Chapter 355: Ambush (1/2)
Chapter 355: Ambush
The seven grand duchies had gathered at a secret meeting place in Sakamimir Valley. Although the seven grand dukes had created an alliance to fight against Brettel City, they did not trust each other enough to try holding this meeting in one of their duchies.
Thus, in the end the seven grand dukes decided to gather their armies at a neutral location, Sakamimir Valley. The majority of the soldiers were temporarily camping in the plains outside the valley, while the seven grand dukes and their most elite experts convened at the center of the valley.
Warm, comfortable sunlight bathed the flowers and plants that grew on the valley’s slopes. At the center of the Sakamimir Valley, a simple tent had been erected on some flat ground next to a stream. Inside stood seven grand dukes, secretly negotiating something as their subordinates stood by their sides.
If a mishap actually occurred here, the seven grand duchies would suffer a fatal blow. Thus, not only were there numerous knights guarding the tent, but the tent was layered with magical barriers protecting the seven grand dukes within.
The points of contention within the tent was who the leader of the allied army would be, what checks and balances should be put in place, and how they would split the spoils of war. The years of warfare between them before this had created several grudges on the battlefield. This sudden new threat forced them to leave their differences unresolved, so there were bound to be some conflicts arising.
Helen Tina of the Helon Duchy had been feeling extremely agitated lately, and it showed; she was not as beautiful as before. She was clearly very haggard. The news of her being violated had spread like wildfire among the seven grand dukes. Thus, Helen Tina had become a target of ridicule overnight. Furthermore, anyone who saw her would have a strange look in their eyes. Those gazes made Helen Tina itch.
Furthermore, Benedict Sackville of Narsen Duchy, who had originally been a reliable ally, had become distant ever since the news had gone on to become public knowledge. Even now, after meeting Benedict Sackville here in person, he was clearly not as attentive as before, only giving her a polite greeting.
Helen Tina understood the root of the problem. However, because Han Shuo had truly captured her and imprisoned her within Brettel City for a couple of days, even if she had a hundred mouths, she wouldn’t be able to explain her innocence. During this time, the arrogant Helen Tina had also suffered a lot from those strange looks from others. Even some of Helen Empire’s citizens believed that the tainted Helen Tina was not suited to become a grand duke.
If it wasn’t for her merciless and bloody methods in suppressing the rebellion, killing nine rebelling nobles in succession, perhaps she would have lost her status within Helen Duchy. Now, in the middle of the meeting between the seven duchies, Helen Tina was once again treated with neglect.
At this time, Benedict Sackville was embroiled in an argument with Bavenden Duchy’s Alec Ambridge. The crux of the problem lay in the distribution of the spoils of war. Specifically, Alec Ambridge fancied the six magic crystal cannons within Brettel City that was worth six hundred thousand gold coins. Thus, he relentlessly fought for the right to take all six of them.
Benedict Sackville had originally purchased these six magic crystal cannons for Helen Tina from the distant Brut Merchant Alliance through his secret channel. Thus, Benedict Sackville believed that these six magic crystal cannons were naturally his and put his foot down, not compromising in the slightest.
Suddenly, Helen Tina, the one who’d handed over six hundred thousand gold coins for the cannons in the first place, was completely forgotten. In the past, Benedict Sackville would have relentlessly pursued Helen at any expense. But now, he’d reversed his position and was actively trying to recoup his losses.
After taking a cold glance at the argument heating up between the six other grand dukes, Helen Tina’s heart became increasingly agitated. Unconsciously, her thoughts began to wander back to that which she had become intimately familiar with over the past year or so, Han Shuo’s utter ruthlessness. Comparing the six guys in front of her to the memory of that ruthless tormentor, she faintly felt like these six guys droning on in front of her were far from true men.
Instead, the image of Brettel City Lord’s ruthless and demon-like eyes kept popping up in her mind again and again. She had this gut feeling that the six grand dukes in front of her had no way of defeating the ruthless lord of Brettel City.
