Chapter 418: Demonstration at Kawano
Southernmost region of Kartepa.
Kawano Valley.
A troop of several hundred soldiers was stationed here, fully prepared and on high alert.
They carried swords, spears, and other weapons, wearing light leather armor, with the winged sun emblem of the Kingdom of Thrace proudly displayed on their chests.
"Captain, are we really going to stay here longer?"
"Yes. This is an order from Count Fabric before he marched south. That northern empire is a threat to the Kingdom of Thrace. We can't let them seize our lands while we're distracted."
The man referred to as "Captain" wore fine iron armor and held a polished silver sword, speaking with unwavering determination.
His name was Piotr McGrath, leader of this scouting unit and an extraordinary-level Warrior.
Unfortunately, he had yet to undergo the Sun Rite ceremony.
This was the foundation inherited from the Sacred Fadlan Empire—Piotr's strength alone would have made him a general in any northern duchy in Anzeta.
Count Fabric, the demigod noble defending Thrace's northernmost region, had been ordered south due to the escalating war over the Holy City, leaving only trusted units behind.
"But..."
The deputy's tone was hesitant.
"According to the treaty the kingdom signed, we're already near the border. Stepping further could provoke a conflict, couldn't it?"
"No."
Piotr shook his head while sharpening his blade, sneering. "They're just barbarians from a backwater region."
"They've never witnessed the glory of the Sacred Fadlan Empire, and yet they dare to call themselves an 'empire.' How laughable."
"Exactly."
The deputy nodded in agreement.
This was, after all, the Sacred Empire.
Whether Thracians, Kassandians, or Seleusians, they all revered the glory of the bygone Fadlan Empire and believed themselves its rightful heirs.
This pride was uniquely Fadlan, as the Sacred Fadlan Empire had ruled the entire continent of Feanso for over a century. Dwarves, elves, giants, and demons alike had bowed under its immense light.
Just thinking about the century of Fadlan's dominance made even the poorest citizens stand tall with pride.
Piotr raised his polished longsword, letting it gleam brilliantly under the sun.
"Besides, they've only been in Kartepa for a little over a month. I doubt they can hold their ground here."
"This isn't the barren Anzeta. Monsters and beasts are everywhere. Building a city here won't be so easy."
The deputy still seemed concerned. "But the northern disturbances have been pretty intense lately..."
"Thump, thump."
Heavy thuds echoed from the north.
The ground trembled, and the warhorses in the camp neighed in fear.
Piotr furrowed his brows and looked north. "Could it be..."
"No way..."
He muttered to himself, visibly shaken.
Dozens of wyverns flapped their wings wildly, their cries chaotic as they collided mid-air. Like a looming black cloud, they approached from the distance.
On the ground, dozens of ground drakes—each like a moving mountain—appeared on the horizon. Mounted on them were goblin cavalry, with cannons mounted on the beasts' sides.
"Long live the empire!"
"Long live His Majesty Cassius!"
The mounted and infantry soldiers of the imperial vanguard shouted in unison, their voices shaking the sky.
Then came a thunderous voice from the ranks, cutting through the noise like a bolt of lightning.
"Arrogant Thracians!"
"You've crossed the line!"
"This land now belongs to the Ember Empire, the domain of the great Emperor Cassius!"
"If you dare take another step north, you'll face the wrath of the empire's army!"
Jesse stood atop the largest ground drake, speaking into a magical amplifier that spread his voice across the plains.
"A remote, backwater region like this... how could it have such an army?"
Piotr stared at the imperial vanguard in disbelief. This "empire" from the north was far stronger than he had anticipated.
Judging by their strength and presence, only the kingdom's demigod legions, arcane corps, or steel colossus army could rival them.
Ordinary troops like theirs didn't stand a chance.
Based on Piotr's past encounters, the armies of the northern nobles in Anzeta were laughably weak. A thousand-man unit wouldn't even have a handful of Professionals.
Fighting them wouldn't require deploying such an elite force.
"Wait..."
A sudden realization hit Piotr, and cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
He had carelessly sent scouts north to gather intelligence, and they hadn't returned. Could it be—
"Captain, help me!"
A tearful cry echoed through the air.
The missing soldier appeared in the imperial ranks, bound and restrained by goblin soldiers, positioned at the front of their formation.
Jesse spoke again.
"If anyone else dares to trespass on imperial land without permission—"
He paused, raising his ornate pistol and pulling the trigger without hesitation.
"Bang!"
A gunshot rang out, and the soldier collapsed lifelessly.
"Wait! We can negotiate—"
Piotr's pupils contracted, his face filled with shock as his outstretched hand froze in midair.
The goblin had actually killed a Thracian soldier on the spot?
How dare he commit such an open act of humiliation!
Jesse coldly glanced at the fallen soldier before continuing, "This is the consequence!"
"Do you all understand?"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Jesse fired several shots into the air, and silence fell over the area.
The deputy whispered nervously, "Captain, what should we do?"
Piotr looked at the approaching imperial forces, hesitated for a long moment, then gritted his teeth and gave the order: "We retreat immediately. There's no need for unnecessary casualties."
"We won't return to the border. The Kingdom of Thrace... cannot afford to anger such an empire right now."
"Move out!"
The Thracian soldiers hastily gathered their horses and supplies, retreating south in what was almost a rout.
Jesse stood atop his ground drake, watching the retreating army with narrowed eyes.
"Kartepa is the key to the empire's future southern expansion."
"We must maintain absolute control over it."
One of the main reasons the empire sought Kartepa was its strategic position. It provided a path past Thrace's blockade—westward to the Free Trade Confederation around Silvermoon Bay and eastward to the dwarven High Mountain Kingdom.
Once the Ember Empire fully consolidated its power in the Anzeta Wasteland, Kartepa would serve as the gateway for the empire's entry into the continent, making it a major force in the grand chessboard of Feanso.