Chapter 79

"Xiao Ming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother."

---

In the wind, cherry blossoms danced as Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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"Give me everything I want... Do you know what I want?"

"Freedom for the family. My daughter. And the opportunity to develop this land, even if it's just a little, to improve the fief."

"Um!"

"You're not an ambitious person. If it were for ambition, you would have rebelled years ago. You're just tired of the king's ingratitude and shameless treatment. You're fed up with being treated like a slave under the name of loyalty. Isn't that right?"

"To be honest... yes."

"If things go well, I'll make this land an independent duchy and broker a peace treaty with the Congrit tribe."

"What about the Margret Kingdom?"

Helmut immediately understood the meaning when Otto smiled instead of answering.

"You plan to let Iota take over."

"Correct."

"Does Iota have the power to do that?"

"You'll see. Whether they have the power or not."

"Hmm."

"It won't take long to make a decision. You're not a fool. Look at that sunset."

Otto pointed to the setting sun in the distance.

"Make your decision and give me your answer when the sun has completely set behind the mountains."

"Understood."

"I would appreciate it if you could show me to a place to rest. I'm tired from the long journey."

"Of course."

Helmut led Otto to the parlor and served him warm tea and dessert.

"Let me know if you need anything. Then, I'll... leave."

After the servant left.

"Phew."

As soon as the tension eased, Otto slumped into the chair.

"I almost wet myself... Ugh... It was intense..."

Otto shuddered, recalling the moment he was surrounded by Helmut's subordinates.

He came alone, putting on a brave front, but it was all just a show to make a strong impression on Helmut.

If Helmut couldn't control his anger, it would have been obvious what would happen to Otto.

In a sense, Otto had taken a gamble.

'People should always have a safety net. Fortunately, Helmut held back. I almost met my end today. Phew.'

No matter how strong he had become, he couldn't be sure of surviving in the heart of the enemy. Otto let out a sigh of relief.

But it was too early to relax.

'What if he rejects the offer? Then I'm dead.'

The possibility of Helmut making a rational decision was 99.9%.

But the world doesn't always flow rationally and logically.

If, by some chance, Helmut rejected the offer...

'Oh no?!'

Otto shuddered, imagining his head on a pike above the city walls.

'No, that won't happen. There's no way. Helmut cherishes his daughter so much. Besides, it doesn't make sense to reject my offer in the current situation.'

Otto tried to think positively and anxiously waited.

* * *

One hour later.

Otto was called back to Helmut.

"I have thought about it carefully. My choice is..."

At that moment.

Swallowing hard, Otto tensed up, fearing Helmut might reject the offer.

"I will accept your proposal."

Otto almost collapsed from the sudden relief but managed to maintain a calm and confident smile.

"That's a wise decision. I'll make sure you never regret this choice."

"I hope so."

"It will be so."

"Then, what should I do now?"

"Hmm."

After a moment's thought, Otto spoke.

"First."

"Go on."

"Start by eliminating the Kerait tribe warriors stationed here."

"What, what?!"

Helmut was shocked by Otto's first demand.

Currently, 2,500 Kerait tribe warriors and 2,500 horses were waiting in Helmut's territory, ready to invade the capital of the Margret Kingdom.

"Eliminate all of them? All 2,500?"

"Will you fight alongside them? When the Margret Kingdom army invades?"

"That... is..."

If the Margret Kingdom army invaded, it would be obvious how the Kerait tribe warriors would react.

The moment the news of the failed rebellion spread, they would return to the Habur steppe.

Why?

There would be no reason to shed blood in a hopeless rebellion.

"I don't mean to kill them here. Are you crazy? To stage a massacre? There's a limit to how much filth one can bear."

"Then, what do you mean?"

"Make them kill each other."

"Make them kill each other?"

"Watch closely."

Otto pointed to the map and explained his plan to Helmut.

* * *

That night.

"Forward! Brave warriors of the Kerait tribe!"

The Kerait tribe cavalry, numbering ten thousand, left Helmut's territory and advanced westward toward the capital of the Margret Kingdom.

'Advance first. I will follow and surround the capital.'

The commander of the Kerait tribe cavalry, recalling Helmut's orders, moved the cavalry without any suspicion.

A few hours later.

"..."

The Kerait tribe commander encountered a large Margret Kingdom army.

The problem was the terrain.

The area was mountainous, not a steppe or plain, where the cavalry's mobility and combat effectiveness were completely nullified.

In other words, they became mere infantry.

Facing a main force of 50,000 Margret Kingdom soldiers?

"Retreat! Retreat! Everyone, retreat! Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry,