Lord of Caldera - Chapter 128

Chapter 128: Chapter 128

“That’s odd. We’ve never been attacked.”

“Because they can’t win. Who in their right mind would lead an army into elven territory?”

Elven lands were beyond forests teeming with monsters, and no one truly knew the terrain there. Even reaching the destination would be in doubt, and those who survived the journey would likely be wiped out by elven counterattacks.

“But if the elves willingly enter human territory, the story changes. The Emperor would eagerly send his army.”

“And my forces would slaughter them like pigs,” the Duke retorted.

“You already know. Humans don’t value lives like the elves do.”

Especially the current Emperor and Crown Prince. The Emperor might ignore it out of laziness, but the Crown Prince would likely charge forward, trembling with excitement. Even if their armies were annihilated, they’d keep sending soldiers, funding fresh forces, and pushing them forward.

“After the first defeat, they’d come again to recover the loss; after the second, they’d bring more to cover the enormous deficit; after the third, they’d try to salvage astronomical losses by attacking once more.”

“Foolish. No one in their right mind would think that way.”

“But they do. If the reward seems too great, all caution flies out the window.”

Indeed, the elves possessed plunder valuable enough to entice such recklessness. If humans saw even a glimmer of a chance to claim elven lands, no cost would seem too high.

The Duke nodded at Sylas’s reasoning.

“Indeed. Your argument is sound.”

“I’m glad you understand, Your Grace.”

“In light of your warning, I’ll refrain from entering human lands. Once this affair is settled, I’ll take Eldira and return.”

Sylas stifled a laugh. Bluff, was it? The Duke needed to try that with someone more gullible.

“Your Grace has shown deep understanding. Now, may I ask for my release? I am concerned about the retainers left at the Count’s castle.”

Without hesitation, Sylas bowed out, and the Duke quietly looked down. After a moment, with a sigh, he finally spoke.

“How did you know?”

“Know what, Your Grace?”

“That I want human lands.”

The Duke’s subtle admission brought a smile to Sylas’s face.

The reason Sylas had understood the Duke’s true intentions was simple.

“The Count’s hostage ploy with the elves seemed strange,” he had thought aloud.

“And what of it?” the Duke had asked.

“Normally, elves are far removed from human interaction. Yet they met all too easily.”

Eldira and her friends had wandered freely in human lands, meaning they were no more than a day away from a nearby base.

The Count’s arrangement was also telling; it suggested an assuredly safe distance for hostage exchanges.

“Since the human territory hasn’t expanded, there’s only one answer. The elves are expanding their territory.”

“Yes, but it’s not as though we had a choice,” the Duke replied with a bitter expression.

Sylas voiced his suspicion.

“Is it resources?”

“Have you figured out even that?”

“No matter how advanced, a civilization needs resources.”

The elves had settled in the west before the Empire was even established. It had been long enough to deplete an entire region’s veins of ore, given that human lords managed the area.

Resources were bound to become an issue, unless they lived like primitives. The Duke met Sylas’s gaze and asked,

“Is there a way to solve this without taking over human lands?”

“Of course,” Sylas answered, smiling confidently.

“If you help me secure this land.”

The next day, Count Herning’s estate was thrown into disarray, all because of two letters from the Duke of the elves.

One was written in the Imperial language, the other in the elven tongue. The Count, having read both documents, muttered in confusion.

“A renegotiation?”

The Duke’s intentions were unclear. With his forces, he could easily attempt a siege, so why the sudden suggestion for talks?

It was suspicious, too suspicious to ignore. There had to be an ulterior motive.

“As much as I’d like to reject it outright…”

The Count glanced sideways. Rey and Toby, both glaring, watched his every move.

“Why are you hesitating, Father?”

At the sound of his voice, the Count flinched. Rey spoke with a tone devoid of emotion.

“My lord, Sir Sylas, is safe, or so I’ve been told. Shouldn’t we accept the negotiation immediately?”

“Hmm, this isn’t something to take lightly. It could be a trap,” the Count replied, his expression purposely stern. Although it seemed cautious, it was a means to delay the decision.

But Sylas’s allies weren’t inclined to leave things at that. Toby looked at the Count and asked,

“Then, are you planning to reject the negotiation?”

“I never said I’d reject it.”

“So, you’re agreeing to it?”

“Why are you in such a rush? I need time to think.”

The Count squinted at Toby, but his gaze held no threat for Toby.

“There’s no time. Will you abandon my lord, or will you save him? Let me know so I can decide on my own course of action.”

The cold response made the Count bite his lip. This was the issue: to reject the negotiation was as good as abandoning Sylas.

“Damn it, I almost wish he had died.”

If Sylas had been killed by the elves, Rey and Toby’s anger would have turned toward the elves, and he could have requested reinforcements from the Church and the Corleone family. Even if he withdrew from the elves now, there was a chance for recovery. But with Sylas alive as a prisoner, everything had changed.

“If I refuse the negotiation now, I’ll be the one they target.”

There was a vast difference between failing to save a hostage due to lack of ability and abandoning one who could be rescued. Rejection of the negotiation would be seen as the latter by anyone, and the fury of the Church and Corleone family would be directed at the Count, not the elves.

“What do you all think? Should I accept the negotiation?”

Cornered, the Count looked at the young nobles of the other four families. They all fell silent, unwilling to risk advising him to accept the negotiation openly. Facing the elven army was a nightmare, but they knew that speaking out could put them on the Count’s bad side.