Chapter 537: Chapter 8: Pre-war Meeting

An important matter...

Robson knew it had to be about Marshal Grantham. ’No, I can’t call him Marshal anymore,’ he thought. ’He’s the rebel leader, Grantham.’

"Noah, Robson, you two head inside first."

"I still have some matters to discuss with Lumian Knight Commander and the others," said Marquis Oscillate.

"As you command, Marquis," said Prince Noah.

Even though Prince Noah was the Crown Prince, he was still very respectful of the man widely recognized as the kingdom’s second-in-command.

As Marquis Oscillate left with Lumian Knight Commander and the others, Robson wondered how the Marquis planned to explain Marshal Grantham’s rebellion.

In any case, the matter had nothing to do with him for the time being.

"Your Highness."

After Marquis Oscillate left, a young nobleman approached the two of them.

Robson looked at the man, feeling he looked vaguely familiar.

"This is Viscount Bronson, the eldest son of Marquis George.

He’s a prominent young man. He once defended Olan Fortress and thwarted the Beastmen’s Eldest Prince, Kaisen," Prince Noah explained.

It dawned on Robson.

’No wonder he looks so familiar. He’s from the Wei Man Clan.’

Robson had met a few members of the Wei Man Clan before. They had a distinctive look: deep-set eyes and silver hair.

"And this is Earl Robson, with Count Valentino by his side," Prince Noah said, continuing the introductions.

"I knew you looked familiar! With a resemblance like that, there’s no mistaking you’re Marquis George’s son. A great man raises a great son," Robson said.

From previous conversations with Prince Noah and Valentino, Robson had a general understanding of the preferences of the noble heirs in the upper echelons of Frankish society.

Viscount Bronson, for example, greatly admired his own father.

Even though Robson was part of the southern faction, he knew he had to show respect on the surface.

Sure enough, upon hearing Robson’s praise, Viscount Bronson beamed with joy.

"Earl Robson, you’ve reached the Legendary rank at such a young age. Compared to you, my accomplishments are nothing."

"I heard you two will be getting married soon?" Bronson asked.

"That’s right, it should be sometime this year," Robson said.

"You must remember to invite me then..."

’The Marquis must not have let the news of the Marshal’s rebellion spread yet, if Bronson still has the mind to care about this.’

"Valentino and I would be honored to have you."

...

Next, Prince Noah led Robson around, introducing him to a circle of Frankish Nobles in the army.

When Robson had been in the Royal Capital, he had met many scions of the great families, but most of them were not their family’s designated heirs.

It was an unwritten rule in the Frankish Political Arena: only those who had served on the battlefield were qualified to lead their clan.

Therefore, the cream of the crop of the next generation from all the great families was actually at the front lines.

Since they were all elites chosen by their families, there were none of the usual arrogant displays and subsequent humiliations.

Besides, Robson had high emotional intelligence to begin with, and his recent thousand-mile raid to eliminate Kemal had earned him more than enough respect.

The conversations were pleasant, and everyone seemed to be on good terms.

"It seems everyone is in high spirits."

Just as everyone was chatting amicably, Marquis Oscillate returned.

Behind the Marquis was Lumian Knight Commander.

Robson didn’t know what the Marquis had said, but Lumian Knight Commander now wore a grim expression.

Oscillate, however, had reverted to his usual demeanor, looking as if he had everything completely under control.

"Gentlemen, please make your way to the main tent. We have an important military council to attend."

...

The men were puzzled, assuming the meeting was about continuing the offensive against the Beastman Empire.

After they entered the main tent, Marquis Oscillate’s expression turned grave.

"Gentlemen, I must inform you of some very bad news."

The men exchanged confused glances.

"I’m afraid the offensive against the Beastman Empire will have to be halted," the Marquis said.

"What!"

"Why? We have the advantage!"

A group of officers asked in confusion.

To invade the Beastman Grassland and let our horses graze on Madar Mountain.

This was the dream of all Franks.

Now, that dream was about to be shattered.

Oscillate had long anticipated this reaction and looked toward Earl Lu Wen at his side.

"Quiet! Quiet!"

"What is all this? Marquis Edward is the commander-in-chief of the army!" Earl Lu Wen snapped, feigning anger.

They were all intelligent men. With influential figures from both the southern and northern factions having spoken, they knew the matter had already been settled in a private meeting.

But no one voiced their support or spoke a word. A dead silence fell. They were all waiting for Marquis Oscillate to give them an explanation.

The Marquis had a plan ready and stood up.

"We recently received intelligence that Marshal Grantham was assassinated by a heretical cult.

The Marshal’s army is now under the cult’s control, posing a grave threat to our rear."

"There is no need to worry, gentlemen. His Majesty the King is aware of the situation, and reinforcements are already on the way.

We will execute a pincer movement from the north and south. In less than a month, we will have cleared the central route. When that is done, the kingdom will resume the northern campaign against the Beastman Empire," the Marquis said.

This was the story the Marquis had concocted. They certainly couldn’t say that Grantham had rebelled.

After all, Grantham’s reputation was immense. There was a saying among the Franks: "Victory belongs to the Marshal, and the Marshal belongs to the Franks." If word got out that Grantham had rebelled, army morale would instantly plummet.

The officers looked at each other in dismay.

’The Marshal is dead?’

This news was even more shocking than halting the offensive against the Beastman Empire.

Many present were from the younger generation of Frankish officers, and they were all ardent admirers of the Marshal. Their faces fell upon hearing the news.

"Marquis... is what you’re saying... true?"

The first to react was Prince Noah, who wore an expression of utter disbelief.

"I know this may be difficult for you to accept. I worked with Marshal Grantham for many years. When I first received this news, my heart was filled with immense grief.

The heretical cult that assassinated the Marshal is called the Assembly of Gods. They were the ones who planned the assassination of His Majesty Tilia Lanswell at the beginning of the year. This time, they’ve set their sights on us Franks..." the Marquis said, his tone utterly convincing.

"Marquis, now is not the time for grief."

"Right now, our army of 200,000 is stuck on the Beastman Grassland without sufficient supplies."

"Our top priority must be to turn around and eliminate this cult," Robson said, rising to his feet.

It was a well-rehearsed performance; they had planned this all along.

As for why Robson was the one to say it?

Because Robson had fought his way from the eastern front, broken through to the Legendary rank, and the story of his part in cornering the Beast Emperor had already spread.

Robson’s prestige in the Frankish Army was currently at an all-time high.

Having Robson speak up would be a great way to stabilize the army’s morale.

Marquis Oscillate nodded.

"Earl Robson is right."

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