Chapter 403: Chapter 151: Willmand’s Goodwill

Led by Lady Julian, Robson arrived at the reception hall.

Valentino was already there, chatting with Earl Harold and Lady Alice. Occasional laughter drifted over, a sign that their conversation was going well.

"Hey! Robson, look who’s here!"

Valentino stood up, walked over to Robson, and took his right arm.

"Uncle Harold, this is Robson.

And Robson, this is Harold. By rights of seniority, we should call him ’uncle,’" Valentino explained with a smile.

’Is he *your* uncle?’

Robson shot Valentino a stunned look.

’If they were being technical, the last time their two families were related by marriage was over one hundred and fifty years ago. Everyone from that era was long dead.’

"Uncle Harold, I’ve heard so much about you. It’s an honor to finally meet you. Your reputation is well-deserved," Robson said with a smile.

’Robson trusted that Valentino wasn’t the type to go around casually claiming kinship with people.’

’He just didn’t know what her reasons were.’

"General Robson!

Haha! A hero in his youth! Such a talented man and a beautiful woman—the two of you are truly an extraordinary pair."

Harold rose to his feet, extending a hand.

After a round of pleasant laughter, the two couples took their seats, facing each other.

They made effortless small talk, the conversation smoothly transitioning to the political situation of the Kingdom.

"Speaking of my old friend Leo, he also made a name for himself on the Eastern Front back in the day.

I wonder, does Viscount Robertson have any insights on where the Eastern Front is headed?" Earl Harold asked with a smile.

"Oh?" Robson raised an eyebrow.

"Hasn’t the Earl always been stationed on the Central Front? I recall the Willmand Knight Order went toe-to-toe with the Beastman Imperial Court Wolf Cavalry there.

Why the sudden interest in the Eastern Front?" Robson asked.

’Never let your opponent lead the conversation.’

’Robson hadn’t yet figured out Harold’s objective; how could he possibly speak freely?’

’What arrangements for the Eastern Front? Since when did the Eastern Front have anything to do with the Willmand Family?’

’For at least a hundred years, Willmand’s forces hadn’t appeared beyond the border passes.’

’After all, while the Central Front was the most intense during wartime, in times of peace, the situations on all three fronts were more or less the same.’

’In fact, without any major geographical barriers to slow an advance, the Eastern Front was often even more volatile.’

Earl Harold smiled, clearly hearing the vigilance in Robson’s words.

He could only lament how the new generation was constantly overtaking the old.

"Alas, General, you may not be aware of our situation.

Things have become increasingly difficult for us on the Central Front recently.

The armies of my Willmand Family and the Vitersli Family are often not fully resupplied," Earl Harold said with a sigh.

’Not fully resupplied.’

Robson narrowed his eyes.

’The Willmand and Vitersli families were both major noble houses within the Northern faction.’

’It was worth noting that both houses had once been junior partners to the Fengman Clan. Three hundred years ago, in the political climate of the time, the three families had been as close as one.’

’Earl Harold’s words, then, were quite intriguing.’

’They were great nobles. No matter how much their influence had waned, they still held the title of Count. How could they possibly be shorted on funds and provisions?’

"Oh? I’ve heard Marquis George is a very capable commander. How could such an oversight occur?" Robson asked with a smile.

’The army on the Western Front was dominated by the Southern faction, while the Central Front was a mix of the military merit faction and the Northern faction.’

’Robson’s question was a probe, meant to find out who exactly was targeting the Willmand Family.’

’Based on Robson’s speculation, it was highly likely that Marquis George was behind it.’

’After all, Marshal Grantham could barely save his own skin these days; what energy would he have to bother with such matters?’

’Besides, the names Earl Harold mentioned were also quite interesting: the Willmand Family and the Vitersli Family.’

’These were the two great Earl Clans of the Northern faction’s inland contingent.’

’Robson knew a thing or two about the internal conflicts of the Northern faction.’

