The City of Yikante.

Since the War King issued the order to rally the loyalists, the ruling headquarters has been transformed into a temporary military base, and the entire city has been placed under military control. Acting as the center, it radiates throughout the nation, maintaining control over the military system of Milanía.

Due to the suddenness of the coup in the capital, Granzon did not anticipate retreating to this place to regroup his troops. He encountered quite a few troubles along the way, but managed to resolve them one by one.

Standing on the city walls, His Majesty the King leaned against the battlement and looked out over the plains outside the city. He saw an array of tents filling the landscape and ships laden with military supplies sailing down the river. He nodded in satisfaction.

"With this, the military reorganization is complete. Aberric, I appreciate your journey all the way from the eastern fortress," said Granzon.

Behind Granzon stood a general dressed in black armor with a crimson cloak draped over his shoulders. His appearance was ordinary, encompassing all the characteristics one would expect from a typical soldier. The only notable feature was his thick sideburns and a scar that ran diagonally across his right cheek and down to his neck.

"Your Majesty flatters me. It is my duty to support the cause, especially in light of what that bastard Corinne has done! He has brought shame upon the eastern fortress! I must personally cut him down to wash away this disgrace!" said the general named Aberric, his eyes almost aflame with rage.

"Rest assured," Granzon nodded. "The expeditionary force, led by Commander Loston and spearheaded by your Dawn's Spear, will have the opportunity."

In order to ensure the security of the borders while suppressing Brad's rebellion, Granzon had not deployed a large number of troops. The four assembled armies consisted of the Cross Guard, which had been relocated from the capital on the day of the coup due to a misjudgment, a reserve corps sent from the central fortress, a local garrison corps reorganized from the south, and the elite Dawn's Spear from the eastern fortress, along with a portion of hired mercenaries.

Marston Kingdom, Milanía's eastern neighbor, had the most strained relationship with the kingdom and was also considered one of the top western powers. Therefore, the eastern fortress was always the strongest among the three major fortresses.

The best representation of this strength was the fact that the "Iron Wall Shield" and the "Dawn's Spear," both belonging to the four elite corps, were stationed in the eastern fortress.

The "Iron Wall" was mainly composed of heavy infantry with a small number of elite mounted cavalry. The infantry was equipped with specially made full-body heavy armor and towering two-meter-tall tower shields that needed to be transported by two carts when not in use. On the plain, they could build an iron wall that could withstand cavalry charges, making them one of the few armies capable of facing cavalry head-on.

The "Dawn's Spear," on the other hand, was planned from the beginning to be the army with the greatest breakthrough capability. It consisted of infantry equipped with a large number of sophisticated siege equipment, even cannons, as well as the most expensive heavy armored cavalry. During a charge, the cavalry and their horses were both fully armored, and they wielded four-meter-long lances, capable of breaking through enemy formations several times their own size on the plains.

Of course, due to the dramatic names of these two corps, there was always a topic of discussion among the military and even the general public about which one was superior, the spear or the shield.

However, despite the constant competition and friction between these two renowned corps, the relationship between the two commanders, Aberric and Corinne, was actually quite good. They had even developed a deep friendship during the war eighteen years ago.

"Hmph, I never expected it would be that guy, Corinne," Aberric shook his head with deep disdain. He lifted his head and looked at Granzon, then pounded his chestplate with his right hand, making a resounding thud. "Your Majesty, rest assured, the traitors will be taken down by us!"

"Well, I trust you with this,” Granzon nodded with relief and couldn't help but smile bitterly, “Come to think of it, I think I said something similar to Corinne before the New Year's celebration."

"Your Majesty..." Aberlirk looked startled, immediately straightened up and said solemnly, "I, Aberlirk, swear here that I will never betray you."

"I don't doubt your loyalty," Granzon smiled, "Alright, I won't take up any more of your time. The Lance of Dawn has just arrived, and there should be many things for you, as the commander of the corps, to handle."

"Yes, then I shall take my leave."

As Aberlirk's figure disappeared on the steps of the castle, Granzon turned his gaze back to the city below. As a king who had grown up in war, he had always enjoyed the sight of endless banners.

However...

"I never thought I would meet that lad Brad in battle. I think I've done a pretty decent job as a father..."

Although he said so, Granzon himself was aware of the biggest point of disagreement between him and Brad. His son was truly remarkable, his youthful thoughts remarkably similar to his own back then.

That fellow Corinne too... Heh, she hasn't given up even after all these years, has she? From this perspective, Granzon didn't even harbor any hatred towards Corinne for her involvement in the coup. In a way, for the two of them eighteen years ago, he himself was the shameful betrayer.

But that was something he could never say to others.

Compared to that, Brad and Corinne were just doing what they had always dreamed of doing.

