Clack, the sound of the brass doorknob turning seemed to pierce the dark emptiness and solitude. Princess Griffine opened the wooden door with a squeak and walked out of the room. Her silver curls framed an elven-like delicate face, still slightly red around the eyes, but she had already regained her usual indifferent expression.
"Has Magdal... been asleep like this all this time?"
"Yes, it’s as if she’s dead. Although her basic physiological functions are still maintained, that’s merely superficial," a self-aware girl’s voice answered before Brand, following the direction of the sound in the darkness. The curls of the princess of Alorz shone like gold, she held a bright red wild fruit, taking a bite, the juice ran down the curve of her lips and chin; but the little dragon didn’t care, instead, she stared at Brand and Griffine with cat-like golden pupils: "In reality, it can be said that what lies on the bed is just a shell that has lost its soul—in your human terms, this should be exceptionally accurate. If she were human, she would have died long ago."
"Her Highness was asking me, Alorz." Brand replied with a stern face. This little dragon, ever since she ran solo to his territory, has been freeloading off his name and the deterrent power of the Dragon Clan until today, the only thing worth mentioning she’s done was verify Magdal’s status—but that too was out of her curiosity. And evidently, although she traveled human society for some time, she hasn’t learned to be more tactful in conversations.
"If she were asking me, I wouldn’t have answered. What do you take me for, Brand?" Alorz narrowed her eyes dangerously, but the height of a thirteen-year-old girl made it hard for her to hold any real intimidation.
"No need to argue, it’s nothing." Her Highness interrupted them with a soft voice, not wanting Brand to anger the Dragon Clan because of her. She walked forward, turned back quietly, and asked: "My Lord Earl, regarding the alliance between Anlek and Jandener, have you given it any thought?"
Alorz snorted coldly.
Brand was taken aback; he thought Princess Griffine would first inquire about the Nun Princess, not expecting her to bring up old issues again. He had actually thought through this matter on the carriage—the most suitable tactic against Count Denier is a beheading operation.
After all, today is not like before; unlike when he first came to Tonyger, where Count Denier had overwhelming strength compared to him. In terms of high-end power now, even if Duke Anlek and Count Denier combined weren’t necessarily his match: Duke Anlek has the renowned Eagle Knight and Silver Knight, and a few famous swordsmen, along with some house servants, whereas Denier has only seven or eight Golden Rank henchmen left, even if De Jia’er hadn’t died in Ambeser, Brand could easily deal with them.
After all, this is Vorn, where individual power plays a significant role in warfare, counting numerous times in Vorn’s history during holy wars, most of the high-level leaders of various armies were exceptional individuals, including even his grandfather, Darus, among the elites.
However, the only problem is the calculations within warfare are mutual. He’s plotting against the other, Duke Anlek might also turn the strategy against him. The prowess he displayed in the battle of Ambeser was already staggering, though most believe Williams died under the cannon fire of Erune’s first fleet, just the showdown with the Eagle Djal, and facing the Titan, garnered quite the attention to this rising star of Erune.
The title of the Count of Tonicel has already spread throughout Erune, even among the high ranks of the Cruz people, it’s a name well-known. Whether in the northern tundra or the southern countryside, no one doesn’t know of the new Sword Saint in Erune.
Even as the descendant of that Darus.
Such news naturally escapes not Duke Anlek’s notice, not to mention that old fox personally experienced the war back then. Knowing the disparity in power, yet daring to make an appearance, it’s either extreme arrogance or something else planned, though Brand prefers to believe it’s the latter.
Thus, besides the beheading tactic, it’s best to prepare for conventional warfare. It’s just that Anlek Province covers vast lands, and within Danel’s territory, it’s mountainous. Without considering the Cruz people’s engagement, battles across both places would require a huge expenditure of time. Count Denier has been in constant warfare with Duke Viero, maintaining a significant scale of private soldiers within his territory; as for Duke Anlek, who has long harbored schemes, most of his followers are already seasoned and elite.