When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 718 - 676 The Flickering Candle of Solaburg

Solaburg on the lower reaches of the Mo'en River.

The sky was filled with white-gray clouds, and the oppressive humidity weighed down on the heads of the Falan guards, making it hard for them to lift their heads.

These Falan soldiers, recruited or hired from the Clove Corridor, had their thin clothing clinging wetly to their skin, shaking their heads painfully to avoid flies and mosquitoes.

Occasionally, they lifted their heads and looked at the distant dark castle, with helplessness and hatred alternating in their eyes.

On the dark green arrow tower, the bright red flag of the phoenix still fluttered in the hot wind. From a glance at the city head, one could always see the swaying heads of Black Snake Bay Warriors and Wizards behind the battlements.

Nearly two months had passed, and this castle still hadn't fallen.

Compared to the past, there were just many traces of fire and smoke on those black stones.

It must be said, what the Southern Secret Party Wizards claimed about each brick of Solaburg being made with blood and sweat was not false.

This castle was entirely built of black rock bricks and bonded with a massive amount of mortar, a full 4.5 meters thick, half a meter thicker than the Avis Temple.

There were even witches guarding inside the castle, coupled with Dragon's Breath and various wizards.

If it weren't for the extraordinary tactics of Duke of Bodosa, who captured the Avis Temple from the rear, this siege war might have continued until the rainy season arrived without resolution.

However, the situation was different now. After the fall of the Avis Temple, Solaburg's logistics were cut off, and it was surrounded by the Noble Alliance Army from the Clove Corridor.

The sightings of Dragon's Breath on the city wall rapidly decreased in recent days. It was estimated that by May, they could breach the castle and return home early.

Thinking of this, they bit into the chickpea paste and black bread with more force.

"Da-da-da——"

As the soldiers got up, preparing for the next wave of attack, they saw a lightly armed knight with a blue plume galloping from afar.

The horse's hooves splashed mud as the guards made way, curiously watching the knight's hurried silhouette until the whips of the overseers lashed at their backs, stopping them.

As they pushed out the shielded and siege vehicles covered in crocodile skin, the guards cursed those damned overseers while silently praying for the Holy Father's mercy, hoping not to die under the Dragon's Breath.

The knight dismounted, walked briskly into the tent of Duke of Bodosa, and handed the red-sealed emergency letter to the Duke.

The Duke, drinking red wine with his vest open, wiped the sweat from his palms on his pants before opening the red envelope with confusion. A quick glance turned his face several shades red.

Holding the letter in his left hand, the Duke slammed his right fist heavily on the armrest of the valuable yellow chestnut wood chair, making the pearl decorations on the chair jump with a clatter: "Is it so hard to hold a temple for a week? They fight like shit in the field and can't even hold a city. How am I supposed to support this?"

The male servants around quietly tiptoed, trying to peek at the contents of the letter but were blocked by Count Kazi stepping forward.

"Calm down, it's not pious to be angry."

"My dear Kazi, take a look at his letter, how can I not be angry." Slapping the letter on the table, Duke of Bodosa's thick fingers drummed the thin paper like a storm.

With a helpless sigh, Count Kazi wiped the grease from his hand with a handkerchief and read the brief plea for help in the natural light.

In short, it's just one word: "Help!"

"A catapult with a range of 2 miles, he sure has some imagination." Duke of Bodosa stood with his hands behind his back, fuming before the silver incense burner, unable to resist turning back to the table, "Even if there were, there are still so many outposts outside the city. Just pulling out those would take two or three days, wouldn't it?

And he's hiding rather than fighting, giving away the outposts outside the city so easily, and only asking for reinforcements after being bombarded by catapults for a day. Am I his nanny?"

With the Black Snake Bay's infested mosquitoes and diseases, Duke of Bodosa was reluctant to linger. The prolonged siege of Solaburg finally cut off their food supply.

Seeing the defenses of Solaburg on the verge of collapse, it was the critical moment.

He was counting on Ursion to hold off the Thousand River Valley Army, yet in just a few days, one request for help after another came, even asking him to divert troops north at this time.

"Reinforcements? I'd reinforce his damn... I won't even give him that!"

If they couldn't breach Solaburg before the Thousand River Valley Army arrived, they would face a stalemate again.

This war over spices and white sugar had consumed untold resources and manpower, which would take who knows how long to recoup.

Yet, these nobles of the Clove Corridor had no choice but to fight. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Although the Thousand River Valley People proposed exchanging bonds for trade quotas, Duke of Bodosa and other border nobles saw it as nonsense.

What Holy Monarchy or Holy Axis in the Thousand River Valley, with the aura of a makeshift group, issuing bonds doesn't mean you have the capability to repay.

Such schemes were common in the financially advanced Falan Kingdom, and in the end, perhaps it would be the Saint's Grandson taking the money and fleeing.

The civil war in Leia was nearing its end.

After the Battle of Han Jin Mountain, the two dukes were beaten back repeatedly, even falling into internal conflict and splitting, each returning to their territories with part of their forces.

Seeing the two Royal Dukes lose power, previously neutral nobles quickly stood by the new King's side.

The new Pope Puliano of the Northern Church openly declared his recognition of Ginijis's throne.

If it weren't for Duke Oslar of the Thorn Garden stirring up trouble behind the scenes, this war could have ended by the end of the year.

Next year, at the latest, the year after, the Leia Kingdom would target the small Thousand River Valley.

Issuing a five-year bond at this time is just playing with people. Apart from those established families with resources to spare, ordinary local nobles don't have the capacity.

Especially since these spices and sugar are the lifeblood of the Clove Corridor nobles, relying on them for sustenance, they absolutely must not fall into the hands of the Thousand River Valley Trading Company.

Bodosa spat a mouthful of turbid air: "Kazi, do you have any good ideas? I really don't know what to do with this coward."

"Since the port has not been taken, let's send two hundred Extraordinary Knights over." Count Kazi spread out an aged sheepskin map, "and then tell them Solaburg has been breached, this is the vanguard, and the second wave of reinforcements is on the way, buying them a few more days."

"Good idea." Duke of Bodosa picked up a pen, "...you say it's difficult, I'm having a hard time too, let's just do this hard thing together, can it be so hard that five days won't hold? After the first reinforcement arrives, continue to hold, I won't fail you..."

Finishing writing, Bodosa handed the letter to the messenger.

Anyway, Solaburg was a candle flickering in the wind, soon to be taken.

By then, even if Ursion surrendered or failed to hold on, the Thousand River Valley army wouldn't have time.

As long as Solaburg is taken, blocking the road for northern forces to march south, this war would be a success.

Duke of Bodosa sat down again, thinking of the resilient soldiers on the city walls repelling attacks today, shaking his head in pity: "Their courage is commendable."

Thinking of his lazy soldiers, Duke of Bodosa burned with anger, contemplating for a moment before ordering: "Tell each Company Commander and Knight Commander to enforce military discipline seriously, train soldiers during combat."