Rebellion

After more than a year of construction and improvement, the base is now basically on track.

Most of the miscellaneous tasks no longer require Su Nan’s attention, as there are clay golems and three apprentices responsible for them.

Apart from occasionally checking on the state of the magic plant garden, Su Nan focuses more of his energy on meditation, crafting magical weapons, and making potions.

His mental strength and skill proficiency are both steadily increasing.

He thought this situation would continue until he advanced to a third-level wizard apprentice, but what happened next shattered Su Nan’s peaceful life.

Starlight Calendar 1251, Month of Flowing Fire.

The duchy’s reinforcement stationed in the Frostveil Prefecture was ambushed by infected from multiple directions during their campaign against the City of Silver Ridge, suffering heavy losses with less than one in ten survivors.

The disaster in Frostveil Prefecture completely deteriorated, and the infected army immediately began to spread to neighboring prefectures.

The borders of Red Leaf Prefecture, White Tower Prefecture, and Lake Land Prefecture were successively attacked by the infected army, putting them in a precarious situation.

Three marquises rapidly mobilized heavy forces to station at the borders, resisting the invasion of the infected.

For a time, the entire southwest direction of the duchy was enveloped in the flames of war.

Council Hall.

Su Nan finished browsing the war report in his hand, frowning slightly.

“The disaster is spreading too quickly, and the military suppression has failed unusually several times.”

“As expected, you think so too,” Kyi handed over a letter. “This is a letter sent by President Mu Zuo. Take a look.”

Su Nan took the envelope, opened it, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

The content of the letter was concise, briefly stating that Mu Zuo had sent his bodyguard, the beastman Otā, to investigate the beast transformation outbreak in Frostveil Prefecture.

When Otā arrived, he found the place where his fellow beastmen lived to be abandoned, with all the clan members missing.

Following the traces, he accidentally discovered a group of mysterious people manipulating the infected behind the scenes.

Just as he was about to get closer to investigate, he was discovered by the other party. After a fierce battle in which he sustained serious injuries, he managed to escape.

After escaping Frostveil Prefecture overnight, Otā dared not stay and fled back to the Thornflower Duchy.

Upon learning the situation from Otā, Mu Zuo immediately realized the depth of the matter and decisively stopped the investigation.

Out of goodwill towards the Flashing Light Territory, he subsequently wrote this letter to inform Kyi and Su Nan.

“So, the beast transformation outbreak was indeed orchestrated by someone behind the scenes.”

Su Nan put down the envelope, showing a contemplative look.

“But what are the motivations of the mastermind behind this?”

“Could it be the handiwork of other nations?” Kyi speculated.

The Starlight Continent is not peaceful, with wars breaking out between countries over territorial resources every year.

For instance, the Azuregold Empire, bordering the Starry Night Duchy, has always coveted it.

Had it not been for the Azuregold Empire recently concluding a war and needing time to recuperate, they might have already launched a full-scale attack on the Starry Night Duchy.

Su Nan thought for a moment and shook his head, “It seems unlikely.”

“To orchestrate a disaster affecting several prefectures, the mastermind’s influence within the duchy must be deeply rooted. Other countries do not have such power.”

Kyi agreed on reflection.

If other countries had that strength, they would have much better ways to conquer the Starry Night Duchy without resorting to such a destructive method.

Even if they succeeded in taking the duchy, they would be left with a mess.

“But if that’s not the case, then who is behind these machinations?” Kyi wondered.

Su Nan calmly replied, “Whoever it is, their scheme must be vast, and they won’t remain hidden for long. With the disaster spreading this far, they’re bound to emerge soon.”

As if to confirm Su Nan’s words, Kyi’s secretary suddenly hurried into the council hall.

“Lord, there’s new intelligence from Goldenrock City.”

Hearing it was about Goldenrock City, Kyi’s expression immediately became serious as he quickly took the parchment from the secretary’s hand and read it carefully.

After reading the content, Kyi looked exceedingly grave.

He raised his head and said solemnly to Su Nan, “Duke Jinyan has rebelled!”

Su Nan was slightly taken aback.

“This morning, Duke Jinyan declared the independence of Goldenrock Prefecture from the Starry Night Duchy!”

“Earl Stormwind, Earl Winterfrost, Viscount Black Swamp, and Viscount Feathered Serpent all responded, and they’ve now raised the banner of rebellion, forming an alliance!”

Su Nan’s expression changed slightly, understanding dawning upon him.

“I see, it seems that Duke Jinyan is likely the mastermind behind the beast transformation incident.”

Kyi also came to the realization.

Although Duke Jinyan’s rebellion, pitting one prefecture’s strength against the duchy’s remaining six major prefectures, seemed highly unwise, the timing he chose was perfect.

Currently, the Frostveil Prefecture is nearly devastated, its army already crippled and not a threat.

Red Leaf Prefecture, White Tower Prefecture, and Lake Land Prefecture are dealing with the invasion of the infected army and barely managing, so they have no time to deal with Duke Jinyan.

The remaining Somerset Province and Purple Bamboo Province are temporarily safe.

However, these two prefectures are among the weakest in the duchy overall, and combined, they aren’t comparable to Goldenrock Prefecture.

Even if they don’t deal with Duke Jinyan, he’s likely to attack them.

In fact, it’s possible that his initial targets were these two prefectures.

Taking advantage of the spreading disaster to consume Somerset Province and Purple Bamboo Province, strengthening his forces before making further moves.

Of course, it’s also possible that Duke Jinyan simply coincided with the disasters and isn’t the mastermind.

However, given that Duke Jinyan had long been planning to control the entire Goldenrock Prefecture, it’s unlikely that he had no foresight regarding the current situation.

“We need to prepare,” Kyi said in a deep voice.

Su Nan also nodded gravely.

Before launching a war externally, Duke Jinyan will first need to purge dissenting forces within the prefecture.

After years of secret development, there are already very few noble lords in Goldenrock Prefecture who do not submit to Duke Jinyan.

Coincidentally, the Flashing Light Territory is one of them and is the most defiant.

It can be foreseen that Duke Jinyan will first send troops to attack the Flashing Light Territory.

Considering the worst-case scenario, the Flashing Light Territory is likely to face the noble alliance of most of Goldenrock Prefecture.

The situation is indeed grim!

However, neither Kyi nor Su Nan showed panic.

Both have long been aware that the Flashing Light Territory would eventually confront Duke Jinyan.

They have been vigorously accumulating strength precisely to prepare for this moment.

Therefore, when the event finally happened, they felt a peculiar sense of relief, as if it was something that was bound to come eventually.

“There’s still more than three months before winter. Duke Jinyan will definitely want to end the war before the roads are blocked by snow. I estimate that he will soon send out the army to attack us.”

“We must immediately prepare for the upcoming war.”