Lord: I can see loyalty.

The campfire in the camp gradually died down, and the laughter of the southern soldiers subsided as the night deepened.

Vio sat in his tent, a map of the power distribution of the major families in the North spread out in front of him, the candlelight casting flickering shadows on the map.

Alec, Jimmy, Ansquie, Xavier, William, and Russell, who had just returned from the front lines, sat around the long table. Each of them wore the weariness of days of fighting, but their eyes remained sharp.

"The smaller families in the North are no longer a threat," Jimmy said, tracing an arc on the map with his finger. "But the main forces of the Golden Saddle Horse and the Black Serpent haven't moved yet, nor has Cedric's Griffin Legion."

"Our forces number only 35,000, which is not advantageous against their main force."

"So we need allies." Vio's gaze fell on the Gray Wolf Clan's territory on the map. "Commander William, you said before that Leon of the Gray Wolf Clan helped us?"

William nodded.

"In the battle of Blackwood, if it weren't for him leading the way, our people would never have been able to bypass it via the eastern mountain path. Moreover, according to Zane, Leon did it voluntarily, not under duress."

He paused, "Also, Vance from the Brotherhood mentioned that Leon and Vance had collaborated at the Knights' Party."

Vio nodded thoughtfully. "The Grey Wolf family still holds some weight among the smaller families. If they are willing to side with us, other smaller families that are still observing will follow suit."

"What if the Grey Wolf family refuses?" Ansquie asked.

Vio was silent for a moment, then said, "Then let's fight them and force them to submit, but we'll have one less enemy if we can."

Alec leaned against a pillar of the main tent, a thoughtful look flashing in his gray eyes.

"The head of the Grey Wolf family is Leon's father, Earl Old Grey Wolf. I've heard of him. He was a fierce general in his youth, but he became much more restrained in his old age. He's not the kind of person who's eager for war. We can talk."

"Then it's settled." Vio stood up. "Jimmy and Ansquie, you two take the main force and continue northward, setting up camp on the edge of the Grey Wolf family's territory."

"Yes, sir!"

…………

The Northern Territory, the territory of the Grey Wolf Clan, Grey Wolf Castle.

Leon stood on the castle terrace, gazing at the hazy sky in the distance, his wine glass in his hand held for a long time, but he hadn't taken a sip.

Ellie stood behind him, her hand on the hilt of her sword, her gaze calm.

After they returned from Blackwood, they only stayed with their family for three days before news of the defeat at the front spread throughout the entire North, even before they themselves returned.

"Blackwater City has fallen, Blackwood has fallen, and the sea has fallen. The allied knight army has been completely annihilated."

This is the latest rumor in the Grey Wolf family.

Leon neither denied nor explained, but he knew that his father had been in a bad mood these past few days and had wanted to talk to him several times, but had hesitated to speak.

"Leon," Ellie said, "your father is calling you again."

The door was pushed open, and Count Old Grey Wolf strode in.

His hair was gray, and his face was etched with the lines of time, but his eyes were still sharp, and his back was still straight.

He was wearing a dark loungewear coat and carrying no weapons, but his imposing presence commanded respect.

He didn't sit in the main seat, but instead walked to the chair opposite Leon and sat down, looking at him and Ellie.

"When do you plan to hold the marriage?" the old count asked, his tone as if he were chatting casually.

Leon hesitated for a moment. "Father, now is not the time..."

"When is the right time?" the old count interrupted him, his gaze falling on Ellie. "Ellie is a good girl, and you are the eldest son of the Grey Wolf family. The marriage cannot be delayed indefinitely."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Besides, Ellie's family is also pressuring us. Let's get the wedding done before things get out of hand."

Leon was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I'll listen to Father."

The old count inquired about Ellie's recent situation and chatted for a while about the scale of the wedding.

The atmosphere seemed relaxed, but Leon knew it was just a prelude.

Sure enough, a moment later the old count picked up his teacup, took a sip, put the cup down, and asked in a casual tone as if he were asking about the weather today.

"What's the story behind your trip to Black Forest?"

Leon's fingers tightened slightly, and Ellie's hand also pressed on the hilt of the sword, then relaxed.