’It was similar to the Southern faction’s divide, only in reverse, and the conflicts were far more intense.’

’The Southern faction’s inland contingent was the majority. They mostly traded with the Southern Kingdom, and the great nobles—like Edward and Guterres—were nearly all part of this inland group.’

’The Northern faction’s overseas contingent was the majority, trading with the Eastern Isles and the Haven Kingdom.’

’It was a perfect example of economics determining politics. When the Fengman Clan was powerful, the Northern faction’s inland contingent was at its peak. Back then, the inlanders could trade with the eastern Dwarf Kingdom via the Ancient Trade Route—the very same one Robson had passed through during his previous campaign.’

’The decline of the Fengman Clan was tied to the decline of the northern inland contingent. The root cause was that the routes between the Dwarf Kingdom and the Human World had been severed.’

’Unlike the Southern faction’s weak overseas contingent, the Northern inland contingent was, for historical reasons, quite formidable. The struggle between the inlanders and the overseas traders was fierce, with the flashpoint being the Fengman Clan’s withdrawal from the Northern faction. After that, the Northern inlanders who didn’t dare to follow suit could only endure the oppression of the overseas contingent.’

’In short, the relationships between these families were exceptionally complex; it would take days to unravel them completely.’

’Earl Harold had likely come today to discuss this very matter.’

And indeed, just then, Earl Harold gave a bitter laugh.

"Marquis George himself would never show favoritism, of course. But as for the men serving under him... who can say what they get up to," said Earl Harold.

’So it *is* Marquis George showing favoritism.’

Robson nodded.

’It was understandable. Marquis George was only in his forties, and his political experience was only marginally better than Marshal Grantham’s.’

’From his past actions, it was clear he was a dyed-in-the-wool radical.’

’This was one of the dividends from saving Prince Noah on the Western Front. With the King’s backing, he, a newly-risen general, had combined forces with the old Fengman Clan.’

’Only then did he begin to look like the head of an independent faction that could stand on its own. And only that could attract someone like Earl Harold to come seeking allegiance—or, to put it another way, an escape route.’

"I see.

It’s hard to say for certain what the future holds for the Eastern Front.

However, I can guarantee that on the Eastern Front, we are all Franks. There will be absolutely no situation where some are expected to do more work and get less to eat," Robson said with a smile.

’More work? Of course he wouldn’t let them do more work.’

’The war had already entered its middle to late stages. By the final stage, the tables would turn completely.’

’By then, fighting the Beastmen wouldn’t be a chore like it was now—it would be a privilege you’d have to scramble for!’

’He, Lord Robson, still had troops to train. He’d be overjoyed if these people just provided the funds and stayed out of the fighting.’

’Still, he couldn’t just tell Earl Harold the real situation on the Eastern Front right now.’

’What if Earl Harold was just feeling him out as a way to put pressure on Marquis George?’

’That wasn’t just a possibility; it was highly likely.’

Harold, of course, understood Robson’s meaning.

"How might I be of assistance to you, General?" Earl Harold asked.

Just as Robson had guessed, Earl Harold had no intention of leaving the Northern faction just yet. His visit was merely to secure a potential escape route for himself.

Whether he would actually leave depended on Marquis George’s next move.

But even an escape route couldn’t be secured with mere pleasantries. He had to offer something to show his sincerity.

Otherwise, if the time came to flee, who would take him in?

Robson narrowed his eyes and glanced at Valentino.

He saw Valentino looking right back at him.

"I recently received a contingent of troops from the Marquis.

As you know, the Eastern Front is mostly plains, so there will be a great need for Cavalry in the future. I was wondering if the Earl might have a solution for that," Robson asked.

’What was the Wilmand family most famous for? Their right-hand warhorses, of course!’

’Those were prime goods, the kind you couldn’t buy on the open market! Robson would have gladly paid full price for them.’

"On that subject, General, you’ve certainly come to the right person," Earl Harold laughed as well.

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