"Speaking of... is my stupid brother still in the Southern Territory?"

Joseph suddenly asked.

As soon as he spoke, the surroundings suddenly became quiet.

The small nobles looked at each other, and finally a tall, thin middle-aged man stepped forward and said in a deep voice:

"Duke, Frank... Frank now seems to be the leader of the Southern Territory."

"Is it that League of Pathfinders that believes in the Life Church?"

Joseph slightly squinted his eyes.

"Yes, Duke."

The middle-aged man replied.

Joseph glanced at him and sighed lightly:

"Roland, it’s not easy for you either. I heard your son ran away following that guy..."

The middle-aged man’s expression stiffened.

"Duke, I have already expelled that ungrateful son from the family."

He said grudgingly.

Seeing his nervous appearance, Joseph laughed heartily:

"Haha, don’t be nervous, Roland. Rest assured, you are you, and he is he, I certainly won’t blame you. It’s just a pity that Frank, that idiot, will only mingle with the lowly poor, implicating your foolish son..."

After speaking, he squinted his eyes again:

"However, it’s just a group of ragtag; I have already talked with Uncle Correns, and once we breach the Southern Territory, he will send someone to escort my stupid brother back, including your son."

"Equality among all beings? Heh, it’s nothing but the lies of the Life Church. Frank, that fool, it’s time for him to know who the true rulers of this continent are."

As he spoke, a trace of disdain flashed in Joseph’s expression.

He raised the telescope again, looking towards the south.

At the end of the view, the castle of the northern city, Augus City, in the Fengyue Free Territory was faintly visible.

"Where have the Wagner family’s troops reached?"

Looking at the looming tall walls of Augus City, Joseph asked.

The Wagner family is one of the major noble families in the empire’s north, essentially a vassal of the Rosen family.

The family is famous for specializing in the creation of various siege weapons. Since the founding of the Empire, they have been in charge of the manufacture of the Empire’s siege weapons for campaigns all over.

This time, the main siege equipment of the Northern Army is mostly provided by the Wagner family, primarily including some magic crystal cannons, catapults, and siege cars.

Among them, the magic crystal cannons are directly transported; while the catapults and siege cars are assembled with core components and directly constructed from trees on the battlefield.

"Duke, they left the central city, Elero City, in the Western Domain just a day ago. In three days, they should be able to arrive here."

The middle-aged man answered respectfully.

Joseph gently nodded his head, pondered for a moment, and ordered: 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"All troops, move towards Augus City, encamp ten kilometers outside the city, collect wood on site, and once the Wagner family arrives, assemble the siege weapons!"

"Within seven days, I want to officially siege the city! Within ten days, I want to hold a victory banquet inside Augus City!"

...

Meanwhile, in the central area of the Western Domain, at a dilapidated small town, the Wagner family’s grand army, totaling over five thousand personnel, was resting during their march.

In the largest inn in the town, Viscount Wagner was seated in the best room, having just finished lunch.

He elegantly wiped the corners of his mouth, and the innkeeper immediately fawningly and obsequiously handed him a glass of lemon water for rinsing:

"Sir, have some water, please drink."

Sparing a glance at the bowing innkeeper, Viscount Wagner did not react much.

He glanced at his aide, who immediately stepped forward, took the glass of lemon water from the innkeeper’s hand, and respectfully handed it to him.

Viscount Wagner slightly nodded, a hint of satisfaction flashed in his expression.

He took the water, rinsed gently a few times, seeming to quite enjoy it.

Afterward, the innkeeper brought out a scented wet towel, handing it to the aide with both hands, while curiously asking:

"Sir, are you going to participate in the Southern Holy War?"

Viscount Wagner glanced at him without answering.

He took the wet towel from the aide’s hand, gently wiped his hands.

However, the Knight beside him answered:

"Of course, as devout followers of Eternal Faith, expelling heretics and protecting the populace is our responsibility!"

The knight’s expression was proud and arrogant.

The innkeeper, upon hearing this, became immeasurably reverent.

"Sir, I am also a devout believer. May you make a name for yourself in the war! The True God will bless you!"

He said obsequiously.

After speaking, he tilted his head and looked out the window, his gaze curious as it rested on the long line of supply carts on the street:

"Sir, speaking of which, what are all these carts for? I’ve never seen so much brought along for an expedition..."

Viscount Wagner frowned slightly.

Noticing his lord Viscount’s expression, the trusted aide snorted coldly and scolded:

"Don’t ask what you shouldn’t. This is a military secret, not something you commoners can inquire about."

Seeing the murderous look on the noble’s trusted aide, the innkeeper turned pale, sweating profusely as he apologized:

"Sorry... sorry... Sir Knight, I spoke out of turn, I spoke out of turn."

After resting for a moment, Viscount Wagner left the inn with his trusted aide.

The army stationed in the small town also began to move again, heading south.

"Sir, I wish you a safe journey!"

In front of the inn, the innkeeper waved enthusiastically as he watched the army depart.

Not until he could no longer see the shadow of the army did the smile on his face slowly fade.

Returning to the inn, his wife came up to him:

"Dear, have those noble pigs left?"

"Humph, they’ve gone, finally gone!"

The innkeeper gave a cold laugh.

After speaking, he glanced at his wife:

"How much did they give us?"

His wife smiled bitterly:

"Do you think they’d give anything?"

She sighed:

"When they left, they said they were the knights of the Divine and do not need to pay for holy wars. They also said that if we are devout believers, we should provide food and drink for free, and if we refuse... we must be evil heretics..."

The innkeeper paused, his expression somewhat grim.

He glanced in the direction the nobles had gone, spat contemptuously, and said bitterly:

"The priests are right, there isn’t a single good thing about the Imperial Nobles!"

After speaking, he donned a hooded cloak and headed towards the door.

"Dear, where are you going?"

His wife asked quickly.

"To see the Lord Priest."

Answered the innkeeper.

Leaving the inn, he mounted a fast horse and headed out of the town.

About an hour later, he arrived at a small village outside the town.

This village wasn’t large, but it was very tidy, unlike other villages that gave off a sense of decay and poverty. Instead, it seemed to be full of vitality.

Especially the people in the village, each spirited and bright-eyed, seemingly full of hope for the future.

Entering the village, he arrived at a small courtyard and gently knocked on the door:

"Lord Priest, Lord Priest, I’m Jonas from the town, I have urgent intelligence to report to you!"

A moment later, the door opened, revealing a handsome young man wearing a white Priest Robe in the innkeeper’s view.

His ears were pointed, surprisingly an Elf.

Upon seeing the Elf, the innkeeper Jonas immediately became respectful.

He devoutly drew the symbol of the Life Scepter on his chest, then took out a parchment that seemed freshly written and presented it with both hands:

"Lord Priest, as per your instructions, I have been observing the passing noble armies these days, and just now, an Imperial unit with supplies passed through our town."

"This army numbers about five thousand, and I found out they are Viscount Wagner’s private army, very likely the nobles’ siege troops..."

"Lord Priest, this is the detailed intelligence I’ve recorded after my observations! They are now heading southward."