Heroes of Might and Magic: Grand Consul

Chapter 103 The Third Ruler

Forrest rested at the Magic Guild for a few days and finally recovered.

When he met the lord in the inner court, he intended to vent his frustrations and crack a joke, but he found the atmosphere extremely oppressive. Even Ouling was sitting upright and silent. He immediately knew something was wrong.

"I've gathered everyone here mainly to tell you one thing."

"Isabel descended upon Streamshire and defeated the nobles of the Valley. Dean of Strongbow Town rebelled and led the Isidore vanguard to capture Rockshire, and advanced all the way north to Longlet Castle."

The crowd immediately erupted into a noisy argument, completely at a loss for what to do.

"Where is Lady Maggie? Didn't she go north to borrow troops? If she's stationed at Longlet Castle, can she hold off the Isidore army?"

“Isabel is an Archmage of the four elemental magics of Isildur. She is personally leading a large army north, and I’ve heard she also has a Unicorn Legion. How could the guards of Longlet Castle possibly stop her?”

That's the truth. Last time Griffinson rebelled, he mainly relied on the troops from Kuraki Town. Less than a month has passed, and Longlet Castle simply cannot muster enough defensive forces. It seems that the loss of the county seat is a foregone conclusion, with no chance of recovery.

Su Mu looked up and gestured, and Wayne walked to the table: "According to the current intelligence, Lady Maggie has invited the Cox family to march rapidly towards Longlet Castle. It is very likely that a battle has taken place, and there may even be a result by now."

Many people who wanted to support Longletburg fell silent before they could even voice their opinions.

Now that the great battle has begun, we need to see how the battle goes. If even the northern reinforcements can't defeat the enemy, it won't be effective for them to send a single force.

Wayne continued his report: "Although Isildur won the Battle of the Valley, they suffered heavy losses due to Amirka's desperate fighting. I heard that the Unicorn Legion lost more than half its strength, the Silver Pegasus is down to only 500, and the Archelves are even fewer than 800. However, they later sent a batch of Treants to reinforce them as the main force for the siege."

These are all reports from scouts around Longletburg, and they are mostly accurate.

Initially, everyone was quite happy to hear that Isildur's forces had suffered heavy losses. However, upon hearing about the remaining legion types and numbers, the entire government office fell silent.

With thousands of Isildur legions, led by heroes like Isabel, they could not be defeated unless a god descended from heaven.

"Both Rock City and the cities of Kana held out to the very end, but the enemy was simply too strong and they could not withstand it at all. The kingdom's army in the hilly region was once again facing Lloyd, and the situation was equally difficult. It would be difficult for their reinforcements to arrive in a short time."

In my judgment, Longletburg is unlikely to hold out.

Wayne's words were cold, but the truth was that, judging from the comparison of the two armies and generals, there was no way they could win.

Even if Sumu sent all his troops to support the top generals of Isildur, it would be of no use.

The Earth Bow is powerful, but the opponent only needs to unleash a few rounds of area-of-effect spells to completely cripple this army. The opponent doesn't bother with offensive or defensive tactics; they simply overwhelm it with sheer numbers.

The difference between Tier 2 and Tier 6 troops is too great.

Just then, Forrest asked, "Rock City has fallen, what about Baron Eugen?"

If we're talking about who had the earliest contact with Eugen, aside from Sumu, it would be Forrest. As the true hero of Kuraki Town in managing timber, Eugen was involved in everything from recruiting soldiers from refugee camps to exchanging timber for resources on the black market.

Wayne slowly said, "Dean rebelled and betrayed Lord Rock. Eugen dispersed the people in the city and fought to the death, but was turned to ashes by Isabel."

Forrest's face trembled slightly, his fists clenched tightly: "That beast Dean! The Baron even rallied the nobles to help him, what a heartless bastard!"
"My lord! We must avenge the Baron!"

Su Mu raised his arm, then looked around at everyone: "What do you all think?"

Everyone stared at the expressionless lord, momentarily at a loss for words.

Anger, retaliation, and raising troops to provide support are naturally what they most want to do. But rationally speaking, now is not the time to play the hero.

To put it bluntly, Isildor's ambitions are far greater. If the other side even shows the slightest intention to move eastward, Kuraki Town will suffer the same fate as Rock City—it simply cannot be defended. The two sides are not even on the same level.

