Ashen Dragon-Chapter 358 - 282: Conquer the North

Chapter 358: Chapter 282: Conquer the North

The main force of the Allied Forces had already been annihilated, and the majority of the Northern Countries’ active combat strength was nearly exhausted. What remained could only be considered a cleanup.

The noble lords of various cities fought desperately with their remaining private armies, but in the face of the Kingdom’s offensive, it was futile; they couldn’t even make a ripple.

Across the vast territories of the Northern United Kingdom, two large mixed army corps led respectively by Count Acker and Count Jin Ya charged through, launching lightning-fast offensives towards the east and west.

In less than two months, amid the whistling of artillery fire, the capitals of eight duchies, including the Carter Duchy, the Fano Duchy, the Otto Duchy, and the Sweny Duchy, fell one after another, and those military strongholds were absorbed into the Kingdom.

Immediately after, they used these cities as bases to launch attacks in various directions.

However, the Anzeta Great Wilderness was vast and sparsely populated, with numerous castles and manors belonging to knights and noble lords. Thus, even the Kingdom’s army couldn’t clear all of them in a short time.

...

Hence, Marshal Dolores chose to unleash the massive army of the “Starfallen,” allowing them to roam the Anzeta Great Wilderness and eliminate the remaining Northern noble forces.

[Main Quest: Conquer the North]

Quest Description: The Ashen Kingdom had wiped out most of the North’s forces, but remnants of the Northern nobility still remained scattered across this vast wilderness.

They continued to oppress the poor Anzeta people, perpetuating their millennia-old decaying rule. Therefore, loyal warriors of the Ashen Kingdom — eliminate them completely!

Note: Do not harm the commoners!

Quest Rewards: A large amount of Gold Coins, Faction Contribution, Prestige Points

Special Title [Conqueror of the North]

Contribution and Gold Coins needed no elaboration; [Prestige Points] were associated with the newly launched [Title of Nobility] system.

With an unprecedentedly flashy title that could turn their nickname purple, allowing them to boast in front of new players, how could one not be tempted?

Just these rewards alone were already quite generous.

Moreover, they had the chance to loot the noble vaults, presenting a golden opportunity to accumulate Gold Coins.

The quest description did not explicitly state, but they only said not to harm commoners, and did not say not to rob the nobles!

Thus, the players’ enthusiasm was ignited.

They shouted all kinds of bizarre slogans and swarmed into the North like a plague of locusts, starting a grand-scale operation.

“To become the best of the best!”

“Time to plunder!”

“Siege battle! Siege battle!”

…

Otto Duchy, Vichy City.

This city was one of the major cities in the Duchy, especially famous for producing exquisite and luxurious fabrics, once known as the “Cloth Capital of the North,” its textiles popular throughout the North.

However, after suffering the onslaught of the Ashen Kingdom’s products, all the artisans in the city went bankrupt, leading to a significant decline in the city’s prosperity.

And now, with the news of the Allied Forces’ defeat and the Ashen Kingdom’s invasion spreading throughout the city, the people were filled with anxiety.

“Oh my God… I heard Oxar City has fallen.”

“It’s more than that; our Duke has already been captured!”

“Do those Evil Dragon Kin eat people?”

“By the Gods, is this the end of the world?”

Such conversations were common in the dimly lit taverns.

Many city dwellers were feeling hopeless, believing the North’s fate was sealed and hoping to surrender for better treatment, at least to prevent those monsters from rampaging within the city.

The city’s craftsman, Old White, took a sip of wine and drunkenly said, “I say, we should just open the gates!”

“I’ve heard from friends in the merchant caravans… the Ashen Kingdom’s army doesn’t harm commoners, only captures those noble lords.”

“Is… is that true?”

Someone asked, trembling.

Old White, feigning mystery, leaned forward and whispered, “Absolutely true.”

But soon, he slumped back into his chair like a limp noodle, sighing, “It’s just a pity that those noble lords are unwilling to surrender, leaving us in fear for so long.”

“What… what are you doing?”

Suddenly, his voice turned panicked.

Several soldiers barged into the tavern, rudely lifting Old White and dragging him outside.

“Come with us. You are suspected of colluding with the enemy!”

The tavern fell into a silence.

After a long while, the tavern owner bitterly smiled and poured some crystal-clear wine into the cup on the table.

“Everyone, we should avoid discussing such things.”

“Enjoy the wine… while we are still alive.”

Someone raised their glass and said.

It was evident that this city’s ruler, Count Alcott Suhl, had no intention of surrendering. Even if he had any prior inclination, that was now entirely gone.

Because the news of that bloody “public trial” had spread throughout the North, making countless Northern nobles feel uneasy and frightened.

The Earl’s Mansion was brightly lit.

Count Alcott paced back and forth in the hall, hands behind his back, his expression exceptionally grim.

“Is there any news from the scouts?”

“Where are those Ashen Kingdom troops? How far are they from Vichy City?”

He impatiently asked a barrage of questions.

The Guard Captain, wearing plate armor, knelt before him, nervously reporting:

“No, there is no news, but it’s said that several cities have already fallen, including your brother Count Dunsell’s Burke Territory.”

“My lord, the Allied Forces have been completely defeated. The North’s fate is sealed. Should we also…”

“Smack!”

Count Alcott strode forward and viciously slapped the Guard Captain, spitting in rage:

“Do you think I don’t know? You don’t need to remind me!”

“It’s that damned evil dragon giving us no way out! Do you know how many nobles they killed at Stratholme Fortress? One hundred and twenty-one! Including Duke Leo’s eldest son!”

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“They even created something called a ‘public trial,’ allowing those wretched commoners to decide our fate. It’s a complete insult!”

Count Alcott paused his tirade, gritting his teeth, “They… they aim to completely uproot the Northern nobility!”

“Damn it! I’ve never seen such an evil giant dragon!”

“Other evil dragons at most plunder a bit and randomly kill hundreds, but this one… it incites commoners to kill nobles! It’s unheard of, even abyssal demons aren’t this evil!”

“Then… then, Lord Earl, what should we do?”

The Guard Captain knelt on the ground, covering his reddened face, trembling as he spoke.

“We will defend Vichy City. The city defenses are still good; they won’t break in easily. If the enemy does come attacking…”

“We will abandon the city and retreat.”

Count Alcott narrowed his eyes, standing there with his hands behind his back, almost spatting the words through his teeth.

“Alyosha, pack up my treasures.”