Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
Chapter 44: The Budun Family
The Budun Family has operated in Budun Territory for over a hundred years. This is their place of origin and their last vestige of dignity.
The castle in Budun City is not named Budun Castle, but rather Homan Castle, named after a single person.
The reason it is called Homan Castle dates back to several decades ago, to an old man renowned even in the capital of the Andor Empire – the guardian of the empire’s borders, the strongest of the Budun Family, Sky Knight Homan Budun.
In those war-torn times, the Budun Family’s noble title reached as high as Marquis. Later, after Homan’s death, the Budun Family could no longer produce a powerful Knight capable of standing alone. Eventually, the Budun Family gradually declined, becoming a collateral branch of a Count’s family, left with only the small Budun Territory.
Inside Homan Castle, all the core members of the Budun Family are gathered. According to the Budun Family’s rules, anyone whose strength reaches Great Knight (21-40) can participate in discussions.
Currently, nearly thirty people are seated in the conference hall. Over the years, the Budun Family has remained low-key and dormant, slowly accumulating some resources.
Viscount Budun, seated at the head of the table, wears casual clothes. He claps his hands, and the noisy hall instantly falls silent. Everyone focuses their gaze on him.
Carl Budun clears his throat, his gaze sweeping across everyone’s faces before he begins, “Recently, according to news from the border, an iron ore deposit has been discovered at the junction of the Kolon Empire and our territory. I have already sent people to survey it; the reserves are approximately eight million tons.”
“Buzz—”
Viscount Carl Budun’s words are like igniting a powder keg. The previously quiet hall erupts into chaos.
Everyone is chattering, discussing, and expressing shock, their eyes filled with joy and greed.
“However!” Carl Budun shouts coldly, his expression turning ferocious and ugly. “But the Kolon Empire’s Count, Lord of Eagle Territory Xi Wei, wants to snatch this iron ore from us. This is the border map he sent.”
As Carl Budun speaks, he unfurls a border map across the conference table. Everyone gathers around the map in confusion, stopping to observe.
Then, they are dumbfounded by the Lord of Eagle Territory’s audacious move.
In the map, at the location of the iron ore deposit in the border area, a line has been artificially drawn, enclosing it within the Lord of Eagle Territory’s domain.
“How, how can this be?”
“This is simply too bullying!”
“According to the rules, this iron ore deposit rightfully belongs to us. How dare he try to seize it?”
The crowd in the hall erupts in an uproar, unashamedly displaying their anger and dissatisfaction.
Carl Budun looks at the impassioned crowd with satisfaction, nodding. This is exactly the effect he wants.
“He is declaring war on us, thinking that we are just a small Viscount territory, a tiny place, that he can bully at will!” Viscount Budun’s voice grows colder, like the biting wind of a winter night.
“But can we let him bully us like this?”
“No!” The Knights in the hall roar in anger.
“Our Budun Family has been dormant for so many years; we have finally found an opportunity to rise again. We absolutely cannot let him ruin it,” Viscount Budun nods slightly and continues.
“Lord of Eagle Territory himself is a Great Knight, and he also has a veteran Great Knight, Clemon, under his command. This is our greatest threat. Apart from them, his group of heavily armored Knights are not to be feared.”
“Therefore, to ensure victory in this war, I have borrowed three Great Knights from the Count, offering them one-third of the iron ore mining rights.”
“They have already departed from the Count’s territory and will reach the border soon.”
“Also,” Viscount Budun pauses, raising his hand to pat the shoulder of the young Knight standing beside him, a proud smile on his face.
“Jett, please demonstrate for everyone.”
“Yes, Father,” Jett respectfully performs a Knight’s salute and walks to the center of the conference hall.
He looks around at everyone in the hall, and under their expectant gazes, a pale green Qi erupts skyward, even igniting his eyes with pale green Qi flames.
The concentration of Qi erupts from his eye sockets – this is the mark of a Great Knight.
The entire hall, after a brief silence, erupts into thunderous applause.
“My God, Jett has advanced to Great Knight? How old is he? Twenty-one?”
“Congratulations, Your Excellency!”
“With Jett and the iron ore, our Budun Family’s rise will be invincible!”
The atmosphere in the entire conference hall becomes increasingly fervent. Initially, they were a little apprehensive hearing that the Lord of Eagle Territory had two Great Knights.
Now, not only has their Viscount invited three Great Knights from the Count, but with Jett, they have a total of four Great Knights.
With their superiority in both high-end and low-end forces, what else is there to fear?
Perhaps they could even capture the Lord of Eagle Territory and extort a ransom from the Kolon Empire!
As for starting a national war? That’s simply not possible. At most, they would face retaliation from the Duke of the Golden Lion, but the King would not easily initiate a national war for a mere Count.
The Duke’s retaliation is also not a problem for them. Firstly, the border region is remote and far from the capital, with many restrictions.
Furthermore, doesn’t their Budun Family have powerful nobles supporting them?
“Cough—”
Viscount Budun coughs, and the hall, which resembled a noisy marketplace, quiets down again.
“Return to your respective posts and make preparations. Muster the militia and guards. We will depart as soon as those three Lords arrive. If the Lord of Eagle Territory is ignorant, we will march into his territory and turn his lands to charcoal!”
Indeed, marching out immediately would be the best option, but gathering the militia takes time. Moreover, with the arrival of the three Great Knights, they couldn’t immediately send them into battle. Wouldn’t they need to be served with good wine and food?
Upon receiving Viscount Budun’s command, everyone disperses to make their preparations. Only the father and son remain in the hall.
“Jett, you have grown up. You will eventually inherit my position. From the perspective of a Lord, what are your thoughts on this matter?”
With no one else in the conference hall, Carl Budun sheds his confident demeanor and frowns, turning to question his son.
“My thoughts? I believe this battle is a sure victory. Does Father have any concerns?”
“When I fought against the Orcs in the northern territories years ago, I had the honor of meeting the Duke of the Golden Lion of the Kolon Empire and his young son, Xi Wei, among our human allied forces.”
“At that time, that child was very young, but his eyes were like those of a mature adult,” Carl Budun says, gesturing at his knee height. He continues, “This person is not a foolish idiot. He knows the characteristics of the Andor Empire well and will undoubtedly know that we will call for reinforcements from our superior territory.”
“This battle will not be so easy. I fear there may be some conspiracy or trickery involved.”
“Father, no matter what conspiracy or trickery he employs, he absolutely cannot anticipate that I have already advanced to Great Knight.”
Jett says with conviction. He is of similar age to the Earl of Eagle, and even a few years older. Yet, the other is already an Earl and has been a Great Knight for some years. For Jett, who considers himself a genius, this is undoubtedly an uncomfortable matter, like a thorn in his heart.
Viscount Budun offers no comment on Jett’s assertion, merely lightly adjusting his slightly crooked collar. He then nods, “Well then, you should also go and prepare. Do not be careless.”
“Our Budun Family is stronger than them in both high-end and low-end forces. Please rest assured, Father.”
With that, Jett places one hand on his chest, performs a Knight’s salute, and exits the room.
Viscount Budun remains alone in the conference hall, deep in thought, with lingering unease.
Viscount Budun even considers the possibility of the old Knight Clemon breaking through to Sky Knight, but he shakes his head.
Clemon is already very old; he will never break through to Sky Knight in this lifetime.
The biting cold wind sweeps into the conference hall, rustling the map on the table and making a “swishing” sound, causing an inexplicable sense of annoyance.
Viscount Budun smooths the map ruffled by the wind with his hand, grips the long sword at his waist, suppresses the faint unease in his heart, and his gaze becomes increasingly resolute.
In the face of absolute strength, any conspiracy or trickery will appear pale and powerless!
*Added a stage one Loli. Stage two will change color.*