“Isildur intends to use Longlet Castle as a springboard to launch a surprise attack on the capital. The Marquisate has become a battleground on all sides and should not be left unattended for long.”

These are the words of an Interior Ministry official; although they sound timid, they are the words of a seasoned veteran.

Ouling stood up to object: "In the current state of the kingdom, where is there a place where we can develop peacefully? The valleys have been ravaged, the snowfields have suffered repeated defeats, and the Xilin Plains are riddled with holes."

Even if we retreat, where can we retreat to? We might as well fight them to the death.

The crowd began to discuss the matter again, some worried, some indignant, and some thoughtful, but all were preoccupied with their own concerns.

No matter how passionate and inspiring the rhetoric may be, the reality is harsh: Isidore's power is even stronger, with a continuous stream of troops.

The kingdom was stretched thin, barely managing to muster enough troops for the front lines. They managed to win the battle thanks to the commander's skill, but that was already their limit.

If Isildur continues to disrupt our territory, it won't be long before the people's hearts are scattered.

"Reporting, sir, we have important intelligence!"

A scout entered the hall and quietly reported to the lord.

"You all discuss this here first, I'll be right back."

Su Mu actually left everyone behind and departed alone, so he must have something important to do.

Everyone looked worried, fearing that more bad news would come.

However, the two main generals, Forrest and Orling, were quite tough and determined, and the others, though somewhat afraid, gradually calmed down.

Reflecting on Isildur's persecution of the kingdom's people, everyone gradually reached a consensus.

Su Mu left the hall and rushed towards the Magic Guild. Outside the door was a group of wounded crusaders, who were extremely cautious. As he approached, each of them raised their broadswords, ready for battle.

"Baron Sumu, the lord is waiting for you inside!"

Without a word, Su Mu stepped directly into the magic gate, instantly isolating himself from the outside noise.

In the center of the magic circle stone platform, a girl sat reclining on the ground, staring blankly at a magic book.

Her hair was disheveled, her forehead was covered in a mixture of dust and blood, and her clothes and armor were torn, completely lacking the demeanor of a noblewoman.

"Lady Maggie!"

The moment she turned around, all Su Mu saw in the eyes of this marquis's heir was confusion and pain, with not a glimmer of hope left.

"Longleat Castle has fallen. Viscount Jeff Payne was killed in battle. Jon Snow and I were outside the city to provide support, but we were no match for Isildur's army. Almost all of our 1700 men were wiped out, and only these few escaped."

I didn't know where to go. Baron Eugen once told me that I was the last hope for the Marquisate, so I came to Kuraki.

After a moment of silence, Su Mu said, "Baron Eugen died in battle! He fought to the death to buy time for Longletburg, even though he knew they were no match."

Maggie covered her face and burst into tears: "I know I have failed Eugen's expectations, and I have failed the nobles' hopes. I am not a qualified lord!"

At this point, Maggie shed her airs as the heir to the marquisate, revealing only her true feelings and overwhelming grief.

It's difficult to blame Maggie; anyone in her position would likely have faced a dead end. Faced with Isildur's overwhelming military might, how could the already under-resourced county town possibly resist?

It was said to be the most powerful city in the Marquisate, but in reality it was just an empty shell, long since devoid of any defensive power.

But Su Mu showed her no pity. Once she stood in that position, she was responsible for all her vassals and subjects. Nobility represented not only power, but also responsibility.

With Longletburg fallen, Maggie had no choice but to bear the responsibility for the defeat, no matter how many reasons she had.

"When the city fell, my mother, my cousin, and my close friends were all tied up and brought to the city walls. Kyle publicly humiliated and bullied them, and threatened to make me surrender."

"In order not to affect the morale of the army, they struggled desperately and jumped off the city wall to commit suicide."

In battles between human nobles, victory or defeat can often be settled with money to redeem people. But in battles between different races, everyone understands their brutality.

What was Maggie's state of mind when her family and friends jumped off the city wall? One can only imagine.

If it weren't for Jon Snow's intervention, Maggie would probably have fought to the last man.

But this would only play into Kyle's hands. If even Garfield's heir were captured or killed, the entire Marquessland would lose all hope.