Brettel City’s population didn’t even reach a hundred thousand people. Without even mentioning the other six grand dukes, even the Helen Duchy alone had a military strength capable of defeating their target. Now that the alliance of six grand dukedoms intended to advance towards Brettel City, she was truly having a ridiculous thought. Even Helen Tina herself felt as though she was being absurd believing that the allied troops would be defeated.
“Duchess Helen, what do you want from Brettel City?” Grand Duke Randy Allard of Bonton Duchy politely walked over to the almost statue-like Helen Tina.
Waking up from her contemplation, Helen Tina silently thought for a moment before her red lips moved, saying softly, “I only want the life of Brettel City’s lord. Although, victory may not come as easy as we think here. I have nothing to support this claim but instinct, but I feel it to be true.”
“Haha. Grand Duchess Helen, you must be really tired. We will surely win with the army of seven grand dukedoms allied together. Even the Lancelot Empire that soars with fame and prestige was easily defeated by us that day. But now you’re saying just one shabby little Brettel City will be able to obstruct our advance? That’s just way too ridiculous! Hah, after you were captured by that city lord, it seems your courage was also broken. Am I wrong, Grand Duchess Helen?” Alec Ambridge overheard the conversation and abruptly broke in. His sneer had no intention of concealing his contempt, outright breaking out in laughter at Helen Tina.
Originally, at such moments Benedict Sackville, who had just been arguing hot headedly with Alec Ambridge, would’ve spoken out for Helen Tina. However, he was unexpectedly silent, even slowly nodding his head. It was apparently the first time he’d agreed with someone who was just his enemy a moment ago.
Helen Tina only felt a cold feeling in her heart, looking at the man who had repeated over and over again that he would take care of her until he died. She had the sudden urge to laugh.
“I am a little tired. You guys can keep discussing.” Helen Tina stood up wearily and spoke to the six other grand dukes before walking out alone.
None of the six grand dukes urged Helen Tina to stay. Instead, Alec Ambridge waited until after she left before snorting, “It looks like she’s been conquered by the new city lord’s skills in bed. She can’t even grasp the current situation. Hehe. I really don’t understand how someone could’ve been so foolish in the past to relentlessly chase her.”
“Who are you talking about, huh?!” Benedict Sackville roared as his temper boiled over. Madly chasing after Helen Tina was now his greatest disgrace. He wouldn’t let anyone who offended him in this respect off the hook.
“Hehe, nothing, nothing!” Alec Ambridge had unexpectedly found that prodding at Benedict Sackville was something rather pleasant. Seeing him burst into anger was especially gratifying especially since he had not been able to win during the fight for the magic crystal cannons.
In the plains outside the valley, within one of the Helon Duchy’s stationed tents, Helen Tina’s calm face disappeared. Her heart slowly sank to a new low.
“Helen? What’s wrong, why are you unhappy again?” Within the tent, a high ranked super beast named Firewind transformed from a phoenix into a beautiful female dressed in red before pouring a cup of tea and handing it to Helen Tina with both hands.
“Sister Firewind. Could it be that being a virgin is that important? Why is that after I came back from Brettel City, it seems like everyone dislikes me?” Helen Tina sighed to Firewind.
“Helen, why would you say such a thing? That Bryan did not actually do anything to you, he only blackmailed you to get a million gold coins. That’s all.” Firewind looked at Helen Tina with astonishment and asked, confused.
After putting down the tea cup Firewind gave her, Helen Tina sighed again and spoke with annoyance, “But, everyone believes that the affair actually happened, and I basically have no way of explaining it whatsoever.
“Just ignore them. They’re just a bunch of nobodies. As long as you know you did not do anything in your heart, everything will be fine. What’s the point of bickering so much?” Firewind continued persuading Helen Tina and said, “If it wasn’t for that guy being so powerful, I’d have already killed him for you