At that moment, there was a sudden commotion below the castle.

Before long, a messenger hurriedly ran up the steps and stood still, slightly panting. But he immediately saluted and presented a scroll of parchment.

"What is this?"

"A negotiation document, Your Majesty. The Crown Prince of the capital, Brad, has sent an envoy hoping to negotiate with our army!"

"...Huh?" After half a second of reaction, Granzon confirmed that he hadn't misheard, "Negotiations? Brad?"

"Yes, the envoy has been brought to the temporary military headquarters and is waiting for Your Majesty's summons."

...

From the city walls to the military headquarters, Granzon frowned as he pondered the purpose of Brad sending an envoy. Negotiations? What would they be talking about? Deciding to surrender due to the difference in military strength?

Granzon immediately dismissed this speculation. He knew his son's personality very well. Brad appeared carefree and casual, but in reality, he was stubborn when it came to the decisions he had made. He would never give up, even until the very end.

Moreover, given the current situation, the invading army's forces were not strong enough to completely overwhelm them. The four corps varied in quality, and without considering tactics, only the Cross Guards and the Lance of Dawn could directly confront the Iron Wall Shield corps. In addition, with the strong fortifications of the capital, the actual gap between the two sides wasn't as big as it seemed on paper.

Furthermore, just two days ago, they received news that all the Iron Wall Shield soldiers scattered in the surrounding defense perimeters of the capital had withdrawn, and the loyalist army responsible for close reconnaissance had retaken four cities without encountering any resistance. This clear indication of withdrawing forces clearly meant they would fight to the bitter end.

So, Brad, what on earth are you thinking, you rascal?

Granzon sat in his study, waiting for the envoy while contemplating.

"Your Majesty, the envoy has arrived."

The voice of Delua sounded from outside the door, interrupting Granzon's contemplation. Seeing the two envoys walking in from outside, Granzon raised an eyebrow arrogantly, "So Brad actually sent you as messengers, are you from the Angulo family? Garoning, is it?"

"It is indeed an honor that Your Majesty knows my name," the envoy bowed and smiled, but the smile seemed somewhat forced.

"No need for pleasantries, why are you here? Did Brad want to tell me...that the Angulo family has sided with him?" Granzon smiled playfully, but his gaze gradually grew darker.

"I dare not," Garoning quickly waved his hand and explained with a smile, "Many members of our family are being held in the capital. If they don't obediently listen to His Highness's orders, they might all get their heads chopped off. I had no choice but to come, hehe, no choice."

"What a 'no choice.' As far as I know, you and that rotten kid Brad are good friends, right? Hmm, that kid is worried that I'll directly chop off his trusted followers, so he sent you, someone who isn't under his command but still deserves trust, right?"

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty."

"Stop flattering me. Everyone in your Angulo family is a turncoat, and your old man is as slippery as a fish. Do you think I'm not aware?" Granzon snorted disdainfully, and the killing intent in his eyes disappeared.

"Also, this person next to you...isn't he the one who invaded the palace during the coup? Brad allowed this person to monitor you, isn't he afraid that I'll kill him directly?"

"I have no choice, Your Majesty. He is the Sword Saint from the Eastern Continent. I can't possibly defeat him. If Your Majesty could kill him and save me, I would truly be grateful." Garoning raised his hands high and said.

If Granzon felt somewhat helpless towards Garoning, he showed his true murderous intent towards the Sword Saint standing behind him. Ignoring the fact that he invaded the palace and killed the court mage and even trespassed into the forbidden area of the Magic Tower, just the fact that he ambushed his daughter in the Hesse Manor was enough for Granzon to draw his sword and kill this guy on the spot.

"War King, calm down," Seno said faintly, "I am only responsible for protecting Young Master Garoning, and I have no ill intentions. Killing the court mage and attacking His Highness Tiran were all done on orders."

"—Moreover, with Your Majesty's ability, defeating me is indeed not difficult, but as for leaving me behind..."

Seno didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning behind his words was already clear. Granzon didn't deny this. When he was in the palace, he managed to fend off Seno with a sword strike because at that time he was holding Justice pushed to the sixth stage of the Sword of Growth, plus Seno was severely exhausted after a fierce battle. The actual gap between the two wasn't that big.

Of course, there were four legions stationed outside, and there were many skilled individuals among them. Guffett, the Grand Knight Commander of the Kingdom's Cross Knights, was also in the city. If they really fought, it might be possible to kill him, but the cost would not be small. Moreover, the other party came under the banner of negotiations; it would not be wise to directly attack without any dialogue.

"Delua, bring us some tea."

His Majesty the King sighed, gesturing to Delua, who stood by the door, and then adjusted his posture, sitting on the chair. "Now, you may start talking. What is the purpose of your arrival? What do you want to discuss?"