HTLCCBFT Chapter 154

Has The Lord’s Career Chart Been Filled Today? – Chapter 154

Wynn had never run so fast before.

The scorching afternoon wind, laden with dust and grit, harshly whipped against his face. The stinging pain on his skin was minor compared to the real challenge—he dared not open his eyes wide, only squinting into a narrow slit just enough to see the path ahead. If he opened them any wider, relentless sand would strike his eyes, making them water uncontrollably.

His mouth was tightly shut, jaw clenched firmly, fearing he might accidentally swallow the filthy dust or bite his tongue during the violent jostling on horseback.

Though he hadn’t traveled far, the return journey felt endlessly long.

Unburdened by heavy or precious cargo, he spurred his horse at full speed and managed to return to Albury City under the cover of night in just over half a day.

“I am the merchant Wynn! The one who sells wine!”

The city gates were, of course, tightly shut. Facing the wary guards, he shouted hoarsely, “I have an extremely urgent matter! I must see the Lord! Please let me in quickly! Hurry, or it’ll be too late!”

“Mr. Wynn? Weren’t you the one who left yesterday morning?”

The guards still remembered this merchant who bought the most wine. After a moment’s hesitation, one of them went to report to the castle while the other stayed to question him further. “What happened? We can let you in.”

Wynn opened his mouth to speak but, worried that rash words might cause unnecessary panic, held back with difficulty. “I’m sorry, it’s a very important matter. I need to speak directly with the steward.”

Seeing Wynn’s ashen face, covered in dust from the hurried journey, and his overall haggard appearance, the guard didn’t press further.

Soon, the guard who had gone to the castle returned with news that lifted Wynn’s spirits: “Mr. Fosse wishes to see you. Please hurry, Mr. Wynn.”

“Yes!”

With a relieved sigh, Wynn nudged his horse through the narrowly opened gate and headed straight for the castle.

He quickly met the butler, whom he had been fortunate enough to meet three or four times before.

After listening to Wynn’s somewhat stumbling account, Fosse’s expression remained almost unchanged, and he nodded calmly. “I understand.”

“Please believe me, Mr. Fosse!” Seeing Fosse’s composed demeanor, Wynn feared he might not be taken seriously and hurriedly added, “That fellow Booke would never dare joke about something like this. He—”

“I believe you, Mr. Wynn.”

Fosse interrupted the flustered merchant in an uncharacteristically gentle tone. “I will convey the message you risked your life to bring to our respected Lord, and I thank you deeply for your loyalty to him… I believe, if the Lord were here now, he would want you to rest and conserve your energy.”

“Thank goodness.”

With Fosse’s clear promise, the tension that had gripped Wynn finally eased, and exhaustion washed over him like a fierce wave. “May the great Cat God forever protect our respected Lord, this beautiful city, and you, Mr. Fosse.”

Fosse gave a slight nod. “Thank you for your blessings. You’ve gone to great trouble.”

Soon, the butler delivered this news to the lord who was about to retire for the night.

“Finally, they’ve come.” After a brief moment of surprise, Oliver actually became pleased. “Excellent.”

If Gregor City had kept delaying their arrival, it would have felt like a sword hanging overhead that refused to fall, which would have irritated him instead.

The fact that the opponent launched their campaign before the two cities under his governance held their Summer Market was absolutely beneficial to him.

“He has worked hard, especially bringing us this news.”.. I shall take this favor on behalf of Albury for now.” Oliver smiled faintly. “Let’s get a good night’s rest first. Tomorrow morning, we must lead our troops to set off early and greet them as soon as possible.”

Fosse bowed deeply. “Yes, Your Highness.”

Count McKenna, who had just embarked on his personal campaign, naturally had no idea that the lord of his destination had already received advance notice, merely two days later than him.

He was even less aware that his troops, laden with supplies and meticulously crafted siege engines, would encounter the opponent midway.

“What terrible roads.”

On the third day of their march, the moving troops were greeted by an unwelcome summer downpour, leaving many soldiers drenched.