"The deceased has passed away; please accept our condolences."

“I know what you’re thinking, but Longleat Castle has fallen. What does it matter whether I live or die? Garfield is no longer the soaring, revered family of eagles. I don’t deserve this name!” Nobles value family honor more than life itself, and Maggie had previously harbored the idea of ​​restoring her family’s prestige. The fact that she can say such things now shows just how desperate she is.

She collapsed to the ground, and seeing Su Mu remain silent, she revealed a self-deprecating expression: "You must all think that I, a mere woman, am completely powerless to control the situation. And that is indeed the case; I have made a complete mess of it."

Eugen said, "You are the hope. Come on, kill me in this magical temple, so that those Isildur's men won't get away with it."

"Then you'll be the Marquis's husband, and all the nobles will obey your orders and help me take revenge!"

Maggie removed her armor, tearing open the lining to reveal her fair and rounded body. Despite doing something so shameful, her pretty face remained numb, like a puppet without strings, completely at her mercy.

Su Mu stepped forward, but instead of offering any words of comfort, he grabbed Maggie and slapped her hard across the face.

This unleashed the power of a hero, sending Maggie flying more than ten meters before she crashed into a pillar, spitting out blood.

"If you want to die, you should die on the battlefield. That way, you'll at least be worthy of Garfield's honor."

“Eugen will protect you and defend Longlet Castle. He is loyal to the heir who, despite the difficult situation, does not forget the family's honor, to the ruler who has the courage to implement new policies and heal his wounds, to the lord who went to the north and bowed his head to protect his homeland, and to the Marquis who, knowing she was no match, fought to the death in front of Longlet Castle!”
Not the cowardly woman who's now terrified of the enemy, crying and begging to be raped in exchange for a chance at revenge.

Maggie clutched her head, weeping hysterically, tears mingling with blood, almost going insane.

"what!"

"Do you think I want to? But what can I do? I can't do it!"

"I watched with my own eyes as my mother was humiliated, jumped off the city wall, and was trampled to pieces by centaurs upon landing. I couldn't even save my own family, let alone my people."

"Are you scared? You've been frightened by Isildur too? You don't dare to take revenge? Hahahaha! Cowardly man!"

As Maggie grew increasingly frenzied, the magical power within her spiraled out of control, causing her to become ethereal. Even the magic guild's grand array struggled to contain her rampaging magic.

The entire guild's magical tomes were automatically flipping through, as if exchanging ideas, and the air was filled with the aura of magical power.

If this continues, Maggie could very well become an out-of-control bomb, detonating the guild in a dreamlike void, and attracting the attention of unknown entities.

By this point, Su Mu didn't even need to use his Qi Observation Technique to guess her special skill.

But Su Mu did not back down at all. He simply tossed a letter to Maggie and turned to walk out the door.

"This is the last letter Baron Eugen wrote to me, and it was this letter that made me make up my mind."

If you still consider yourself a Longlett, then dry your tears, stand up, and keep fighting until you bleed to death.

Maggie picked up the letter, slowly unfolded it, and saw the familiar handwriting again.

Dean has rebelled, and Isildur's army is attacking. Quickly flee the Marquisate, preserve your strength, and wait until the day you have gathered enough troops for a counterattack. Do not act rashly.

If given the chance, protect Miss Maggie! As long as the Eagle Clan exists, the flame of revolution will never be extinguished.

I am old; the rest is in your hands, heroes of Elton.

The handwriting was extremely messy, and there was even blood dripping onto the parchment, which shows how critical the situation was at the time.

Did Eugen not know he couldn't win? Did he not know to conserve his strength? He did!
But someone always has to shed their blood, someone always has to defend the land, to tell Isildur's enemies, to tell their comrades who are still resisting, that Eldon is inviolable.

Su Mu had also hesitated and considered retreating, but the moment he saw the letter, all his thoughts vanished, leaving only one idea.

If I'm going to fight, I'll fight to the death. Centaurs, dwarves, great elves, silver pegasus, withered warriors, unicorns—even if they kneel and beg for mercy, I'll slaughter them all. I'll make the blood of the Isildur soldiers flow like rivers on the plains of Shirin, and their heads pile up like mountains.

Even if we lose our allies and are left alone in a city, we will still crush them.

