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It has reached the first day of the new year. There was a huge celebration among the city folk at the strike of that new dawn and the goodbyes of snow. Streets were lined with people gathering and making praise to their lord, drinking, eating, and a whole lot of other stuff it was quite fun 'looking.' Hierd didn't participate in a public viewing. But stood to watch from afar. He was busying himself with nothing in particular. For everyone was on leave that day. But just the day after that; it was time for Hierd to pay the soldiers their due one gold.
"L-lord. There are way too many soldiers, our gold supply is..." Adelheid was drenched in sweat. There was a mob of soldiers waiting at the manor's entrance, awaiting that gold coin.
"Lets not admire the small stack that 'trashury'," Hierd smiled. "Open the huge box at the back of the storage room, there's a whole bunch of gold coins inside, there should be enough for all of them."
Adelheid stood there suprised, he nodded then made his way out.
"I wish also to recruit more soldiers." Adelheid stopped. "Tell them the recruiting exams will begin once more. And will have once more, the same one gold coin per month."
"Yes, lord." He closed the door.
"Two hundred ninety soldiers." Hierd sat back on his chair. "Not enough. I need more, the navy needs atleast three hundred. The army more than that, maybe four hundred. The recruitment plan has to give me three hundred. If that fails, I think I'll have to execute a plan of mine."
-AFTERNOON OF THAT DAY-
Hierd sat in his office, waiting for Adelheid to come back from his business. He looked outside ominously spying from his office window at the soldiers downstairs whoms't were recieving their due paycheck. "One gold, will this strain the economy?" He scoffed. "Perhaps, the value of gold will plummet if I make it a gold a month. I will need to switch my method of paying them to something better for the economy."
There was a second line of people forming, mostly of men and quite suprisingly there were women mixed in with them. "Adelheid's recruiting worked wonders." He commented, looking at the quickly growing line.
-HOURS PASS-
Hierd was playing chess puzzles. He summoned a chess board and a book containing said chess puzzles. 'To cure the boredom' he thought, yet in reality it brought in anger. Chess was not his game, and remarkably, in those two-three hours? He did not know of the time progressing; he had solved only five puzzles that were labeled 'easy.'
"This shit isn't easy, this book..." He frowned.
*Knock Knock
He immidiately looked at the door. "Come in!"
It was Adelheid. He carried a pile of paper. He walked to Hierd, noticing the chess board he said; "You play chess my lord?"
"By heavens, no." He said with a grin.
"W-well." He placed the papers beside the chess board. "These are the recruits."
and gave him the pile. "These are the recruits, lord."
He looked at it for a split second before immidiately looking up and at Adelheid. "How much did we gain?" Hierd looked at Adelheid with a curious expression.
"Four hundred recruits." With a smile and said without hesitation.
"Thats great!" Hierd was overjoyed. He stood up from his seat; his face turning serious now.
"I want everyone at the barrack's war room."
( * )
Hierd placed his finger on a village on the war room's large table map. "Easel City."
Friedrick's heart dropped. "Lord, I doubt you really wish to invade the ci-"
"I wish to, I will do." Hierd stated. "And no other opinion shall prevail my choice." His gaze landed on the two majors, sweating.
"I prefer this city to be invaded than the other options." He continued. "The geography is, as I have heard, flat; the lord, though competent enough; shall not defeat us. And that it's located further south whilst the capital is further north ours. We will take the city by the next three days."
"Lord, three days of preparation?" Naturvege said, confused.
"Did I say preparation?" He smiled. "I said; that 'we will take the city by the next three days.' Maybe our invasion would even last two? One day? Two hours?" -Hierd chuckled- "But. I'm expecting a hundred soldiers to be ready to depart later this evening."
"What of training the recruits, lord?" Adelheid inquired, raising his hand.
"I will lead the army, I need just one hundred fifty soldiers, three lieutenants, and one major." His gaze fell onto Naturvege. "You will train the recruits like last time. You may apply the help of the one hundred fourty soldiers and Gelmund in your training. The guns needed will be stored in the basement, as always. And in my Absence, I wish for Adelheid to assume the role of the city's acting govenor, you." He looked at Adelheid. "Shall also lead the recruitment exam."
( * )
"My people, the soldiers." He stared off into the crowd of thousands, his excordium reached the voices of all, that serious face of his, had thrown fear into them. "This day will be the first day of a longer war."
