End Of The War (2)

He's not an awe-inspiring strategist or a great character like Fran of Narja, he's just a butcher.

"Attack! Annihilate the remnants of Bridget!"

When I gave the signal to attack, Lunan's army, which had surrounded Bridget's Royal Army, jumped out from everywhere.

A one-sided battle soon began.

Yurasia also ran towards the King of Bridget.

Her power level was almost equal to his, however, Bautor also had to deal with ordinary soldiers, so he was no match for Yurasia.

In the end she pierced his throat with Rossade.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!"

Cheers rang out all around as the enemy king died.

Seeing this, the soldiers of Bridget began to surrender.

No, they did not have the will to fight from the beginning.

So, at the moment the king died, the war was as good as over.

"Waaahhhh!"

Lunan's soldiers shouted louder than before.

And I shouted in the middle of them.

"All credit goes to you; the promised reward will surely be paid. I will allow you to drink today but you must never touch a Bridget citizen. Those who violate military law will be dealt with harshly!"

This was a custom handed down by the 12 families since the days of the Empire.

A civilized military would not slaughter all, rape women and kids.

No there were rules of conduct, sure the men could be killed, within reason as they would still need to survive in some extent for labor reasons but any who harbor rebellious intent could be put to the sword or those who died to defend their homes from invaders.

When it came to looting the citizens were likewise spared and typically it was only the noble houses which would be looted, since most would typically be captured or killed in the field of battle anyways.

The palace was spared this of course as upon it's capture and the fall of Bridget it's content would belong to the new king, in this case the King of Lunan.

However Julius did not forget to make a quick extraction from it first after taking a certain ring from the corpse of the Last Bridget King.

[Aquitania Treasury: 150,490,000 Lunan]

That's right he raided the treasury, half of it's contents being deposited into his own pocket, call it spoils of war.

***

- - Count Fihatri POV - -

Count Fihatri slammed his fist down hard on the desk.

The King of Lunan had ordered Julius's return.

As a vassal of Duke Ronen, Count Fihatri had heard the news before Julius and shook his head.

He did not like the king's decision.

With an additional 50,000 troops from Lunan, it was only a matter of time before the territory of Bridget would fully surrender.

Therefore, it was the Lunan king's idea to recall Julius before he took over the rest of Bridget and give all the war merits to his own line.

"I never knew this country could be so corrupt."

For Fihatri, Julius was already a friend who had fought with him.

He had treated him sincerely and entrusted him to the front line to make the biggest impact.

That's why Fihatri had changed his opinion of Julius.

At first, he had only intended to monitor him, but he had completely changed his mind.

He had fought with Hero Elheat, who was also a vassal of Duke Ronen.

He respected Elheat, of course, but there was something about Julius that Elheat didn't have.

His ability to handle soldiers as well as his intelligence and charisma.

For this reason, Fihatri ran out of the temporary office with the intention of trying to persuade Julius even if it meant going against the will of Duke Ronen.

***

- - Julius POV - -

I was preparing to leave.

The situation changed abruptly when we captured the royal capital of Bridget.

When the king of Lunan heard the news, he sent an additional 50,000 troops to protect Roserun and destroy Bridget.

I guess it was an act of greed that put the huge prey in front of them as the top priority over the dangerous element of Visigoth.

Of course, that's exactly what I wanted.

This greed will eventually lead to the destruction of Lunan, while preserving portions of it's strength I can use later.

If they use their forces against Bridget, it will be even more difficult to stop Visigoth's great conquest.

If Visigoth invades and occupies Lunan's royal capital, I will absorb the Lunan territory that will become chaotic!

I'll probably have to fight with the Visigoth Kingdom, but in any case, it's all a battle of strategy.

So there was no need to waste time here now that I had achieved my goal.

We did not take over the whole of Bridget.

But that's what the newly-deployed Royal Army of Lunan should do.

I'm sure that's what the King of Lunan intends to do.

It was uncommon to replace the general who had accomplished the most dangerous task, but the treatment was rather desirable now.

The real enemy was Visigoth, an enemy so powerful that Bautor was no match for them.

Now that I've accomplished my goal I can go home without any regrets.

I can always get this place back later.

"The general is ordered to return to Lunan as soon as the 50,000 troops arrive!"

"If the king says so, I'll have to return."

When I answered without the slightest interest, Fihatri asked with a frustrated look on his face.

"After they remove the general who occupied Bridget's royal capital from this war, His Highness Ronen's men will be sent out in force. Don't tell me you don't know what that means?"

What it means.

How could I not know that?

It means that the king and the duke will seize all of Bridget's territory and take the credit for it from me.

"Besides, you're one of His Highness Ronen's men, aren't you? I'm surprised you're worried about me."

"That's...!"

Fihatri shook his head, surprisingly.

Fihatri Delphina, is a man of ability for sure.

The problem's that he was a vassal of Duke Ronen.

He was a Count, so he was a nobleman of the same grade as me because he didn't have a territory.

There are a lot of nobles who don't have territories even if they are Counts.

In particular, there were many such nobles who were vassals of dukes, who were large nobles.

He would probably take this opportunity to get a fiefdom.

Unlike me, who was not affiliated with Ronen, he was Ronen's vassal.

Most of the credit for my success should go to him.

Even so, the fact that he would say such a thing to me indicates that he has had a change of heart.

It's not a bad thing, talented people are always welcome.

In a number of battles, Fihatri led his soldiers well.

He had an excellent ability to follow and execute orders, but it was still early.

Considering the situation he was in, it would be better to welcome him into my ranks a little later.

"Oh, well. I'm not going to get into a political fight, but I'm sure you'll get one of Bridget's territories. Congratulations."

"I thought this was not the time to be laughing! Besides, it's outrageous! I can't accept it if the general can't take anything!"

"That's not true."

I shook my head.

"If you think of me, you should stay in Bridget. If you are given a fief, take it. And you must remain loyal to Duke Ronen. As you build up your strength, there will come a time when you will be of great help to me."

"What...?"

"I have more important things to do now, like rewarding my soldiers. I've always said I'd give them rewards to motivate them."

"But will His Majesty pay for it? His Majesty's character is...."

Fihatri asked with a look of impossibility in his eyes.

Well, that's a fair question.

There is no way that the king of Lunan will reward his soldiers.

"He probably won't help me. But it's important to keep your promises. If I don't follow through with what I've said, the soldiers who served me this time will never follow through with me again when the time comes."

It is very important to win the hearts and minds of the soldiers.

It is even more important if I want to absorb Lunan's troops later on.

"If His Majesty doesn't pay, I will do it. I'll send you some money; can you give it to the soldiers on my behalf?"

"Of course. In my honor, I will make sure that no other nobles can embezzle it. But are you sure you want to leave? It would be better for you to stay in Bridget...!"

"Look at the big things. If you get too attached to the little things, you'll miss the big things."

When I said this, Fihatri looked dazed.

This last conversation laid down a test of his loyalty if he truly disperses the reward as I've asked I'll openly welcome him to my ranks but if he doesn't then the man shall serve no purpose in my grand dream.