City of Desire-Chapter 865: Enemies Coming

"Lord Blackwell," I said as the man finally stood in front of me, on the battlements of the fortress.

He arrived at the fortress a few minutes ago; he took his time, but I am relieved to see him finally. There is no way we will be able to deal with the monsters without his help.

I looked at the man, and he is still handsome with the same long hair, though he looked stressed.

Well, this is stressful, and even I am not spared from its clutches.

"Lord Silver, my apologies for arriving late, but I had to make preparations in Renin," said the handsome man. "I am glad that you arrived before the monsters, Lord Blackwell," I replied.

The words are a little sharp, but I am irritated. He was supposed to arrive in the morning, but had taken the afternoon.

He sensed that and smiled before turning to the forest.

"They still haven't attacked," he stated. "They have not," I replied, with a frown appearing on my face.

I was expecting the attack last night, but it didn't come, nor did it come in the morning. It is now afternoon, and according to the latest information, they still haven't moved.

Usually, the tide didn't wait for so long. After a certain time, it disperses, but here it is concentrated.

"It might be a hungry attack?" he asked, turning to me. "It might be, but it is too focused," I replied, with a frown appearing on my face.

The hungry attack is a type of attack where the monster leaders wait for the attack. To make their minions hungrier, so they would attack more aggressively.

"It will be terrible, if it is," I said sombrely. Ignatius nodded.

"I wish we had a greater force and more powerhouses. It would have made a large difference," he said as he looked at people below us.

"The world doesn't run on our wishes, Lord Blackwell. If it had, we wouldn't deal with the monsters at all," I replied, voice filled with indignation.

I thought, after capturing the baronies. I will be able to use my army and powerhouses to defend it well against the monsters, but conquering it only gave me more enemies.

To guard against them, I needed a bigger army and more powerhouses.

"Still, things are not as bad as they seem. The monsters may be powerful, but our men, you, and I have made great progress in recent months. We will deal with them," he stated, putting on a brave face.

"We have to, there is no other choice," I replied, with a smile.

A few minutes later, we attended a strategy meeting. It lasted for an hour before I walked to our side.

"Baroness Leila and the army had reached the border," informed Zela. I had helped her with everything I could, and I hope she can stop the enemy there.

It is essential that she does so, because if Grimvale makes any progress, it would encourage him further.

I do not want that. I want to keep that man contained where he is, especially for a year. I had already slowed down the recruitment and other defence spending.

The dominion does not have the funds, and after a month, its growth will slow further.

I want to see how it grows and the revenue it brings, without the legacy open, before committing more to the army. There are other commitments, and I have to focus on them.

Infrastructure, trade, and policy all need a massive amount of money.

That is why it is necessary that we pass the laws. The baronies are full of potential. If managed well, it would become an important growth engine for the dominion.

I was in my thoughts when my eyes fell on a new group that arrived through the gate.

It is a small group of officers from Gailhorn. It may be small, but it had put a smile on my face. They are good officers, with experience; it will help a lot.

Since the morning, group after group has been arriving from the cities of the Dominion and outside.

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Not just the officers, but also the mercenaries.

"Lady Monet wants to talk to you," said Zela. I could tell what she wanted to talk about. I nodded, took her hand, and, a second later, connected to her.

'Master Silver,' she greeted.

"Is everything alright?" I asked her. 'Yes, everything is fine here,' she replied. I know nothing had happened, but it still made me feel relieved to hear it.

There are only ten thousand men in Lauryl, under the command of General Jarvis.

I worked with the man and trust him enough. Still, I had made preparations, one of which is that the whole army that stayed in Lauryl is mine.

The top officers there are among my most loyal. All of them had had life and death battles for the dominion; they will not betray me.

It isn't just Jarvis against whom I took such precaution. I took them here as well as with my sister. Unless they prove their loyalty, I will not trust them completely.

'I had called you to ask whether I should postpone the party tomorrow?' she asked. Tomorrow is the party, but also the vote.

"No," I replied. I don't want to postpone; it wouldn't look good, but conditions might force me. "We will cancel if the monsters don't attack by tomorrow," I added.

'How are the barons?' I asked.

The barons are in Lauryl, and many had even brought their families. With the attacks from both sides, it is the only safe place in the Nakar forest.

