The Lord Is Too Overbearing

"We are just going to stand by? Is that what the King ordered us to do?"

"No, it is Lord Basil's order."

"Did our King agree to this?"

"As of now, he has yet to know."

"…are you joking? Do you think we will listen to the order of someone that is not even our King?"

"Your King bows to him. Standing against him is the same as defying your King—even worse."

The Grittenhein's Legion Commanders that remained in the Kingdom stared at the female Elf before him with a complicated look. The female Elf had just told him that the Empire was going to attack Kingdom and they were advised to do nothing.

It was absurd for them to hear that. It got even more absurd when they found out that the squad of Elves also didn't know the purpose of doing that. They could tell that the Elves didn't have any bad intentions but they still couldn't bring themselves to follow the advice. How could they merely watch as their Kingdoms got taken over?

The most senior Legion Commander, Lukas Schnider, tapped the ground with his foot and hummed to himself in deep contemplation. His King rarely followed someone but when he did it was someone whose greatness was undeniable—he was sure of it.

He was still hesitant, however, since his King wasn't aware of the plan yet. He didn't mean to doubt his King's eyes but he couldn't help but consider what if Basil was trying to wipe Grittenhein off the map.

"As expected of Lord Basil, he had expected something like this to happen," the female Elf, who was the leader of the squad, Ordella Phosdio, remarked in amazement.

"What do you mean?" Lukas' attention was picked.

Ordella threw a fist-sized azure crystal to him, prompting him to catch it in a hurry. He quickly examined it but then immediately found himself floored since he couldn't tell what the crystal was.

"It is a Grand Teleportation Crystal. It is enough to teleport everyone that inhabits half of your territory. It is already set to teleport you to the Great Forest of Yitoupheo, which is currently the safest place in this world. You can use it the moment you think that Lord Basil is tricking you."

Teleporting half of the people living in their Kingdom didn't sound that good at first; however, when they considered the possibility that none of them would survive the attack of the Empire, it was a chance that they shouldn't refuse.

Of course, Lukas, as the most experienced Legion Commander, didn't immediately take the crystal. He looked at Ordella inquiringly, knowing full well that there would be a catch to the amazing opportunity.

"You are quick to catch things, aren't you, Sir Lukas," Ordella remarked with a soft smile. "Indeed, there is a catch to it. Upon using it, Lord Basil will consider the debt he owes to Grittenhein paid; therefore, he shall break his alliance with it."

"That is outrageous!" Lukas roared heatedly.

"No, it is not. You can join the Empire and tell what you know about us. You can play your action as a mere act so that you can obtain information about us. The empire will love this and you will be treasured forever."

"That is…"

Lukas wanted to retort but couldn't find the right word to say. He couldn't tell what even made him unwilling to be Basil's enemy. Thinking it logically, joining the Empire which already had an established army was the best choice; however, he had a strong feeling that the moment they stood in Basil's way, that was where their path ended.

Looking at Lukas who was agonizing over what to do, Ordella smiled. "If you already have the champion in your head, you should know whom to choose. It is not supposed to be hard to decide, isn't it?"

Fifteen seconds passed in silence. During that time, only the sound of the other Legion Commanders' constant gulping and Lukas' shoe tapping the ground could be heard. When Lukas handed the crystal back to Ordella, his fellows inhaled deeply. They held their breaths until the crystal was dropped into her hand.

"I shouldn't hesitate. I will forever remain on the side where my King stands and so are my comrades." Turning to the other Legion Commanders, he asked, "Do you find yourself having the opposite opinion, my comrades?"

"No!"

Nodding his head, he turned his gaze back at Ordella. "We shall proceed with the plan…or lack thereof."

Woong!

At this moment, the siren blared, indicating that there was an attack. The ten Legion Commanders collectively sighed before assuming a solemn look. Turning to Lukas, they waited for his instruction. The said Legion Commander nodded at Ordella first before issuing a command.

The main priority was evacuating the people to safety. They would let the army of the Empire enter the Kingdom and act as civilly as possible but there was no guarantee the army wouldn't hurt the civilians; they needed to especially watch for the Paladins and Priests since they were merciless toward the "heretics."

"Cripes! This might be the most brilliant and stupidest strategy ever practised in the history of humanity. Who would ever think that letting your enemy enter your Kingdom will prevent a bigger loss? No one…because it never happens!?"

Lukas was grumbling to himself as watched the army of the Empire eliminate the distance between them from the battlement. The gate of the Kingdom was widely open yet the advancement of the army remained fierce, making him doubt id what Basil envisioned would be realized.

