The Fourteen-Month Conundrum

As the yellow glow of the Earth-Battering Cannons illuminated Lanning's Command Post during the bombardment, Arges's ambushing forces knew the beastmen had fallen into their trap. At that moment, Arges personally oversaw and commanded his grand army in a counter-encirclement of the beastmen's legions.

Charles, astride a golden lion, wore a blank expression. After issuing several Military Edicts in succession, Arges patted his shoulder. "Charles, your Marshal knows that your Second Division suffered heavy losses this time, all to gain the beastmen's trust! But this is war. Sacrificing the Second Division and a small portion of the Command Post's forces, we can secure victory for the entire campaign..."

Charles rudely interrupted Arges. "Marshal, I understand the principle of sacrificing a part for the whole. But what I don't understand is... why was this operation codenamed 'Double Kill'? Francis is indeed quite vexing, but..."

"Enough!" Arges's brow furrowed, then he laughed heartily. "Charles, you are only twenty years old; there's much you still don't understand! But after this battle... haha, you will become the youngest Major General, perhaps even Lieutenant General, in the Empire in nearly two decades! So, General Charles, tell your Marshal, how do you think we should proceed with the next phase of the battle!?"

Charles's face showed little joy; he replied flatly. "The beastmen are already trapped near the Command Post. As long as we advance ten li away from the Command Post and set up the sacred artifacts of war, this battle will be without suspense!" Forcing himself to think, he added, "However, we must pay attention to the Star River region. We lack a naval force comparable to the Serpent Clan, so that area remains a hidden danger!"

Arges beamed with delight. "Charles, your military tactics are becoming increasingly steady and reliable; this is excellent! Furthermore, after the war, you should return to the academy to complete your studies. Your Marshal heard that there's a certain Miss Frinda at the academy who is quite exceptional! Haha!" In that moment, Arges was the picture of a doting father!

Suddenly, the ground trembled violently, and the roar of rushing waters filled the air. From the direction of Lanning's Command Post, brilliant light scattered, and an unforeseen Disturbance erupted!

A sharp glint flashed in Arges's eyes as he barked, "The situation has changed! Vanguard units, accelerate your advance! Second Legion, follow closely! All other forces, beware of flank attacks!"

Moments later, a scout stumbled forward. He knelt before Arges, struggling for a long moment to close his agape mouth. "M-Marshal! The front-line battle is over! The hundred thousand beastmen legions... completely annihilated!"

Arges swayed on his lion. He then mused, "Could it be that other forces acted preemptively? Accelerate the march! Forward!"

When Arges's forces arrived at the perimeter, ten li from the Command Post, moving at a run, they were utterly shocked by the sight before them! Lanning's Command Post was long gone. In its place was a vast, icy depression. The ice surface was dotted with puddles formed by intense heat, and the frigid water was stained crimson with blood!

On the periphery of the depression, dozens of squads of black-armored warriors controlled the beastmen's sacred artifacts of war. Their muzzles were all aimed at the beastmen captives within the depression, who were digging through the ice, unearthing beastmen corpses and military equipment. These beastmen, grouped into teams of several hundred, were shackled with their own iron chains. Should even one of them dare to make a slight Disturbance, the entire team would face bombardment from the sacred artifacts of war! Yet, compared to the sacred artifacts of war, the most terrifying presence was Deboning, floating in mid-air, wreathed in a swirling black mist!

A rough estimate revealed the captive beastmen outnumbered the black-armored warriors by at least tenfold!

The moment Du Chen saw Arges approaching, he rubbed his nose, a smile playing on his lips, and leisurely walked forward to greet him. "Marshal, it seems you've arrived a little late!"

Arges's Adam's apple bobbed. Before he could even inquire, a General behind him bellowed, "Brigadier General Francis, what in the world happened here!?"

"It's simple, as you can all see, one hundred thousand beastmen have been routed by my army, and we are currently clearing the battlefield!"

"Your army defeated one hundred thousand beastmen?" Arges's expression drastically changed, and he immediately roared, "Which unit disobeyed Military Edict and came to assist Francis!?" He looked around.

"Stop looking, it was just one unit from my Second Legion!" Du Chen said with a smirk, extending three fingers, "Three thousand men!"

Arges snorted and shook his head. "Three thousand men routing one hundred thousand beastmen? Impossible! Did you secretly deploy some Transcendent Sacred Artifacts of War!?"

"My apologies, I only had two Seven-level Sacred Artifact Cannons at my disposal!"

"Then you must have summoned Du Chen, the Divine, and his numerous Divine Servants, using a large number of High-level Battle Gods to obliterate the beastmen!?"

"You're wrong again. In this battle, only Mr. Brook lent a tiny bit of assistance..."

"Then the beastmen must have suddenly erupted into infighting, slaughtering each other?"

"Marshal, the beastmen are highly elite warriors; how could they possibly descend into infighting on the battlefield! My three thousand brothers alone defeated one hundred thousand beastmen!"

"You lie!"

Arges pointed at Du Chen and roared sternly. General Zac, behind him, added in a sneering tone, "Brigadier General Francis, falsely reporting military achievements is a capital offense..."