"We lost." Leon's voice was calm. "The entire Allied Knights army was wiped out. Marcus was captured, and the captains of the various families were either killed or surrendered. Only a few returned."

"I know all this." The old count's gaze fell on his face. "What I want to know is how you two came back alive. The Grey Wolf family only sent the two of you. Most of the elites from other families were killed or wounded, but you came out unscathed."

Leon looked up into his father's eyes. "Father, do you really want to hear the truth?"

"You're my son, so you don't need to beat around the bush when you talk to me."

Leon took a deep breath. "We didn't engage in direct combat; we broke away from the main force and retreated via the eastern mountain path."

Leon didn't finish his sentence. He knew that even if the other person was his father, he couldn't reveal that he had helped the Southern Territory.

The old count frowned, but did not speak immediately. He looked at Leon, into his eyes, for a long time.

The old count frowned, but did not speak immediately. He looked at Leon, into his eyes, for a long time.

Why?

"Because we don't want to fight this war." Leon's voice was soft, yet firm. "The Earl of the South helped me before, and at the Knights' Ball, the Earl sent Vance from the North to help me. If it weren't for them, Ellie..."

He didn't continue, and the old count didn't press him for details.

"Father, do you really intend to pledge allegiance to Cedric?" Leon's voice held a hint of accusation.

The old count was silent for a moment, then sighed.

"You think loyalty is just words?" He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the gray sky outside. "Leon, do you know why Cedric killed his own father and was still recognized by so many families in the North?"

"Because his military strength is great."

"That's right." The old count turned around and looked at him. "Royal bloodline, legitimate succession, it's all nonsense."

"The royal bloodline of the Kingdom of Rovia has long been severed. The current royal family members are merely those who sit on the throne. Cedric is able to become the new king not because he is named Villar, but because he has the sharpest sword, the most knights under his command, and piles of gold coins in his pocket."

He paused, his voice becoming even heavier.

"Whoever wields the sharpest sword is king. This is Rovia, this is royalty. I understand you don't want this war, but do you think the Southern Earl has victory in the bag just because he's won these few battles?"

"Cedric's main force hasn't moved yet, and the armies of the Golden Saddle Horse and the Black Serpent haven't arrived. The Earl of the Southern Territory has only won against a rabble. The real battle is yet to come." The old Earl's voice was low, but every word struck Leon's heart like a hammer.

Leon remained silent for a long time.

He wanted to refute, but found himself unable to utter any compelling words. The old count was telling the truth; the Earl of the South had indeed won several battles, but Cedric's main force had not moved.

"Father, if we side with the Southern Border," Leon raised his head, a questioning glint in his gray eyes, "the Southern Border Earl's forces are not weak either..."

"Shut up." The old count's voice wasn't loud, but his tone was stern. "There are some things you can't say even at home. Walls have ears, and people are always outside the door. You never know who's listening."

Leon opened his mouth, but ultimately kept it closed.

The old count sighed and waved his hand.

"You should go back first, get some rest, and recharge your energy." He paused, turned around, and said, "Let me think about it some more."

Leon stood up, took Ellie's hand, and walked towards the door.

As he reached the door, he stopped and turned back to look at his father's retreating figure. "Father."

"Um."

"If one day you had to choose sides, who would you choose?"

The old count didn't turn around, remaining silent for a long time, "Choose the side that can win."

The door closed gently, and the old count stood alone by the window, gazing at the gray sky outside.

His gaze pierced through the clouds, as if he could see the battlefield in the south, the young Earl of the South, and the capital city in the north, where the new king sat on the throne.

He knew that the North was now divided into two factions.

One faction is an alliance of powerful families led by Cedric, who are strong in military force and confident of victory.

Another faction, though weak, has always existed—they are somewhat inclined towards the Earl of the South.

Vio single-handedly shook the rule of the North, causing the small and medium-sized families to waver and the large families to become wary.

House Grey Wolf had to choose between two sides. If they chose Cedric, losing would mean certain death; if they chose the Earl of the South, losing would also mean certain death.

Therefore, he must stand on the side of victory.

"Leon, you've given me a real challenge," he said in a low voice, his voice full of exhaustion.