Chapter 99: Dailenna's Report
Having just finished observing the Military drill, Kai Xiusu returned to the Cave, where the Great Goblin immediately presented another secret report.
He studied it carefully.
The title read: "Notes on the Northern Three Kingdoms Alliance."
"On a straightforward assessment of military strength, Bosk Duchy clearly outmatched the combined forces of Lakanman and the Duchy of Notte. Bosk emerged victorious from internal struggles within the Northern Union Kingdom, having secured a special status during the historic 'Lionheart Alliance.' As the nominal ruler of the united realm, it has long held sway over the southern reaches of the Anzeta Wasteland.
Yet its relationships with other duchies have always remained delicate and distant. The current Duke of Bosk harbors a dream of a unified, centralized kingdom—thus, he has no intention of fully committing to any one ally. In fact, he takes quiet pleasure in seeing his neighbors weakened.
Of the so-called Allied Forces numbering around thirty thousand, fewer than five thousand troops came from Bosk’s "Northland Lion" Duchy—mostly insignificant Border Defense units, nothing more than frontier garrisons.
The "Double-Headed Eagle" Nott Family, while reliant on Lakanman as a shield, is genuinely willing to assist. However, their own limited strength restricts them to sending only three thousand soldiers.
The largest contingent, by far, comes from the Duchy of Lakanman itself—because this is a matter of survival, they have thrown everything they have into the conflict.
My notes here are primarily intended to document the state of Lakanman’s military forces.
At the lowest and most common level are conscripted civilian laborers. Before the war, they were mere farmers, untrained in any System-based military discipline. Armed with crude weapons and little to no armor, their true role was never combat—but feeding warhorses, hauling supplies, or serving as cannon fodder before elite units launched their assault.
In Lakanman, these men are typically tenants or peasant laborers under the control of local gentry—people without personal freedom, even denied the right to claim spoils of war. Any battle merits or loot they earn are automatically recorded under their lord’s name.
Slightly better off are the second-tier soldiers—freemen who enlist voluntarily. They retain ownership of their spoils, though their wealth is limited. Most rely on inherited weapons passed down through generations.
These men are usually freeholder farmers who gather under their lord’s banner as part of their feudal obligation. Theoretically, they hold the same status as landowning gentry—after all, they are simply farmers with more land and no need to personally work the fields.
The third tier consists of professional soldiers with close ties to the lord himself—true warriors whose dedication far surpasses that of conscripts. They are often the lord’s personal retainers or local barons. Whether through stipends or land holdings, they possess sufficient wealth to afford top-tier weapons and armor, and they fight not just for duty, but for profit.
There is also a group straddling the second and third tiers—mercenaries. Though they lack the extensive estates of nobles, years of combat have taught them the value of survival. They consistently reinvest their earnings into better gear, prioritizing their own safety and battlefield success.
Meanwhile, peasant conscripts who do earn spoils tend to spend them on basic survival—food, shelter, family. Though mercenaries lack formal System-based military training, their years of constant warfare serve as the most brutal and effective schooling of all—provided they survive long enough to benefit from it.
The fourth and final tier—the elite tier—are those who possess both the wealth to equip themselves with the finest weapons and armor, and the education to qualify for junior officer roles. Only this group can field sizable cavalry units.
They are typically knights or barons in service to the lord—men of noble blood, seasoned and trusted. The most renowned example is the so-called Northwind Eagle Guard Knight Company.
Signed at the end: "Your unknown but devoted servant, the humble Pure-Blooded Serpentfolk, Dailenna Cui Du."
"Hmm… interesting," Kai Xiusu murmured, reading the words with quiet contemplation.
This wasn't merely a military report—it was a comprehensive overview of the social structure across the Northern regions. Or perhaps, more accurately, a carefully crafted demonstration of skill—a calling card meant to prove worth.
Whatever Dailenna’s true intentions, she had undeniably caught the Red Dragon’s attention.
After a moment of silence, Kai Xiusu gave his command.
"Dolo, bring the author of this report to me."
Dolo responded at once. "Master, the serpentwoman has been waiting at the door for quite some time. I was about to have her removed…"
"Let her in."
"Yes, Master."
Moments later, Dolo ushered her in.
Kai Xiusu studied the Pure-Blooded Serpentfolk carefully. She wore a heavy hood, her purple robes hinting at a graceful figure—otherwise, she looked entirely human.
Facing Kai Xiusu’s piercing gaze, she removed her hood without hesitation, lifting her face with a sultry smile.
Her beauty was striking—ethereal, yet laced with danger. Her vertical pupils, sharp fangs, and forked tongue betrayed her true nature.
"Master Kai Xiusu," she purred, voice rich and velvety, yet edged with a faint serpent’s rasp. "I knew you’d let me in."
Kai Xiusu looked down upon her, unblinking.
"Such precision in writing… your talents are undeniable. You could easily carve a place for yourself among humans. So why come to this remote, forsaken Ashen Hollow?"
A faint, practiced smile flickered across her face—subtle, eager, ingratiating.
"Master Kai Xiusu…"
But her words were cut short.
"Do not attempt your cheap charms on a Dragon of noble blood."
Kai Xiusu’s tone turned cold. A faint, oppressive aura—Dragon Radiance—began to ripple around him.
For the first time, Dailenna truly felt it: the weight of a real, brutal Red Dragon, not some pampered human lord.
The instinctive terror flooded her. Her body trembled. She collapsed to her knees, head bowed low.
"My… my status…"
"I am the lowest of the low among my kind," she stammered. "In human society, my bloodline has barred me from achieving anything meaningful. I came here because I had nowhere else to go."
Kai Xiusu’s voice remained calm, almost detached.
"Ah. So you can speak plainly. That’s better."
He paused, eyes narrowed. "Tell me honestly—what do you seek here, in Ashen Hollow?"
Dailenna hesitated. Then, with gritted teeth, she answered:
"Power. Status."
She remained on her knees, silent.
The air grew thick. Sweat dripped from her brow as she waited for judgment.
Kai Xiusu glanced at her. A faint shimmer of arcane light flickered in his golden eyes.
【Lie Detection】 Spell—confirmed.
She was telling the truth.
His voice returned, steady and cool.
"Good. You did not lie. Had you, you would already be ash."
Relief washed over her. She exhaled.
"Here in Ashen Hollow, we welcome those with ability. I care little for ambition—indeed, I encourage it. But only if you can prove your worth."
He fixed her with a steady stare.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, Master," she said quickly.
"Go to the Ugly Tower. Find my steward, Lanpu. He will assign you a role suited to your talents."
"Yes, Master."
"...Master."
This chapter is done for now. I’m too drained to write more—plot will explode after my exam on the 18th.
(End of Chapter)
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