Chapter 1320
Some people are simply born for the battlefield.
On the battlefield, Rafael was far more decisive than in the capital. His mind was unburdened by political constraints; he didn't need to worry about pleasing anyone or fearing repercussions. He acted solely according to his judgment.
Within three days, all those who had spread the rumors were apprehended. They were brought before the assembled soldiers at the training field. Twenty lashes with a military cudgel brought them to their knees, their bodies wracked with pain. Interrogated, they revealed they had been paid to spread falsehoods, knowing nothing of the instigators. They had followed orders without considering the consequences.
The rumor of Sandoria's 800,000-strong advance was false. The claim that Salvador had killed the Hell Monarch was demonstrably a lie—he stood before them. The rumor that Oliver had fled in fear of defeat was also false; he had simply been afraid for his life.
One by one, the lies were exposed, igniting the soldiers' fury. They demanded the culprits' execution. Spreading rumors that undermined army morale was a grave offense, deserving the harshest punishment.
Rafael's gaze swept across the assembled soldiers. His voice, cold and firm, announced, "Those of you who blindly believed these lies, take this moment for reflection. Then, give everything you have in the coming battles." Those who sowed discord were no better than enemies. Their blood would wash away the setbacks of the first battle and fuel their resolve.
After dealing with the culprits, Rafael instructed Louis to immediately dispatch a report to the capital, informing them that the Hell Monarch had arrived at the Southern Frontier but lacked the military command emblem. The question remained: should the generals obey his orders?
Three days later, a royal edict arrived. Rafael was unsurprised, quickly realizing Carissa's hand in it. News of Oliver's escape to the capital would certainly prompt her to secure a royal edict. Rafael's purpose in sending the urgent report was to make Salvador aware of the Southern Frontier Army's position—they recognized the military command emblem and the royal edict, not the Hell Monarch. This gesture would largely reassure Salvador.
In the capital, Salvador received Louis' urgent report. He felt immense relief. His greatest concern had been the seemingly unshakeable position of Rafael within the Southern Frontier Army. Louis' report proved the Southern Frontier Army was the king's army, not Rafael's personal force.
Before Louis' report, Zachary had submitted a report claiming Southern Frontier soldiers suspected the Hell Monarch's execution. This infuriated Salvador; he couldn't believe the rumors had become so widespread. No wonder army morale was shaken and the populace restless!
With the Southern Frontier situation somewhat resolved, Salvador felt a measure of relief. But then, news arrived from Victory Pass: Westhaven had invaded, led by Marshal Leroy. Alongside this report came another from Chester, detailing his efforts to suppress mountain bandits. Bandits were appearing in various regions, overextending the troops and leaving the Valken region vulnerable. Failure to address Valken swiftly could lead to disaster. Salvador decided to send Thomas with 30,000 troops from the capital to Valken to lay siege and cut off supply lines.
With Thomas marching to quell the Valken rebellion, the capital would again rely on the Mystic Army for protection. Salvador considered turning to Carissa. He instructed Ian to return control of the Garrison Unit, the Capital Guard, and the Royal Guard to her.
Meanwhile, the situation at Victory Pass remained unclear, as did the situation in Westhaven. Leroy's border violation clearly indicated escalating internal strife; the victor remained uncertain. Any three-way conspiracy could wait for later investigation. The urgent need was to extinguish the various fires.
After a council meeting in the royal study, Jeremiah remarked to Salvador, "Had the Hell Monarch been given full authority to investigate from the outset, the tangled connections behind all this would be clear by now."
Salvador considered replying that he'd instructed Rafael to collaborate with Ian, but realized his lack of delegation had been a problem. He'd always kept a tight rein on Rafael and his people, even monitoring the Hell Monarch Estate. Jeremiah was aware of this, making any defense pointless.
The most ironic aspect was that despite surveillance on the Hell Monarch Estate, they hadn't known Rafael had feigned illness and left the capital. Ian's abilities were far inferior to Rafael's, and even Carissa surpassed him. The once-corrupt Garrison Unit, now under her command, had become an elite force.