Elden Ring, building a legion of ashes

Chapter 130 Kenneth Hyde's Big Pot of Food (Thanks to Mo Shang Ling Yuan for the donation!)

Edger quickly finished his training session for the day.

He turned and walked down from the platform, took off his helmet, revealing his weathered face.

"Lord Xia Tong, you are the benefactor of Moen City."

"Without you, my daughter Elena and I would probably have become victims of the hybrids long ago."

Edgar looked at Xia Tong with a complicated expression.

"I understand why you've come."

At this point, Edgar sighed softly.

"But Greck—no matter how incompetent or cruel he becomes."

"He is still a descendant of the Golden Family and the rightful lord of Stoneville."

"I am the officially appointed lord of Moen City by the royal family. If I were to openly raise an army in rebellion—"

"This would violate my highest oath as a knight."

"oath?"

Xia Tong remained noncommittal.

He took a few steps closer, looked directly into Edgar's eyes, and spoke words that pierced the heart.

"Where was your lord when your soldiers were torn to pieces by those monsters, when Elena was nearly killed?"

"He's in Stoneville, counting the runes you hand over, busy cutting off other people's hands and feet and attaching them to his own!"

Xia Tong pointed in the direction of Stoneville City.

"Lord Edgar, this is not loyalty."

"This might be closer to stupidity."

Upon hearing Xia Tong's merciless words, Edgar's face instantly turned bright red.

His fingers gripping the halberd were white at the knuckles from excessive force, and his body trembled slightly.

He wanted to argue, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn't utter a single word.

Because every word Xia Tong said was a bloody, inescapable fact.

When Moen City was in dire straits, he repeatedly asked Stoneville for help, but to no avail, and there was no response.

In the end, it was this faded one who single-handedly broke through the mixed-race encirclement and saved his and Elena's lives.

Edgar could never repay that debt of gratitude in his lifetime.

At that time, Edgar's hatred for Greck was no less than anyone else's.

But as the months passed and life settled down again, the chivalric doctrines ingrained in his bones began to bind him once more.

Would you really let him raise the banner of rebellion and attack his nominal monarch?

For a moment, he was still somewhat hesitant and timid.

The word "betrayal" is far too heavy for a knight who values ​​honor above all else.

Even if the monarch you are loyal to is a pig.

But vows can sometimes be so rigid, so cold and so unreasonable.

Just then, a pair of gentle hands lightly rested on Edek's arm armor.

It's Elena.

Since she began studying the prayers of the Golden Law, she has changed into a simple witch's gown.

Although she was blind, she accurately located her father's position thanks to her increasingly keen hearing and sense of smell.

"Father----"

Irena's voice was gentle, like a sea breeze, instantly calming the turmoil in Edek's heart.

"During the terrible riots caused by the hybrids—it was Lady Xia Tong who risked her life to save us."

"If Lord Grek truly cares about the people of Moen City, and about you, his loyal subject—"

"Why was it that when we were at our most desperate, only Lady Xia Tong, a complete stranger, extended a helping hand to us?"

Elena looked in her father's direction, and two lines of clear tears silently slid down her cheeks beneath the white eye patch.

"You once taught me that a knight's sword exists to protect the weak."

"If that person in Stoneville has become a monster who devours his people for power—"

"Wouldn't continuing to be loyal to him be the greatest desecration of chivalry?"

Edek looked at his daughter Elena's pure and determined face and let out a long sigh.

At that moment, he seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.

"Lord Xia Tong, you have won."

"But I also have my bottom line."

Edk put his heavy helmet of a knight from a lost homeland back on, and his voice regained the coldness and decisiveness of a lord.

"As long as the blessing of the Golden Tree remains, I cannot openly declare war on Stoneville in the name of Lord Moen."

"But in this city of Moen, I have also trained some warriors who are truly loyal to me."

He extended his gauntlet-covered fingers and made a gesture.

"Eighty people."

"They would take off the distinctive yellow-green armor of the Grik soldiers and put on black cloaks."

"To the outside world, they are just a group of wandering mercenaries who were expelled by me for violating military regulations."

"Whatever they did in Stoneville has nothing to do with Moen City, and nothing to do with me, Eddrick."

At this point, Ed Ke stared intently into Xia Tong's eyes, his tone chilling.

"But, Lord Xia Tong, this is all I have to offer. Please, you must bring that monster who only knows how to reattach limbs off his throne—"

"Don't let them die in vain."

The Hyde Fortress, located on the eastern coast of Nymgford, is currently bathed in a strangely incongruous yet inexplicably warm atmosphere of noise.

The demi-human legion that once occupied this place, slaughtering indiscriminately and treating humans as food, was not driven out or massacred.

Instead, these short, hairy creatures sat like a group of obedient monkeys in the fortress's spacious courtyard.

In the center of the courtyard, a large black pot, several meters in diameter, was set up.

The firewood crackled and popped at the bottom of the pot, which was bubbling with all sorts of wild berries, large chunks of wild boar meat, and a whole fat sheep.

The thick soup boils violently at high temperatures, releasing a rugged, primal yet extremely enticing aroma.

White steam rose slowly, enveloping the entire courtyard in a hazy, smoky atmosphere.

"Oh! What a beautiful color!"

"This is truly a gift from the earth!"

