Heaped together, using the prepared dry pine needles to cover them.
At the back of this group of soldiers, beside a burning campfire.
Godfrey sat on a log, watching the soldiers changing into their armor.
The flickering flames cast an ominous glow on his face.
And behind him was the tent of Commander Lawrence Ducas!
After a low shout, the sound of clothes rustling came from within the tent.
A few minutes later.
Lawrence emerged from the tent, looking satisfied.
Seeing the soldiers almost done changing their armor, Lawrenceâs face was full of pride.
"The Duke of Red Dragon would never dream that the forces of the Ducas Clan would cross the border through the southern woods at the far end to infiltrate his territory!"
Upon hearing Lawrenceâs words, Godfrey quickly rose and made room for him.
Lawrence didnât even glance at Godfrey, continuing to speak.
"As long as we can enter the Duke of Red Dragonâs territory, our plan is half-successful!"
Godfrey poured a bowl of steaming wine for Lawrence and handed it to him.
Lawrence reached out, took it, and drank it all in one gulp.
As he swallowed, the warm wine chased away the chill in his body, filling him with warmth again.
Lawrence looked at Godfrey approvingly and curiously asked, "Godfrey, arenât you curious about what the plan is this time?"
Godfrey quickly lowered his head, "Master, with your plan in place, I only need to act according to your orders."
Lawrence nodded with satisfaction, "Godfrey, thatâs the spirit."
"Always remember, even though I was once your squire, now I am your master, and you are my trained hound!"
"Even if the masterâs words are wrong, as the hound, you must charge forward unhesitatingly!"
Godfreyâs head bowed even lower.
Only then did Lawrence continue, "Entering the Duke of Red Dragonâs territory is just the first step."
"Next, we will disguise ourselves as the Cangyu Army of Duke Cangyu and launch an attack!"
"Burn, kill, loot!"
Godfrey frowned slightly, unable to help but say, "Master, wouldnât this provoke war with the Duke of Red Dragon?"
The question arose.
Godfrey thought of an even more terrifying scenario!
Soldiers of the Sword and Shield Corps disguising as the Cangyu Army to attack would certainly ignite a war between the two already hostile Dukes.
If it were a small conflict, it might be bearable.
The Imperial Royal Familyâs power struggle is worsening, and the Imperial Authority war is only a matter of time.
If someone with ulterior motives seized upon the friction and tried to escalate the war...
Itâs quite possible that Lawrenceâs provocation in the Duke of Red Dragonâs territory could become the spark for the war over Imperial Authority.
Leading to an all-out war in the Karedi Empire!
At that moment.
Godfrey seemed to realize something, his eyes widened slightly.
No, Lawrence knows what the consequence would be!
He received directives from Marquis Mark Duca... or even from someone behind the scenes.
Heâs here to instigate war!
A nameless sense of tension and fear arose in Godfreyâs heart.
Not fear of war, but fear of the impact this war would bring...
Godfrey felt terrified.
The people suffering, widespread lamentation, even destruction of life!
Just as Godfrey anticipated.
Lawrenceâs mouth curled into a sneer, "Exactly, war!"
"My presence is to initiate the war between the two Dukes!"
"Only with the armament of soldiers from both Dukes can the war begin."
"Only then can the war for Imperial Authority commence!"
Lawrenceâs voice grew louder, his face more ferocious.
"Only then will the entire Karedi Empire plunge into disorderly chaos!"
"Only then will the Ducas Clan, forever beneath the Three Great Dukes, have a chance to surpass!"
"And only then will the power within the Empire be thoroughly reshuffled!"
Godfrey said nothing, standing by and listening.
After a loud outburst, Lawrenceâs pent-up frustrations seemed released.
His tone softened slightly.
Lawrence extended his right hand toward Godfrey, waiting for more wine.
"Godfrey, do you know why I gave up the succession battle for a title?"
Godfreyâs words hovered on his lips but were not spoken.
Lawrence continued, "Itâs because... of Markâs ambition!"
"His physical stamina canât compare to mine!"
"I can satisfy five or six women in one night."
"While he, with just one woman, turns weak-kneed."
"His intelligence is inferior to mine. What he can conceive, I can as well; what he canât conceive, I can too!"
"His courage is inferior to mine. He doesnât even dare face the quartered bodies, a coward!"
"That splattered blood is the bloom of life at its most radiant!"
"But... in terms of ambition, I can never surpass him in this lifetime!"
"Were it not for a heartfelt conversation, I would never believeâsomeone could be so daring!"
"Mark Ducas... ha-ha, he wants to commit patricide and regicide!"
Godfreyâs hand shook slightly with the wine jug, yet he said nothing and poured Lawrence more hot wine.
Lawrence picked it up and swallowed it in one gulp, emitting a satisfied smack.
"As long as this succeeds, the Ducas Clan will forever cease being merely Marquis Duca!"
"As long as this succeeds, the Ducas Clan will become the most dazzling existence on the Garonia Continent in recent centuries!"
"Therefore, Mark and I have named this planâScarlet Dawn!"
Godfreyâs breathing grew heavy.
He lowered his head, standing beside Lawrence, unable to refrain from asking, "Master, have you considered the price of entering the Duke of Red Dragonâs territory?"
Lawrenceâs mouth twisted, "Price?"
"Before agreeing to lead the Sword and Shield Corps soldiers to Morgan Town..."
"Iâve already prepared for death!"