They gasped, 'longer war?' They thought. After Auferstehen, they wish to declare war? Upon who? Of course they knew.
"The kingdom's influence has yet to breach us. And no aid has come from the north. The merchants have continued their journey to bring merchandise, food, for the city of Unchean and to my people. However, as things stand, our army remains at a standstill. Though I say that my army can indeed fight with the kingdom's army of thousands, I; like any leader, shall have doubts. The kingdom has yet to declare war onto us. May it be that my rule has yet to be found, or that they still do not understand it. Whatever it is that may be the case, I, your leader, your lord; shall make sure that in my war to the south, that no man shall come home with burnt houses."
He looked at the people, their eyes were afraid of that future foretold. War is something not favorable for the both of sides. Whether it be to gain land or to gain this and that, there comes the con, no, the multiple cons. What will the future be? He knew not, he knew only that there was this, the present, and the unpredictable future.
"Starting today evening." He paused. "One hundred fifty soldiers will be a part of the excursion. And to the applicants, you will come to the manor tommorow at morning for the examination. To my people; pray for us, pray for yourselves. For with my rule, shall we reach greater heights, more than what any could do, more than what any would have done. My people. Thank you."
A moment of applause and a heil. They shouted; "glory to the lord!" The chorus of men sang it so beautifully, and that gloom before had seemingly disappeared.
( * )
The deep drum of the engines roared the dirt ground. In that cold of the night, eight trucks, threading through the frigid air and still drying snow. Packed with a hundred-fifty soldiers, hundreds of munitions, some mortars, and an overbearing amount of rations. It was, to say the least, quite cramped.
"How much till Easel?" Hierd said to Friedrick looking at the map.
"I've observed we've passed this section of the river," He pointed the long winding river. "By this, and by the speed we're going at; we'll be there by a blink."
"Great."
Hierd, Friedrick and his squad were in the first truck of the linear formation as the road was quite narrow. The lieutenants were driving the trucks and some who learned how to drive were instructed to drive the other ones. The soldiers were nervous, it wasn't like Auferstehen where there were semi-mindless animals. It was actual intellegent humans. Whether or not they had guns, they still had arrows, blades, and to some; magic.
---
The trucks stopped. They shut off their lights.
"It's time." The company of soldiers moved quickly out of their trucks, their STG-44s aimed at the dark forest of the night.
Ahead, they went. Into the grass, the cold blades of grass.
Sneaking.
Hierd broke it off to three groups, fifty each. The red, blue, and his group; orange. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8AZFAjWhn
The red group was in charge of moving the truck carrying the ammunition. Applying the help of Matthaus, that marksman Hierd awarded the orange team was for recon and went ahead first. Blue was to be the main aggressor.
Approaching nearer and nearer to the end of the treeline, Hierd and his platoon stopped and proned on the dirt ground.
"Lord." Matthaus said, quietly. "Top of the gate, and some inside." He pointed through the gate.
"Nothing put spears and swords." Hierd said jokingly. "But lets not underestimate them quite yet." -He turned to Matthaus- "We want them to open the gate, so let the blue team have their go. Let them open the gate, then red team will charge their trucks, quite the easy enough picking. Now we wait."
In a couple minutes it seemed, Hierd could finally see blue approaching from the north. Their rifles trained to the gates. It was quite intimidating. And not even a second after, they shot to the sky. Alarmed, the guards made their way down, opened the gate. "Perfect." Hierd observed till every guard went out. And that was when blue team went hammers. In a matter of seconds, what looked to be twenty footmen were shot dead and dropped to the ground. They were nothing in the force of it all.
Before they could retreat. "Fire!" A bit overkill, the PTRS-41. Matthaus fired it, shot by shot. Penetrating skin, bone, and the brick wall behind their heads. Blue platoon went forward and into the gate. A couple more shots could be heard. Red team's trucks veared from the right of Hierd's team.
Hierd got out from the bushes. A truck stopped as Hierd was in vision. "Unload the mortars!"
---
"What is happening!?" Viscount Melfire threw his wine glass away from him.
"I-I do not know my lord. But we are being invaded by an unknown force."
"I want every knight out and moving!" He yelled. "I should not hear but a farce in a matter of blink!"
"M-my lord." He said nervously. "The invaders have thunder as their w-weapon."
"W-what dare you speak!?" Exclaimed, he threw himself up from his bed. "Thunder!? No man can use thunder!"
