At this moment, Count Theodore, clad in military attire, sat on the lord's seat in the great hall of the Lord's Mansion. His hands gripped a Magic staff inlaid with numerous enchanting gemstones; the other end of the staff was outfitted with a counterweight that also served as a weaponized spearhead.

Outside, the rebels were assaulting his castle.

With no reinforcements, the Lord's Mansion's guards could only resist with the limited troops they had. Even the aging Earl was constantly ready to join the battle.

Butler Atreli, too, had donned a suit of chain mail, with a long sword sheathed at his waist.

"My lord, I never imagined we'd don armor for battle once again. It truly makes me reminisce about the days when we followed you into war!" Standing beside the aged Earl, the butler couldn't help but feel nostalgic as he looked at the empty hall.

Count Theodore spoke with a grave expression, "The Temple has indeed prepared thoroughly for this riot. The leader of the rebels attacking us must be an experienced commander. He knows we are short on troops and has been applying relentless, harassing attacks to wear down our forces and energy. Night will be when they launch their full-scale assault."

Having campaigned with the Earl his entire life, even without a knack for strategy, Butler Atreli had seen enough to understand the current situation clearly. If he and the Earl were twenty years younger, they would fear nothing from this rebel force. But time spares no one.

The butler said, "A messenger from Knight Yan Xing's embassy reported that they had already repelled the rebels attacking them. He also stated that the 3,000 Guild's Mercenaries stationed at the Northern Suburb Manor had entered the city through the northern gate before the rebels could encircle it. I believe Knight Yan Xing will surely come to our aid."

The old Earl shook his head. "On the contrary, I hope he does not hurry to support us. The Lord's Mansion is the focal point of the rebels' attack, and who knows how many of their forces lie hidden in the surrounding city districts. Blindly aiding us would only mean falling into the rebels' trap. Yan Xing and I both underestimated the rebels' strength. Or perhaps too many have lost faith in Storm City. With the Empire negotiating with the Orcs, surrendering Nuta City could spare many lives and preserve their wealth."

"Those despicable traitors!" the butler couldn't help but curse, then suggested, "Knight Yan Xing's Great Swamp Army is on the border. They are just awaiting your command to assist Nuta City and could easily quell the rebellion within."

Count Theodore considered the butler's suggestion seriously this time. The road from Nuta City to the Eternal Domain had been completed, and the Eternal Domain's Great Army was stationed at the border. With just one order, their vanguard troops could enter the city within hours. But allowing the Eternal Domain's troops to cross the border was different in nature from allowing the Eternal Guild's Mercenaries into the city.

In war, collateral damage is inevitable, as are crimes committed by unruly soldiers. But however cruel the rebels, they are still human. In contrast, even the slightest misconduct by the Eternal Domain's army would be attributed to foreigners. Count Theodore could die, but the title would remain, the family would stand, the land would persist. Despite the cruel internal power struggles of the Silvermane Principality, Count Theodore had not nominally betrayed the Principality. Therefore, the Silver Mane Duke had no grounds to strip the Theodore Family of its honor and lands. The crime of offering the city to foreigners, however, was a different matter entirely. If Storm City fell again… Without power, without a voice. Under the relentless condemnation of political enemies, the Theodore Family would bear an eternal ignominy.

"Let's wait a bit longer," sighed Count Theodore deeply. With so much at stake, he could no longer be as decisive as before.

The butler sighed as well. In the past, war had simply been about us versus them. But now, within Nuta City, there were enemies among them and allies among their enemies. Those who seemed to be enemies on the surface might prove to be reliable allies, while those in the same camp could be enemies seeking their lives. It was unknown how many factions within Nuta City were participating in the rebellion. Each had its own agenda, but they all certainly wanted the Earl dead.

At that moment, a guard ran in from outside. "My lord, Knight Yan Xing is leading a squadron of Griffons to strike at the rebel blockade," he reported.

Soon, another guard rushed in. "My lord, Knight Yan Xing has encountered resistance from the rebels. He has retreated towards the embassy with his Griffons," he reported.

A different guard then reported, "My lord, Knight Yan Xing is leading the Griffons in another breakthrough!"

And another followed, "My lord, Knight Yan Xing has been intercepted and has retreated in the direction of the embassy!"

"My lord, Knight Yan Xing is at the southeastern No. 4 cannon platform!" A man dressed as a crossbowman rushed into the hall of the Lord's Mansion, joyfully announcing, "Knight Yan Xing says he has brought reinforcements. He requests that you go to the southeastern No. 4 cannon platform to discuss counteroffensive measures against the rebels!"

Everyone in the hall was stunned. Hadn't it just been reported that Knight Yan Xing, leading his Griffons, had been intercepted by the rebels and had retreated towards the embassy? How had he suddenly appeared at the southeastern No. 4 cannon platform? But a mere crossbowman would certainly not lie about such a matter.

Count Theodore stood up delightedly, handed his Magic staff to Butler Atreli, and quickly walked towards the road leading to the southeastern No. 4 cannon platform.

At that moment, Yan Xing was holding a spyglass, using this vantage point to survey the surrounding enemy situation. The attackers on the Lord's Mansion vastly outnumbered and were more elite than those besieging the embassy. They were scattered throughout the buildings surrounding the Lord's Mansion, striking from all sides and quickly retreating, making it difficult to ascertain their exact numbers and positions. Over a thousand meters east of the Lord's Mansion lay the plaza occupied by Eddie's forces. The entire stretch from the plaza to the Lord's Mansion was densely packed with buildings, creating complex terrain. If one wished to avoid being bogged down in street fighting and a sheer contest of numbers, it was essential to find the right moment to advance.

"Notify Olaf to lead all the Werewolf Warriors and Werewolf Raiders from the embassy to reinforce the plaza. Send a squadron of tactical Unmanned Bombers to Nuta City on standby. Relocate the cannons from inside the embassy to positions where they can support the plaza," Yan Xing ordered.

Having surveyed the area around the plaza himself, Yan Xing deemed it unsafe to rely solely on the hastily trained mercenaries for its defense. Once the plaza's cannons began bombarding the rebels around the Lord's Mansion, they would undoubtedly try to eliminate this artillery position. The mercenaries, comprised of Merchant Guild scions, had questionable fighting spirit; it would be better to dispatch Werewolf Warriors as an additional safeguard. Rescuing Count Theodore was crucial to the battle for Nuta City. If the Earl could emerge from the Lord's Mansion, it would serve as a significant deterrent to the rebels. It would also boost the morale of allied forces and, at the same time, prevent more fence-sitters from siding with the rebels. The sooner Count Theodore was rescued, the sooner this uprising could be quelled. The key to lifting the siege on the Lord's Mansion was the artillery position established in the plaza. This position could not afford any mistakes from the beginning to the end of the bombardment.

Yan Xing issued a series of orders to bolster the defenses of the artillery position in the plaza.

It was at this moment that Count Theodore also ascended the cannon platform.

"My mentor..." Yan Xing, seeing the Earl unharmed, stepped forward and gave him a large hug. Setting aside the interests of the Eternal Domain, Yan Xing held deep respect for the mentor who had guided him onto the path of a hero. He truly did not want any harm to befall him.

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