Chapter 267 - 208: Chop Off His Horns First
Henry’s interest was piqued as he looked at the "person" before him, whose head was connected to its neck by just a flap of skin.
The creature’s hands and feet were shackled in iron chains, but Henry didn’t get too close. Who knew if this thing could spit poison?
The First Prince sat back down, watching Henry with great interest. A smile touched the corner of his lips when he saw Henry approach the grotesque figure without a hint of fear.
’Just as I thought. This is a man with absolute confidence in his own Bravery. It seems the rumors weren’t exaggerated after all.’
He grew even more intrigued when he saw Henry stop a short distance away and squat down to observe the creature. The Prince stroked the beard he had purposefully grown, lost in thought.
"Ratifa, can you understand what it’s saying?"
"It says... it will kill you, and that they will be victorious."
The First Prince’s hand froze on his beard. His eyes narrowed, his gaze darting back and forth between Henry and Ratifa.
’Ratifa? Did Henry just call her by her first name? Are they that close?’
Henry stood up and asked, "Do they have any unusual methods of attack? Like biting or spitting?"
Ratifa thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"Baron Henry, has something occurred to you?"
Henry shook his head and addressed the First Prince, "Your Highness, I just find it strange that this... person... can still be alive, and even speak, after suffering such an injury."
"Oh? You just find it strange?"
"I’ve seen Half-Beastmen and Lizardmen. At this point, I can accept the existence of just about anything in this world."
The First Prince smiled and continued to make small talk with Henry for a while. It was mostly the Prince asking questions and Henry answering—about the economic situation in places like Westwood Laine, population numbers, and other pleasantries about Henry’s personal well-being.
When the First Prince ran out of topics to discuss, he claimed he had other matters to attend to and dismissed Henry.
Seeing the First Prince genuinely lower his head to review battle reports, Ratifa considered for a moment, then also left the large tent.
"Your Highness, what are your thoughts?" A sturdy man stood up from behind a tall stack of books.
"I’m certain my initial assessment was correct. There’s something wrong with this Henry.
I had him investigated. Before he went to study at the Knight Academy, Henry was just a clever and relatively obedient child among the noble scions.
But after Henry entered the Knight Academy, everything changed. He grew increasingly belligerent, and his progress in Martial Arts was shockingly fast.
It’s not that I don’t believe in natural-born Warriors, I just think this isn’t normal. How old is he? The training time alone for some of those powerful Warriors is almost longer than he’s been alive."
"If that’s all, then suspecting he’s like one of those monsters is a bit rash," the sturdy man said.
The First Prince waved his hand dismissively. "What truly makes me suspicious is his army.
How did he train a group of serfs to be more disciplined than the new recruits of a standing army in such a short time? And they don’t fear death! Yes, they don’t fear death! That isn’t just being warlike.
His army reminds me of those monsters from beyond the border."
The sturdy man fell silent for a moment before saying, "You have a point. I’ll have someone look into it, but I advise you not to act on your own. He is a student of the great emperor, a Vassal of the great emperor."
"I understand."
The man departed, disappearing from sight.
The First Prince looked at the map behind him and muttered to himself, "I won’t make a move against you... Henry."
Ratifa led Henry on another winding path through the military camp before they finally found where their army was quartered.
"The First Prince thinks highly of you. He wouldn’t spend that much time speaking with an ordinary noble."
"Is that so? I think he bears me ill will."
Ratifa blinked and smiled. "You’re too sensitive. The First Prince is just trying to imitate his father. He’s still young, after all."
Henry didn’t bother to explain further. He could sense the First Prince’s wariness toward him; the words and the smile were all a facade.
’What a family. The second brother is scheming, the third wants to rebel, and the eldest is a master of pretense. Truly an invincible trio, Headmaster.’
The moment Henry and Ratifa stepped into their army’s encampment, a messenger hurried over and handed them a sealed document.
"Countess Ratifa, Baron Henry, these are the combat orders just issued by His Highness the First Prince."
Ratifa took the document, quickly broke the seal, and unrolled the parchment. Her eyes scanned the contents, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Henry, we really do have a mission in here."
Henry sneered internally. He took the orders from Ratifa. They detailed their combat objective and plan of action, all of which seemed perfectly reasonable.
"It seems His Highness the First Prince has high hopes for us," Henry said, his tone tinged with sarcasm.
He didn’t know what little tricks the First Prince was planning, but he wasn’t afraid of a fight.
Ratifa said no more. Like Henry, she began directing her troops to assemble, gather their supplies, and prepare to depart.
That was the way of an army: you didn’t ask questions, you just carried out your superior’s orders.
The army assembled with incredible speed; one could even say they had never really made camp in the first place.
The army departed once more, making no more of a ripple in the main camp than they had upon their arrival.
A desolate yet magnificent vista unfolded before them. This was a land ruled by cold, with patches of lingering snow covering parts of the ground.