Du Chen scoffed. "What a pity, the beastman Legion's General Hamlet is already dead. But fortunately, I captured their Legion's Chief of Staff, General Ledo. He'll tell you the truth! If you still don't believe me, look! Feel free to question any of these beastmen captives!"

Arges's faction fell into a deathly silence. Three thousand men annihilating one hundred thousand beastmen, killing the beastmen Legion Commander, capturing the Chief of Staff, and seizing enough military equipment to arm a hundred thousand-strong army... What an unparalleled military achievement was this!?

The most crucial aspect wasn't merely these overt merits. Arges, having personally devised the plan, understood perfectly well in his heart that this battle, annihilating one hundred thousand beastmen, was the turning point of the entire campaign, the key to ultimate victory, a glorious, strategic triumph! The beastmen had suddenly lost one hundred thousand troops, instantly reversing the balance of power between the two nations. Bargnar had, for the first time, gained a superior position against McAllen...

All these accomplishments... had damnably fallen into the hands of that bastard, Francis! He had stolen the glory that was rightfully mine!

Arges was incandescent with rage!

At this, Du Chen's voice turned chilling. "Marshal, truly, what masterful tactics you employ. This gambit sought to kill not only the beastmen but also me, Francis! Heh!" Du Chen suddenly chuckled. "Too bad I'm still very much alive. Are you perhaps... disappointed, Marshal?"

Arges's face contorted into a grimace. "Indeed, I am very disappointed!"

With these words, the entire army erupted in uproar!

Over a hundred thousand people were gathered here, and Arges had uttered such words publicly... Zac quickly whispered, "Marshal, you're losing your composure."

Arges also realized that his rage had overwhelmed him, making him speak inappropriately! But anything concerning Francis was utterly intolerable to him! For the moment he laid eyes on Francis, the eighteen years of suppressed pain in his heart would involuntarily surge forth!

Waving his hand to dismiss the crowd, General Zac wisely ordered the troops to distance themselves from the father and son pair. He himself also pulled Charles away.

With no outsiders present, Arges sneered. "So what if I used you as The Bait? Francis, such things are common on the battlefield, hmph! Are you complaining about being asked to sacrifice for the nation?"

Du Chen gave a cold smile. "You are the Marshal, and I am merely a Brigadier General; how could I possibly have an opinion against you? However... Du Chen, the Divine, and the Holy Church certainly have their opinions! Arges, once this war concludes, I will meticulously settle all scores with you, past and present!"

*Shing!* Arges drew the longsword from his back. "Why wait until the war is over? Francis, I'll give you a chance for a fair duel right now – life or death, no regrets!"

Du Chen's eye twitched with a sidelong glance. "Arges, a Peak Eight-Star Battle God like you wants to challenge me? If that's what you want, then don't blame me for being impolite..."

*Swish!* The Vanishing Snow Sword appeared in his hand!

"Stop! Both of you, stop!" Charles yelled, pushing past Zac and rushing to stand between the two. "Father, Francis! What is wrong with you two!? The war isn't over yet; the beastmen still have an army of seven hundred thousand!"

"Charles, move aside!" Arges said coldly.

Du Chen curled his lip in a sneer. "General Charles..."

"Francis, shut your damn mouth! No matter how wrong Father is, would you dare commit patricide!?" Charles then looked at Arges. "Father! Even if Francis is vexing, he is still your and Mother's child; stop fighting! You've already cast him out of the family; that should be enough!"

Arges roared furiously, "You shut up! Francis is not my child! He's a bastard, a bastard!"

"You're the damn bastard!" When had Du Chen ever been cursed to his face like this? He wasn't someone without a temper; on the contrary, in his previous life, he was a rogue who had fought his way out of street brawls and gang fights!

Arges seemed to recall something, his eyes bloodshot. "Bastard! Am I wrong to call you a bastard?" He gripped his sword with both hands, his shoulders hunched as he glared at Du Chen. "If it weren't for Phil's dying wish that I not kill you, you would have drowned long ago. Today, I'll risk upsetting Phil!"

He shoved Charles away, sending him stumbling to the ground. Seeing the two men about to charge at each other with swords, Charles urgently cried, "Father! Are the descendants of God Sigurd truly going to slaughter each other!?"

Arges roared, "Descendant of God Sigurd? Hmph, Francis is unworthy! He is not my son at all, much less a descendant of our ancestor!"

"Why!" Charles anxiously cried out.

Arges had already charged towards Du Chen, their swords clashing, and he spat with hatred, "Ten months before Francis was born, I was in Tukus City, preparing for an expedition against McAllen..."

Du Chen snorted, "Based solely on that, you doubt I'm your biological son? Are you unaware that humans can sometimes be pregnant for up to eleven months?"

"But before the expedition, though I was at the Saint Sigurd Cain Estate, I was preoccupied with war preparations and hadn't touched Phil for three months. Can a human truly be pregnant for fourteen months!?" Arges roared, "That bastard father of yours defiled Phil, and now you come to snatch my glory! Damn you!!"