merely believe Su Li to be a common issue-plagued Lord, just unwilling to bribe.

At most, they would do ideological work with him again next year, or perhaps not even till next year, this territory might already be extinguished amidst the turbulent situation in the Border Prince’s Territory. They’ve seen too many such cases. Numerous Lordships once full of vigor, believing themselves to be chosen sons of heaven, suddenly face significant crises amid their flourishing development, falling under the siege of countless monsters.

The saying goes, ’A tree standing out from the forest will surely be torn down by the wind.’ In the Border Prince’s Territory, there is no shortage of crises capable of devastating a territory. Rampaging Green-skinned Tribes, Beastmen Warbands emerging from the forests, and countless malicious undead ghosts hiding in crypts — any of them can gravely threaten a thriving territory.

Many times, when Electorate Council officials fail to exact bribes one year, and return the next, that once stubborn territory has already become a wasteland and scorched earth.

However, a sudden slam of the door interrupted the sullen atmosphere inside the room.

Baron von Kleist slammed the table in anger and roared: "You fool! Why so flustered? Do you believe I won’t throw you into the Slave Guild, making you the dirtiest, most degraded slave! Let those peasants you despise torment you without restraint!"

"N-Not good... Baron! Bauhinia... the Bauhinia Knights have brought their forces to our door!"

Helmuth’s sinister face turned even colder as he set down the wine from his lips. His voice, like a snake’s hiss, said: "Baron, that’s quite great! I think the servants indeed need discipline. A mere Pioneer Knight coming to our doorstep, what are you afraid of? Who is so blind? Have the City Defense Team handle this! Break their legs and throw them out of the city!"

"But... but that’s no ordinary Pioneer Territory Knight. The City Guard Army is merely decorative for the facade, but really have them fight, their legs would shake in fear. Moreover..." The messenger’s voice was tearful, almost collapsing to the floor. He pointed out the window, his finger trembling like a reed in the wind, "In the sky... the sky is full of... Griffins! Flying Horses! And... and lots of carriages and soldiers! They’ve... they’ve blocked the east gate!

When the detailed report about the terrifying strength of the Hesse Territory convoy — including the number of Air Cavalry, equipment level, accompanying Chosen Ones, elite guards scale — struck the committee’s mahogany office table like a cold steel hammer, all the laughter, all the laziness, all the arrogance suddenly froze.

The air seemed drained, leaving only the rustle of flipping paper and increasingly heavy, fear-laden breathing.

Helmuth’s face went from rosy to deadly pale, finally resembling ashes. The report in his hand shook like a leaf in the wind, cold sweat instantly soaked his expensive silk shirt’s back. "So... so soon they’ve come to our doorstep? Impossible! Impossible! What about Count Litaner of the Swamp Territory! How can he possibly be here so quickly?!" He mumbled incoherently, seeming to witness the most terrifying nightmare.

Baron von Kleist abruptly pushed away the female secretary, his corpulent body struggled to spring from the high-backed chair, his face’s fat quivering intensely with dread: "Hesse Territory?! Su Li?! Just the one we didn’t approve?!"

He snatched the report, his pea-sized eyes fixated on the descriptions, losing color with each read line. "Thirty-four Air Cavalry... Perfect-level Horse Armor... Rare Level Battle Armor... Suspected multiple Chosen Ones... and a ground elite force capable of outright defeating a Chaos Warband... and... and a massive caravan... Gods! Is this... is this the Baron’s strength?! Is this the level of the Elector’s Personal Guard?!" He yelled, his voice altered by fear.

Helmuth’s icy demeanor fractured like ice, bit by bit. He rushed to stand, knocking over the chair, producing a jarring noise. He charged to the window, violently pushing aside the heavy velvet curtains.

Outside, the sky over eastern Marle Castle was already overshadowed by a colossal, swirling golden shadow!

Ten Flying Horses glided like graceful silver shuttles, reflecting sacred radiance in the sun, lightly weaving through the perimeter. Yet, what truly imposed a suffocating pressure was the twenty-four Griffins and Horse Vultures clad in Fiery Sun Horse Armor resembling flowing gold!

The vast wings they spread obscured the sky, every powerful flap stirred a muted wind pressure, seemingly making the air groan. Knights perched atop them, entirely covered in Battle Armor that reflected dazzling brilliance in the sunlight — definitely not ordinary goods! Rare Level patterns were clearly visible, exuding a chilling sense of power. They hung in the sky like divine generals, their cold gaze pierces remotely, directly into this office!