Since taking command of Cangmu, Su Mu has been very friendly to the townspeople and generals, but there has always been a distance between them.

Until he witnessed the massacre of villages, fought alongside nobles to defend the frontier, and his friend sacrificed his life to delay the enemy, but then wrote to him urging him to leave.

Su Mu finally got angry, a fury that came from the depths of his blood.

He may not acknowledge Elton and the Marquisate, but he cannot stand by and watch humans be slaughtered like this.

What kind of bullshit are these Barrier Druids, Children of the Forest, all-around mages of all four elements? I control the castle's power and have never been defeated. Let me show you what a true Archon is.

Su Mu left the guild and went to the internal affairs hall, where everyone looked at the lord.

He slammed his fist on the table and announced loudly, "Kuraki Town is now in a state of war. Our target is the vanguard of Langlit Castle. All human citizens, fight to the death and pay for this blood debt!"

"kill!"

Forrest and Eugen led the way, and the crowd shouted loudly for a long time without stopping.

[After constructing special buildings for many days, you have gained a deeper understanding of the use of wood and become a master lumberjack.]

[Lumberjack Master: Increases logging efficiency by 150% (450%). This effect is active when stationed in a main city, lumberyard, windmill, or other similar building as the leader (elemental effect; if stationed in a main city, all lumber-producing buildings within range in dirt/grassland environments receive 100% of the effect)]

Timber is everything, a phrase Forrest still remembers.

Just when everyone thought the meeting was over, an uninvited guest suddenly barged in.

She lifted her mask, revealing her true face, and came to Su Mu, striking her chest with one arm in a knightly salute.

"Garfield and Longleat Castle are both dead, and Maggie is willing to fight alongside Kuraki Town to drive the Isidores from their homeland."

"Everything revolves around Baron Sumu, sworn in my name and with my blood!"

Everyone in the Internal Affairs Department was completely taken aback when Maggie, the heir to the marquisate, came to Kuraki and made such a vow. Now, without any further mobilization, Kuraki instantly became the spiritual center of the territory.

At the same time, Maggie handed her other hand to Su Mu, guiding endless dreamlike magical power to Su Mu's body, which then flowed through every inch of his skin.

For a dreamer, doing so is tantamount to stripping naked and letting someone lie on top of you, peeping into all the mysterious secrets.

But the effect was also very obvious. Without going into hibernation, Su Mu seemed to have a wonderful dream and directly mastered multiple spells.

Protective Shield, Earth-Seeing Aspect, Light of Destruction, God of Luck...

Su Mu has learned all the level 1 and 2 magic that Maggie knows. All he needs to do now is practice and consolidate his skills.

[The hero (Maggie) was subjected to extreme stimulation, yet managed to break free from the self-numbing dream. You gain +1 Knowledge and comprehend Intermediate Intelligence.]

[Intermediate Intelligence: Increases the hero's maximum mana by 50%]

Su Mu and Maggie looked at each other, and seeing her determined gaze, Su Mu understood what she meant.

So he stopped holding back and unleashed his powerful ruling spell, granting Maggie the power of revenge she sought.

【玛姬（梦想家）：攻击3（4），防御2（4），咒力4（7），知识5（9+6）。

Charisma 93, Loyalty 90 (affected by Hatred and Dreams, fixed at +30).

Characteristics: A master of sleep, loves wearing fancy and loose clothing, and listens to advice.

Intermediate Financial Management Skill (Governance Bonus): The daily income of the city you are stationed in increases by 250 (750) gold coins converted into spell power.

Basic Dream Domain Scholarship (Governance Bonus): Enables heroes to teach and learn magic, influenced by the Wisdom spell. Allows mutual learning of level 1-2 magic. If one meditates in a place with abundant magic, there is a chance to learn an unknown spell (significantly increased chance, influenced by Knowledge, but sleep time increases).

Intermediate Intelligence (Governance Bonus): Increases the hero's maximum mana by 50% (out of 150%).

Feeling the effects of the overflowing magical power stimulating her body, Maggie wore an incredulous expression.

She stared blankly at Su Mu, as if she were seeing him for the first time.

Only now did Maggie understand why the previously unknown Forrest and Orling had become famous heroes.

The root of everything is this man!

(End of this chapter)