"Do your best to entertain them. Whenever they ask you something, don't lie. Just tell them that you don't know anything. Remember, you should be as clueless as the civilians on your King's decision."

Lukas turned to Ordella and glanced at her hand which was on his shoulder. He wondered why she sounded like she was going to leave and then widened his eyes the moment he realized that she was indeed going to leave with her squad.

He wanted to say something but she silenced him by throwing him the Grand Transportation Crystal which he had refused earlier. Lukas wanted to curse but he took it silently in the end and then prepared himself to face the leader of the Empire's army.

Ordella disappeared into thin air along with her squad and no one from Grittenhein saw them ever since.

"Did you surrender because your King knows that there is no way for you to win?" the leader of the army, Gerhard van Vallienda, the King of Vallienda shouted.

"Our King has abandoned us—we don't even know what to do. He suggested we should come with him and join the heretics yet we refused; thus, we stay. We are completely stumped about the whole ordeal, so…" Lukas jumped down from the battlement. "We will accept any outcome from this situation."

Gerhard blinked his eyes at Lukas' genuine distress. It was hard for him to think that Lukas was acting since he knew what kind of person Manfred was; his throwing his people away for his ambition was not that surprising.

"What do you think, Duke Archibald?" Gerhard turned to the white-haired Rancuser beside him.

"This might be a trap but, if it is not, we are going to lose a lot of manpower by killing them. I will say let us wait for how this will develop. Elder August can come here anytime we need him, so nothing should go wrong," Archibald replied.

"Then, we will spend some time in Grittenhein," Gerhard concluded. Turning to Lukas, he continued, "You don't mind us enjoying ourselves for free here, do you?"

The Grittenhein's most senior Legion Commander shrugged helplessly and smiled bitterly in response. "I have told you—we will accept any outcome. We are lost—it is an opportunity if we can get a new leader by treating you guys."

"Well, we won't hold ourselves back then."

"Ah, please don't hurt the civilians. They have done nothing wrong."

At this, Gerhard merely smiled. He then ushered the thirty Legions that he brought into the Kingdom. The first thing he noted upon entering was the lack of civilians on the street. Many of them were peeking from their windows, indicating that they truly didn't expect the "visit."

Gerhard was a bright man. He was quick in figuring things out, so he immediately concluded that Grittenhein was a safe zone. It was a masterless territory that was bound to fall into their hands. Thus, he decided to enjoy his time there—before he could no more when the Empire took control of it.

Just like that, two days passed. Nothing happened during the two days; no one died but it was the most uncomfortable time for the people of Grittenhein. The army, true to their words, didn't hold themselves back in the slightest.

180,000 people were not a small number. No matter how rich the Kingdom was, treating 180,000 people in whatever they wanted would put a dent in the Kingdom's vault. Alas, they could do nothing about it. They had to pretend like they were glad to host the army.

"Hide your daughter and wife—don't let the soldier of the Empire see them!"

Money, food and liquor weren't the only things that the army of the Empire enjoyed. They made sure to satisfy their biological need.

The people didn't mind it at first but they soon did the moment many of the soldiers decided that prostitutes "weren't enough for them." They offered to pay housewives and young maidens for sex. What made it unsavoury, though, was the fact that the money was gotten from the people. It was infuriating.

They did keep their word by not hurting the civilians but they were forcing the civilians into a situation where they had to follow their whims.

The soldiers of the Grittenhein were also not spared from the Empire's army's exasperating antics. Many of the female soldiers were asked to have "paid intercourse" and they had to challenge the "client" to a duel and win to refuse. Very few of them fell victim but those who did never be the same again. Their desire to avenge themselves was the only thing that kept them alive.

"I know how much Manfred loves his soldiers, so I am glad he is not here to hear this news. He would have rushed at the army by himself if he was."

10 kilometres from Grittenhein, Anthony stood before Ordella and her squad. He had just heard Ordella's report of the situation in the Kingdom and couldn't help cringing.

Turning to Basil who had a big-chested, blonde-haired woman clinging to his neck, Anthony cleared his throat. "So…are we just going to enter the Kingdom?"

Looking at Anthony with his stoic look, Basil answered, "We will let Dantalion's creations do their job first."

"Will they be enough to take them all out?" Anthony asked sceptically.

"Hey, are you doubting my creation, old man?" the blonde-haired woman retorted.

"You are older than me, Demon!"

"Hmph! At least, I look young."

Basil turned his head to Dantalion who had turned into a woman and then nodded his head. Dantalion smiled brightly and then raised her hand.

In the next moment, sixty thousand aerial Monsters decorated the sky of Grittenhein.