The next day at dawn, Robson came to the fortress gates to see off Knight Commander Elon.

Due to the previous day’s events, and to see the charade through, Elon had not notified anyone else and was preparing to leave quietly.

"Sir, this is far enough. Though we repelled the enemy’s first wave of attacks, based on past precedent, this is merely one of their probing maneuvers."

"Qimo Fortress may not be facing the greatest danger, but it has fallen into disrepair over the years. Many areas have developed problems. You must be extra careful, Sir," Elon advised.

Elon had a point.

There were only a few days left before the official start of winter. The Beastman Grassland was far in the Northern Territory, and the Beastman army was much more resistant to the severe cold.

Soon, the probing attacks would likely end, and they would have to face the enemy’s true elites.

As for Qimo Fortress, if the nobles were this corrupt, it went without saying how dilapidated the city’s defenses must be.

Qimo Fortress was certainly a handful.

"Thank you for the warning, Knight Commander. I’ve troubled you these last two days," Robson said with gratitude.

And his gratitude was genuine.

Judging by the behavior of the Qimo Fortress nobles the day before, his position as the one in charge was likely secure.

Now, Robson’s word was law in Qimo Fortress. Besides, he still hadn’t submitted the list of corrupt officials—a deadly weapon he held in reserve.

"We are colleagues. Say no more," Knight Commander Elon said with a smile.

"Then I’ll see you this far. There is still much to be done at Qimo Fortress," Robson said.

This was no empty pleasantry. The political drama of the anti-corruption sweep was merely the appetizer; there was still much to be done to improve Qimo Fortress.

For instance, the subpar soldiers, the neglected defenses, and the empty coffers of the logistics department...

"Sir, I wish you well. Farewell!"

"Farewell!"

...

At that moment in Devil City, the outbreak of war had transformed the great northern city into a war machine. Its citizens had already begun to evacuate in droves.

Griffin Knights and Dragon Eagle Knights patrolled the skies, bringing frontline intelligence to Marquis Oscillate.

The City Defense Maze Lock and the City Defense Array were fully deployed, and the entirety of Devil City shimmered with the aura of Magic.

In the rear, the Kingdom’s Standing Army and the next wave of the Noble Alliance Army were completing their preparations, ready to enter the battlefield in succession.

Merchants from the south arrived constantly, seeking to trade for the corpses of valuable species. Certain rare races from the Beastman Empire were themselves excellent magical materials.

The flag bearing the dragon and bear, the sigil of the royal family, appeared on the main thoroughfare.

Beneath the flag rode the returning Prince Noah, accompanied by just over a hundred knights of the Royal Guard Knight Order.

The knights of the Royal Guard Knight Order were at least Bronze Third Tier in strength. Their mounts were adult Earth-Walking Dragonhawks, magical beasts from the eastern Demon Beast Mountain Range. Their crimson armor was emblazoned with the royal crest of the dragon and bear.

With Marquis Oscillate’s cooperation, the work of Marquis Britte and Prince Noah proceeded quite smoothly.

As for Marquis Britte, that went without saying. Marquis Oscillate ran a tight ship; his subordinates were all upstanding, and so far, no corrupt officials or nobles had been discovered.

As for Prince Noah, everyone knew what the King’s intentions were. Naturally, wherever the Prince went, the populace welcomed him with open arms...

Prince Noah had, for the first time, fulfilled his military dream. He had successfully repelled the invading Beastmen and rescued the surrounded nobles.

With the death-defying valor of the Royal Guard Knight Order, the heroic charge of the Griffin Knight Order, and the aid of five thousand elite soldiers from the Kingdom’s Standing Army, the brilliant Prince Noah successfully repelled an invasion of three thousand elite Gnolls and nearly ten thousand goblins.

Prince Noah had opened a new Chapter for the kingdom on the Western Front. This victory was great, glorious, and of historical significance.

If all went as expected, this battle report would be submitted alongside those from the other generals on the Western Front. It might even be a central topic of discussion at the Human Alliance’s council.

"Your Highness, we have been awaiting you."

To show their respect, Marquis Oscillate, along with a host of Devil City’s nobles and government officials, had gathered to wait for the Prince before he even entered the inner city.

"Marquis, it was all thanks to the efforts of our officers and soldiers," Prince Noah said with a smile, dismounting his horse.

Although everyone knew Prince Noah was speaking the truth, no one had any intention of calling him out.

After a round of pleasantries, the crowd dispersed. It was, after all, just a formality, and there was no need to waste too much time. The Prince’s victory banquet was scheduled for that evening.

However, Marquis Brant stayed behind and led Prince Noah into the logistics office.

"Marquis Brant, why do you look so displeased?" Prince Noah asked, frowning.

Marquis Brant let out a sigh.

"Your Highness, perhaps the news has yet to reach you. Do you know what Prince Samon has been up to recently?" Marquis Brant asked.

"Of course. He went to the Central Front, did he not? How have the battles been going?" Prince Noah frowned. It was clear he was not fond of the man.

Samon, a Prince of the Frank Kingdom, was Noah’s uncle.

"Prince Samon has been leading the Kingdom’s Standing Army on the Central Front. He was on the verge of pulling his troops back, but for some reason, he launched a localized counterattack and achieved a remarkable victory."

"Your Highness, Prince Samon is now very likely to win the support of the great northern nobles and Marshal Grantham. The situation has become highly unfavorable for you," Marquis Brant said.

Noah’s brow furrowed at the news, and he began to pace back and forth in the room.

Royalty and family have never mixed, and the Frankish Royal Family was no exception.

According to the doctrines of the Dawn Church, the eldest son held the highest right of succession. But the Holy See had been in decline for many years, and few people still abided by that rule.

Take his grandfather, Louis II, for example.

Louis II should never have sat on the throne, but after usurping it, he held his position securely. That event shattered the established conventions of the Frankish Nobles.

Since then, the primogeniture rights of eldest sons in every family had plummeted. It was for this very reason that Ed had been forced out of his own house.

As it stood, Prince Noah had not been named the designated heir. According to precedent, the successor to the throne had to be nominated by the reigning King, approved by the Noble Council, and finally announced to the other nations at a meeting of the Human Alliance.

Publicly, there were now four princes and two other high-ranking princes with a claim to the throne; Noah was simply the one with the strongest birthright.

However, for the time being, the King still supported his own son. After all, everyone is selfish and wants their own bloodline to continue.

Now, Prince Samon had scored the first major victory on the Central Front. Noah didn’t even have to ask; for Marquis Brant to be this panicked, Samon’s achievement must have been far more impressive than his own watered-down version.

After all, the one aiding Samon was Grantham—a Marshal whose life was the stuff of legends.