The fortress once hailed as impenetrable now lay split in two.
Towering buildings collapsed into rubble, resembling the aftermath of a massive earthquake. Countless soldiers were crushed beneath the shattered walls, blood staining the ground. A few survivors crawled weakly out from under the ruins, staring blankly at the broken fortress.
Ironclad Fortress—once untouchable by pirates and criminals alike—had been destroyed in a single punch. The sand giant was gone, but the man remained, walking step by step from outside the city, treading on wreckage and smoking a cigar. Wherever his gaze fell, soldiers dropped their weapons, showing submission to avoid Rosen's wrath. Many of them had never chosen to become soldiers in the first place.
Rosen looked at them. "Everyone still alive, gather here. If you try to run, good luck."
The moment he spoke, several fleeing soldiers were impaled to the ground by spears of sand falling from above, their lives ended instantly. The rest gathered without hesitation, realizing they were being watched from every direction. It was Nico Robin's ability, now working in perfect sync with Rosen.
"Damn pirate!" From beneath the ruins, Duke Valos staggered to his feet.
A shattered suit of armor clung to his battered body—the kingdom's personal barrier device. Covered in blood and gravely wounded, he had somehow survived.
"You're still alive?" Rosen raised a brow.
He hadn't held back on his strike. The reason some soldiers survived was simply because they hadn't been at the center of impact. His main target had been Valos and the fortress wall.
So this was the Andia Kingdom's personal defense gear. Odd that the prince Rosen had killed earlier hadn't carried one—arrogance, perhaps, or contempt. The powerful always believed their authority alone would shield them.
"Die, pirate!" Valos roared, swinging his massive axe in a desperate strike.
Rosen caught the blade with one hand. "I gave you a chance." With his other hand, he fired a Finger Pistol blast straight into Valos's heart, killing him instantly.
The duke's corpse hit the ground with a dull thud, unnoticed by all.
"Who holds the highest rank among the survivors?" Rosen scanned the roughly few hundred soldiers left.
Those who survived had not been in the center of the attack—proof they weren't Valos's closest men. Those near the heart of the blast only lived if luck or a shield spared them.
"Boss, large forces are massing outside the fortress. They'll be here in about ten minutes," Robin reported, her ability extending from a nearby tower untouched by the battle.
At least ten thousand troops, by her estimate. Even Rosen could suffer wounds from hidden attacks in such numbers.
"Relax. There's enough time," Rosen said calmly. Being surrounded by thousands didn't faze him. If anything, it would save him some trouble.
"If no one steps up, none of you will leave alive."
"I am Duke Valos's second steward. I should be the highest-ranked survivor here," an old but dignified man in formal attire stepped forward.
"Good. Your reinforcements will be here soon, but I need you all to speak with one voice. You will declare that the fortress and Duke Valos were destroyed by assassins sent by His Majesty the King. Any objections?" Rosen's eyes swept over them.
"Why should we—" one of Valos's former confidants protested, but a sand blade pierced his chest before he finished.
"This isn't a request. If even one word slips out, everyone here will die. Of course, if you suspect someone might betray you later, you can eliminate them first. That way, you won't be exposed."
At once, soldiers began eyeing their comrades with suspicion.
"Amazing…" Xia whispered in awe. With a few words, Rosen had sown deep mistrust among them.
Unexpectedly, the steward suddenly drew a dagger and charged into the crowd, cutting down dozens. Despite his age, his skill was deadly sharp.
"Let him," Rosen ordered when Xia and Robin moved to intervene. He was curious to see how it played out.
Only after killing more than thirty men did the steward stop. The rest defended themselves but did not strike back.
Kneeling before Rosen, drenched in blood, he presented the dagger. "Those I killed were all Valos's loyalists and noble heirs. Loose tongues. The rest are ordinary soldiers."
"What is your name?" Rosen asked, taking the bloody blade.
"Dingle."
"I like clever men. From now on, he's in charge. Whatever Duke Valos gave you, I can give more. Once the throne is seized, each of you will be rewarded handsomely. Most of you came from the laboring class, chosen to serve as soldiers. Perhaps some of your friends just died—but that is war. If you want revenge, you're welcome to try. But from this moment, she is your new sovereign—Princess Alexia of Andia!" Rosen pointed at Xia.
If these men were indeed common-born, their loyalty to Valos had never run deep. And now, they had no choice. A single act of defiance would doom them all.
"We greet Her Highness!" Dingle declared first, kneeling. Many soldiers followed quickly, most of them already loyal to him.
"The story is this: The king ordered Duke Valos killed. His noble bloodline is destroyed. Only Princess Xia survived, thanks to your valor," Rosen declared shamelessly.
If the plan worked, much effort would be saved. If it failed, and reinforcements learned the truth, it would only delay Rosen's real goal, not prevent it.
"I hear the king's envoy is in the upper city. You have five minutes to bring him to me," Rosen told Dingle.
"No problem. I'll need fifty men. Who's with me?"
"I'll follow the steward!" one soldier declared. Soon others followed, eager to leave Rosen's terrifying presence.
Dingle quickly assembled fifty men and rushed toward the upper city.
"The rest of you, clear out the remaining nobles inside the fortress," Rosen ordered. This would serve as their pledge of loyalty.
Once they killed nobles, turning back would be impossible—no aristocrat would forgive such betrayal.
Duke Valos's direct kin were few, but the act had to be carried through. Some might not deserve death, but mercy had no place here.
"Yes, sir."
(End of Chapter)