Chapter 224: Who Will Send?

The King had reason to be unhappy. He had every reason to vent his anger on Isolde. The Eryndral Empire, a major power in Kingston, was at its zenith. Yet, if other countries learned that the King had quelled internal strife and sent a woman general with only 3,000 soldiers, their perception of him would plummet. Any mistakes Isolde made would reflect directly on the King. How could he not worry?

Furthermore, this matter hadn't been discussed by the Cabinet. They had directly ordered Isolde to war. If anything went wrong, he would bear the sole responsibility. The King was furious and anxious, yet powerless. He dared not unleash his anger on Thelma, but his dissatisfaction was palpable.

Isolde felt immense pressure. She sensed the palace's turmoil. At Eastford Landing, Doug and Kolton spoke with her.

“Isolde, this time, you must succeed. You cannot fail,” Doug said earnestly.

Isolde nodded. “I know.”

Kolton added, “Don’t worry; if anything happens, I will take responsibility.”

Isolde looked at him with emotion. “Uncle, we won’t lose.”

Kolton nodded, a bitter smile playing on his lips. In truth, which soldier summoned to war felt truly confident? Isolde, a battlefield novice, couldn't comprehend the inherent danger. Only those who had witnessed its cruelty truly understood. A wide separation between soldiers indicated a significant disparity in strength.

Just as the Eastford Landing contingent prepared to depart, two figures arrived on horseback. Isolde recognized Harlan and...Anthony! Isolde was stunned. They had dismounted and rushed forward. Isolde hurried to meet them, intercepting Harlan's salute. “Why aren’t you recuperating in Argentum?”

Harlan replied, “Lady Isolde, you’re going to war. If I can still stand, I will help you.”

Isolde was slightly angry. “No, you must return immediately. Your injuries haven't healed.”

“Nonsense. I’m not made of paper. And even against Garrett, I could withstand over a hundred blows,” Harlan declared.

Isolde frowned, about to protest, but Harlan cut her off. “If you don’t let me follow…”

Isolde knew Harlan wouldn't relent. She conceded.

Then Isolde turned to Anthony. His face was dusty, his hair disheveled, but his eyes shone as he looked at her.

“Why are you here?” Isolde knew his father cherished him. This battle was perilous, a responsibility he shouldn't bear.

Anthony replied in a muffled voice, “I’m here to protect the country. Didn’t you say you like soldiers? I can be like Oliver.”

Isolde said unhappily, “If you’re here for emotional reasons, you should leave immediately. The battlefield is not what you imagine.”

Anthony retorted, “You’ve never fought. How would you know? Besides, we’re a motley crew. If we can’t win, we’ll escape. I may not be strong in combat, but I’m excellent at escaping. You know this…”

Doug, Kolton, and Lucas frowned, their faces darkening as they coughed. Isolde looked at Anthony awkwardly. It had to be admitted, the boy's ability to escape was indeed impressive. Anthony was stubborn; he wouldn't run easily, enduring attacks relentlessly. However, if he truly wanted to flee, he could vanish in an instant.

This was the villagers' nature: fight with all their might when necessary; otherwise, escape. In any case, Anthony would suffer the least loss.

Isolde observed their determined gazes. “You won’t go back. Fine, join the main force. But let me be clear: our ‘main’ force isn't large. We’ll split up; we won't reunite until Zloimond. Decide who you'll accompany.”

They both said in unison, “Follow you.”

Isolde readily agreed, “Alright!”

“Are we rushing to Zloimond?” Anthony asked. This fight was about seizing the advantage; they would strike before Kamari was prepared.

“No.” Isolde smiled, her eyes bright. “We’re not in a hurry. Let’s proceed slowly, let Kamari be on guard first.”

“Why? If he’s prepared, do we even stand a chance?” Harlan asked.

“One needs a reason, doesn't one?” Isolde replied.

“A good reason?” Anthony didn’t quite understand.

Isolde mounted her horse and looked at him. “If you want to beat someone up in a manor, do you commit the crime for them first?”

“But this is different. If they’re ready, we won’t win,” Anthony said.

Isolde shook her head. “We won’t engage them head-on for now, so any preparations they make will be useless to us.”

It was late. Isolde gestured, and the team departed in three groups. Harlan and Anthony exchanged glances.

Anthony softly asked, “Harlan, you’ve been on the battlefield. Do you know how to win without a direct confrontation?”

“I don’t know!” Harlan admitted, slightly disheartened. “But Lady Isolde said we won’t fight head-on for now. That means more confrontations to come.”

“Oh,” Anthony said. “The little tyrant’s good at fighting. Maybe she really has a way?”

Harlan was less optimistic. Is fighting a battle the same as fighting a war? he wondered.

Initially, Harlan believed that with 3,000 soldiers, Kolton and Doug, they would still be in command. Now, separated, could Isolde really achieve anything? Even a motley crew of Zloimond soldiers possessed considerable strength.

At the Zloimond King Mansion, Kamari looked at Ashley and frowned. “You’re saying the King wants to use troops against Zloimond?”

“Grandfather has heard rumors, and his information is always accurate. His analysis is likely correct,” Ashley said.

“Why don’t we contact Argentum to verify the news first?” Kamari seemed uneasy.

Ashley shook her head. “No, the iron box's location is unknown. We don’t know if our people in Argentum have been compromised. Rashly seeking confirmation would be detrimental.”

Kamari was slightly angry. “Then are we just going to sit here and wait?”

“The imperial court has spies along the way. They’ll certainly know. No news of troop movements has yet arrived. For now, we’re safe,” Ashley said.

Kamari nodded. “Still, we must prepare early. Tomorrow, I’ll deploy troops to defend all roads from Argentum to Zloimond. If a group arrives, engage them.”

Ashley considered this. “We need defenses, but don’t act rashly. A preemptive attack would be treason. Oliver destroyed our armory; it's not a good time to use troops now.”

Ashley sensed the Royal Court's actions were strange, atypical of the King's personality. What does the King want to do? Which general will he send? she wondered.