Only God-Chapter 593 - 502: The King was wrong!_2

The Dwarves’ victory shook not only the people of Golan, but King Kafu the Sixth of Kaelonde as well.

Having failed to reclaim lost territory for three hundred years and suffering repeated setbacks in wars against the Beastmen, Kafu the Sixth had originally assumed it would take them six months to a year to bring the Helong Mountain Range under their control.

However, just three months had passed, and the Dwarves’ banners were already planted in the last stronghold of the Helong Mountain Range, a fact that astonished Kafu the Sixth.

"Could it be... we are this powerful?"

Inside the newly occupied castle, Kafu the Sixth looked around and couldn’t help saying.

The disorganized state of his surroundings showed that the troops stationed here had just recently left, perhaps not even ten days to a half month ago, indirectly reflecting the swift nature of Kaelonde’s offensive.

It had been so swift that it disrupted Kafu the Sixth’s original plans.

The Dwarf king had planned, after seizing the Helong Mountain Range at a certain cost, to enter a deadlock around several fortresses with the Golan Kingdom, and then enter peace negotiations once the Danschel Empire intervened. By then, Kafu the Sixth would have offered Golan Kingdom the rights to mine, trade, and even swap a few fortresses with those humans, which were generous terms likely sufficient for Golan Kingdom to cede the Helong Mountain Range to Kaelonde.

However, the ease with which Kaelonde conquered the Helong Mountain Range forced Kafu the Sixth to reconsider his plans.

"Should we stop here? How feeble those humans are, how utterly incapable before us. Their walls could not withstand our assault, only to flee in haste. Do such humans merit our halting here?"

Standing inside the newly taken castle, Kafu the Sixth couldn’t help but ask himself.

If the Dwarves had suffered great casualties while capturing the Helong Mountain Range, then Kafu the Sixth, even having successfully taken it, would consider peace talks.

But the problem was, everything had gone too smoothly. The Dwarves had reclaimed the territory, estranged for three hundred years, with hardly any efforts.

"No, we cannot stop here, we cannot afford to. Instead of offering those humans generous terms, it’s better to have them provide us with adequate compensation."

Kafu the Sixth made a decision in an instant, immediately dispatching messengers to gather the generals and demand a revision of the entire military strategy.

The grand victory made the king no longer content with just occupying the Helong Mountain Range; Kaelonde began to hunger for more. The Dwarves’ legions did not sheathe their swords, deciding instead to press onward after a brief respite.

To the local civilians, this was a disaster.

Since Kafu the Sixth had decided to continue the offensive rather than maintain a prolonged presence, the Dwarves changed their strategy of winning over hearts and began a scorched-earth policy of foraging, gathering provisions for the march.

Deprived of food, a large number of human male civilians were forcibly conscripted for labor, starting to build tracks for the Dwarves and living like slaves. Moreover, due to the Dwarves’ admiration for human culture, especially their fondness for human women, the local women suffered ruthless violations. After plundering the area, the Dwarves wantonly raped and abused them, leaving Helong Mountain Range in a state of widespread mourning for a time.

The Dwarves’ pillaging was not limited to Helong Mountain Range; some unruly Dwarf troops began to foray deeper, plundering villages and towns beyond the mountains. Soon fear and hatred of Dwarves began to permeate the Golan Kingdom.

Through the Dwarves’ looting and slaughter, the Golan people realized that the Dwarves of Kaelonde were not indifferent foreign rulers, but rather terrifying, bloodthirsty demons, an external enemy deserving of condemnation by the entire kingdom.

After several days of forced marches, Maxwell, leading the Cavalry, arrived at the Royal City ahead of the others.

As anticipated, Maxwell, as the defeated general, responsible for the fall of Helong Mountain Range to the Dwarves, received no welcome from the people of the Royal City.

"Oh, it’s that old geezer, he even dared to come back."

"He couldn’t even hold onto that prosperous Helong, how can he face the King now?"

"That land was bestowed by the late King, how will the King judge Maxwell? Demoted? Military command stripped?"

"He’s already old, he couldn’t even beat those Hiris-believing Dwarves."

Everywhere in the Royal City, they were discussing the plight of the elderly Earl, and they generally had a grim outlook on Maxwell’s fate.

The easy loss of the Helong Mountain Range was an unacceptable defeat for the Golan Kingdom.

As soon as Maxwell arrived at the Royal City, before he had the chance to pay his respects to the King, he was informed by the King’s military chiefs that the King required his troops to be placed under the management of the Royal City.

"You’re requisitioning my troops, each one of them I recruited myself. I must see His Majesty the King personally,"

Maxwell said indignantly.

"Recognize your situation, Lord Earl. You’ve lost the Helong Mountain Range. You must understand that it’s not just your fiefdom; it holds significant importance for the entire Kingdom."

Despite being a Baron, the military chief showed no fear in the face of a disgraced Maxwell.

Because of the feudal system, it was common for lords to lose their lands without the King necessarily intervening, after all, those weren’t his direct territories. However, if the lost lands were military strongholds, trade hubs, important mines, pastures, and other such critical areas, the King would definitely take notice, even if it was a vassal’s land.

Clearly, the Helong Mountain Range was precisely such an area.

"You have no idea what I’ve faced, only Gods know what I’ve encountered. You haven’t seen how terrifying it is when the Dwarves control the new machinery."

Maxwell was desperately defending himself,

"If I had held that place, then we would have all been finished, the entire Kingdom would have ended. But I didn’t. I brought back that kind of machinery, along with a group of craftsmen and their superior."

Clearly uninterested in Maxwell’s defense, the military chief said irritably,

"Save these matters for your audience with His Majesty the King tomorrow. Right now, your troops must be integrated."

Maxwell heaved a heavy sigh. From the moment he entered the city, he had suffered endless mockery, and now the King even wanted to integrate his troops, turning him into a fish on the chopping board.

But the old Earl was helpless against this, he slowly said,

"Very well, I will go to see the King tomorrow."

...

The next morning, the elderly Earl was finally summoned by King Hudson II of Golan. As he stepped in front of the King’s throne, instead of sympathy, he was met with the cold eyes of the royal couple.

"Maxwell, I’ve read through your report. You’ve lost the Helong Mountain Range, have you?"

Hudson began emotionlessly.

Maxwell nodded with difficulty,

"The Dwarves’ assault was too fierce; Laiendos wasn’t on our side, their new machinery..."

Before the old Earl could finish, King Hudson interrupted him,

"New machinery? For three hundred years, the Dwarves have always had new machinery, yet they have never been able to take Helong from the Beastmen!

Maxwell, have you thoroughly reflected on yourself, considered what exactly you did wrong? Because the God of Victory assuredly stands on our side."

The King’s blunt questioning suddenly ignited the Earl’s anger.

Maxwell said with indignation,

"Your Majesty, I battled alongside your father. I know the battlefield under my feet!

You ask what I did wrong? For two years, I’ve written countless letters to the Royal City, yet your Minister of Finance sent only a box of copper coins, and as for the requested military support, not a shadow was seen when I withdrew from Helong! Were they all hidden by the Secret Goddess?!

I did my utmost; I’ve given everything I can. I swear by the Death God, if I lie, let Him take my life. Forgive my frankness, but it is you who have erred, it is you who failed to pay attention, it is you who are scheming to take over Helong, it is you who are wrong, and you will come to regret it deeply one day!"