NOVPUBSatisfied with the rapid (and somewhat unconventional) progress of the territory's development, Ghislain moved on to reviewing his next plans.
"Development is an ongoing task, after all... and the tension between the Royal Faction and the Ducal Faction is bound to escalate."
While Marquis Branford might not have wished for it, he would have realized that Ghislain's actions were hastening the onset of civil war. Count Desmond’s maneuvers alone served as sufficient proof.
Ghislain had heard that Desmond’s forces had been held back by the 2nd Legion. He’d anticipated this move from the start, and Branford had acted precisely as Ghislain hoped he would. But the real challenge lay ahead.
*‘Dragging things out with Amelia ends here.’*
Count Desmond had abandoned his guise of neutrality, choosing to directly mobilize his forces. His previous focus on Amelia’s rebellion and his recent actions suggested he’d decided to target this region directly.
Whether his assault would coincide with the civil war or precede it would depend on unfolding events.
*‘Now it’s Harold’s turn.’*
Alongside Rayfold, Desmond was one of the most formidable lords in the north. He had the military strength, exceptional knights, and abundant resources that a Grand Lord was known for. Examining the map, Ghislain muttered to himself.
"Rayfold’s forces will weaken due to Amelia... so for now, the title of the strongest in the north goes to that Harold."
In the end, Amelia would take Rayfold. Ghislain was certain the count wouldn’t stand a chance against her, even if he leaked information to her. But he had no intention of allowing Amelia to take Rayfold easily.
"Well, thanks to Amelia, we developed the Forest of Beasts and distracted both the Ducal Faction and Harold. She’s been unexpectedly helpful."
Ghislain thought back to the time he had extracted money from Amelia in exchange for silence. He couldn’t be sure it had been the best decision, but it was the only one he had at the time. With no leverage, Rayfold would never have trusted the words of an infamous rogue like him. Even if the count had believed him, Amelia wasn’t one to be easily defeated.
*‘Even if I’d succeeded in ousting Amelia, things would’ve only gotten more dangerous after that.’*
They would have found another pawn besides Amelia, and they certainly wouldn’t have spared him for meddling with their plans.
But things were different now. Fenris had grown too large to hide, and Harold had begun to see them as a threat, making the current situation more dangerous than ever.
In the end, Ghislain had no choice but to confront him head-on if he wanted to secure dominance in the north.
*‘The Royal Faction’s ability to hold the Ducal Faction at bay is limited. I’ll need overwhelming strength to crush Desmond before then.’*
Only by placing every northern lord under his rule could Ghislain face off against the Ducal Faction. Forcing them into submission through war would incur heavy losses, so he had to display overwhelming strength and make them bow willingly.
The preparations he made from now on would be critical.
*‘More runestones will be needed. I’ll have to reduce the amount sold to the Mage Tower for a while.’*
The runestones would be crucial not only for the ongoing development of his territory but also for strengthening his forces. Ghislain had anticipated this moment when he first set out to find the runestones. Now, the time had come.
"Speaking of which... Hubert should be arriving soon."
A letter had recently arrived from Hubert, the Red Flame Tower Master. He had congratulated Ghislain on his victory and mentioned he’d be stopping by to inspect the branch and catch up.
Amused by Hubert’s obvious motives, Ghislain looked out the window with a leisurely smile.
---
A few days later, Hubert arrived with the elders from the Mage Tower.
The arrival of the mages caused a small commotion near the lord’s castle. The Red Flame Tower was famous in the north, and seeing its members in person was a rare event.
"The Red Flame Tower Master is here!"
"Really? Someone that important came to see our lord?"
"Yes! He arrived in a magnificent carriage with a whole retinue."
"If someone like that comes in person, it means our lord’s reputation must be growing."
Workers at the workshop gossiped about the visitors, and Alfoy, who had been carving a magic circle in a corner, overheard them and his eyes sparkled.
*‘The Tower Master is here? Stay calm, stay calm!’*
Alfoy broke out in a cold sweat, trying to keep his composure.
Ever since he’d been "abandoned" here, he thought he’d never have the chance to see Hubert again. But now that Hubert had come in person, this was the perfect chance to escape.
If Hubert found out he’d been turned into a slave, there was no way he would turn a blind eye.
After calming down the other mages, who were also stirred up, Alfoy spoke quietly.
"Now’s our chance. I’ll go and meet the Tower Master. You all create a distraction."
With Alfoy’s determined command, the other mages nodded and sprang into action.
"Where did I put that tool?"
"Call the priest—I’m not feeling well."
"Hey, move this first! Where are the dwarves?"
The mages began bustling about, creating a chaotic atmosphere.
"I’ll be back from the restroom."
Taking advantage of the commotion, Alfoy slipped out of the workshop, feigning a trip to the restroom.
"Haste!"
He cast a speed-enhancing spell on himself and quickly moved. He had only a short time before people would notice he was missing.
*‘Alright, let’s go!’*
With all his might, Alfoy sprinted toward the castle.
The sun had already set, and darkness blanketed the area, making it difficult for guards to spot him moving quickly.
*“Huff, huff!”*
He’d drained his magical power at work, so he quickly ran out of breath. Though he thought he’d built up stamina from working on construction, it seemed he’d been overdoing it.
*‘Hang in there, Alfoy! You can do it! You’re the unbreakable flame! Ugh, my heart hurts!’*
Fueled by the hope of escaping this hell, his heart pounded wildly.
*‘Just a bit more! Just a bit more, and I’ll make it! The Master will definitely cancel this slave contract...’*
But as Hubert’s image came to mind, anxiety set in.
