CHAPTER 558: RETAKING THE LORD’S MANOR

TL: Rui88

Without a doubt, the words of Administrator Ford and Director Hayden threw the police and militia into turmoil.

Everyone stared blankly at each other, not knowing how to react, as if hoping a comrade would make the decision for them.

As for Byleth McReynolds, held fast by Russ Hayden, his face was ashen. His earlier threats had been a final, desperate effort, a gamble for survival, but not only had he failed to intimidate those present, he had instead heard even worse news for his side from old Ford’s lips…Paul Grayman was still alive!

Now, Byleth McReynolds had completely broken down. A single question spun relentlessly in his mind: how on earth did the people in the Lord’s Manor get news from the outside?

Old Ford and the officials of the Administration Council watched the police and militia nervously. The guards in the Lord’s Manor, though elite, numbered only thirty. They were not fully prepared for a conflict and, facing the numerically superior police and militia, no one could predict the outcome if a fight broke out.

They remained in a tense standoff.

Just then, a decisive voice broke the deadlock.

“I believe Administrator Ford’s words!”

Lucas, from within the police ranks, loudly stated his judgment.

“I’ve felt for a long time that there was something not right with Commander McReynolds! Brothers!”

He stepped out from the ranks to stand before all the police and addressed them, “What are you still hesitating for? Butler Philip and Lord Ford…those of you who are residents of Lakeheart Town must know of their character. They have served three generations of Grayman counts. If their words cannot be trusted, who can be trusted? There is definitely an army led by Lord Schroeder outside the city. Besides…”

He glanced at the police detachment commander, who had sunk into a state of utter despair.

“Byleth McReynolds has just admitted with his own mouth that he and Burgan took part in the rebellion against Count Grayman. As policemen loyal to Count Grayman, how can we associate with traitors?”

“Yes!” someone immediately responded. “We absolutely cannot stand with traitors.”

Lucas was somewhat surprised. The one who had responded was not one of his colleagues, but that militia captain, who he thought was named Zane.

Zane also stepped forward and saluted Administrator Ford. “Administrator, please give us our orders. Just tell us what you need us to do.”

But before Administrator Ford could speak, he raised his hand, turned to the militia from Tata Village, and shouted, “Long live Grayman! Long live Alda!”

“Long live Grayman! Long live Alda!” The militiamen from Tata Village echoed Zane, all having made their choice.

“Yes, Burgan is definitely unpopular!” Perhaps inspired by the militia’s spirit, the police also made their choice.

“I am loyal to Count Paul Grayman!”

“I have always been loyal to Count Paul Grayman. It was all because of McReynolds’ deception…”

Now, everyone in the hall had drawn a clear line between themselves and the traitors.

“Good!” Old Ford and the others saw that the situation was developing as they had hoped, and the heavy weight in their hearts was finally lifted.

The Administrator of the Administration Council commanded, “You will now all be under the unified command of Director Hayden. Prepare the defense of this castle. And make a show of it, so that traitor Burgan knows something has happened in the castle, to disrupt their morale.”

Following Administrator Ford’s orders, everyone immediately sprang into action.

All combat personnel…guards, militia, and police, numbering over two hundred…were divided into several groups by Director Hayden and assigned to specific defensive areas.

The castle gate, which had been closed, was now further barricaded with a pile of fillings…chests, furniture, sandbags, and more. Even Hansel, Bernard, Cecil, and the others participated in the moving.

Then, a cannon positioned at the castle gate was fired.

The booming report of the cannon carried a certain message into the distance.

…

At the border of Lakemore and Emden, two armies faced each other.

The larger force, numbering nearly a thousand men, consisted mostly of soldiers in clothes of varying colors and styles, mostly made of linen, with a few knights on tall horses in full armor. Apart from the knights, the soldiers’ weapons were a motley collection of long spears, swords, and even pitchforks. They stood in loose formations, constantly waving their arms at the opposing side, making various provocative gestures and shouting obscenities.

The force facing them, the smaller of the two, numbered less than three hundred men but was arrayed in neat horizontal lines. The soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder, holding muskets loaded with ball and bayonet, silently and sternly staring ahead. In stark contrast to the clamor opposite them, these soldiers were silent, with no one talking or whispering. In stark contrast to the clamor of the opposing force.

In the open ground between the two vastly different armies, two men on horseback were in conversation.

“This is simply outrageous!”

Count Bazel questioned Lieutenant Colonel Walton with great anger.

“I was clearly invited by Lakeheart Town to come in and eliminate bandits, yet you… you dare to disregard your own lord’s command and block my path here!”

“Count Bazel! We can handle our own affairs here. We do not need outside armies coming in to help!”

Walton said, neither humbly nor arrogantly.

“Besides!” His eyes glinted with suspicion. “Are there really any bandits? Or could it be… that you fabricated them?”

“You… how dare you!” Count Bazel shrieked. “You… you… you dare to suspect me!”

In the past, Bazel would not have even bothered to speak to someone like Walton. A mere fellow with only the title of a knight, was he worthy to speak face-to-face with a noble count while seated on a saddle? It was truly demeaning.

“I am Count Bazel, a noble of the kingdom. How dare you… how dare you? This is an insult to me!”

“Listen here, Walton! Just a week ago, a band of vicious criminals attacked my domain, killing, burning, and plundering property. It took me a great deal of effort to find a clue… they came from Emden. Lakeheart Town promised to give me an explanation and let me bring my troops to ferret out these bastards. I believe you should have received the order!”

Although he said this, Count Bazel’s heart was pounding. What was going on? Wasn’t it agreed that they would let me in? Why is this Walton being so arrogant?

Could it be that something had gone wrong with what those people had arranged?