The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic-Chapter 473

Kael and his squad were taken directly to the base camp. As soon as he arrived, Kael noticed a group of rough-looking soldiers doing their drills under the open sky. Their movements were sharp, but exhaustion was clearly visible on their faces.

"They look a bit tired," Kael said, observing them closely.

"Yeah. Who wouldn't be," Melvin replied. "After all, they are fighting familiar people."

Kael and the others jumped down from their horses. Melvin called one of his men and told him to show Kael's squad to their assigned places. After that, Melvin gestured for Kael to follow him to the main camp.

Inside the main tent, Kael immediately noticed a tense-looking man pacing back and forth.

"Oh. So you are here," the man said when he saw Kael.

"I didn't think you would come."

Kael paused and looked at him calmly. "Why?"

"Because who would want to step into this mess?" Duke Serpentine chuckled bitterly.

"Don't worry," Kael replied coldly. "I will clean it up. Just point me in the right direction."

Beside Duke Serpentine stood several retainers. They saluted Kael, and he returned the gesture with a brief nod. Duke Serpentine then spread a map across the table and began explaining the situation.

"What about the forces of Nightstar?" Kael asked.

"We don't know their exact numbers," the Duke replied. "But altogether, we are facing around forty thousand troops. Fifteen thousand of those were nobles who were previously under me."

"And our side?" Kael asked.

"Twenty-two thousand."

Kael raised his eyebrows slightly at the imbalance. "We are short on numbers, but we have more A-rank fighters than them, right?"

"Yes," the Duke nodded. "Our quality is superior."

"So what's the plan?" Kael asked.

"A head-on war is meaningless," Duke Serpentine said seriously. "We should get rid of their main leaders and collapse their structure."

"I agree," Kael replied. "But you said our quality is superior, yet I see a problem."

The Duke coughed awkwardly. "I only have two SS-rank fighters. They have three. I have four S-rank fighters, and they have seven."

Kael stared at him in silence for a moment. "Then what the hell were you talking about when you said quality?"

"Cough. I meant the lower-ranking fighting force," the Duke said hurriedly.

Kael slowly turned his head toward Melvin, as if asking whether this man had a faulty brain. Melvin avoided his gaze and looked away.

Kael returned his attention to the map and pointed at a blank area near the edge. It was a region that looked isolated from the surrounding territories, separated by fields and forests, with poor connection routes.

"Who is commanding this region?" Kael asked.

"I don't know his name," the Duke replied. "But there is an S-rank stationed here. Along with him is Viscount James, also an S-rank."

Kael stared at the spot for a moment, then nodded. "Good. I'll start with this force. Give me a good squad. I'll sneak in and cut the two heads off."

No one argued.

........

Soon after, the scene shifted to a wide plain of fertile land. In the center stood a small town, surrounded by growing trees. This place served as a temporary base camp for Nightstar's border forces. Guards patrolled the area, but their movements were casual, almost lazy.

"Sir Kael, are you sure about this?" Sol asked with a horrified expression. His body trembled slightly as he spoke.

"Yes, my Lord," Sol continued nervously. "Please think about it again. I beg you not to stray down a human path."

"Shut up," Kael snapped, taking a puff from his cigar. "Sol, have you been infected by Vic or something? What's with this overacting?"

Sol blinked in confusion. Overacting? This man was about to burn down an entire forest.

"But—"

"Do you have a better plan?" Kael asked coldly.

Both Sol and Vic shut their mouths immediately.

Kael raised his thumb and pointed toward the shadows. Melvin was hidden there with his dark force, and he raised his thumb in response.

"Good," Kael said.

He took one last puff from his cigar, then flicked the butt away. It landed on the dry paddy stored nearby.

The moment it touched the ground—

Whoosh.

Fire burst out instantly. Flames spread across the field, crawling rapidly through the dry crops. The fire grew wild, devouring everything in its path, and soon it reached the forest edges. The wind carried sparks forward, and thick black smoke rose into the sky.

Dense black flames lingered, and the heat became unbearable.

"Fire!"

"Fuck!"

"Which shithead started this?"

"It must be that sick bastard Burnoll who sneaks around smoking here!"

"Find him and kill him!"

"Shouldn't we put out the fire first?"

"Argh!"

Like madmen, the soldiers ran around in chaos, shouting and panicking as the flames spread faster than they could react. Some rushed toward the forest to fetch water.

Then—

Swish.

A sharp sound cut through the noise.

One of the soldiers turned around. "Who's there?"

No one answered.

He turned back—

"Hello, you dirty fellow," a voice whispered.

Swish.

A sword pierced straight through his neck. His eyes widened in shock as life drained from him. Before his body even hit the ground, Kael devoured his life essence. It was overwhelming, almost too much.

Elsewhere, Kael's men moved silently through the smoke. One by one, the soldiers sent to extinguish the fire were assassinated. Blades flashed briefly, then disappeared into the darkness. Bodies fell and were quickly consumed by the spreading flames.

The smell of burning flesh mixed with smoke, covering the entire area with a sickening stench.

Near the town, the guards finally realized something was terribly wrong. They saw the dense flames and rising smoke.

"Ring the bell!"

"Ahhhh!"

"Warning!"

"What happened?"

"Is it an enemy attack?"

Soldiers rushed out of their barracks and looked toward the horizon.

"Fuck," one of them muttered in disbelief. "It's a forest fire…"

The alarm bells echoed through the town as panic spread, unaware that the real nightmare had already begun.