Return of The Unrivaled Spear Knight

“Ah! Torosen lu Reifonbeo, commander of the 7th Battalion of the Imperial Knights.” His memories conjured images of a middle-aged blonde knight with a crisp bearing.

Hmm… Yes, he looks like her.

“You’re Sir Reifonbeo’s daughter.”

“Yes, and—”

“Why don’t we go inside for now?” Count Haiburi interrupted, attempting to prevent Senna from talking for hours as she was wont to do.
She pouted, but the Count ignored her.
“How are you feeling? It would be great if you stayed in our castle for a day or two—the Master Battle is still a ways off.”

“I appreciate your consideration,” Joshua replied, instantly brightening their expressions.
“However… I have a number of personal affairs to attend to, in addition to the Master Battle.
I’ll have to settle for the Count’s good intentions.”

“That’s—”

“Ah.” Count Haiburi and the girls let out disappointed sighs.
“Then why don’t we get something to eat?” he ventured, refusing to give up hope.

“Hmm…” It would be difficult for Joshua to reject the Count’s offer.

“Given His Majesty’s instructions,” the Count added, “supper would greatly relieve my heart.
Please spare my reputation.”

Joshua nodded, resigned, much to their delight.
He could only smile bitterly at their excitement.

“Well, if you insist.” After all, I have to travel there first. “However, it will be difficult at this time—there is an important matter I must address immediately.
I’ll make it to Haiburi Castle by evening.”

“We’ll be waiting.” Count Haiburi beamed.
He had enough political expertise to know that pressing the issue would end poorly.
“Please let me know if you need assistance at any of Haiburi Castle’s inns.
All of the inns in the area are related to our family.”

“Thank you for taking such good care of me.”

“Of course.
I’ll see you later.” Count Haiburi turned around and the crowd followed suit.

“You must come,” Senna implored him.
“We’ll be waiting.”

Joshua watched them go.

“For now, let’s start with the Mercenary Guild.”

An enormous map filled the table, spilling over its edges.
It charted the division of the continent, particularly the holdings of the Avalon Empire.

The map was worth every penny, but the lady in front of it lifted her finger and pointed without even looking at it.

“This blue region here—” She gestured towards the southern section of Avalon.
“—represents the Pontier family’s current territory.”

The tall man next to her grimaced at her words, though they flowed from her lips like jade beads.

“Then there’s the red spots…”

“Yeah.
The Crombell family’s domain.
Before the all-out war over territory, the areas in green were our family’s estate.”

“It looks bleak.” The man sighed heavily.

The green region was at least one and a half times bigger than the red before the territorial war.
But the blue area was now not even half the size of the red.
The Pontier estate was no more than a third of the Crombell territory.

“The rumors were not exaggerated.
The Pontier family is about to be decimated—” Cain halted, realizing what he was saying.

“It’s fine,” Charles said.
“It’s true.”

“The Princess’s pragmatism is commendable.”

“I-Icarus?” Cain seemed puzzled.

“Do you think we have a chance, Icarus?” Charles’s eyes sparkled.

Icarus smiled sweetly, took up a pen, and drew a straight line across the map.

“There.” Icarus turned to Charles.
“Now I’ll show you why they call me a genius.”