A knight blasted through the door. "My lord!" He kneeled. "We need to evacuate the civilians, and... Her majesty as quick as possible!"
"Go! Do that! We need as much men as can be to that gate! No-"
*BOOM!
The ground shook in it's ferocity. The city was surely awake, and the people were screaming. The viscount peered from his bedroom window. A hail of fire, smoke. "May God help us." He cried out a tear. "Our invaders are barbarians! They dare!?" He looked at the two knights quivering in fear. "Get out! And rid of your scabbards! I want only blades visible!"
"Y-yes my lord!" They stormed off.
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The knights had been pushed back far enough and to the other side of both bridges. It's gotten some bit of hard now. As the soldiers weren't just being bombarded with blade and spear. But with bows and a little bit of flame magic. At every minute, mortars were going off. And the formation of knights were getting less and less aggresive. He saw most retreating off into the houses. Hiding in the small craters that the mortars created. Poking their spears trying to create a blockage. But all was in vain in the salvo of bullets.
Piercing the thick wood like butter to hot knife. The sharp iron tips coming down then going down to the wooden bridge, or their own faces.
The red platoon got theirselves on the pickup, as they swiftly blasted through the barrage of what seemed like fifty or so knights with polearms and torches. Behind them, horses and all. Yet a short mortar bombardment, there were only horses fleeing, and people screaming.
"Strike with fear, yet be not monsters." Hierd said.
The order a top priority. To any who is injured, put them on a truck and have him treated. To the citizens, screaming or not. Child or elder. Put them in tents outside and have them be reasured. They were not understandable of Hierd's resolve. But looking at the soldiers fly-by. The guns they carried, the knights they killed so easily. It was stated, even in silence, that not one could argue against them.
"Report to me." Friedrick said to Jeane.
"Yes, sir."She fixed her posture. "The blue platoon have been pushing further and further in. Red platoon have broken through the enforcement at the bridge and are advancing."
"Good." He smiled.
Jeane took it that was her signal of dismissal and went her way. Under the grey clouds of the night, one could see the silhouete of the castle, it's many yellow lights illuminating the whole of the stones brick wall. The flag of the kingdom, flying from above one of the towers, it was quite majestic in it's own right.
Hierd and blue platoon moved in on the second land, the round of knights getting pushed further and further back all the way to the second bridge towards the mainland. Bullets were not running out, and the knight's side were getting bombarded with them non-stop. The knights hadn't even a time to think of a decent plan. But if push comes to shove, 'she' must be evacuated out of the city; said the Viscount.
He looked at the condition of his knights, horrified as he looked at each hole plastered into them. In swarm or in one fatal strike to the cranium. Their eyes were blank with pain, and their horrifying screams filled the air with uncertainty and grim future. How was he to compel these invaders out? They hadn't a good army enough to fight against them. Surrender? Ask for the help of the adventurers? Was that even possible? He didn't know, there was too much uncertainty, and little time to think of a plan of action.
"Your grace." He lowered his head. "I am afraid we will have to abandon the castle and head to sea."
"Viscount, Melfire." Said the small girl. "I assure you, that these invaders will not harm me in any so what way."
"Your grace!" He blurted. "Your life remains of top most importance, you need to board the ship. Your father, the king. Shall worry much, without you in his presence."
"Viscount, Melfire." He went closer to him. "Do not wisk my absolve away. I do not wish to perish, but our invaders, think of them. An unknown force, I have watched from the tower above; they have taken in quick succesion the lands. They leave these unknown injuries to our men. They use strange machines of unknown detail, I have even seen their use of a movable box of iron. Have you not one thought that they too have contingency when it comes to our leaving by sea? Please, Viscount. Accept that loss of yours, I wish to stay not for you, but for my kingdom, for my people." She stared darts into him. He; nervous, sweating was forced into a position no man wishes to find themselves in. But, looking at the fierce looking girl whoms't eyes screamed resolve and determination. He cannot deny her request.
"I-I, Viscount, Melfire." He took in a bow. "Shall assist your grace under the invasion. I shall make sure your health is of upmost importance, this I tell under the name of my family, Melfire." He stood up back, staring at her.
"Let us surrender."
