Chapter 232: Reinforcements from Every Direction

"A Commander from Hidden Dragon Province contacted me privately," Mira reported. "His force will be here within half an hour."

She glanced at another message.

"And a hundred and eighty-seven Daoist Lords from Dragon Tiger Province have already arrived. That was fast!"

Seraphine laughed.

"My friends in Westreach just contacted me. We grew up together. They’re strong."

"The women from my family are already in place," Nessa said proudly. "They’re waiting in my Domain."

To Cassian’s surprise, a message from Orion Valcrest appeared too.

[Orion Valcrest: Cassian, I’d like to lend a hand. Could you open a Gate?]

As the reports kept coming, the friends exchanged excited looks.

"We weren’t afraid of the Black Banner," Lyra declared. "But having the whole Crown stand with us... this feels wonderful!"

Even Cassian drew a deep breath.

He had only intended to win the argument in public. Instead, Lords from dozens of Crown Provinces were coming to help.

"Mira. Keep a record of any losses our reinforcements suffer. We’ll need it afterward."

"I’ll pay their compensation," Darian said generously.

For once, Cassian was just as open-handed.

"We’ll share the cost."

Darian looked delighted. He gave Cassian a light punch in the chest.

"That’s my brother."

Mira soon had a total. Forty-three thousand Lords from other Provinces had come to reinforce them.

Cassian had expected Edran to send another powerful force down. With an operation this large, surely he would at least guarantee Darian’s safety.

No new House Frost Lords arrived. Instead, the reinforcements from the older sectors belonged to the military.

Colonel Mercer introduced a capable-looking woman.

"Cassian, this is Major Brienne Wren, one of Marshal Grey’s trusted officers. She’s brought three hundred military Lords down from the war sector to support Divine Province."

"Three hundred?"

Cassian looked at the disciplined ranks behind her, surprised.

"Thank you for coming, senior. But won’t the Jade Court hold the military responsible for a descent this large?"

Brienne Wren smiled.

"I started in Sector 650 and only transferred to the war sector five years ago. You don’t need to call me senior. As for the Jade Court, we’ve already declared that we no longer serve it."

Cassian understood.

To move from Sector 650 into Sector 632 and quickly earn an important position there, she must have been an extraordinary talent herself.

Still, something puzzled him.

The previous descent had caught House Frost off guard. This time, Edran had plenty of warning. Even if he wanted to keep Darian’s identity secret, he would not simply ignore the danger.

Yet the force that arrived came from the military. And Brienne Wren bore the surname Bai.

Was there a connection between House Frost and Marshal Grey?

Very possible. It would let Edran protect Darian while avoiding another wave of questions about his background.

——

Third Realm. Highcrest.

"The young man has done well. He even knows how to use public opinion."

Edran Frost lowered the latest report.

"A spark in Divine Province may yet set the whole field ablaze."

He had already sent Merrick out. Two imposing projections occupied the air of the hall. Light shrouded one of them, though it did little to hide his long, narrow face.

House Valcrest’s founder.

"You chose a promising young man," he said. "He created an Epic troop line almost as soon as he entered the Realm. The reports suggest courage and good judgment too. He’s even won over several of my family’s young talents."

Then he smiled.

"That Darian of yours seems very capable as well. How about a marriage alliance between our families?"

As if Edran would let him arrange his son’s marriage that easily.

"Our descendants can find their own happiness," he said pleasantly. "I’ve saved a jar of Enlightenment Tea. If you ever decide to ascend again, I’ll invite you to share it."

"After what happened to the Aurelian Dominion and the Jade Court? I wouldn’t dare."

The Valcrest founder shook his head.

"The Jade Court was brutal when it first established its rule, but it could still defend its borders and keep order. Its old rulers ascended one after another, and every generation that followed was worse. Now that little bitch Celestine holds power."

His expression darkened.

"If I leave, who knows what my brats might do to everything I’ve built?"

"There’s only so long anyone can wait," Edran said. "In the Seventh Realm, the Level limit is two hundred. Those who refuse to ascend will eventually reach the end of their lives."

The other man knew that well enough.

"If my eldest were still here, I could leave without worry. But... enough of that."

"I’ve asked the Netherfolk to keep looking," Edran said gently. "They may still find his reincarnation."

"After all these years, I’ve stopped hoping. A dead Lord is far more likely to become a Hero Spirit and be summoned. Reincarnation is hardly easy."

The second projection spoke, changing the subject. This was the Sovereign of the Caerwyn Dominion.

"White Lotus. Harmony. Peace. Haven. We’ve quietly supported one attempt after another, and every one has failed. The Jade Court has begun to notice."

He turned toward Edran.

"Your new candidate rose on the Crown’s frontier, fighting the Black Banner. His reputation protects him. The place, the timing, the support of the people—he has every advantage. This time, we must remain discreet. Build enough strength before raising the banner."

Edran and the Valcrest founder nodded.

"Don’t worry," Edran said with a chuckle. "Only a few hundred Lords from the military forces I quietly control have descended. And they’ve gone in their own names."

He sounded quite satisfied.

"From what I know of Divine Province, that should be just enough for them to defend themselves. At most, they’ll use their home advantage to repel the invasion. Those youngsters are so full of confidence. They actually think their strength is enough to stand against more than a thousand veterans with over thirty years of development."

"Good," the Caerwyn Sovereign said. "Let them fight the Black Banner for a few years. Give the Jade Court time to lower its guard."

"Just don’t sweep the enemy away as you did last time," the Valcrest founder added. "That drew far too much attention."

Edran felt rather aggrieved. The Lords he had sent last time had barely contributed before the war was over.

Who could have expected Cassian to have Extreme troops, and a way to bring his dead fighters back?

The two projections faded. Edran sighed.

"Still, strong as he is, he’s not ready for so many war-sector Lords. He shouldn’t be able to cause much of a stir this time."

——

Half a day passed. At last, the vast Black Banner army reached the border of Riftward Marches.

Galen gazed ahead with mixed feelings.

Last time, more than a hundred veterans and a hundred thousand newcomer War Lords had died here.

This time was different.

More than a thousand Lords from a war sector. Their fighting strength had increased by far more than tenfold.

This would be the true deciding battle for Tidecrown.

Galen bowed slightly.

"Lord Noll. Riftward Marches."

Hadrian nodded. As he studied the territory, his expression grew solemn. A trace of greed entered his eyes, as though some special sense had shown him something the others could not see.

"A place where great Lords will rise."

He turned to the young leaders.

"Develop it well once it’s ours. Let Riftward become a cradle for Black Banner strength, supplying new blood to the war sectors and the upper Realms."

Without waiting for an answer, he took out a golden scroll.

"Seal!"