Chapter 1367

As the two sides clashed, Everett and his martial artists arrived in Nerovia. The timing was impeccable; Nerovia lacked capable leadership. While officials remained loyal to Nicholas, most fighting men were engaged elsewhere, leaving only a thousand soldiers and a few city guards.

Using Hayden's emblem, Everett secured the government office, dismissing the governor. Simultaneously, Eustace, with bodyguards and merchant convoys, secured Nerovia. The city's capture was swift. With Hayden's emblem, Riverton Estate, Nicholas's residence, was sealed. All of Hayden's former people were expelled.

Everett immediately targeted Riverton Estate, capturing aides and servants. Intense interrogation yielded secret codes, even Clifford's carrier pigeons. Each pigeon followed a specific route, some dedicated to Nicholas. A red ribbon indicated Clifford's victory; white, defeat; unmarked, an unclear outcome.

For years, coded messages, deciphered with a recovered ledger, prevented interception. The ledger used animal code names: pig (Yuvan), dog (Harvey), snake (Salvador), wolf (Carissa), leopard (Rafael), and griffin (Nicholas). Ministers and department heads also had code names.

Numerous letters between Nicholas and rebels were seized, many veiled. However, letters between Nicholas and Eustace revealed the coercion of Eustace—threatened with a life debt—to forge weapons, supply warhorses, and use merchant caravans for covert operations. Eustace produced duplicate letters, but his replies were absent from Nicholas's possessions. Eustace explained that he'd sent letters claiming the warhorses were for the government, due to the capital's forage shortage and his ranch's ample supply. Instead, Nicholas possessed letters pledging the Spencer family's support.

Everett showed Eustace these letters. Eustace sighed, explaining they were from his uncle at the ranch, the loss of 500 warhorses forcing his confession. Despite Eustace's orders forbidding association with rebels, some Spencer family members supported Nicholas, hoping to gain power if he unified the kingdom.

Everett silently tied a red ribbon to a pigeon, signaling Clifford's victory, but delayed its release until Winona could observe Clifford and create a mask.

Late at night in Valken City, Wayne anxiously awaited Clifford's army, its absence inexplicable. A half-month siege suggested delayed or manipulated information; Clifford's army might be farther than believed. Without reinforcements, Valken's troops couldn't withstand the Capital Army. Panic ensued. Wayne retreated to Horizon Estate, deploying suicide soldiers, engaging the enemy, and attempting to send a message. However, Thomas's men encircled the city, revealing a trap. Luring the enemy into the city without reinforcements was suicidal. Enraged, he confronted Samson: “Didn’t you say Mr. Murphy’s army would enter the city tonight? Why haven’t we seen them yet?”