In February, with snow still thick on the ground and the weather biting cold, Ryan ordered a partial mobilization of his territory. His own army, along with the main forces from the Duchies of Winford and Bordeleaux, had arrived.
Hundreds of tents had been set up, and the remaining soldiers, under the sergeants' orders, were establishing the camp. Supplies from Ryan's territory were continuously being transported to the camp, and the mobilization for war was in full swing.
The mobilized forces were primarily from the industrial and commercial sectors, with a majority being freemen. Ryan aimed to minimize the impact of this early offensive on his territory's agriculture, so he conscripted only about two thousand infantry, mostly semi-professional troops. Bordeleaux and Winford also sent a large number of knights and some standing troops under Ryan's command. Bordeleaux was led by Baron Federmond, and Winford by Sir Jerrold, both reporting to Ryan.
The Lake God Witch Morgiana led an entire squad of Lake God Prophets and a unit of Holy Grail Guardians to the front lines. Teresa and her mother, Aurora, along with the entire Ice Witch Apprentice Group, were also stationed in the camp, representing Ryan's magical strength for this war. Veronica stayed on standby in Ryan's territory, ready to join the front lines if needed.
King Belegar of the Angrund clan had also arrived with his dwarf army, bringing over eight hundred troops, including the Angrund Oath Guard, the renowned North Star Axe Corps, the Iron Brotherhood, a unit of rangers, and a unit of handgunners. The rest were artillery.
Ryan's hired mercenaries from Novigrad, the Ironbreakers, and Dugan's Black Powder Brotherhood, also joined the camp.
The forest, covered in snow, lay as a white expanse. The Chalon Forest was extremely cold. Ryan, clad in a white bear fur cloak, was patrolling the camp.
"Count, we have gathered over five thousand troops at the front line," reported Armand, Ryan's standard-bearer and a Holy Grail Knight, following closely behind him. "The Grismerie River is five kilometers north. Once we cross it, Spire Palace is not far."
"Yes." Ryan nodded, contemplating the situation. "Earl Ocasion should not yet be aware of our troop movements here, right?"
"Not yet. Earl Ocasion has been vigilant, dispatching many scouts and sentries to guard key points along the Grismerie River. If we attempt a large-scale crossing, he will certainly rally his troops to defend Spire Palace," Armand continued. "Our dwarf brothers have calculated that even with Lady Teresa's help, we cannot smuggle more than a hundred men across."
"A hundred is enough." Ryan gazed at the horizon, taking a deep breath. "Baron Federmond and Sir Jerrold will accompany us. Armand, are you ready?"
"The Count's sword points the way, and that is where Armand will follow!" Armand raised the flag bearing Ryan's family crest.
"Very well, let's look for an opportunity." Ryan nodded. "Sir Bertrand and the two half-elves, Ester and Dez, have already crossed the Grismerie River. Let's wait for the right moment."
The entire camp was bustling with the urgent preparation of supplies and war materials.
From the first morning to the afternoon of the second day, Sir Bertrand and the two half-elf rangers finally brought back the news Ryan was waiting for. "Count, we have information that Earl Ocasion will lead his entourage on a hunting trip in the wilderness near Spire Palace tomorrow! It's their routine winter hunt!"
"Excellent, prepare to move out!" Ryan immediately ordered. The eighty knights he had selected responded promptly. Holy Grail Knight Federmond held the golden sea monster cross helmet, and Holy Knight Sir Jerrold held the silver unicorn cross helmet, both ready for action.
Ryan approached Aurora and Teresa, who were resting in a corner of the camp. "Ms. Aurora, Teresa?"
Aurora, dressed in luxurious attire, nodded without much comment. The Sanctuary witch began chanting a grand spell, and Teresa led the entire witch apprentice group in chanting along, casting their magic.
The Lake God Witch Morgiana and her prophets also chanted spells, layering rings of light onto the eighty knights led by Ryan.
The operation began!
Fully armed, the eighty knights, bolstered by seven or eight life spells from the Lake God Witch, moved under the cover of darkness to the riverbank.
At three in the morning, the turbulent and filthy Grismerie River was covered with a layer of floating ice, beneath which the water flowed.
Sorceress Teresa, mounted on a half-elf warhorse, chanted her ice magic.
The river began to freeze, the ice becoming sturdier.
Sir Bertrand, dressed in a warm fur cloak and wearing a tricorn hat with two feathers, a Starfire longbow from the wood elves slung across his back, reported to Ryan along with the two half-elf rangers. "Count, we have cleared the sentries on the other side of the river. Earl Ocasion and his troops will not notice our movements for now, but if too much time passes, the missing sentries will alert them."