The expensive waterproof tarps were naturally reserved not for ordinary soldiers but entirely for covering the equipment and military provisions—the latter wouldn’t normally be carried in excessive amounts, but considering that little surplus grain could likely be requisitioned near Albury City, Count McKenna had ordered enough provisions to feed the entire army for two months.

Factoring in the over half a month required for the round trip, this meant—the siege couldn’t last more than a month and a half at most.

With the element of surprise on their side, it shouldn’t be a problem.

“Hah.”

Sitting in the somewhat stuffy semi-enclosed covered carriage, Count McKenna yawned out of boredom.

His servant carefully wiped away a tear that had welled up in the corner of his eye, and he lifted the carriage curtain with the handle of his ornate, gem-encrusted whip in a restrained manner, glancing outside.

“What terrible roads,” he remarked lazily. “Just looking at such roads makes me have no expectations for Albury City. I still maintain, if it weren’t for your loyal service to me all these years, I would never have listened to your absurd and unappealing suggestion… How many years has it been since I last visited that shabby, cramped city, Ken?”

“It is my honor,” Ken Spire[mfn]Honestly took me a while to figure out the author meant for this name to sound like ‘conspire’ so it was not included in the notes when this character first appeared. That’s now been fixed.[/mfn] replied respectfully with his head bowed, answering meticulously. “It has been 11 years, esteemed master.”

“What a miserly Butor. This reminds me of that banquet he hosted back then. Over three nights, he only opened a total of 13 barrels of wine? The quality of the bards was utterly dreadful too, and those unremarkable maidservants were as barren as his lands.”

Count McKenna sighed in an affected, melodious tone, feigning lament: “He collected no small amount in taxes either, so why couldn’t he repair this important road to a decent standard?”

Even if he weren’t transporting three full siege ladders, two large catapults, a battering ram, and other equipment, out of concern for the safety of his luxurious and exquisite carriage, he wouldn’t dare let the coachman drive too fast.”I suppose Lord Butor’s particular brand of foolishness was the main reason he carelessly lost his life to ruffians in his own territory.”

“Oh, I’d forgotten he’s no longer among the living.” McKenna feigned a sigh. “Poor Butor.”

Neither McKenna nor Ken showed any regard for that once illustrious young duke who, after being driven from the royal capital, was pitifully reduced to a handful of knights and even forced to stoop to employing useless freemen… even slaves as guards.

As for the claim he brought, McKenna had the high priest of the Havest Divine Temple forge it in advance: even if His Majesty didn’t yet know that an understanding subordinate was about to create some minor trouble for his more nobly-born brother, he surely wouldn’t mind legitimizing the false claim after its success.

If this forged claim could deceive that naive young duke into voluntarily surrendering Albury City and the efforts wasted throughout spring, that would be ideal.

But if the young duke questioned it, then he’d have to resort to force.

“I’d hate to be rough with such beauty,” McKenna murmured, narrowing his eyes at the thought. “Better be obedient, my dear… Angel Duke.”

Count McKenna, believing he had everything perfectly planned, never dreamed he’d encounter the target of his journey on the fourth day.

“My lord, someone’s blocking the road ahead!”

Ken’s slightly urgent voice suddenly rang out, rousing the dozing count in the sweltering carriage.

McKenna frowned, his mind still foggy. “Who?”

Ken hesitated, speaking evasively: “It’s a silver-haired knight with green eyes… Behind him are at least several hundred well-equipped soldiers, perhaps mercenary captains? He says he knows you and requests to meet directly.

Count McKenna didn’t believe Albury’s armed forces could be particularly strong, but to avoid damaging his most crucial dozen knights, he’d preemptively hired over six hundred mercenaries.

Some well-informed mercenary bands, upon hearing this wealthy patron was hiring, had even come directly to Gregor City to offer their services.

Though the other party seemed ill-intentioned and hadn’t used the word “request” at all, Ken instinctively guessed in that direction.

McKenna finally woke from his nap.

Frowning impatiently, he naturally followed Ken’s assumption: “Tell him directly we don’t need anyone. Send him away.”

But then, remembering Ken’s words “he knows you,” he instantly changed his mind: “Never mind, I’ll see who it is myself.”

Silver hair, green eyes, a “knight,” and someone who knew him.

When McKenna clearly saw the leading “knight’s” face, cold sweat instantly trickled down his spine.

Damn it.

He cursed inwardly.

Meeting that gloomy gaze in those deep-set eyes, even knowing the other couldn’t possibly harm him, McKenna still felt his scalp tingle, and his eyelids twitched uncontrollably from time to time.

How had he failed to realize that there was likely only one being in this world who possessed all four of these traits?!

—It was the vicious hound who, despite countless upheavals, remained unwaveringly by the side of the Angel Duke: Fosse Sward[mfn]福斯·斯沃德(fú sī · sī wò dé) – we finally get Fosse’s full name! His last name is meant to sound like ‘sword’; very fitting for a retired knight captain.[/mfn].

“Oh, isn’t this Fosse?”

Even though his side clearly had the advantage in numbers, McKenna couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease as he recalled the other’s terrifying battlefield exploits. His gaze involuntarily wavered.

He let out a dry chuckle, urged his mount to retreat slightly toward the carriage, and then slowly asked, “What brings you here all of a sudden?”

“Lord McKenna,” Fosse said expressionlessly. “Before you fully retreat into that ornate carriage, I must inform you—it is my esteemed master who wishes to see you, not anyone else.”

“Your master?”

McKenna asked reflexively.

“Pleased to meet you, Gride McKenna[mfn]格里德·麦肯纳(gé lǐ dé · mài kěn nà) – ‘Greed’ McKenna[/mfn].”

A clear, melodious voice suddenly rang out.

McKenna unconsciously widened his eyes and turned toward the source of the sound…

A pair of pale, slender hands gently lifted the deep gray cloak, revealing the face of the person riding the purebred white horse half a length behind Fosse.

First came the exquisitely refined and noble jawline, followed by a face so breathtakingly beautiful it seemed as if it could only be captured in the most elegant poetry and paintings—radiant lips as striking as ripe cherries in the forest, tempting one to either kiss them reverently or greedily devour and savor them.

Eyes reflecting the azure of the sky, flawless like sapphires slumbering in the deep sea—a treasure so precious even deities would covet it.

And then there was that slightly curly, dazzling golden hair, as if woven from the brilliance of sunlight itself. When its owner smiled quietly, the radiance was so mesmerizing it was impossible to tell whether the sunlight or he was more captivating—a breathtaking impact that made one’s heart race instantly.

He was simply… too beautiful.

McKenna never would have imagined that, despite having seen so many beauties and even having a preference for young boys, he would one day find himself gaping like a fool, utterly entranced by someone—God, and that someone was the master of the very city he intended to attack!

Just as he lost his voice entirely, staring foolishly with his mouth agape, the one who truly deserved the title of “Angel” spoke with a light laugh.

His slightly drawn-out tone carried a cold, aloof disdain and weariness, while the innate elegance and commanding presence unmistakably belonged to a noble of the highest bloodline.

“Wake up, Gride.”

Everyone present clearly saw those beautifully shaped lips part slightly, their lazy, tantalizing tone directly addressing Count McKenna by a name no one had dared to utter for a long time.

“……Oh.”

In the midst of this abrupt silence, it took McKenna quite some time to snap out of his uncontrollable infatuation.

Strangely, he didn’t feel the intense hunting desire that usually arose when encountering beautiful boys. Instead, he was both powerfully drawn and instinctively somewhat hesitant.

After a moment’s pause, he still dismounted and bowed respectfully to the young duke of incredible beauty, murmuring softly: “It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness. But I must say, the location you’ve chosen does surprise me somewhat.”

Almost immediately, McKenna saw the Angel Duke smile faintly.

“Enough nonsense.” Oliver responded with utter calmness to his evasive words: “Fosse – start the attack.”

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