There’s nothing that can’t be betrayed.

Marquis Hussain understood this deeply, which is why he immediately made his way to the Augusta territory.

But do you think he went there to betray Count Lovett?

Of course not. If the plan succeeded, he stood to gain even more. At least for now, he had no motivation to betray anyone.

In fact, he discreetly leaked the location of a grain depot to Derrick.

“Viscount Derrick, while those southern nobles haven’t made any obvious moves, I’m concerned they might cause trouble. I hope I’m just overthinking,” Marquis Hussain said with a worried expression.

This grain depot was one he had secretly stashed away during the transfer of royal aid and supplies from central nobles. Originally intended for his own use, it now served another purpose.

Derrick expressed his gratitude immediately and even apologized for any prior misunderstandings.

“Marquis, I will convey your goodwill to His Majesty,” Derrick assured him.

He didn’t believe for a moment that Hussain had forgiven past slights and was now acting selflessly. If Hussain was offering something, he must have an ulterior motive—perhaps to gain favor or to ensure that the king learned about his generosity.

Marquis Hussain smiled. Derrick’s sharp intuition was truly extraordinary.

The two privately discussed some contingency plans to prevent the Holy Cross Kingdom from catching them off guard.

Once Hussain left secretly, Derrick’s expression changed.

“Prepare the horses. I must see the Count immediately.”

“Viscount? At this hour?”

The sky was already dark. What could be so urgent?

“It must be now. Time is of the essence,” Derrick replied firmly.

Marquis Hussain’s mention of the grain depot had triggered Derrick’s worst fears. Perhaps Hussain thought his words were casual and unlikely to attract attention, but Derrick’s past experiences told him to read between the lines.

Hussain would never act without purpose. Why would he want the king to know he was providing grain? The answer was simple: someone was about to target the supply lines, and Hussain wanted to absolve himself of responsibility in advance.

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From the king’s perspective, Derrick’s defiance and pride might be tolerable—it was a show of strength from an independent noble. But Hussain? His rank and power were gifts from the king. To betray that trust was unforgivable.

Derrick was already wary of potential issues with grain supplies, and now he knew he needed to act. If the southern nobles and Hussain joined forces, they could escalate the situation to an uncontrollable level.

He had to see Count Perez.

Derrick met the count outside Pulan City in secret. The latter was surprised by Derrick’s sudden visit. As a seasoned northern noble, Perez was reluctant to believe that Hussain and Lovett would go to such lengths. Yet the harsh realities of politics made him reconsider.

“Derrick, I’ll handle the grain. Before the Holy Cross Kingdom launches an attack, I’ll ensure it’s delivered to you discreetly. But you must be careful. If they’ve prepared such a decisive move, it won’t stop at cutting off supplies.

“If I were them… I would coordinate with someone within the Holy Cross Kingdom and attack your Birchwood Fortress directly.

“With their army at your gates, your forces trapped within, they wouldn’t even need to breach the walls. Five thousand men encamped outside would be enough.

“With their main force advancing westward, your entire territory would be destroyed.”

This strategy was brutal. Even if the Holy Cross Kingdom ultimately failed, Augusta would be decimated. Tens of thousands of subjects, Derrick’s strength rivaling that of a count, would be gone in an instant.

Derrick took the lesson to heart. As Perez warned, the enemy would not hesitate to strike ruthlessly, with a barrage of coordinated attacks.

“I understand. I’ll make the necessary arrangements. If the Holy Cross Kingdom underestimates me, they’ll regret it,” Derrick replied.

He returned from Pulan City, leaving behind all comfort and throwing himself into a relentless whirlwind of activity.

Derrick already had a solid grasp of Augusta and St. Millet Province’s terrain and environment. Although he had been hesitant to act before, the looming crisis left him no choice.

He ramped up military training, personally leading knights on maneuvers and increasing recruitment efforts, even at the expense of the spring planting season.

This militarization came at a heavy cost—if everything went as usual, next year’s grain would be insufficient to feed the entire territory.

Meanwhile, Birchwood Fortress became a hive of activity. The walls were reinforced repeatedly, stores of grain piled up in massive quantities, and soldiers packed in like sardines. It was a clear signal that the fortress was preparing for a prolonged siege.

At the same time, Derrick oversaw agricultural projects, guiding farmers to dig irrigation canals and build water storage pools in preparation for the planting season.

To outsiders, everything seemed normal. Derrick appeared to be sticking to his tried-and-true strategy of holding Birchwood Fortress while steadily developing the rear territory.

If given three to five years, Derrick would surely turn Augusta into an impregnable stronghold. A new generation of war-tested knights would emerge to further cement the northern nobles’ dominance over the kingdom.

But for now…

What a fool this Viscount Derrick is, his enemies thought. Too rigid, too short-sighted. Young and naive, he doesn’t yet understand how the world truly works. Fueled by nothing but passion, he thinks he can change everything.