"That's enough. Thank you, Bertrand, Ester, Dez." Ryan, mounted on his purebred elf warhorse, Grape, warmly encouraged the three. "If this operation succeeds, you will all share in the glory."
He couldn't use his griffon for this mission as it was too conspicuous.
"It is my honor to serve you, Count," Bertrand replied, bowing his head. "Now, let me lead the way."
"Very well! Move out!"
The ice, reinforced by magic, became extremely solid. As Bertrand and the others mounted their horses, Ryan led the eighty knights across the ice at a rapid pace.
Five minutes later, after confirming that all the knights had crossed, Teresa stopped her spell. Without the magic, the sturdy ice quickly thinned and returned to its fragile state under the pressure of the flowing water.
The sorceress watched Ryan and the others leave, lost in thought for a moment. She then mounted her horse and hurried back to the camp to assist Aurora with their spellcasting.
This grand spell would be the key to the success of the surprise attack!
The predawn hours passed, and dawn arrived. Spire Palace's lord, Earl Ocasion, woke from his sleep.
Unlike many undead lords of Mousilon, Ocasion was a true human. He always refused to become a vampire, and for various reasons, whether under the Blood Red Duke who once ruled Mousilon, the Lich King Arkhan, or the current ruler, "Serpent" Mashubad, none had forced Earl Ocasion to turn into a vampire.
Earl Ocasion held a special status. He might be one of the few remaining Mousilon nobles with a clear genealogical inheritance dating back to the first Duke of Mousilon, "Victor" Landuin.
This was rare because after three major calamities, the local nobility of Mousilon had either defected to Lyonnais, perished, or been turned into vampires. Therefore, Earl Ocasion became a prized possession for both Brittany and the vampires, a "model" showing that the living and the dead could coexist.
Thus, since coming to Mousilon, Ocasion had been highly valued by the vampires. He was given the title of earl and commanded two thousand troops to guard Spire Palace, a crucial stronghold in southern Mousilon.
Spire Palace was a well-maintained ancient castle, dating back to before the founding of Brittany. Its central spiral staircase was surrounded by a hall and several bedrooms. Ocasion lived at the top of the tower, while his retainers mostly stayed in the basement.
Ocasion had stables nearby for his and some knights' mounts. The castle's elegant decor was more suited for hosting guests than defending against invaders.
Many antiques and furnishings filled the rooms, and Ocasion's crest—a black lily surrounded by three small black flowers on a white field—was prominently displayed.
Notably, tapestries depicting Mousilon's history adorned the castle, such as the first Duke Landuin's brave victories over necromancers. However, the tales of the Mad Duke Merowin and the False Grail (Dol Tower) were conspicuously omitted.
A roaring fire burned in the fireplace. Every evening after sunset, the serfs brought a lavish feast for the tower's residents. After being served by his attendants, Earl Ocasion washed his face with clear water and prepared for the winter hunt.
Winter hunting was a tradition here, a way for the lord to demonstrate authority and control. Earl Ocasion had ruled Spire Palace for years, and he went hunting every winter.
This Mousilon noble pondered the recent movements in the south, feeling troubled. His subordinates frequently reported that Count Ryan was raising a large army to attack Mousilon.
If Ryan were to attack Mousilon, Spire Palace would be the first target. This was a well-known fact throughout the kingdom.
Thus, Earl Ocasion felt very anxious, contemplating his next move.
Ocasion harbored a secret, one he couldn't reveal to anyone.
He was an undercover agent sent to Mousilon by the former King of Knights, "Tyrant" John II. The ruthless king had long planned to conquer Mousilon and had sent the teenage Ocasion to infiltrate the region.
As a noble of the original Mousilon lineage, Ocasion had natural advantages. He quickly gained the Blood Red Duke's favor and entered Mousilon's upper echelons.
Ocasion once believed he could soon make a significant impact, achieving great merit in John II's campaign to reclaim Mousilon, restoring his honorable status and becoming a hero of the kingdom.
In
his first year in Mousilon, he secretly reported to John II, "My king, I have successfully joined the ranks of the undead nobility."
"Excellent, dear Ocasion. Hold on."
In the third year, as a knight commander, Ocasion reported again, "My king, I have gathered a loyal human force, ready to act from within."
"You've done very well, Ocasion. When the time comes, I will promote you to baron!"
In the sixth year, Ocasion asked again, "My king, when will we launch the chivalric war to reclaim Mousilon?"
"Wait, it's not the right time yet!"
Ocasion had to keep waiting, only to hear that John II was deposed by the Lake God Witch Morgiana and the Holy Grail Knights storming the palace, pulling him off the throne.
