The Survival Rules of NPCs

Chapter 133 The Beginning of the Collapse!

"Your Grace, Lord Gelster and the others have been missing for three days..."

His subordinates cautiously reported, "Eight carrier hawks have been dispatched from the Daws border, urging Lord Gelster to return and provide reinforcements..."

'

Inside the military tent, the atmosphere was oppressively silent. The elderly Duke of the Raven seemed to be asleep. The subordinate who brought the message only mentioned this once and then dared not urge him any further. In recent days, the Duke had been tyrannical and ruthless, and several military nobles had become barbecue at the banquet for offending him.

Everyone kept their heads down, enduring a long, agonizing silence that left many feeling both fearful and anxious.

The border of Daos is the golden defensive line of the Krebelun Grassland. The continuous mountain ranges, valleys and snow-capped mountains there are the best defensive line. Once you cross that line, you will be in a flat grassland. It is one of the three major grasslands of the Bes Empire and the most important pasture in the south. The number of herders here is in the hundreds of millions.

Once the defenses are breached, thousands of lords will be implicated. These are the Duke's core forces, and the key reason why their legions are not subject to the control of the imperial central government.

Because of the military rations and supplies, these lords would prioritize supplying Duke Jackdaw before symbolically handing over some to the capital.

But once the border of Daus is breached, that's a completely different story. Once those lords find out that their losses are because the Duke has mobilized all the elite troops from the border of Daus, the consequences will be devastating.

He is none other than Snooker El, the man Bright mentioned in his intelligence report.

As a meritorious earl under the Duke of Jackdaw, he followed the old duke for more than 20 years, rising from a down-on-his-luck baronial family to a respected meritorious earl. He married the daughter of a long-established noble family in the capital, and was riding high.

Almost no one would doubt that this middle-aged count, who was doing very well under the Duke, was a spy that the imperial central government had prepared long ago.

No one knew how much pressure he was under. The central government was pressing for intelligence more and more urgently, and he almost exposed himself several times. Because the Duke had secretly mobilized a large number of elite troops in the forest, violating imperial law, it was the perfect time to damage his prestige. The higher-ups wanted him to find out as much intelligence as possible at any time.

And this time, he did indeed obtain a crucial piece of intelligence.

That is... Lord Gelster, the most capable general on the border of Daus and one of the four great sword saints of the Beth Empire, has fallen, along with his elite knights whom he had built at great expense!

That was an extraordinary knightly order, with each member being a level 40 demon hunter. On the border of Daus, they were the main force against the southern wizards who were skilled at summoning demons.

According to the latest information passed on to him by those who found him, both Gelster himself and the Knights have been completely wiped out!

Once this news reaches the capital, and people learn that everything was arranged by the Duke, the Duke's authority will be greatly diminished!

The problem is that I can't confirm whether the news is true or false, and I'm also unsure whether those unregistered people are reliable.

Even now, I still can't figure out how those guys knew my identity.

His own secrets were personally drafted by King Jarvan VII. Only the previous head of the Intelligence Division and the newly succeeded King Jarvan VIII knew his information. It was top secret. Of the thirty-five informants, only he survived to the end and only he gained their trust!

Under the Duke's command, he was not particularly prominent, but with his steady and pragmatic style, he served as the central army's support officer and supported the vanguard in achieving victories on many occasions.

With his steady demeanor, he had his own children at a young age, and his marriage partner was the Charles family, which was closely related to the Duke of Jackdaws. No one would doubt his loyalty to the Duke. After Jarvan VII's death, the head of the intelligence department investigated the current king for five whole years before giving him his information. He didn't understand how that guy knew such a top secret matter.

There is also news about Lord Gelster. According to the other party, Gelster died deep in the forest, and the information provider still has some items left behind by Lord Gelster.

He had confirmed that the item was safe, but he still had doubts. If even Gelster couldn't escape unscathed, how did the other party manage to return safely? And with Lord Gelster's personal belongings in tow? How did he do that?

This guy who suddenly appeared scared him a little, but it was his only chance to turn things around.

The central government has given itself an ultimatum: if it doesn't obtain any decent intelligence within a month, it will consider exposing itself and taking back everything it owns.

But then, at this very moment, a mysterious person suddenly appeared and gave him the information he wanted. It all seemed like a coincidence. Could it be a trap?

"Gelster is on a top-secret mission... a mission that concerns the future of the Empire!" After a long silence...

Duke Raven's hoarse voice broke the tense silence.

"However, the border tensions are a serious matter. Let Doug and Sam take the Silver Fox Legion and the Brown Bear Legion back to provide support first!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the military tent breathed a sigh of relief.

The adults finally admitted it!

Countless people have already pleaded with His Highness the Duke to send the elite troops back to the front lines, otherwise the consequences would be extremely serious if anything were to happen!

But the Duke was determined to explore the forest, and the young officers he tried to persuade ended up as barbecue ingredients for the night.

After so many days, plea for help kept coming from the border of Dauss. With Lord Gelster's whereabouts unknown, the stubborn Duke finally relented.

As long as nothing goes wrong at the Dawes border... everything can still be managed.

Snook's eyes gleamed upon hearing this. He had followed the Duke for over twenty years and had never seen him compromise. Even if the path was wrong, he would continue with unwavering determination. But this time, he had clearly backed down!

It seems... the situation has reached a point where he has no choice but to back down!

He recalled what the man in black had said to him.

The border at Daws has fallen!

He would never have believed this information before, but now...

"Snooker..." The Duke's hoarse voice suddenly came: "You'll be joining the support troops this time."

"7

Snooker's heart skipped a beat!

But he immediately realized what was happening and quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Yes!"

The Duke looked up, his blue eyes, now somewhat cloudy, meeting the other's gaze with a hint of doubt. The other had seemed hesitant just now.

As a general under his command who was very good at providing support, he had never had such emotions before.

But seeing how readily the other party agreed, he shook his head to dispel his doubts. Perhaps his recent actions had surprised the other party that he would agree.

Thinking of this, he sighed inwardly.

Gelster is likely not coming back, and if he too perished in the forest, then our losses this time will be unprecedented. We cannot allow any more trouble to occur at the Dauss border, otherwise...

"Sir, given the urgency of the situation, should we prepare to depart now?"

"Now?" The Duke pondered for a moment. "The soldiers have been under a lot of stress lately. It's fine to set off now, but don't rush on the way. Try to find a way to let the soldiers rest and recover."

"I understand..." Snooker quickly replied.

"Go ahead, I trust you completely!"

"Thank you, sir!" Snook laughed. "I won't let you down."

Many people in the military tent breathed a sigh of relief. Earl Snook was known for his composure and extensive experience in providing support, and it seemed that His Excellency the Duke had regained his senses.

But Snooker was secretly worried.

If the intelligence provided by that intelligence officer is true, then I, who am now leading the support team, am doomed!

His wife is still young, and his child is only four years old.

The only way to save his life and retain his title is to fulfill his duty as a spy!

I must let the king know about the situation here as soon as possible!

Stepping out of the military tent, he looked at the officers outside actively gathering military rations, and then at the legions assembling in the distance. He sighed inwardly. The Silver Fox Legion and the Brown Bear Legion were very strong armies under Duke Jackdaw's command. Over the years, he had often fought alongside these two legions, and they had been comrades-in-arms for more than a decade!

But now, in order to keep everything he has, he has to give them up.