Chapter 549: Black Flags and Golden Emblems ( 549 )
Raikus stood silently, arms crossed again as the dust settled. The summoned puppet army was still and quiet, but his mind raced.
He had seen the reports before.
Armand Regionâtotal military strength: 90,000.
A modest number for such a powerful domain.
But what truly shook him was the quality.
Full mithril armor.
Enchanted weapons.
Magic-linked communication gear.
Not just for the elitesâthese were for ordinary soldiers.
And now⊠this young boy, Javier, who wasnât even their ruler, had just summoned 20,000 puppet knights, some even wearing adamantite armor.
Was Armand really that wealthy?
No famine.
No beggars.
No homeless.
Even the smallest town within their borders was paved, clean, guarded by elite soldiers.
Every citizen was housed, fed, and kept safe.
Raikus exhaled slowly, trying to absorb it all.
ââŠIt doesnât make sense.â
He had served in the Beastkin Army for decades. He had seen war, politics, corruption, greed. Kingdoms that poured all their wealth into armies while their people suffered.
But Armand?
It had everything.
And behind it all, he knew, was the man pulling the stringsâCount Garius De Armand.
The true ruler of the region.
The man known across borders not just as a noble, but as a trusted ally of kings.
King Lioness of the Beastkin Kingdom.
King Veldrac of the Demon Kingdom.
Queen Mylezra of the Elven Kingdom.
Raikus had witnessed all of them show Garius respect.
Even Edmund, Gumarak, and Gurdanânow Celestialsâhad once called Garius their closest friend.
They had fought side-by-side to seal the chaos that now tore the world apart.
Raikus clenched his jaw.
ââŠWhat a bitter betrayal that must have been.â
He looked again at Javierâs silent puppet army.
And in that moment, he realized the truth.
This wasnât just a rich land.
It was a fortress, built and protected by a man who once trusted too muchâand vowed never to leave his people vulnerable again.
Raikus narrowed his eyes as the young figure rode ahead of the silent army.
Javier De Armand.
Tall, handsome, and calm beyond his years.
But he was only thirteen.
Raikus knew that both Princess Mimi and Felicia, the royal princesses, had shown interest in this human noble.
At first, he thought it was just youthful flirtation.
A passing phase.
But after observing Javier more closelyâŠ
This boy was different.
ââŠWhat is your real mission, Lord Javier?â Raikus murmured to himself, his tail flicking behind him.
Was it conquest?
Was he planning to expand Armandâs influence and secretly take over the dwarven territory?
NoâŠ
He didnât act like a conqueror.
He left behind suppliesâfood, medicine. Hope.
Could it be diplomacy? To end the war between the Human Kingdom and the Dwarves? Or between the Dwarven Kingdom and the Halfling Kingdom?
But againâJavier didnât speak of treaties or alliances.
He moved like a lone thread threading through a complex tapestryânot pulling at it, but quietly mending.
Raikus lowered his head slightly.
ââŠOr is it something else?â
Could Javier be chasing something even deeper? A hidden goal?
Something beyond borders, wars, or politics?
Raikus couldnât tell.
But as the dust settled behind Javierâs mounted figure, one thought grew louder than the rest.
Whatever it was, Javierâs purpose was more than simple conquest.
Slowly, with clenched fists at his side, Raikus reflected.
This boyâthis Javier De Armandâand the household he representedâŠ
They werenât enemies.
They werenât invaders.
They werenât conquerors.
They felt like something entirely differentâŠ
More likeâŠ
An alliance.
Meanwhile, in the Halfling KingdomâŠ
âWHAT!?â
King Gurdanâs roar shook the war room, his heavy fist slamming down on the polished stone table so hard that it nearly cracked the edge.
âA new army!? Conquering Gilikan Town!?â
He rose from his throne, eyes wide and furious. His thick halfling beard trembled with every word.
âThereâs a new banner raised over our border town!?â he barked.
âY-yes, Your Majesty,â one of the generals stammered. âOur scouts returned last week. They confirmed itâa black flag with a golden emblem. Completely unknown.â
Gurdanâs eyes narrowed sharply.
âUnknownâŠ?â
He turned to his council.
âWhat happened to our soldiers stationed there?! Gilikan was supposed to be under our control!â
No one answered.
Another general stepped forward, his face pale.
âW-weâre not sure, my lord. We sent messengers after their reports stopped, but none returned. Weâve lost all contact.â
Gurdan slammed his palm on the table again, teeth clenched in frustration.
âThere was no siege. No warning. Just silenceâthen this!?â
His gaze darted back to the map.
Gilikan Town had been a key outpostâan important foothold near the dwarven lands.
And now?
It was gone.
Taken by an army that flew a flag no kingdom recognized.
No one knew their name.
No one knew their leader.
No one even saw the actual battle.
They simply raised a black banner with a golden emblem and erased the outpost from the map.
Gurdanâs hands trembledânot out of fear, but from the raging voice inside his head.
âYou shouldâve devoured him alreadyâŠâ
That voice.
That monstrous presence.
âWeâre wasting time, Gurdan⊠The others will get to him before you doâŠâ
His eyes twitched.
He clenched his fists tighter.
Town after town had fallen to their forces. The dwarven defenses crumbled under pressure. But nowâonly three strongholds remained.
He wanted to push forward. To conquer. To finish the destruction heâd started.
But not recklessly.
And yetâŠ
âYouâre delaying,â the voice hissed. âYou hesitate. And while you sit in that chair barking orders, someone else is moving.â
A new army. Unknown.
A black flag with a golden emblem now flew over Gilikan.
And no one knew who they were.
âWhat if theyâre after him, too?â the voice growled. âGumarakâs body. His core. His power. You should be the one to devour it!â
Gurdan grit his teeth, his head pounding.
He wanted to act.
He truly did.
But the weight of his kingdom, the losses, the resistanceâit wasnât like fighting small towns anymore. This was a fortress war.
Still, the voice inside refused to be silenced.
âDevour. Conquer. Rise. Before someone else does.â
Gurdanâs nails dug into the wood of his throne.
He didnât say a word.
But deep downâ
He understood the voice was right.
Time was running out.
And Gumarak wouldnât wait forever.
( End Of Chapter )
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