Ocasion was devastated by the news. John II was the only one who knew his undercover identity! With the king deposed and secretly imprisoned by Morgiana, there was no one left to validate Ocasion's status. He was truly transformed from a disguised agent to a noble lord of Mousilon, an undead subordinate!
His life's goal vanished.
With the disappearance of his life's purpose, Ocasion's personal ambitions grew. Freed from his shackles, he truly submitted to the vampires, becoming their subordinate, fighting fiercely and using any means to achieve victory. He excelled in deceiving escaped slaves and winning hearts. The Blood Red Duke, Arkhan, and Mashubad all saw Ocasion as a model for how the undead empire could coexist with the living after conquering the knight kingdom. They never hesitated to reward him. Under the guidance of the Blood Knights, Ocasion advanced to become a legendary figure.
He began to enjoy the feeling of navigating between two powers. He was alive yet a subordinate of the undead, recognized by the living and needed by the dead.
In this dark era, Ocasion sought to achieve his own grand ambitions.
After getting up, eating breakfast, and summoning his retainers, Earl Ocasion donned his armor with their help, mounted his horse, and prepared for the winter hunt. Dozens of knights, their retainers, and over two hundred serf infantry had already gathered.
The sky was clear, promising a typical sunny winter day. Satisfied with the weather, Ocasion looked at the bright sky and felt this would be a good day for hunting.
Hah, they promised three years, then another three years, and yet another three years. Now, it's been over thirty years, old man! Dear John II, my king, do you see? I'm already an earl! Who cares about your baron title now?
Ocasion looked at his grand hunting party, the shining knightly armor, and felt immensely satisfied. This was what he wanted. Once the Lich King Arkhan and Duke Mashubad conquered the entire knight kingdom, he would be a founding noble. What ducal title should he ask for then?
He had to think about that carefully.
But what if the Lich King and Mashubad lost? Ocasion thought he could immediately switch sides, using his human identity to surrender openly, even revealing his undercover status at the right moment. Considering the significance of reclaiming Mousilon, the knight kingdom would not only refrain from judging him but also treat him well, giving him land and a new equal rank of earl!
Why should they mistreat their informant and guide?!
Thinking of this, feeling he couldn't lose, Ocasion asked his retainer, "What's the situation across the river? Has Count Ryan and his army arrived nearby?"
"No news yet, my lord," the retainer replied promptly. "We've set up many sentries along the riverbank, and there have been no unusual movements recently, everything remains calm."
"Hmm... With spring plowing approaching, even if Count Ryan plans to attack Spire Palace, it should be after the plowing." Ocasion nodded slightly, then asked, "But we cannot underestimate Ryan, this notorious figure. Have today's sentries and scouts reported any unusual activity?"
"Not yet. The scouts and sentries usually report in the afternoon," the retainer shook his head.
"Alright, let's start the winter hunt then!" Ocasion gave the order, and the entire hunting party responded enthusiastically, albeit a bit chaotically, as they set out to hunt in the wilderness two kilometers from Spire Palace.
The hunt lasted over two hours. Earl Ocasion had decent luck, bagging two hares and three pheasants, though he was disappointed not to catch a deer. However, his attention was soon drawn to the changing weather.
The once clear sky was turning cloudy, with thick clouds gathering. Before Ocasion could react, a fine drizzle began to fall, darkening the sky and bringing a bone-chilling cold to the hunting party.
"It's raining!"
"Damn it! The weather was so good, how did it suddenly rain?!"
But the rain wasn't the worst. As the hunting party murmured complaints, a more dreadful event unfolded. Heavy hailstones mixed with rain began pounding the snow-covered forest and the muddy ground. The hail, thumb-sized, pelted the serf infantry's helmets, the knights' armor, and Ocasion's ornate plate armor. Within minutes, the hunting party was almost submerged by the dense hailstorm and sleet!
The deafening sound of hail striking armor filled the air, growing even more intense as the hailstones swelled to egg size. Many serf infantry were struck down, bleeding from head wounds, and the knights' retainers couldn't lift their heads.
A torrential downpour soon engulfed the entire hunting party, the penetrating cold sapping their energy and morale. The hunt had to be abandoned.
With no choice, Earl Ocasion ordered, "Everyone, find shelter!"
"Yes!" The retainers scattered, seeking refuge in the wilderness and marshes.
The plain and marshland turned into a muddy mire under the relentless hail and rain, blinding everyone and filling them with complaints.
Due to the storm, no one in the hunting party noticed the approach of an eighty-strong knight squad led by a knight in Grey Knight power armor, wielding the Vengeance Goddess. His psychic light shielded him, diverting the rain and hail.
"The conquest of Mousilon begins today."
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