Chapter 693: They Are Only Afraid of Me!

The moment they see Henwell arrive with troops, the whole of Cellarwine City erupts. Everyone has heard of the lord of Blood Hill's fierce name.

As someone who can stand as an equal with the kings of other countries, no matter how few troops Henwell brings, they feel that this isn't a problem.

The many Peace Haven officers on the wall admire Henwell greatly, but they are more rational about it.

Administrator Hobson is worried. "My lord has brought too few men. Something must have happened in Peace Haven."

Intelligence officer Windson frowns. "Our intelligence lines have been cut off for a long time. Something is seriously wrong inside our system."

"It is either Lord Chick or Lord Meredith."

"Only the two of them have the detailed locations of intelligence stations throughout the entire kingdom."

"If something has happened on Lord Meredith's side, there is still a chance to salvage it."

"If something has truly happened on Lord Chick's side, then things are bad. That means all of Peace Haven is in disorder..."

Windson doesn't continue with the words after that. It would damage unity.

What he means is that if Chick has betrayed them, then Peace Haven's gladiator faction and local faction will completely break apart.

Everyone present is intelligent and immediately understands Windson's meaning.

Chief military officer Archie shakes his head. "No. If that were the case, my lord wouldn't have brought so few men."

"Also, the army's loyalty to my lord surpasses its loyalty to anyone else, even Peace Haven itself."

"As long as the army isn't in disorder, the other areas can't become chaotic."

"If the army were in disorder, my lord wouldn't have the energy to come to our rescue."

Arius says with a smile, "You are underestimating Henwell's methods. Peace Haven is him, and he is Peace Haven."

"As long as he lives for even one day, Peace Haven's military and civil administration won't fall into disorder."

"The reason he has brought only one legion is likely that Peace Haven has suffered some threat."

"I think the surrounding countries must have made some move."

"If that is the case, then this trap may not be as simple as I originally thought."

Weber says, "Your Highness, the situation isn't good. Tonight, we will take you and break out of the encirclement."

"As long as you join up with my lord, they won't dare act recklessly again."

Arius smiles and shakes his head. "Heh... no. I can't leave."

"At the very least, I can't flee back in such a sorry state with Henwell alone."

"Now I have figured out some things. The trap targeting me was only incidental. The true target was Henwell all along."

Everyone looks at Arius in confusion, but he doesn't explain.

After thinking for a while, Arius suddenly says, "Send a signal to Henwell. Tell him to be careful. This is a death trap aimed at him, and it was planned from the very beginning."

Meanwhile, in the Peace Haven camp, many officers are fiercely discussing the battle plan.

In the end, everyone reaches a pessimistic conclusion. Hank, commander of the Seventh Legion, reports to Henwell. "My lord, we are now completely surrounded."

"According to Director Cumberland's intelligence, the ones who will attack us next should be the kingdom's First Guard Legion, the Fearless Sword Legion, and the Seventeenth Regular Legion."

"Of course, we also have to guard against Duke Quinns's Mountain Lion Legion."

"We are under heavy defensive pressure, and an offensive is even less possible."

"Our unified opinion is that we should send a secret message and let His Highness Arius seize the opportunity to break out."

"Then, my lord, the two of you should charge out directly and join the Lord Iron Guards."

"The Lord Iron Guards can escort you back to Peace Haven. Or rather, the two of you can simply leave on your own."

"That way, the target is small and much more flexible."

"With your ability and His Highness Arius's ability, no one can stop you."

Henwell shakes his head. "I can't leave. Nor can I leave."

"Yesterday, Duke Marcus already sent me a secret message. Jonathan has a hidden card aimed specifically at me."

"Now it seems that I still underestimated the one who arranged this matter. The other side's target was never Arius."

"Or rather, Arius isn't their final target. The one they ultimately want to deal with is me."

"This is a death trap aimed at me."

Including Cumberland, the newly appointed deputy director of the Military Intelligence Office, everyone looks at Henwell with confusion on their faces.

Henwell organizes his thoughts. "Tell me, if I didn't come to save Arius, what result would follow?"

Cumberland frowns. "Although saying this is excessive, that situation wouldn't necessarily be too bad."

"After that, my lord could use the reason of avenging His Highness Arius and join the Phoenix family in attacking north directly."

"With the assistance of the Western Iron Wall Legion and Duke Marcus in the east, we could take every territory south of Silver Peak City in half a year at most."

"Then we would have two choices. Either we reach an agreement with Billie."

"We use the new territory in the Yao Water City region as a bargaining chip and have them send troops from Yao Water City to attack Silver Peak City."

"Or we reach an agreement with the Kosen Kingdom in the north."

"We use the Northern Regions as a bargaining chip and have them send troops to attack Duke Lowel's territory."

"The war would end within one year, and we would take the vast majority of Vorry's territory."

Henwell looks at the others. "Do you all think the same?"

Everyone falls silent, which represents their agreement.

Henwell sighs. "It isn't that simple."

"I am certain that if Arius dies, Peace Haven will be in danger immediately afterward."

"The countries will definitely not let this opportunity pass, and we won't be able to take even half a step out of Peace Haven."

"Once we dare send troops and seize the whole of Vorry, do you know what will happen?"

"The Western Federation will immediately declare that I am usurping the throne."

"Whether or not I become king, they won't let me actually rule Vorry."

"After receiving the Western Federation's promise, the surrounding countries will join forces and launch a full-scale war against Vorry."

Hank finds this hard to believe. "My lord, that doesn't seem very likely. Ika in the east needs to block the Western Federation from extending its influence."

"If they defeat us at this time, would that not strengthen the Western Federation's momentum?"

"Obilian of Lumir is busy with domestic development, and he also has the western Lumir separatist force beside him. How would he dare fight us to the death?"

"Ogiro to the south is in a complete internal mess and has even less attention to spare for us."

"In Billie to the east, Grand Princess Catherine is there. How could she watch an ally like us be destroyed?"

"As for the Kosen Kingdom to the north, they might march south, but that is all."

Henwell sighs. "Why do you think the various countries don't want to fight us?"

"Because they can't bear the losses."

"Because they still have many internal matters to handle."

"Because Peace Haven's army is enough to drag them down to hell with us."

"Because they don't dare fight us to the death."

Many senior officers give their reasons. After Henwell listens carefully, he looks around at everyone.

"Everything you said is right, but it isn't the whole truth, and it doesn't reach the key point."

Henwell pauses. "Although saying this is arrogant, there has only ever been one reason they don't dare."

"It isn't because of Peace Haven's army, nor because Peace Haven is powerful."

"It is because of me."

"They are afraid of me."

"They all know that as long as I am not dead, the next Peace Haven will appear very quickly."

"And now, they have received a promise. Someone has guaranteed to them that I will die here."