Chapter 416: Chapter 411: Hardline Howard

As Duane’s special envoy, Hardy was not attacked by the Akutas Kingdom’s Guard Army on his journey, as the ship he traveled on flew the Starburst Banner high.

On the contrary, after his identity was confirmed by the garrison at Twin Bay, they even dispatched a personal escort to take him to the Royal Capital.

This was because those men knew that if anything happened to Hardy, it could affect the greater situation. Before Duane even had a chance to attack, the Royal Family’s blade would have likely already swung in their direction.

However, although Hardy reached Sun Stealer Castle, he was merely quartered in the Royal Inn and did not get to immediately meet Crown Prince Howard, who was overseeing things from Blazing Sun Fortress.

Despite his repeated requests to the Court Servants assigned to him, they always used the excuse that the Crown Prince was busy and delayed him again and again.

This delay lasted for seven days.

Afterward, right there in the Royal Inn, Hardy met Vesi, who had once served as the Liaison Officer in the Pruck Kingdom. Vesi represented Howard in the meeting with Hardy.

The final result was that Howard stated bluntly: after the war ends, the Akutas Kingdom would ransom back Eldrin, Freddy, and the others, and did not need Duane to reduce the ransom.

Furthermore, Akutas would absolutely not recognize Duane and his people as Lords of the Starfall Islands. They firmly asserted that the Starfall Islands belonged to Akutas and urged Duane’s party to withdraw as soon as possible.

"My apologies, my lord. I stayed in Sun Stealer Castle for over ten days, but I was never granted an audience with Howard. I didn’t even get to see any of their high-ranking officials!"

Hardy felt he had lost face. More than that, he felt his own low status had tarnished Duane’s reputation.

But in reality, this was clearly a sign that Howard had no intention of negotiating further with Duane. It had little to do with Hardy’s own status.

After hearing the report, Duane couldn’t help but frown. "Does this Howard think I’m showing him weakness?"

Count Kais nodded slightly. "That’s possible. But it’s also possible he’s optimistic about the fate of the Akutas Kingdom and thinks he’ll have a chance to take the Starfall Islands back from us in the future."

This was indeed Howard’s intention, which was why he had no thought of trading the Starfall Islands for five years of inaction from Duane.

"Did you see what the garrison is like at Twin Bay?" Duane asked.

The Akutas Kingdom also had a river flowing from north to south, making Twin Bay their equivalent of the Silent Shore.

"The garrison must be quite large!"

Hardy said, "I saw vast numbers of banners. It looked like the armies of many families were stationed there. Both docks and even the river itself were crowded with moored ships."

The Count, thinking Duane intended to attack Twin Bay, quickly said, "Our stockpile of Fel Energy Bombs is too low, and we can’t replenish it quickly. If you’re thinking of taking Twin Bay the same way we took the Crown of Tides, it will be quite difficult."

The Fel Energy Bombs had been rushed into production before the war. Seventy to eighty percent were used up in the attacks on the Crown of Tides and Scorching Wind City. Most of the remainder were used by Raymond and his men to subjugate scattered nobles, leaving less than ten percent.

To use them in another large-scale siege, they would need a long time to restock.

But Duane shook his head. "Taking Twin Bay offers me little benefit. I don’t have the manpower to run any more territory."

With his current resources, he already needed to borrow men from Count Kais and Baron Uriel just to manage the Starfall Islands properly. Taking Twin Bay would stretch his manpower even thinner.

Besides, unlike the overseas Starfall Islands, that place is part of the Akutas Kingdom’s mainland. If there’s a truce in the future, the Akutas Kingdom could periodically send bandits and raiders to attack Twin Bay, which would only create unnecessary losses for Duane.

"Then what are you suggesting?" Count Kais asked.

"Although Howard rejected my proposal, I don’t believe he’ll send troops to seize the Starfall Islands, not without a major victory on another front or the Kasa Kingdom formally entering the war."

The Count nodded slightly. Reclaiming the Starfall Islands from them would certainly require a massive army. Given the current state of Akutas, they couldn’t muster one.

"If the enemy doesn’t move, I don’t move. All troops will rest, recuperate, and train for defense on the Starfall Islands."

At this, the corner of Duane’s mouth curved into a smirk. "However, my army may not move, but I can. I need to let Howard know that there’s a price for refusing my terms!"

The Count understood the implication. "Are you planning a surprise attack on Twin Bay?"

With Duane’s ability to fly, he could certainly go to Twin Bay alone, burn some ships, and kill a few officers.

Duane shook his head. Raiding such places would only lower his own status, and it wouldn’t put much psychological pressure on the enemy.

"You’re not thinking of going to Blazing Sun Fortress, are you?"

Count Kais exclaimed in alarm, "I advise you against that. That place is their Royal Capital. Even though you can fly, there’s no guarantee they don’t have other powerful experts hidden there. Rushing in recklessly could easily lead you into a trap."

King Tyron was able to produce a force as powerful as the Sun Stealer Legion out of nowhere. Who could guarantee he didn’t have other trump cards hidden in Blazing Sun Fortress?

"Don’t worry, I’m not that reckless."

Duane explained, "I can pick a battlefield and change the stalemate."

Count Kais relaxed. That method was indeed viable.

And once Howard realized that they would pay a heavy price whenever Duane decided to act, it would force him to reconsider Duane’s proposal.

’Which battlefield should I choose?’ Duane silently mulled over his options.

The first choice was naturally the battlefront to the kingdom’s northwest, which would mean directly confronting His Majesty Tyron.

But Duane had some reservations. After all, Tyron was a King. Killing a king would have enormous repercussions, and it would make him a target.

The second suitable choice was the Fidun Kingdom front.

He could intervene to help Andrews of the Holy Radiance Court, and on the way, he could take a detour to the Dorrell Hilton Earl’s Territory to check out the Fel Energy Secret Realm on his land.

If he could slay an Ancient God Incarnation, he could reach the Flying Level even faster.

"My lord!"

John’s voice interrupted Duane’s thoughts. "What is it?"

"A report from the harbor Guards! They say the Royal Family’s fleet has arrived, and Second Prince Otto is on his way to Star Sea City."

Huh?

For so many days, King Eric had not sent a reply. Duane and Count Kais had both subconsciously assumed the King was unwilling to agree to their proposal.

They never expected the King would actually send his second son to the Starfall Islands in person.

"The Second Prince must have brought His Majesty’s counterproposal to our plan."

Count Kais stood up and said with a smile, "Duane, do you think His Majesty will agree to enfeoff you as a Duke?"

Hardy and John, who were in the reception hall, looked up in shock. ’Wasn’t the Lord supposed to become a Count after the war? Why a Duke?’

Duane thought for a moment and said, "His Majesty probably won’t agree to our proposal that easily. He’ll at least attach some conditions, like requiring me to take action."

Duane had previously wondered what he would do if Howard had accepted his proposal, while King Eric made Duane’s intervention a condition for enfeoffing him as a Duke. Should he have intervened in that case?

Now, he no longer had to worry about that, because Howard had refused him.

"Come, let’s go welcome the Second Prince!"

Otto represented the Royal Family on this trip. Even though Duane and Kais were both planning to break away from the Kingdom and become independent in the future, for now, they were still the Kingdom’s vassals.

The Second Prince was arriving. It was one thing not to go to the Crown of Tides to greet him, but if they just sat waiting quietly in the castle, it would be rather discourteous.

There was no need to slight him over such a minor matter.

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