Being a knight is not easy

Chapter 265 Negotiation
Viscount Wilke crossed his arms, the aura of a legendary knight emanating from him. He looked directly into Marquis Sonata's eyes: "My lord, I used to rely on your protection and had to be careful in everything I did. But now, my territory is strong enough to protect itself, and I can even hold my own in the Western Territory."

Marquis Sonata's lips twitched slightly, and he chuckled dryly, "This is a good thing. The Viscount's rise is also a boost to the entire Western Territory. I hope our meeting will benefit both sides."

Viscount Wilke nodded: "Of course, Your Excellency. Let's go into the castle and talk in detail."

Viscount Wilke's blatant declaration was like a sharp sword piercing straight into the Marquis Sonata's pride.

Marquis Sonata felt his face burning, and his mind felt like it was filled with a tangled mess. The discomfort was worse than eating shit, but what could he do?
With Viscount Wilke's current strength as it is, he could only grit his teeth, force a stiff smile, and reluctantly agree, "Haha, Your Excellency is indeed ambitious."

Upon entering the castle, the representatives from both sides took their seats.

The atmosphere was like the oppressive calm before a storm, so heavy it was hard to breathe.

The verbal sparring started almost as soon as their butts touched the chair.

The first issue to be addressed was the ownership of the four territories, with Pioneer Town at the top.

The Viscount Wilke's representatives were adamant, claiming that these four territories had long been under their planning and development, and that both the investment of manpower and resources had made them an integral part of Viscount Wilke's territory.

Representatives of the Marquis of Sonata countered that the ownership of these four territories had been disputed historically, and they had ample reason to claim ownership of these territories. Both sides stuck to their own arguments and refused to yield.

For a moment, the air in the castle seemed to be ignited by the tense atmosphere.

In the end, Robin stepped forward. His gaze was firm and confident. After scanning everyone in the conference room, he calmly said, "How about we send out knights to duel and decide who owns the territory!"

His voice echoed in the silent conference room, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.

The conference room fell silent at these words. Everyone stared at Robin with wide eyes, as if frozen in place.

This is an extremely bold proposal; a duel means resolving a dispute in the most direct and brutal way, leaving no room for negotiation.

Viscount Wilke couldn't help but laugh. In his view, this was an extremely advantageous proposal for his side.

He knew the strength of the knights in his territory well; those knights, who were rigorously trained and well-equipped, were all warriors who could take on ten men each.

Moreover, with strong figures like Ito and Robin in charge, he could almost foresee the scales of victory tipping in his favor.

Marquis Sonata's face was grim and uncertain, his heart churning like a stormy sea.

He knew that his side was indeed weaker than Viscount Wilke's territory.

To challenge Robin to a duel? That's just asking for death!
If this proposal is accepted and failure occurs, not only will the opportunity to compete for territory be lost, but one's reputation will also be ruined.

Marquis Sonata's lips trembled slightly. After weighing the matter in his mind for a long time, he finally shook his head slowly: "Let's not have a duel. We've lost a lot of manpower during this barbarian invasion."

He tried to use this reason to cover up his inner fear and helplessness.

Robin, however, smiled inappropriately. To Marquis Sonata, that smile was full of provocation, and his anger flared up instantly, but he couldn't vent it.

“We dare not fight, and we can’t just keep talking here. Why don’t we bring our armies out and have a real battle?” Robin’s words exploded in the conference room like a bombshell.

His eyes revealed a fearless determination, as if he had absolute confidence in the army of his territory.

Marquis Sonata's lips twitched, his heart in turmoil.

The fighting prowess of the Wilke Territory's army was fully demonstrated during this barbarian invasion.

When faced with the barbarian onslaught, the Wilke army did not flinch. Instead, they successfully resisted and counterattacked thanks to their tenacious fighting spirit and exquisite tactical coordination.

They defeated the barbarians by relying on their numerical and terrain advantages. While this may seem like an advantage due to the terrain, it actually reflects the army's efficient command system, excellent training, and seamless teamwork among its soldiers.

The barbarians have now retreated to the border territories of the far west. This was the first decision made by the barbarian Zotula after suffering a great loss in the Wilk territory.

He knew that continuing to fight with Wilke would only lead to certain death, so he decisively retreated and established a defensive line there, which prevented the barbarian's great defeat.

Marquis Sonata knew very well that his army had no advantage over the army of Wilke Territory. If they were to fight it out, the result would probably be just as disastrous as a duel.

The Western Noble Alliance is still locked in a tense and protracted war with the barbarians on the border.

Both sides' soldiers were on high alert, constantly watching the other's every move.

Their real purpose in coming to Wilke Territory this time was very clear: they hoped that Wilke Territory would not take advantage of the situation at this critical moment to launch an invasion of other territories.

As for the four disputed territories, Marquis Sonata had already anticipated this, knowing that with his current strength, it would be difficult to reclaim them.

He now only hopes to use this as leverage to gain Viscount Wilke's support.

For example, sending Baron Allen to the battlefield. As the only Order Knight in the West, Baron Allen's strength should not be underestimated.

If he were to join the Western Noble Alliance, it would undoubtedly have a significant impact on the situation.

After all, their western region no longer had any second-tier powerhouses left after the series of battles with the barbarians.

Although they seem to have a certain advantage on the battlefield at present, the hidden crisis behind it is very serious.

The severe shortage of high-end combat power is like a time bomb, which could change the entire war situation at any time.

If a new second-tier powerhouse emerges among the barbarians, or if they launch some unexpected strategy, the Western Noble Alliance will likely find itself in an extremely passive position.

Therefore, they urgently need strong individuals like Baron Allen to join them, enhance their high-end combat capabilities, and stabilize morale.

(End of this chapter)