After much dawdling at the city gates, Ivan's army finally entered the loyal city of Vinewall, thanks to the relentless push of harsh reality.
Of course, the Zombie Special Operations Unit had long been stored away in Ivan's spatial ring. The troops entering the city were entirely composed of living soldiers.
Given the military discipline of the era, the middle-aged nobleman had every reason to worry about the soldiers causing trouble among the civilians. But to his surprise, the battle-hardened army, radiating an aura of ferocity, moved through the city like a group of obedient children under Ivan's command.
They followed orders without question, their discipline impeccable.
While the other incompetent nobles merely found this mildly astonishing, the middle-aged nobleman understood the immense effort required to forge such an army. It spoke volumes about the commander's strength and charisma.
To be honest, even the late king's elite troops couldn't match their discipline—and that was despite the presence of some local deserters from Vinewall dragging them down.
"Well? Acting Lord, is my reputation for keeping promises still intact?" Ivan asked with a faint smile.
"Lord Ivan, your ability to command an army is truly remarkable," the nobleman replied, his tone filled with genuine admiration.
Ivan, however, remained unfazed by the praise. The combination of a firm hand and sweet rewards was something anyone with a basic education could manage.
"Acting Lord, I'd like to ask about the situation with the former lord of Vinewall. I left in such a hurry to provide aid that I didn't have time to gather much information," Ivan said, shifting the conversation.
"The lord was a hereditary count. His wife passed away from illness, and he left behind a son and a daughter. The territory once had a population of nearly fifty thousand, but after the fall of Rootspire City to the demons last year, Vinewall became the front line of defense. The population has dwindled drastically since then."
The middle-aged nobleman's expression grew uneasy. "While the demon invasion played a part in the population decline, the former lord's own foolish decisions were also to blame… But he's dead now, so there's no point in criticizing him further."
Ivan wasn't surprised by this assessment. He had met the former lord once, and it was clear that the man was capable of making incredibly stupid decisions.
Intuitively, Ivan suspected that the middle-aged nobleman before him was the real reason Vinewall had managed to hold out against the demon onslaught for an entire year.
"After the former lord and his son died, I assume his daughter inherited the title and position?" Ivan inquired.
"Naturally. However, Lady Anna is still underage and lacks the experience and knowledge to rule. If she were to take over immediately, the city would likely descend into chaos."
The nobleman chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Even with demons at our gates, there are still those scheming for power and profit. I'm sure you see me, the acting lord, as one of them, don't you, Lord Ivan?"
"It doesn't matter," Ivan replied bluntly. "I'm here to seize the position of lord myself, and you can't stop me. I have an army."
The middle-aged nobleman fell silent, momentarily stunned by Ivan's candor.
Despite the young man's blatant ambition, there was something refreshing about his honesty.
"Lord Ivan, while I admire your straightforwardness, your actions are a direct violation of the kingdom's laws. The king will never approve."
"Hmm, you're right. Forcing my way in would be too crude, especially since I'm not strong enough yet."
Ivan paused, deep in thought. "If I were to operate within the rules, though…"
Suddenly, his eyes lit up with realization.
"Lady Anna, the former lord's daughter, is quite lovely, isn't she? If I were to marry her, wouldn't that give me a legitimate claim to the lordship?"
"Lord Ivan, Anna is only thirteen! She's not even of age yet!"
"A betrothal would suffice. With a formal engagement, I'd have the moral high ground."
The nobleman frowned, though he knew Ivan wasn't motivated by lust. "Anna is already betrothed."
"Then arrange for the engagement to be broken."
"The betrothal is to my son—the young knight who dared to draw his sword against you on the city walls."
An awkward silence filled the air.
"You know, I actually saved your son's life," Ivan said, breaking the tension. "When he drew his sword, I could have killed him right then and there. No one could have stopped me. But I chose not to. Doesn't that count as a life-saving favor?"
The nobleman stared at Ivan, speechless. This guy's logic is absolutely insane!
"And besides, I'm offering your son an incredible opportunity," Ivan continued, crossing his arms in a pose reminiscent of a certain legendary mage.
Living with someone for so long had clearly rubbed off on him.
"Breaking off an engagement is a rare and life-changing event. Once it's done, your son will go from being a nameless extra to the protagonist of his own story. He'll find a ring housing the soul of an ancient mage, travel the continent to gather magical artifacts, meet all sorts of beautiful women, and experience countless thrilling adventures…"
Ivan spoke with absolute confidence. "Isn't that a far better fate than wasting his life in this backwater city?"
The nobleman sighed. I think wasting his life here sounds just fine.
But then he considered the alternative: if Ivan decided to challenge his son to a duel for the betrothal… That would be disastrous.
"You're absolutely right, Lord Ivan. A broken engagement could indeed help my son grow. I'll convince him to end the betrothal."
"Now that's what I call a wise decision. Don't worry—once I'm in charge, you'll still have a place as the city's administrator."
Ivan's smile was warm and reassuring, but it left a deep impression on the nobleman's mind, almost as if it were etching itself into his soul.
Long after Ivan had left, the nobleman finally snapped out of his daze, his forehead damp with cold sweat.
"How terrifying… Is this some kind of magic? It felt like I was being brainwashed, ready to swear loyalty to him!"
Something about Ivan was deeply unsettling.
After ensuring the army wouldn't cause trouble, the nobleman hurried back to the city walls to find his son, Jack. He needed to discuss the broken engagement—and deliver an important warning.
"Whatever you do, don't stare at Lord Ivan's smile for too long!"