'Good, but many are being noncommittal,' she replied. "Well, it's better than the straight opposition we were receiving," I said, and she laughed.

'We have made good progress in them, I believe we have reached the edge. These two battles that will prove pivotal in which way the rest will swing,' she replied sombrely.

I nodded at that. That is why we must resist the enemy; losing is not a luxury we can afford.

A few minutes later, I cut the call and called Valentina and others. Nothing has happened in the city, but I like to take stock of what is happening there.

I had talked not only to Valentina, but also to Robin, Cardin, Hardt, Ina, and others.

Before I know it, it's nine at night, and the monsters are still where they were in the morning.

"We should have sparred, my lord. We would have easily recovered by now," said August as we were having dinner; the two commanders, Ignatius and me.

"You are absolutely right, Commander," I replied with a smile.

The man wanted to spar with me, and I wanted to as well, but we wanted to be at our hundred percent when the monsters come. So, we decided not to fight.

Though the one I want to spar with the most is Ignatius. Especially when he is using that bow.

"Lord Silver, if you don't mind me asking, what is the name of your artifact?" asked Ignatius.

"We have searched through our records, but we didn't find any mention of it," he added, looking at the ring floating above my hand.

"I will reveal it in time, Lord Blackwell," I replied with a mysterious smile.

I can't tell him the name because I have not decided on it. Archmage's Tower, other legacies, and kingdoms had asked for the name to put in their records, and they got the same answer as I gave to Blackwell.

The timing would be important, and also the name. It is an official state artifact; it represents the Dominion and me, and its name needs to reflect both.

Soon, the dinner ended, and after a short meeting. I had gone to my quarters to sleep. I am not tired, but battle could come at any time, and I need to be at my peak.

A few minutes later, I fell asleep.

"Lord Silver,"

I was asleep when I was gently woken up. "Have they attacked?" I asked Garzong. "There is movement; they have asked for you in the conference room," he replied.

I nodded and got up. I quickly changed before walking out the door.

"What happened?" I asked as I stepped into the conference room where all of them are present, including all seven Major Generals from both sides.

"Voltwing Tiger and its group had started moving," replied Ignatius.

"Toward the three, I suppose?" I asked, and they nodded. Seeing that I wanted to curse.

"According to our calculations, it will take them a little over an hour to reach them," stated Baron Harrods, looking at a large map projected on the table.

I could see where both groups of monsters are.

"Any movement from the three?" I asked. To that, they nodded sombrely. "They have become active," replied August, and I slumped on the chair.

"So, it is coming," I said with a smile. "It seems like it," Ignatius replied.

"I hope you have unlocked some real abilities of that bow of yours. We are going to need them," I said to Ignatius. The man didn't reply other than smiling, which could mean anything.

That artifact of his is one of the most powerful in the merchant state—a half-relic, that is bound to his bloodline.

It will be a complete relic when it has all its gems. The missing ones are in Amberhold, and it is said that they will take their rightful place on the bow in the time of need.

Soon, the major generals left, leaving only four of us in the room.

Minutes passed, and every few minutes, we received updates from our scouts on the movement of the monsters. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Voltwing and his group had reached the three," stated August. Now, it's time to see whether they would attack or if it collapses; I still have hope in my heart.

I do not want to fight a battle. Every time we fight, people die, but as I had said to Ignatius earlier, the world does not run on our wants.

"They have started moving toward us."

Immediately, the room stilled. It had been barely a minute since the fourth horde joined them, and they were immediately coming toward us.

"We will be fighting them at dawn," said Baron Harrods. A minute later, both commanders walked out, and not long after that, the horns began to ring through the fortress.

"It will not be an easy battle," I said. "It will not," he replied with a grin.

The man is excited, and I would be lying if I said I am not. I want to test my mettle against the monsters, especially against the Voltwing Tiger.

"Dane had started moving," informed Zela. They have their spies here, which is not surprising, seeing all baronies were together a few months ago.

They got the information and wasted no time in moving. It is a great opportunity that has fallen into their lap, and, looking at the preparations, they plan to exploit it fully.

"I pity them," said Ignatius, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"That confident, hun?" I asked. I wanted to add 'in your girlfriend,' but refrained from doing so. It is a sensitive matter; it won't be wise to say it publicly.

"Yes," he replied with a grin. He knows, and soon, they will know it as well.