Inside the hall of the mansion belonging to the Vernau family in the western part of Blande, rows of finely dressed men and women stood together. Their face showed a mixture of outrage and humiliation.

Van looks at the numerous eyes brimming with resentment.

The owners of these eyes are none other than the members of the great families of Blande, whom the Vernau’s knights dragged.

Who wouldn’t feel angry? To suddenly find that your mansion is being breached and brought here.

They had not come willingly.

Before long, one voice broke the silence.

"Why are you capturing us, Van? I don’t think there’s any enmity between us," said Hadrian Kempten.

This man is in his late fifties with streaks of grey in his beard. His face was flushed with barely suppressed anger.

"This is for your safety?" Van replied calmly. "Almost half of our nation has fallen. I also have to hastily escape westward. My main mansion is simply too close to the frontline."

Van gazed at the mansion he was currently in. This mansion in Ergel is very ordinary compared to his main one.

Nevertheless, he had to make do with it. If he stubbornly stays at his main mansion in Vernau, he will eventually be encircled with no way out.

Hadrian scoffed. "Do you think we don’t know that? We’re not blind."

"Of course, I know you are aware of the situation. Which is precisely why I brought you here. However..." He paused, letting the suspense coil tighter in the hall. "...I am afraid there is one thing you do not know yet."

"Oh?" Hadrian pressed. "Tell us then."

"The Hagen family has defected to Ryntum."

The statement fell like a hammer. Everyone was surprised, including Hadrian, so much so that he broke a cold sweat. "Is that true?"

"Absolutely," Van said without hesitation. "Hugo Hagen has already been appointed as a minister in their royal court. While we bleed on the frontlines, he feasts at Ryntum’s table."

Hadrian clenched his fists. His face darkened as he inwardly cursed Hugo Hagen for his sudden betrayal.

’That damned opportunist... He moved before the rest of us even realised the game had changed.’

Hadrian looks back at Van Vernau and launches another question, "So, how does Hugo’s betrayal have anything to do with us? Don’t tell me, Van, that you don’t trust us?"

For a moment, silence reigned. Then, unexpectedly, Van chuckled. His chuckle grew into a coarse, humourless laugh that echoed against the vaulted ceiling.

"Hahaha... Yes." Van admitted. "I don’t trust any of you. If there’s the first case of defection, then surely there will be a second. Maybe even more."

Hadrian’s expression darkened.

"The way you put it makes it sound as if we are all villains and you, Van Vernau, are the only noble soul in this land. If you’re suspicious of our loyalty..." He swept his gaze around the hall. "...then we are equally suspicious of you. Who’s to say you haven’t already secured an escape route for yourself? Perhaps you’ll sell us out next, just as Hagen did."

A murmur of agreement rose, louder this time. Some nobles glared openly at Van, while others exchanged wary glances.

Clearly, they’ve already been poisoned by Hadrian’s words.

Van looks at the agitated audience in front of him.

’They’re getting out of control,’ he thought.

To be honest, he had no absolute confidence in confining them here indefinitely.

Despite his authority, he did not wield absolute power here. He had his knights, but these families, too, had their private forces.

The last thing he wanted was infighting to erupt among Blande’s great houses.

"Alright, alright. Calm down, all of you. Look at it from another perspective. Since we are all gathered here, does it not make communication and coordination easier? No more sending messengers back and forth. We can speak directly, face to face."

The nobles exchanged looks. Their anger did not vanish entirely, but lessened to a certain degree.

"You’re right. What’re we gonna do next?"

The people in the hall quiet down. The eyes of the assembly turned toward Van; not one of them looked hopeful.

In truth, not a soul in that room believed Blande still held the power to turn the war around.

"What is the latest movement of Ryntum’s army?" Hadrian asked.

"They’ve stopped advancing."

A ripple of confusion swept across the hall.

Van cut them off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Why do you think I have the time to summon you all here? If they were pressing their assault, I would have neither the men nor the leisure to waste on gatherings."

"As for the reason... my spies are already at work uncovering it. Soon enough, we will know."

"Then what should we do in the meantime? Stare blankly at the floor?" Hadrian’s sharp voice broke the suffocating silence in the hall. His sharp eyes swept across the chamber, full of contempt at the assembled nobles.

Inwardly, he sneered. ’Useless, the lot of them. Sitting there, silent as sheep, waiting for the slaughter to come. If I stay tethered to these cowards, they’ll drag me down with them.’

The nobles shifted uncomfortably under his piercing gaze, but none rose to the bait.

"Of course not," Van replied. "We will not waste this opportunity. While Ryntum is distracted with... whatever is keeping them still, we should be reorganising our frontline. Our defences are in disarray, our supply lines stretched thin, and morale..." He paused, glancing around the room. "...morale is at its lowest point since this war began."

Van certainly won’t give up on this country. His family foundation was deeply rooted here. He is uncertain whether he could recreate the family glory elsewhere.

Hadrian folded his arms. "Reorganise, you say. Well, I want to see how you turn the tables."

Hadrian was in no rush. The core assets of his family have been transferred out of the country. What was left was him and his family member.