Luwal Valley.
In the central tent of the Northern Army, Colin was listening to the latest report on the Orc War.
Since they were the first to withdraw, and Marquis Garcia obviously had a clear plan to preserve his strength, the original two hundred thousand Northern Army basically remained intact, with casualties of about ten thousand.
However, the situation in the other territories was rather grim.
Westland suffered the worst with its two hundred thousand elite troops completely annihilated.
The situation in the other territories was equally dire. The number of troops safely withdrawn to the Storm Highlands was only about four hundred thousand. On average, the other three territories had nearly half their troops lost in the disastrous Sky Breaking Mountain Range battle and subsequent retreat.
At this point, Westland had completely fallen.
Emperor Reinhardt retreated to Storm Fortress, constantly issuing recruitment orders. Clearly, he was determined to rely on the solid defense of the Storm Fortress to keep the Orc Army out of the Crimson Flame Territory.
Obviously, this was a very foolish decision.
Earlier, Marquis Garcia had written a letter fully explaining his strategy to Colin, which seemed to Colin the most appropriate strategy.Unfortunately, such a strategy could not be accepted by the Emperor.
Objectively speaking, this proactive retreat strategy was a bit difficult to accept, especially for the vested interests.
Just like the battle at Sky Breaking Mountain Range, Duke St. Gregorian was unwilling to withdraw his troops even after receiving news of other territories’ withdrawals.
It’s not that she didn’t want to withdraw; she couldn’t.
As the ruler of Westland, if she were to watch Westland fall and withdraw proactively, how could she face the citizens of Westland in the future?
How could she have the face to still become the ruler of Westland?
If the North Territory was about to fall, could Marquis Garcia calmly propose such a strategy?
Even if he proposed such a strategy, how many lords of the North Territory would be willing to abandon their territories and withdraw with him?
Would Duke St. Hilde agree with this strategy?
So, it’s not hard to understand why Emperor Reinhardt stationed his troops at the Storm Fortress as the Orc Army was about to invade the Crimson Flame Territory.
However understandable it is, this behaviour needs to be prevented.
Luwal Valley is the best battlefield for interception.
The presence of the Northern Army alone is insufficient to stop the Orcs. Colin needs the support of the allied forces in Storm Fortress.
Thinking this, Colin said in a deep voice:
“I need to go to Storm Fortress. You stay in Luwal Valley and don’t leave without my orders!”
“Yes!”
Colin waved his hand to dismiss everyone, but detained Count Uman and Earl Schultz.
After keeping his gaze on the two bloodlines for a while, Colin asked with a dissatisfied tone:
“Why didn’t you stop Earl Dawson when he wanted to gather the Northern Army and head to Storm Fortress?”
Earl Schultz stiffened and defended:
“Master, you didn’t instruct us to stop Earl Dawson, did you?”
Colin snorted, “Didn’t I tell you clearly before I left to unconditionally obey Marquis Garcia? Since Marquis Garcia decided to station his troops in Luwal Valley, why did you let Earl Dawson take the Army away?”
Seeing that Colin’s expression was wrong, Earl Schultz immediately realized that he was really angry.
If Count Uman wasn’t present, she might have used some tempting tactics to pacify her lover. But now, she could only lower her head in embarrassment.
Count Uman was also a little uneasy.
Truthfully, the indifference of the two to Earl Dawson’s actions was due to their misunderstanding of Marquis Garcia’s strategy.
They also felt that gathering at the Storm Fortress was the best choice, at least morally speaking, it was acceptable.
It was much better than hiding in the rear and being pricked in the backbone, denounced as runaways.
Colin was well aware of this, but he still had to reprimand the two.
The loyalty of the bloodline could not be guaranteed, Colin had already verified this with Marquis Vincent in the East.
So, for Count Uman and Earl Schultz, two of the bloodline, he felt he had to reinforce their obedience.
“Listen, I don’t care what you thought before and what your reasons were, but your performance in this matter, I’m very dissatisfied!”
Colin’s gaze was stern, his body exuding a very oppressive aura.
And this aura, for the two of the bloodline, was felt very intensely.
The pressure from the deep depths of their bloodline couldn’t be resisted by will. Earl Schultz and Count Uman’s knees buckled, and they knelt before Colin, prostrating on the ground, trembling.
Colin closed in a few steps, slightly stooped down, and coldly said: “Walra Uman, Nia Schultz, considering this is your first time disobeying my will, I’m giving you a chance to make up for your faults.”
The two, under Colin’s enveloping aura, were already unable to speak, could only press their forehead on Colin’s toes, showing their submission.
Only then did Colin nod in satisfaction and retracted his aura.
Earl Schultz and Count Uman immediately collapsed on the ground, completely soaked in sweat.
But they still struggled to say:
“Sir, whatever you need us to do to make up for our mistakes, please command us!”
“I’m about to go to the Storm Fortress, when I come back, I don’t want to see Wells Dawson anymore.” Colin’s eyes were filled with freezing cold light, “You two understand what I mean?”
Earl Schultz and Count Uman felt a shiver in their hearts, they immediately shouted:
“Yes, sir! If Wells Dawson dares offend your dignity, we will make sure he silently disappears from this world!”
“Very good.” Only then did Colin nod with satisfaction, he didn’t say anything more and walked away in strides.
Earl Schultz and Count Uman didn’t dare to struggle up from the ground until Colin’s footsteps gradually faded away outside the tent.
The two looked at each other, seeing the miserable state of each other in their eyes, and suddenly laughed bitterly in unison.
Earl Schultz broke the silence:
“Count Uman, I fear this is not the appropriate attitude towards a brother-in-law?”
Count Uman retorted:
“Earl Schultz, you don’t seem like the Guardian’s lover either?”
Earl Schultz glared, discontentedly saying:
“I am indeed the master’s lover, however, our relationship is not merely that of lovers.”
Count Uman laughed, saying:
“Okay, we don’t need to continue probing. Yes, I am the master’s apostle, as you should be too, right?”
Earl Schultz no longer concealed, she nodded candidly.
Count Uman exhaled a breath, laughing, “Alright then, we will need to support each other in the future.”
“No problem.” Earl Schultz patted the sword at her waist, changing the subject, “Now, we need to discuss how to make that damned Wells Dawson silently disappear.”
Count Uman’s eyes also flashed a cold light, he nodded:
“The simplest way is the best way!”
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