The First Vampire

Chapter 625: 623 Crisis_1
 

Storm Fortress.

The sky was overcast on this sunless morning as if it was about to rain.

The densely humid low-pressure front made it hard to breathe, not to mention how the fortress was packed past capacity with over four hundred thousand Imperial troops and numerous refugees continuously flooding in from the Westland.

This majestic fortress, standing on the western border of the Crimson Flame Region, had almost become a can of sardines on the brink of bursting.

Anxieties are bred from irritation, anger, fear, and despair which are wailing all throughout the fortress, generating an endless sea of public disorder.

Even with an army of several hundred thousand amassed within the city, it was quite an achievement for this spirit-depressed army who’d just suffered a crushing defeat to stave off a mutiny, let alone control the refugees and maintain order.

Standing atop the city tower, Knight Nimitz, the fortress’s commander, surveyed the refugees still pouring into the fortress from below, uneasiness growing within him.

He was acutely aware that if these refugees were allowed to continue flooding in unabated, it would only be a matter of time before Storm Fortress descended into chaos.

Although Storm Fortress stored sufficient food reserves as it served as the Crimson Flame Territory’s crucial western gate, such a colossal influx of populations was something even it could not withstand.

What made Knight Nimitz the most anxious, however, was the fact that, despite his repeated attempts to seek an audience with his Majesty, he kept getting no response.

As the commander of the fortress, Knight Nimitz was essentially half a lord, but now with all the high nobles of the Glorious Empire gathered within the fortress, Nimitz instead became an inconsequential figure. Despite having a belly full of suggestions, there was no one willing to listen…

The sound of footsteps disrupted Knight Nimitz’s contemplation. Turning around, he saw a stern-looking middle-aged man approaching him.

“Duke, sir!” Knight Nimitz quickly bowed in tribute.

A fervent hope welled up within his heart.

The man was none other than the Lord of the South Border, Duke St. Rands, a real bigwig in the Glorious Empire.

Knight Nimitz knew that only through Duke St. Rands could his suggestions reach his Majesty’s ears.

“Knight Nimitz,” Duke St. Rands greeted with a warm smile, “The public order inside the fortress has gotten increasingly chaotic of late, isn’t it about time you adopted more hardline measures to keep these troublemakers in check?”.

Knight Nimitz responded with a bitter smile, saying:

“Duke, sir, it’s not that I wouldn’t want to but that I dare not.

These refugees are already extremely unstable. If hardline measures were implemented, I fear it would only trigger a larger uprising.”

Seeing a frown form on Duke St. Rands’s face, Nimitz hurriedly tried to reassure him:

“Duke sir, in my opinion, the best course of action is to drive these refugees out and scatter them across the Crimson Flame Territory. This way, the security burden within the fortress will greatly ease.

The army can then focus on preparing for the imminent war.”

Duke St. Rands subtly nodded his head as if considering the suggestion.

But Scholar Yerug, at his side, abruptly interjected:

“Knight Nimitz, have you pondered the consequences of forcibly expelling the refugees against their wishes?”

Knight Nimitz did not recognize Scholar Yerug, and seeing no family crests on the man’s attire, he knew that Scholar Yerug was likely a commoner.

However, he dared not underestimate a commoner that stood beside Duke St. Rands, so he could only patiently inquire:

“Scholar sir, why would the refugees refuse to leave?”

Scholar Yerug explained:

“Sometimes refugees are foolish, and sometimes they are clever.

They don’t grasp the overall situation and certainly lack military knowledge, but they do understand a simple truth – in times of crisis, they must stick closely to the footsteps of the powerful.

Here in Storm Fortress, there are his Majesty, a host of Imperial lords, and a four hundred thousand strong army. This arrangement can provide these refugees, who’ve just fled from hell, a sense of security.

You see, the city gate leading to the Crimson Flame Territory remains open, but in all this time, how many refugees have left voluntarily?

Even though the fortress is overcrowded and security is a growing concern, they still refuse to leave.

The mental state of refugees at this time is extremely fragile. Most people simply do not dare venture out into the Crimson Flame Territory to face an uncertain future. They can only hope and pray that the Imperial Army can defeat the Orcs, enabling them to return home.

If we really force them out, I’m afraid the consequences…”

Knight Nimitz countered somewhat stubbornly:

“I think we can disseminate information about the impending arrival of the Orc Army to the refugees, letting them know that Storm Fortress is not safe. Furthermore, we can inform them that our food reserves in the fortress are not enough to sustain the consumption of so many people …”

“Enough, Knight Nimitz,” cut off Duke St. Rands decisively, “I’m clear on your ideas and will report them truthfully to his Majesty, for his decision.”

Having said that, he turned and walked away.

Clearly, Duke St. Rands had realized that Knight Nimitz was not the astute thinker he needed him to be. He had overestimated the refugees’ rationality and underestimated the vile side of human nature.

Instantly, the duke lost all interest in continuing the conversation with him. As he descended the city tower steps, Duke St. Rands asked Scholar Yerug:

“If we can’t drive them out by force, do you have any way to make the refugees leave Storm Fortress willingly?”

Scholar Yerug, who seemed ready for this question, immediately nodded and replied:

“Yes, and it’s simple. All we need to do is spread the word that the army will soon be leaving Storm Fortress.

In that case, we won’t need to expel them by force; the refugees will bolt east on their own.”

Duke St. Rands gave Scholar Yerug a deep look, then laughed, saying:

“Do you still think holding onto Storm Fortress is not a good idea?”

Scholar Yerug nodded and stated candidly:

“Correct. The Orc Army is not your conventional type of an army, if we still stick to the traditional strategies, I’m afraid the Empire will suffer a far more astounding defeat.”

Duke St. Rands sighed and said:

“You agree with Marquis Garcia’s strategy then?”

Scholar Yerug shook his head, saying, “I’m not sure what exactly Marquis Garcia’s strategy is, but from the Northern Army’s deployment in Luwal Valley, I deduce that should be Marquis Garcia’s chosen battlefield… leaving aside whether that’s appropriate, at least it’s in the path of the Orc Army, as opposed to Storm Fortress, which the Orcs could simply bypass….”

Duke St. Rands contemplated momentarily, then responded with defeat:

“Unfortunately, his Majesty is very unlikely to approve Garcia’s strategy.”

Scholar Yerug, however, already had his plan in place, responding with a measured smile, saying:

“It depends on how we persuade him and how the situation inside of Storm Fortress evolves…”