PFFT!

The longspear plunged into Tarrenno’s throat without hesitation.

Tarrenno’s face was a mask of astonishment. He gripped the spearhead tightly with both hands as blood streamed from his throat.

He held this pose for seven or eight seconds. Fang Zhen could feel the strength gradually leaving Tarrenno’s grip on the spear.

An unwilling expression on his face, Tarrenno’s body swayed and then collapsed to the ground.

Fang Zhen frowned, looking down at the lifeless body of Tarrenno.

He could sense no aura, no signs of life.

Tarrenno, a Duke of the Kingdom, had died just like that, right before Fang Zhen’s eyes.

Fang Zhen looked at Tarrenno’s corpse, silent. ’He didn’t transform... So he wasn’t the Demon Duke?’

Every soldier present had witnessed him run Tarrenno through.

Even those who were not politically astute felt an indescribable emotion at that moment. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The common soldiers also sensed the gravity of the situation.

Fang Zhen had actually killed a Duke of the Kingdom!

There was no telling how many chain reactions an event like this would trigger, or how many lives throughout the Kingdom would be affected.

Even the defending soldiers of Nottingham, after a brief round of cheers, seemed to grasp the implications.

Gradually, a commotion rippled through the Tarrenno Legion, and a sense of unease began to spread through the ranks.

With their commander dead, morale was shaken, and the soldiers were at a loss.

By now, Fang Zhen had confirmed that Tarrenno was truly dead, showing no signs of life whatsoever. He had also confirmed that Tarrenno was not the Demon Duke.

Although he wasn’t the primary target, Fang Zhen felt no regret.

He had dueled Tarrenno according to plan, not just because of the Demon Duke issue, but because Tarrenno had been threatening the Ashton Territory—and Dalia in particular.

Dalia was more than just his lover; she was his noble proxy in this world. A threat to Dalia was a threat to the very foundation of everything Fang Zhen had built.

Before Tarrenno’s final, desperate counterattack, Fang Zhen might have considered sparing his life. But now, there was no need to dwell on it. There was no point in regretting past actions, right or wrong; one simply had to learn from the experience.

Fang Zhen’s gaze swept over the Tarrenno Legion.

The focus now was not on Tarrenno, but on how to control the panicked soldiers and prevent them from breaking rank or, in their unstable state, charging Nottingham City.

Fang Zhen raised his head and shouted, his voice ringing out, "Tarrenno died in a fair duel! All of you are witnesses!"

"You have lost your commander, and you no longer have a Lord."

"Now, for your own sake, you need to consider one thing carefully: how will you face a future without Tarrenno? How will you survive when there is no one to gather your supplies and pay your wages?"

Fang Zhen’s words sent a great stir through the Tarrenno Legion.

His words were a splash of cold water, shocking awake the many soldiers who hadn’t yet considered what they would face after Tarrenno’s death.

Tarrenno was dead. How long his legion could hold together was now uncertain.

These men were career soldiers. They lacked other skills and couldn’t necessarily just lay down their arms and return to their fields. Moreover, there was no telling if the flames of war would reach their homes.

As for what to do next, the soldiers were completely lost.

Seeing that the soldiers of the Tarrenno Legion were now focused on this very point, Fang Zhen watched them for a moment before speaking again in a clear voice, "I have a solution."

"Soldiers, you have a choice. You can join my army. I will continue to provide everything Tarrenno gave you, and you will once again be soldiers of a Duke."

"Those among you with the authority to speak for your army, come and discuss this matter with me in detail."

His words immediately caused another great commotion within the Tarrenno Legion.

Even the ever-mysterious Mage Corps seemed to be stirred.

After about half a minute, someone from the opposing Mage Corps suddenly moved.