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Chapter 266: Chapter 35: Earl Uman’s Transformation

"My lord? Earl?"

"Patriarch?"

"Patriarch, please, just have one bite."

Just as Robson was emerging from the pass, Earl Uman’s forces had finally escaped danger.

During the retreat, Earl Uman had been in a state of shock, muttering to himself the entire time.

It was Earl Uman’s unassuming younger brother, Wulan, who, despite his usually simple and naive appearance, had handled everything with perfect order during the crisis, leading the army in a safe retreat to the mountains.

"You can go for now."

Just as the personal guard was about to continue pleading with the Earl, Wulan walked over.

"Brother, what’s going on with you? Why are you just sitting here?

The entire army is up ahead waiting for your command. What is the meaning of this?" Wulan frowned as he looked at his older brother.

Although Wulan had successfully led the soldiers in a retreat to the mountain and established a camp, he knew his own limitations. He was keenly aware of where his abilities ended; this was the extent of his skills. He could never command a large army or navigate the political arena like Earl Uman.

If this setback completely broke his brother, things would become very difficult for him and the Gauss Clan.

Seeing that it was his brother, Earl Uman just shook his head.

"Wulan... you don’t understand. Do you know what it feels like to be a clown? Ever since we retreated from the battlefield, I’ve been thinking about a lot of things..." Earl Uman said, his expression dejected.

"What things? What specifically?" Wulan asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.

Wulan had known Earl Uman since they were children; his brother had always been sharp-tongued and arrogant. No matter what happened, he would never be the one to admit he was wrong. Earl Uman’s current behavior was truly a rare sight.

"Do you remember that theater I took you to before?"

"The one east of King’s College?"

"Yes... I feel like I’m a comedian. A clown. A self-righteous fool," said Earl Uman.

"I thought I was in control of the Gauss Clan, but it turns out I can’t even command a few common soldiers.

I thought I was secretly weakening my enemies, but I was as conspicuous as the sun the whole time.

I’m just a clown, standing on stage thinking I’m watching the show," Earl Uman said.

People often have an epiphany in a life-or-death moment. When that Silver Tier Six Centaur on the Beastmen’s side raised his axe, Earl Uman truly felt the threat of death.

That threat shattered many things—for instance, Earl Uman’s own deep-seated arrogance.

Once his arrogance was shattered, Earl Uman entered a profound state of mind. As he habitually reviewed the battle, he suddenly understood many things with perfect clarity.

’Oscillate isn’t a fool, Robson isn’t a fool, and Valentino isn’t a fool. In all of this, I was the only fool.’

’This was what Robson called ’experience.’ No matter how much you read in books, without living it yourself, you would forever have an outsider’s perspective.’

After listening for a while, Wulan finally understood. His brother had fallen into a depression after the defeat.

"Isn’t that normal? Are you talking about Oscillate and Marquis George? They’ve been old foxes for years. And what about that Robson? How much have the royal family and the southern faction invested in him? Even His Majesty, the current King, is not a man to be underestimated," Wulan said.

"Something you can understand so easily... cost me the lives of tens of thousands of men to learn."

Just as the two were about to continue their conversation, cheers suddenly erupted around them.

Wulan looked around in confusion, only to see the crowd cheering toward the south.

In the distance, a Griffin was flying toward them.

"It’s a Griffin! We haven’t seen one in days. It must be news about reinforcements!"

Hearing the word "reinforcements," a glimmer of life returned to Earl Uman’s eyes.

When it came down to it, Earl Uman’s current state was because he had caused a monumental disaster and had no idea how to atone for it.

A person cannot remain idle; idleness leads to brooding.

In the past, Earl Uman was used to giving himself tasks. Now that his arrogance was broken and he saw himself clearly, he had lost some of his youthful drive.

Previously, Earl Uman had always felt a deep-seated loathing for anything that represented the authority of the higher nobility. But now, he found himself hoping the Griffin would land quickly and, preferably, tell him what to do next.

Before long, the Griffin spotted Earl Uman’s encampment. It was about to land, but a Thunderhawk suddenly appeared in the distance.

Left with no choice, the Griffin Knight flew over Earl Uman’s position and scattered something down below.

"What is that?"

"Letters. It must be a message from Count Valentino. Wulan, quickly, go grab a few," Earl Uman said.

Wulan nodded, picked up one of the letters after it landed, and handed it to Earl Uman.

Earl Uman anxiously tore open the envelope.

"Well? What does it say?" Wulan asked, looking at Earl Uman curiously.

"Good, very good..."

"We have reinforcements!" Earl Uman suddenly grew animated, the weight on his heart finally lifting.

"Valentino... The Commander-in-Chief has dispatched Viscount Robertson to rescue us," Earl Uman said.

The letter in his hand was one of the batch that Robson had given to Valentino.

"Excellent. From now on, defend our position and wait for reinforcements."

Wulan looked at the suddenly invigorated Earl Uman, finding it baffling. He couldn’t imagine what was written in the letter to make his brother seem so rejuvenated, as if he’d found a new lease on life.

Wulan couldn’t understand the immense pressure Earl Uman had been under as a Patriarch and faction leader after coming to terms with his failure.

"So, are you going to eat now?" Wulan asked, pointing to the personal guard in the distance who was still holding the food.

Earl Uman was silent for a moment.

"Never mind. This little bit of food won’t make a difference for me. Let someone else have it."

...

Scenes like the one with Earl Uman were playing out all along the Wisley Path.

It had to be said that Robson’s letter was truly crucial.

Seeing the message from the Supreme Command Department finally put everyone’s minds at ease. They hadn’t been abandoned, and the enemy wasn’t as powerful as they had thought.

Just as the human nobles were breathing a sigh of relief, Castro also got his hands on one of the letters.

"His Highness Prince Odoruo was right. This group of humans isn’t their full strength on the eastern front," Castro said, looking at the letter in his hand.

"The humans have reinforcements? Tec’s reinforcements won’t arrive for at least another day. What do we do now?" the adjutant asked, his expression panicked.

Castro looked at him and couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

"Idiot. If their reinforcements are only just setting out, it’s too late for them.

The enemy is already surrounded by us. Rescuing them will be nearly impossible."

"General! General! Urgent report!"

Just as Castro was about to pull out a map to continue studying the battlefield situation, a soldier rushed in from the rear with an urgent report.

The soldier running toward him was covered in bloodstains.

"What is it? Is it about the humans’ letters? I already know about that," Castro said.

The soldier looked completely baffled, not understanding what Castro was talking about, but he still handed over the report he was carrying.

"General, it’s an urgent report from the front line. I don’t know what it is, but the Thunder Eagle Knight who delivered it was on the verge of death when he landed. This is the intelligence he wrote down before he died," the soldier said.

Hearing the soldier’s words, Castro finally took the matter seriously.

’A message a Thunder Eagle Knight died to deliver?’ On the battlefield, the survival rate of flying units was exceptionally high.