Chapter 1383 - 1299: Khazi’s Aggrieved Fury

Chapter 1383: Chapter 1299: Khazi’s Aggrieved Fury

"Falan Army has captured Tulip Castle?" Konyaz raised his head, revealing his crimson lips, "Heh, heh, who would fall for such a trap?"

Contrary to many humans’ expectations, vampires don’t simultaneously engage with the blood being drained and the person being drained.

This is quite normal; would a human nibble on the top of a baguette while stabbing the bottom?

Obviously not.

To vampires, humans are nothing more than bread.

So when Konyaz heard the news, he immediately tossed aside the woman dangling from his teeth.

Without bothering to wipe his hands, he quickly stepped to the map.

Tulip Castle is the trap he left for the Falan Army, mainly using the Servant Army to tempt enemy commanders into striking.

This tactic worked well before, but later, as it was overused, the Falan side wised up, and it became less effective.

So for Konyaz, it was merely a casual move.

He truly didn’t expect that the Falan Army would kiss up like a stray dog mistaking chocolate-shaped excrement for feces.

The most absurd part was that the Falan Army showed no coordination and just watched him venture alone.

"Are you sure the Falan Army hasn’t made any moves yet?"

"No, aside from some minor skirmishes, there’s no sign of any attacks." As the leader of the second diplomatic mission, Camilla couldn’t help but inquire, "Could it be a trap?"

Konyaz frowned, still pondering.

Is it a trap? He’s not certain.

If it were the Holy Alliance on the opposite side, he’d rather risk losing the opportunity for battle than voluntarily consume this pawn.

But now his enemy is the Falan.

According to intelligence, the Holy Alliance Army would reach Flower Hill by the end of April, at least ten days away.

This speed is already quite amazing; they couldn’t possibly arrive any sooner.

So was it just some hot-blooded General of Falan, unable to hold back at the moment?

Konyaz was unsure, and more suspicious that it was false information.

More and more battle reports and letters arrived, proving the truth of this matter, but he still held his troops.

If there was even a one in ten thousand chance that the Holy Alliance arrived early.

Then after heading south and devouring ten thousand men, he’d pay the price of two vampires, a bad deal.

Therefore, no matter how many vampire commanders came to persuade openly or covertly, he still used waiting for the right time to stall.

However, as the news gradually spread, a vampire inevitably found out.

This was Konyaz’s greatest fear.

"Konyaz." Serafe’s voice echoed in Konyaz’s mind, "The Holy Alliance is challenging, we should expand our advantage before the enemy arrives as much as possible."

"Your Majesty..."

"I’m just suggesting."

Following this, Konyaz could no longer receive any response from Serafe.

To be honest, in this aspect, he greatly envies Lakunio; at least his strategic freedom far surpasses his own.

At least he’s not about to have a vampire speaking in his mind randomly.

However, frankly speaking, Serafe wasn’t so prone to casually intervene in war very early on.

Since after passing winter, especially after Samuji’s death, for whatever reason, Serafe has been intervening in warfare more frequently through the sacred crown.

Sighing briefly, Konyaz had to stand up: "Call Camilla over."

......

The morning of the 20th of April bore no sunlight, and the lead-gray clouds pressed low on the castle’s spired rooftops.

This fortress named Tulip, was once known for its beautifully blooming tulip fields.

But now, those vibrant fields have indeed become an actual abode of carnage.

The stone bricks of the outer wall were blasted unevenly by artillery shells, with many areas collapsing partially, revealing the charred wooden beams inside.

Below the walls lay heaps of bodies, both human and vampire.

The moat was dyed red with blood, floating with dismembered limbs, occasionally a half-dead soldier still struggled in the water, but soon went silent.

"Fire! Fire another round!"

On top of the wall, Count Kazi roared, as the clockwork cannon beside him thundered once more.

Immediately, mud exploded among the Servant Army carrying ladders trying to besiege, scaring away countless people.

After repelling this wave of enemy troops with artillery fire, the enemy finally retreated like a tide.

The soldiers on the wall were all greatly relieved.

Count Kazi originally wanted to patrol to boost morale, but as soon as he stepped out, he couldn’t move.

He was simply too exhausted.

On the third day after they captured the fortress, the vampire’s servant army launched the first wave of attacks, which had been relentless ever since.