The Hubert he knew was lazy, extravagant, and narrow-minded. Would someone like him really go out of his way to help a disciple? Even Alfoy wouldn’t sacrifice much for a mere apprentice.
*‘What am I thinking? No master would abandon his disciple... at least, not my master!’*
The castle was within sight. He pushed away distracting thoughts, knowing he needed to stay focused.
Once he caused enough commotion near the castle, Hubert was bound to notice him.
With his magical power almost depleted, Alfoy was about to reach the castle when he suddenly froze in place.
*‘What’s going on?!’*
*Swoosh!*
Darkness suddenly enveloped him, and his surroundings began to distort.
Sensing something strange, Alfoy instinctively gathered magic in his hand, ready to attack. In this territory, it was safer to strike first if you saw anything unusual.
But before he could cast a spell, the darkness tore open, and a hand reached out, grabbing him with lightning speed.
*Snap!*
*‘Damn it...’*
Alfoy’s consciousness faded as his neck was twisted.
Looking down at the unconscious Alfoy, Belinda sighed.
"Phew. He’s getting sharper and harder to catch every time. Even with his magical power nearly drained by evening, he still moves this fast? His magic efficiency has improved so much."
With all the continuous construction and constant use of magic, his skills had grown significantly. Although his magic circle level hadn’t changed, his ability to control and apply magic had developed unnaturally fast.
Against a formidable opponent in combat, his skills would be intimidating. Though Alfoy himself didn’t realize it, to Belinda, he seemed almost capable of standing up to some knights in direct confrontation.
Clicking her tongue, Belinda tossed Alfoy back into the workshop.
The mages, seeing their fallen comrade, looked openly disappointed, while Belinda flashed a brief smile before leaving. Though they’d all improved, they still had a long way to go before they could challenge Belinda.
---
"It’s been a while, Tower Master. The elders have come as well."
"Oh, yes. I was shocked to hear of your recent victory. You certainly know how to fight. So, how have you been?"
Hubert greeted Ghislain with a bright smile.
He was genuinely relieved. Hearing that Ghislain had gone to war again had nearly stopped his heart.
It would be nice if this brat remembered that if he lost, the Mage Tower would suffer too.
After exchanging light greetings with Ghislain, Hubert and the elders sat down to chat, mostly listening to Hubert brag about his recent achievements.
"All the nobles keep trying to impress me with their gifts...."
"Ah, yes."
"I’m the most popular at social gatherings...."
"Ah, yes."
"So, if you stick closer to me, it’ll really help your territory...."
"Ah, yes."
Hubert clicked his tongue at Ghislain’s bored responses.
Truthfully, the young lord was too successful these days
. With Marquis Branford backing him, it was hard for Hubert to assert his authority as the Tower Master as he once did.
"Ahem. So, how’s the branch holding up? And Alfoy—is he doing well?"
"Of course. He’s been a great help to the territory. Would you like to see him? Since it’s late, you can relax and spend some time with your disciple before heading back. I have things to attend to...."
Ghislain’s subtle dismissal made Hubert jump, waving his hands in protest.
"No, no! As long as he’s doing well, that’s all that matters. I didn’t come here to see him. I’m sure he’s managing fine."
"Is that so? Then is there something you need? Perhaps a request?"
Hubert and the elders shifted uncomfortably, looking anxious, as if caught off guard by Ghislain’s straightforward question.
Ghislain gave a small smile as he continued.
"Please, feel free to ask. After all, there’s no need to be shy between friends."
"Right? We’re friends, after all. Ha-ha!"
Hubert chuckled before cautiously asking.
"Could we... possibly buy some food? We need a lot, actually."
"Hmm. You’re aware that food prices have soared recently?"
"Yes, I know! But with the number of people at the tower, it’s been difficult to acquire enough—even with plenty of money, it’s not easy."
Since Ghislain had started supplying runestones, the Red Flame Tower had regained some of its former glory. The number of disciples had increased, and additional staff had been hired to support them.
With magic tools and scroll sales booming, funds were piling up just as they had in the past.
But then the drought hit, and everything came to a halt.
For even the Red Flame Tower—the most prominent in the north—to come to Ghislain for food spoke volumes about the situation. Other places had it much worse.
"Food’s been nearly impossible to come by recently. I heard rumors you had plenty, so...."
"You don’t seem like the type to starve."
"Ugh, don’t even get me started. We’re consuming enough for hundreds of people daily, and as prices keep rising, I’m getting a headache."
Even the few goods that reached the market were swept up by nobles changing their land policies to keep their armies fed.
Had it not been for the tower’s authority and wealth, they would’ve collapsed long ago.
Count Cabaldi had amassed a fortune, but even he had been forced to starve his soldiers.
Drought was a terrifying thing. Once a bad harvest struck, supply was scarce until the next season.
Wiping sweat from his forehead, Hubert asked sincerely.
"Could you... spare some food? I know it’s tough with your territory expanding, but... they say true friends help each other through hard times."
Hubert didn’t know exactly how much food Ghislain had, but he’d heard rumors of large stockpiles. After all, this man had fed his army and gone to war without hesitation.
*‘Still, why waste such precious resources on war? With the growing population, he may not have any surplus. What if he refuses to sell?’*
Nervous, Hubert watched as Ghislain nodded nonchalantly.
"We still have plenty of food. Enough for our needs and more."
"Re-really? You have that much? Then sell some to us! We don’t need as much as the nobles—we just want a secure supply for the next two years... enough to keep everyone full."
The Red Flame Tower, once the premier tower in the north, had a large population. The amount needed to feed hundreds of disciples and staff over two years would be enormous.
With a faint smile, Ghislain held up three fingers, just as he had in the past.
"Three times the current market price."
Hubert and the elders’ faces contorted in dismay.
