Chapter 206: A Name They Still Feared

Over those fourteen days, Cassian recruited no more troops. Instead, he accumulated nearly twenty billion Battle Essence.

"The Final Stage opens at noon."

He considered Riftward’s strength.

"They should be able to hold until I get back."

His eyes gleamed.

"After all this time, the Lords of Tidecrown probably think I’ve run away. Those Black Banner bastards must be enjoying themselves. The Sunspire Federation and the Dawn Coast have probably gone over to their side by now, too."

Nessa would be furious.

The thought of her expression made him smile.

"Well, if I’m going to be late, I’ll make the return count. This time, I’ll crush them with strength they can’t match."

——

As noon approached, Tidecrown’s Province Channel filled with excited messages.

Most came from Black Banner Lords.

[I said a month ago that Cassian had run away. Those stubborn Crown fools still won’t admit it!]

[If you’re going to flee, flee. Hiding behind some story about a task is pathetic.]

[If he hadn’t fled, I’d kill him myself in this contest!]

[So would I!]

[Where’s that sharp-tongued Fenwick girl? Nothing to say now?]

[Once Lord Tervain becomes Governor, I’ll peel her skin off and keep her bones as trophies!]

[Three hours. That’s all we need to wipe out the Crown here!]

[Then we use Tidecrown to strike into their heartland!]

Nessa knew opening the Channel would make her angry. She kept doing it anyway.

She had answered a few of them, only for a flood of replies to make her the target of the whole crowd. At last, she gave up, muttering curses.

At Elara’s Domain, she complained in a small voice.

"They’re saying all that about Cassian, and none of you will help me..."

Her eyes were a little red.

Darian put an arm around her shoulders.

"They have more people and more mouths. Let them talk. The battle’s about to start. We’ll answer them there."

Elara sighed.

"Corin and Lydia contacted me again just now. Both asked about Cassian."

"It looks as though he’s really going to miss the contest," Seraphine said.

Nessa lifted her chin stubbornly.

"Even if he doesn’t come back, I’m betting on him to become Governor."

Elara almost laughed.

"He isn’t even on the candidate list. Why would you bet on him?"

"I don’t care. Ever since the first Hero Ranking, his name has always been in the wagers. Even if he isn’t a candidate this time, I’m not letting everyone forget him."

Elara looked at her for a moment. Then her expression softened.

"All right. Count me in."

After a brief silence, the others joined them.

Gareth laughed.

"You know, being reckless with Nessa feels rather good. I’ll put down a hundred thousand."

"A hundred thousand?" Darian shook his head. "We can do better for Cassian than that. A hundred million from me."

Before the wagers closed, Darian’s money pushed the total staked on Cassian into second place.

Galen Tervain remained first.

The Beacon League, Sunspire Federation, Dawn Coast Confederacy, and Northbear Union each held only one Marches. They had more people than the Crown now, but had given up competing for the Governorship themselves. They could only choose a side.

Unexpectedly, Darian’s hundred million threw the Black Banner into alarm.

[Who was that? Who just put a hundred million on Cassian?]

[I have a bad feeling about this.]

[So do I. That bastard always backs himself at the last moment!]

[What if he’s hiding somewhere, waiting to enter the Capital map and take the Commander’s office back?]

[Cassian is coming back!]

[Wasn’t Norell just saying he’d kill him himself?]

Galen watched his Lords panic and lost his temper.

[What are you afraid of? Even if he comes back, what can one man do?]

The Crown Lords reacted very differently.

[Does Cassian have a plan after all?]

[He must. Why else would he put a hundred million on himself?]

[Thank the Realm I didn’t relocate!]

In Riftward Marches, Lords were cheering for their leader. This sort of move felt wonderfully familiar.

Corin and the others sent excited private messages at once, asking what was happening.

"Yes... that’s right... ha, yes. Let’s all do our best."

After fending off Corin’s questions, Elara looked at the group with an odd expression.

Nessa burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.

"Look at them! Just seeing his name is enough to scare them senseless!"

The others exchanged delighted glances.

"They really think he’s coming back. Our people are full of confidence again. We stumbled into something good there. I should have put down a billion!"

Darian pinched Nessa’s cheek, smiling.

"Our lucky charm."

"Riftward has advantages no one else does," Seraphine said. "We may have fewer Lords, but we have plenty of strong ones. With our own strength added, we can fight this."

Heads nodded around the gathering.

Riftward Marches now had thirty-six thousand Lords. Fortune had helped a little under half reach Rank XII, and roughly half of those had qualified for the Final Stage.

The Swordheart instance kept supplying Rare troops, even Epic ones. Riftward’s Lords stood well above Tidecrown’s average.

Their spirits lifted, they returned to their Domains.

Half an hour later, the system’s voice sounded in the ears of every Tidecrown Lord.

[The Final Stage of Tidecrown Province’s Governorship Contest has begun.]

[Lords at Rank XII with more than 100 War Intent may participate.]

[10,000 eligible Lords will be chosen at random to relocate to the Provincial Capital.]

[Lords in the Capital map may select a candidate for Governor. Holding their position for the required intervals grants bonuses to that candidate.]

[Other eligible Lords may select a target to challenge. Each challenge costs 1 War Intent.]

[Deaths in battle are real.]

[War Intent Exchange unlocked.]

As the notices rang out, the selected Lords and their Domains vanished into the Capital map. A dozen or so golden pillars rose within Riftward Region.

Elara waited. She had not been chosen for the first group.

[Elara Vayne: Everyone. The war has begun.]

She posted the message in the Marches Channel, then opened the newly unlocked Capital map. It took her little time to select a powerful War Lord from Ashvale Marches.

"That one."