Chapter 232: Disaster Relief

She believed that if Isolde intended to attack Kamari's residence, the storm would be the ideal time. However, by the next morning, Isolde's army remained stationary in their stone houses. After sending scouts to investigate, they confirmed the troops hadn't moved. Ashley found this peculiar, wondering if she'd misjudged Isolde's intentions. Isolde, what exactly are you planning? Deeply uneasy, she immediately redeployed another five thousand troops for defense.

Inside the stone house, Doug, Kolton, and Isolde debated their attack strategy.

"We can't stay here long," Isolde stated. "The heavy rain provides cover, but once it stops, this stone house will be besieged. Oliver destroyed their weapons depot, but Princess Aveline mentioned gunpowder still stored in the royal residence. They undoubtedly know our intentions and will use this storm to eliminate us. We must retreat before the rain ceases."

"Retreat?" Doug was stunned. "Wasn't your plan to attack the royal residence during the storm?"

Isolde replied, "That was the plan, but this storm won't end soon. Now isn't the optimal moment to strike. A surprise attack requires catching the enemy off guard. The rain will last five days, causing devastating floods. Our priority is to assist the people and ensure their safety. Simultaneously, we have five days to prove ourselves and win the hearts of Zloimond's people for the King. If I'm correct, Kamari won't provide disaster relief. The Royal Court's position remains unclear; he wouldn't dare open his granaries now. This is the perfect opportunity for the Royal Court to regain the people's trust. With their support, victory will surely be ours."

Kolton looked at her with intrigue. Her proposal wasn't exceptionally sophisticated; it was remarkably simple. She was using a natural disaster to win public favor before launching a surprise attack—a cunning strategy. Yet, she spoke with such conviction, and considering the situation, it was a just cause. Kamari was a traitor and a usurper.

Ashley's defenses weren't attacked. Instead, news arrived that Isolde and three thousand troops had rushed to the coastal areas during the storm to help people escape the disaster.

Since the hurricane's arrival, the heavy rain hadn't stopped. Countless suburban houses collapsed, trees were uprooted, and even within the city, buildings fell, and rooftops were torn off. The torrential rain showed no sign of abating. Local authorities opened schools, ancestral halls, and large churches to shelter those whose homes were destroyed.

However, as the storm intensified, those near the mountains had to evacuate. A landslide would bring unimaginable disaster. Evacuating the numerous mountain villages was challenging. Some villagers refused to leave their homes, and when persuasion failed, they had to be forcibly removed—a task requiring a large workforce.

The government lacked manpower and could only rely on Kamari's army. He'd already recalled 15,000 troops for defense and sent another 10,000 to the coastal areas, leaving few soldiers available.

Local authorities knew Kamari had more troops. Braving the storm, Governor Hector Maximus rode to the royal residence, only to find the streets inside and outside the palace packed with soldiers in straw raincoats. Under the pitch-black sky, the rain poured relentlessly, filling three entire streets surrounding the palace with soldiers wearing pointed straw hats.

Hector trembled with anger and shouted, "Make way! I have urgent business with King Kamari!"

The soldiers remained impassive and unmoving, even in the torrential rain. Not one acknowledged him.

Seeing this, Hector knew meeting Kamari was impossible. He called out again, "May I speak with the commanding officer? The disaster is severe. We need His Highness to send troops for rescue and evacuation!"

The torrential rain continued. Aside from that, there was only silence.

Hector refused to give up. He shouted until his voice was hoarse, but no one responded. Furious, he knew there was no hope. Instead of wasting more time, he rode toward the granary, determined to open it and feed the sheltered civilians.

However, he found the original guards gone, replaced by two to three thousand soldiers. Like those outside the palace, they wore straw raincoats, gripped long blades, and stood motionless in the downpour, their faces devoid of expression.

Hector called out, "May I ask where the commanding officer is?"

Finally, someone stepped forward. He wore a straw raincoat, but beneath it, he was clad in black iron armor.

"Mr. Maximus, what business brings you here, braving this storm?" the officer asked loudly.

Overjoyed to receive a response, Hector quickly replied, "I've come to order the granary opened to provide food for disaster victims. While some have been temporarily sheltered…"

The officer interrupted, "Mr. Maximus, do you have King Kamari's written decree?"

Hector was stunned. "King Kamari's decree?" This granary belonged to the local government, not the royal residence. It was the official emergency reserve, separate from Kamari's rations. He had multiple granaries of his own, but this was not one of them.

"Yes," the officer said. "His Highness has ordered that no granary be opened without his decree."

Hector responded, "Marshal, there must be a mistake! This is not King Kamari's granary."

The officer scoffed, "Every granary in Zloimond belongs to King Kamari."

A chill ran through Hector. What does this mean? Is King Kamari truly planning a rebellion?

Hector served as an official in Kamari's territory but was also a representative of the royal court. He'd worked in this position for five years and knew Kamari well. He wasn't the kind ruler outsiders believed, but he always maintained a good image. Yet today, amidst a great disaster, he'd sealed off the granaries. Is he planning to starve the people? Is this truly a sign of rebellion?

Most officials in Zloimond were Kamari's loyal followers, but Hector was not. He had a vague feeling that something was wrong. He had come alone; everyone from the High Court of Parliament had been dispatched elsewhere. He couldn't stand against two or three thousand soldiers alone.

He then wondered where the original guards had gone. A chilling thought crept into his mind—they had been eliminated.

Hector dared not press further. He had no choice but to retreat. The granary was no longer an option, yet the displaced citizens still needed food. The designated shelters had barely any food left, not even enough for a single meal. If the people went hungry, they would cause trouble.

After running around endlessly, Hector was extremely anxious. Looking at the city's chaos and the relentless rain, he felt powerless.

He went to St. Grace Church and saw disaster victims suffering from hunger, repeatedly asking when food would be distributed. Hector was at a loss for words.

The chief constable stepped forward, "Everyone, rest assured. Mr. Maximus has gone to see King Kamari. His Highness will surely open the granaries for disaster relief."

"No! No!" Two men rushed in from the downpour, drenched, pale, and with bulging veins on their foreheads. "King Kamari has sealed off the granaries! Every single one is heavily guarded!"