Chapter 414

“Worthless! You are all worthless!” Arthur’s clenched fist bulged with veins, and his chest heaved violently. “Just a mere Ray, and you can’t do anything about him. In just half a month, his team has expanded to more than 10,000 people.”

Arthur’s gaze swept across the court, and all the civil and military officials were silent, not daring to say a word.

“Speak up! When I need you, none of you dares to say a word. What’s the use of me raising you?” Arthur shouted.

“Your Majesty, please calm down.” All the civil officials knelt on the ground, and besides saying calm down, there was nothing else to say.

Arthur’s head hurt with anger. He took a deep breath and said, “Who can lead troops to kill that traitor Ray?”

There was a rustling sound in the military officers‘ ranks, and the hands of several veteran generals were on the sabers at their waists, their knuckles turning white.

General Darwin Greene, who defended the country, was nearly sixty years old, and his hair was already gray. He moved half a step forward on his knees, and his rough voice echoed in the hall. “Your Majesty, I am willing to go!”

Arthur glanced at him indifferently, then lowered his eyes. “You’re getting old, and the terrain of Ramberg is treacherous. The city of Ramberg is also very strong, so I’m afraid it will be difficult to break through.”

Before he could finish speaking, a deep voice suddenly sounded, “Your Majesty, I don’t think it’s wise to attack by force at this time.”

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Xander walking in from outside the hall.

He walked up to Arthur, cupped his fist in the other hand, and said, “Although Ray’s team has expanded to ten thousand people, most of them are refugees and deserters who were temporarily gathered. It seems to have a huge momentum, but its foundation is unstable.

“Ray issued a denunciation claiming that your throne is illegitimate, and he just wants to incite the old officials of the previous dynasty.

“I heard that your previous teacher is living in seclusion in Athkar. If we can persuade him to come forward and dispel the rumors, Ray’s proclamation will be dismissed as baseless.”

Everyone gasped after hearing this.

The teacher had a strange temperament and had long since stopped asking about matters in the court.

It may not be possible to persuade him to dispel the rumors.

But as things stood, there seemed to be no other way.

Xander stepped forward, “I am willing to go to Athkar in person to invite Mr. Quincy Shepherd out and secretly contact the Ramberg gentry to disintegrate Ray’s popular support.”

He paused and added, “As for military deployment, Darwin can lead 5,000 elite soldiers to be stationed on the border of Ramberg, acting only as a deterrent without actively attacking, to buy us time.”

Arthur’s brow furrowed; he was hesitant.

If Xander couldn’t return in time, and Ray broke through Darwin’s defense line and led troops to attack Pidence City, he would be in trouble.

Xander seemed to know what Arthur was thinking, and he said to Arthur, “But I have a candidate who can ensure your peace of mind.”

“Who?” Arthur asked hastily.

“Michael.”

As soon as this name was spoken, everyone was shocked.

Everyone knew about Michael’s past with Athena, yet Xander recommended such a person to Arthur.

“Michael?” Arthur’s voice suddenly rose, and he opened his eyes wide. “Michael is currently serving his sentence. Are you sure he is competent?”

The hall was deathly silent, and even the ticking of the hourglass could be heard clearly.

The civil officials whispered to each other, all remembering the past between Michael and Athena, and how the young general ended up being stripped of his position and title.

Xander remained calm. “Indeed, although Michael was demoted, he has his own methods of leading troops to fight. Half of the generals in the Ramberg army are old subordinates of his father.

“If he can be reinstated, it will not only stabilize the morale of the army, but also use him to contain Ray’s old subordinates. As long as he is there, Ray will not be able to attack.”

“Absolutely not!” Kasen Durham, the Minister of Records, stammered, prostrating himself. “Michael holds resentment towards Prince Xander and harbors malicious intentions towards Princess Consort. If he defects during the battle, wouldn’t that be letting a wolf into the house?”

Xander stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I believe in General Osborne’s character. The fault of what happened back then lies in fate and has nothing to do with personal grudges. Now that the country is in trouble, he will definitely put the overall situation first.”

Arthur rubbed his fingers on the armrest of the throne and pondered for a moment. “Pass on my decree, reinstate Michael as General of Illustrious Valor, and guard the Imperial City.”

He paused, his voice low. “If he dares to be disloyal, he will be killed without pardon.”

Michael felt extremely surprised when he received the imperial decree.

He thought he would never have the opportunity to wear armor again, but he did not expect that Arthur would reinstate him because of a word from Xander.

“Prince Xander, why don’t you get straight to the point? Why did you recommend me to the King?” Michael didn’t believe that he was the only military general in the court, and Xander must have had other intentions.

Xander chuckled. “I do have selfish motives because only you are willing to risk your life to protect Athena. As long as you are here, the Imperial City cannot be breached, because I know you will protect this Imperial City with your life.”

Xander pushed the military seal in front of Michael. “Darwin is old, and among the generals that can be mobilized in the court, only you are familiar with Ray. As the saying goes, knowing yourself and your enemy is the only way to win every battle.”

Michael stared at the military seal and suddenly laughed, but the laughter was a little bitter. ” Prince Xander, aren’t you afraid that I will turn against you and join forces with Ray?”

“I trust you.” Xander’s eyes fell into the distance, where the lights were gradually lit up. “I have more faith in the loyalty and courage that the Osborne family taught you.”

The words struck him to the core, leaving his chest tight with unspoken feeling.

Michael thought, ‘My father once said that a military general’s sword should be pointed at foreign enemies, not at their own people.‘

His eyes were a little moist. He slowly picked up the tiger tally, and when he looked up again, his eyes were firm. “Okay, I promise you, I will guard this Imperial City and Athena.”

“She is not your Athena. She is the Princess Consort of the Xander Manor.” Xander corrected him.

Michael lowered his eyelashes, was silent for a moment, and said stubbornly. “In my heart, she will always be my Athena.”

Xander was speechless, thinking, ‘What a stubborn man.‘

But now was not the time to talk about this; Northcold may launch a war at any time.

In case Northcold colluded with Ray, Petanion would be attacked from both sides, which was the most terrible thing.

The people of Pidence City were all panic–stricken because Ray was going to attack.

The door of the grocery store was firmly propped up by the owner with thick wood.

Children’s cries had not stopped from morning till night.

The grain store was crowded with people carrying cloth bags, and some people were quarreling over the last bag of flour.

Some piled up stones on the top of their courtyard walls to prevent rogue soldiers from breaking in.

…

What was more, some people took their wives and children and fled to other places.

Outside was chaotic, but the Xander Manor was quiet.

Athena stuffed the folded clothes into Xander’s luggage. “Athkar is mountainous, and it gets cold at night. Remember to put on these thick clothes.”

Her voice was soft. “Now that you are going to Athkar, it’s hard to guarantee the news won’t leak. Be careful on the way, and watch out for his flanks.”

Xander gently wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head.

The scent of soapberry lingered in her hair, inexplicably putting him at ease.