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The red platoon had broken apart the knights guarding that bridge in but a flash. Ramming their trucks forward, arresting any and all civilians who were there. Going further in, they braced their trucks into the farmland and centered in towards the giant castle. The knights, in their last attempt, where trying to hold back the offenders. Shooting with bows, their arrows piercing some unfortunate bunch of soldiers, but this only enraged the second lieutenants. Replying with grenades from the north, and mortars from the west. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HUt11r255
It was over. For the formation did not hold any longer. The last of the knights were bunching up at the castle's entrance. The soldiers closed in on the castle. Hierd, watching from his seat in one of the trucks in red platoon, saw it much a massacre, the mass of bodies looked to have been nothing but ash and the remnants of a body no longer.
"STOP!" A girl lunged herself from in the castle out.
"Who's her?" Hierd questioned to Friedrick, riding the truck.
"B-by God's mercy..." He stumbled in his words, looking at the girl, his heart had dropped, and sweat poured down. "S-she is, my lord... She is th-"
"The princess, Marrise Des Kraton; of Krimvald asks you!" She pleaded. "To stop! As we surrender to you!" She lowered herself to the ground, showing no worry of her royal status. The knights around her looked at her with disbelief and teary-eyed eyes. 'The princess does this for us?' One thought.
"What an opportunity, by God's graces, thank Him." Hierd exited his truck. For each step, an elevated aura grew around him, and seemingly forced to, all who were there, looked at him, the blonde haired and muscular man. With five stern faced, black-suit wearing men behind him.
"He must be the general." She looked at him with quivering eyes and terrified mind. She stood back up and faced him. "Your grace, I humbled to meet you." She did a nervousy curtsy.
"As I am to you, princess of Krimvald." He did not bow, the knights behind her took this a sign of disrespect. "I am the leader of Germany. It's founder, it's lord, it's force and intellect. I have come to plunder this city, not for resource, but for an army of men. I have not come to massacre innocent men and women. We have detained the civilians and put them in our carriages and tents. Fed them and reasured them. To the knights we have killed, I give my apology. But for this is war, apologies are not heard from, but are observed upon."
"H-he's the leader of a country!?" She was most intrigued by this fact. "But he also is rather merciful, if one could say it be."
"My lord, what do you mean 'they are observed upon'?"
"I will reform this city to my ideal as too have I done to Unchean." He said with a stern face. "And not one man shall be mistreated whilst in my rule. I wish for the masses to know this, Easel's prevailing figures will, by today be going to Unchean. So do will you, princess of Krimvald. And this city will be taken care of and be fed, given nessecities, whilst I gather my troops from your people."
The knights lowered their weapons, put them to the ground. They clasped open their helmets; the twang of metal hitting the ground.
"My lieutenants and major will be in charge of the knights, they will be imprisoned until further questioning shall grant them free." Hierd looked at them frown. "B-but, whilst imprisoned, they will be able to meet their loved ones as they please." Their faces lightened up.
"Th-thank you, your grace." She bowed low to the ground once more.
( * )
The castle was over-run with Hierd's soldiers. The two gates were now controlled by the soldiers, making sure not one man will leave. To the ones who had lost their loved ones during the short battle, Hierd gave them food, water, and money. Though he knew this wont be enough, so he ordered to his lieutenants to have the bodies lined up, have them indentified, and give them a semi-burial.
And soon after, the light of dawn was seen from the east. The brilliance overbearing yet wonderful and beautiful. Hierd had not a wink of sleep, evident by his two big eye bags. He hadn't anything of importance really to do. His presence was importance enough. He was in a guest room, it was full of soldiers. When then...
*KNOCK KNOCK
One of his soldiers opened the door.
It was princess Marrise, she did a little curtsy before entering the room. It seemed Viscount Melfire followed with, bowing before entering as well.
"What is it that you wish, princess?" Hierd inquired, she slowly making her way to him.
She kneeled to the ground, Melfire doing the same. "Your grace, you wished for an army. Correct?"
"Yes, I d-"
"Well, your grace, let I prepare them for you."
"That would certainly make my time easier, princess." Hierd said. "You may go."
"Your grace." She stood up. "It is Melfire who will do that. I however, wish to accompany you and observe your most terrific technologies."
Hierd stood up and walked over to her. "If that is what the royalty wishes." He smiled.
---
"What is that moving hunk of iron, your grace?"
"A truck." Hierd smiled.
She made an agreeing sound. Hierd and her were walking the streets of Easel. A semi-quaint and semi-luxurious city The buildings were as towerous as Unchean's two-storey tall houses. His soldiers were following back, making sure that no assailant will get the better hand.