Bombardments, climbing assaults, siege engines, trenches, continuous and unending.

Just as he had predicted, once the castle was captured, it would surely be a dead end.

But there was no choice; orders were orders, and he had to steel himself to come.

What chilled his heart was that since he captured the fortress, not once had Falan issued a command for him to retreat.

Could it be that in the eyes of the royal family, he was nothing more than a pawn to be sacrificed? Did he not even deserve a comforting recall order?

Initially, Salanto had said it was a royal command, and he hadn’t believed it, but now he was starting to have doubts.

But what was even more peculiar was that although they were surrounded, the ones that came were mostly just the servant army.

Those powerful vampire regulars, such as the delegation of the Royal Palace Guard, had yet to appear.

After the fierce fighting, the anger of being used as a discarded pawn surged in his heart once again.

Count Kazi, having served in the army since his youth, fought across the south and north for Falan, shedding so much blood and sweat, had never once been lax.

But now, he had led two legions into perilous straits and was treated as a pawn in return.

Otherwise, what then? Did Falan have extra forces to attack the northern side? He was indeed a pawn.

This feeling was colder than facing the vampire attacks themselves.

He was still fighting now just to give an account to the late king and to himself.

Dragging his weary body, he had lost the interest in patrolling.

He only wanted to return to the temporary command post, have a drink of strong liquor, and dispel the cold and frustration within him.

Just as he was shakily walking to the edge of the steps, he suddenly heard a rapid clatter of hooves from outside the city.

He looked up sharply, seeing a messenger riding a swift horse, breaking through the sporadic hindrance from the servant army, heading straight for the city gate.

"Let me up!" the messenger shouted towards the tower.

The gate guards dared not delay and quickly lowered a basket.

The messenger rode in, abandoned the horse, and flipped into the basket.

Count Kazi’s eyes lit up, a trace of anticipation surging in his heart.

Could it be the royal family had changed their mind and sent reinforcements? Or was there a new order for them to retreat?

He walked briskly forward, his gaze fixed on the messenger being lifted onto the wall, his hands clenching unconsciously.

The basket slowly landed, and the messenger jumped down, pulling a sealed letter from his chest, handing it to Count Kazi: "My lord, this is a personal letter from His Majesty Charley!"

Count Kazi snatched the letter, eagerly tearing open the envelope.

He quickly skimmed the words on the letter, the anticipation and joy on his face gradually fading, replaced by disbelief, and then an uncontrollable rage.

The content of the letter was simple: "Tulip Castle is a strategic point that can restrain the enemy’s main forces; Count Kazi is ordered to hold it with all his might until reinforcements arrive."

Hold it to the death?!

Count Kazi felt a surge of blood rushing to his head, and he fiercely crumpled the letter into a ball, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it.

"Charley, that foolish king! He has brought me to this state!"

The messenger was startled by his outburst of rage, standing there dumbfounded and at a loss.

"Since I joined the army, I’ve fought in over a hundred battles for Falan, putting my life on the line, without a word of complaint!" Count Kazi’s voice was hoarse. "I’ve served and been loyal to my king’s cause, I have no regrets in my heart! Yet Charley treats such a loyal man as me like this!"

He abruptly turned, pointing at the messenger, his eyes bloodshot: "You go back and tell Charley, after this battle, should I return alive, I’d rather be stripped of my title than not complain at the tombstone of the late king!

I will beat it severely in front of the tombstone, letting the late king see how his good descendant treats a merited officer!"

The messenger was thoroughly stunned, opening his mouth, taking a while to react, he cautiously asked: "My lord, do you truly want me to say this?"

"I’ll take full responsibility for whatever happens!" Count Kazi’s chest heaved violently, roaring.

The messenger dared not speak again, simply lowered his head, noting down his words.

Looking at the messenger, Count Kazi’s inner anger gradually calmed, replaced by a sense of reckless disregard.

He leaned against the cold city wall, smiling self-deprecatingly.

After all, anyone who’s going to die, so what if he indulges in some verbal satisfaction?

He looked up towards the outside of the city; the servant army’s camp had regrouped, and it looked like another wave of attack was about to begin.

Count Kazi took a deep breath, straightened his spine, and tightly gripped the longsword in his hand once again.

Even if he was just a pawn, even if certain death awaited, he would fight until the very last moment.

At the very least, to show those vampires that the Falan are no cowards!