A man dressed in a brightly colored noble robe, with his long golden hair neatly combed, was standing in front of a large cauldron.

He looked at the golden oil bubbling on the soup noodles and let out an exaggerated, aria-like praise.

What's even more surprising is that Kenneth Hyde, the legal heir to Hyde Fortress, is the eldest son of noble lineage.

What he held in his hand at that moment was neither a scepter symbolizing power nor exquisite silver cutlery.

Instead, it was a rough, even chipped, oak rice bowl, exactly the same as the one held by the demi-human next to him.

He showed no disdain for the crudeness of the stew.

Under the astonished gazes of nearly a hundred demi-humans and a small number of human soldiers around him, he elegantly scooped up a spoonful of boiling broth with a wooden spoon and savored it with great enjoyment.

"Excellent! Excellent!"

Kenneth Hyde smacked his lips, expressing his sincere admiration.

His blissful expression suggested that he was enjoying a royal feast prepared by the imperial chefs in the banquet hall of the Royal City of Rodel.

He turned around and gave a bright smile to an ordinary demi-human beside him who was constantly swallowing and staring longingly at the soup in the pot.

Then Kenneth Hyde reached out and patted the other man’s filthy shoulder affectionately, showing no disgust at the fleas that might jump onto him at any moment.

"Eat up, my friend!"

"Under the true Golden Law, no one should go hungry."

"Whether human or demi-human, as long as they pledge allegiance to my noble Lord Kenneth Hyde, and to the Golden Tree Dynasty—"

"Your stomachs all deserve to be filled!"

Seeing this scene, Xia Tong, standing on the second-floor corridor of the fortress, couldn't help but feel a surge of discontent.

Just a short while ago, this guy was almost chopped up and stuffed into the stomach by these demi-humans on the abandoned broken bridge.

Although these demi-humans are not very intelligent, the taste of these full meals truly touches their souls.

Encouraged, the demi-humans excitedly raised their oak bowls and cheered loudly.

That kind of fervor that transcends species shook the entire fortress.

Xia Tong also went downstairs, ladled out a bowl of meat soup, and tasted it.

The taste was indeed very delicious, although there was an unavoidable gamey smell, but in this dilapidated border area, it was a rare delicacy.

After eating and drinking their fill, Xia Tong and Kenneth Hyde stood side by side on the tower at the top of the fortress, enjoying the slightly salty sea breeze.

Looking at the harmonious scene below, Xia Tong bowed slightly and gave Kenneth Hyde a heartfelt compliment.

"Sir Kenneth Hyde, you are truly a nobleman of unparalleled stature."

"You probably can't find another person with such magnanimity and breadth of mind in the border region."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Kenneth Hyde let out a hearty laugh.

He pointed to the human soldiers and demi-humans frolicking below, a hint of pride in his eyes.

"When you're willing to humble yourself, join them, eat from the same pot, and become one of them—"

"These simple-minded demi-humans are often more loyal than those deep-thinking human warriors."

After exchanging pleasantries, Xia Tong finally got to the point and explained the purpose of her visit.

Kenneth Hyde's reaction was more intense than expected.

"Hmph! I already said that!"

"That guy who just attaches other people's limbs to himself is not fit to rule Stoneville!"

"His very existence is a stain on the honor of the Golden Clan!"

Then, Kenneth Hyde straightened his collar, adopted a perfectly standard aristocratic posture, and spoke with righteous indignation.

"Lord Xia Tong, since you intend to attack Grek—"

"Then, as the rightful lord of Nymgford and the master of Hyde Fortress, I should lend a helping hand."

"Very good."

Xia Tong was delighted, but then added another sentence.

"However, Lord Hyde, I hope... I hope you can—lead the expedition in person."

"Personally led the campaign to Stoneville."

Upon hearing this, Kenneth Hyde's expression became more serious than ever before.

The previous frivolity and exaggeration vanished instantly, replaced by a critical examination.

"Lord Xia Tong, you must understand."

"If I fail, I'm afraid that madman Greg will cut off my limbs and attach them to a watchdog."

Are you sure you can do it?

"At least 60%."

Xia Tong held up her finger and gestured.

"And we are not alone."

He detailed the alliance he had formed with the northern mountain troll tribe, the troops he had borrowed from Lord Edgar of Moen, and the response from the Faded Ones in the Hall of the Round Table.

"Oh? Edgar?"

Upon hearing the name, Kenneth Hyde immediately looked toward the direction of the Sobbing Peninsula, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"I never expected that stubborn knight would actually dare to turn against Grek?"

"It seems I really need to think more highly of him."

"But given his personality, he definitely wouldn't openly support us, would he?"

Xia Tong nodded, took out a heavy black iron token from his pocket, and handed it over.

"This is the troop deployment token for Moen City."

"Tonight, the 80 elite black-robed warriors supported by Edgar will secretly arrive at Hyde Fortress and await your command."

"80 elites —"

Kenneth Hyde took the token heavily, his fingertips tracing the patterns on it.

As a nobleman, he naturally understood what these 80 rigorously trained soldiers meant.

This was practically Edgar betting his entire fortune and life on it.

"Since Edgar is willing to take the gamble, what do I, Kenneth Hyde, have to fear?"

Afterwards, the two held a private discussion on the specific deployment route and tactical details. Once everything was finalized, Xia Tong hurriedly left.

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