She stopped, turned to him. "Your grace, these technological advancements of warfare. The intellect of your country, your already done damage. W-will you invade the kingdom of krimvald? Or..." She gulped. "Every kingdom?"
Hierd looked at her with a serious face. "I by no doubt will invade the kingdom of krimvald. But every kingdom? Isn't it quite far-fetched, princess? I for one think that one kingdom will do good enough. Controlling an army, the people, and much more, is not that easy, it is; hard."
"W-why us?" She had a pleading face.
"I do not like your king, your ruling." He said blankly. "Monarchy is a stupid idealogy."
"You wish for dictatorship." She said, a bit fierce; her expression.
"Yes." Hierd smiled.
They continued walking as if nothing happened.
The princess looked at the carnage brought down upon by Hierd's soldiers. Craters, many were they. Though the bodies of the fallen knights have been picked up and given proper burial, the loved ones were on those craters, sitting on them and planting candles and flowers. The children, adults, looked at Hierd with fear and anger. And when Hierd came to view, they simply scattered.
"Am I really that terrifying to the eyes?" He commented to the air.
"Y-yes, your grace."
"I see."
"These mortars, you call them." She said looking at the crater. "They are disasterous, even a royal formation could fall in seconds with the firing of a single shell."
"Yes, yes they are. But they are not the only things that are disasterous and cause many a death in my arsenal. In fact, these mortars? They do not even scratch the magnitude of destruction I would hope to achieve."
"'Hope to achieve'?" She questioned to him. "What do you mean by this, your grace?"
Her eyes were terrified in the idea that there were more destructive forces of nature hidden away in the man's ocean eyes. What was he to use the for? She questioned to himself. To destroy each and every man in the kingdom? To eliminate the whole of the royalty in one blow?
He took a long time before coming to an answer. "When someone with power is threatened with greater power. They hope to achieve his level of power as well. When I completely invade and occupy all of Krimvald. Do you not think that his neighbors will feel threatened? They will form alliances, ensuring that when we think of invading them, they will attack will all their power. And all sorts of madness insues. So I wish to end it with one single blow."
"A single blow, your grace?"
"Yes." He smiled. "A blow capable to end all of humanity if used incorrectly. It can destroy countries, generations of families, animals, plants. History."
She morosed in the idea. "Surely you will not use that for your war with the kingdom of Krimvald?"
"No."
And they continued walking.
---
"My grace," Melfire bowed down to him. "Your forces."
Behind him, Hierd saw the large number of people. They had capable eyes. Yet even he couldn't know if they were for revenge or for his rule.
"How many are they?" He walked up nearer to Melfire.
"They are fivehundred troops. Some are knights and some are volunteer civilians."
"What a great number." Hierd thought, smiling. "I can use them for the navy, the army, and maybe even an airforce! Oh but that's just a dream."
He made his way to the front of the company. "Listen up, men!" He yelled. "Under my rule, you will recieve as much as ten silver coins every month! I do not expect you all to be lousy idiots! You will train by day and by night. By dirt and by sea. You will use all sorts of armaments. Guns, trucks, mortars, grenades! I do not want even a single death, a single injury! Nigh a single one called sick!"
"Yes, your grace!" They shouted loudly.
"Good. Good."
A truck pulled up behind Hierd. Major Friedrick drove it. And behind the truck, was an assortment of wooden crates. One of his soldiers picked one of them up and dropped it beside Hierd. "Inside are your uniforms. You will wear them and then after, you will be given your sabres. After that? You will march from Easel all the way to Unchean, all the way to a village named Venit Ille." He smiled.
The recruits sighed in exhaustion just thinking about the journey.
"Are you all telling me you can't do it!?" He exclaimed. "I do not want lousyness! If even one falls, that one man will face repurcussions. Thrown to the brig, and given only pig's food!" He strode his way to a recruit. "Tell me! Do you want that!? Do you want to be thrown to a brig!? Given pig's food!?"
"N-no, your grace!" He said nervously. "N-no I do not want to!"
Hierd backed away. He signalled for his soldiers to get the boxes.
( * )
Hierd drove on his truck. His soldiers behind. And behind his truck, a march of soldiers. With heave and ho, one could see their sweat dropping onto their uniforms, stepping on almost dried-up snow. The march of five-hundred soldiers made the ground rumble. For each step, the trees shuddered and the sky cried.
Yet for every step, Hierd's strength grew. World domination never seemed so in his grasp;
He smiled.
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