Dominic's face contorted in confusion at the strange suggestion.
"Destroy it? Why would you want to destroy it?"
Michael recounted his earlier conversation with Oswald. As his son's explanation unfolded, Dominic's expression grew more approving.
"Oh, I see. That's quite an ingenious idea. I'll order as many structures as possible to be built there immediately."
"It doesn't need to be elaborate. Just something functional. The soldiers won't arrive for another two days, so I'll leave the preparations to you."
With that, the connection ended. Dominic clasped his hands as he watched the smoke in the crystal orb dissipate.
"What a bold plan. Truly my son through and through."
After turning off the orb, Michael tilted his head again, perplexed.
"Why do I feel stronger every time?"
As the Crassus estate flourished, Sir Ronald found himself garnering far more attention than ever before. However, the task currently at hand was one he had never imagined undertaking.
"So, should we set it on fire here?" one of the men asked hesitantly.
After a brief pause, Sir Ronald nodded with a grave expression.
The torch was thrown, and the dry wooden planks immediately caught fire, the flames quickly consuming the structure. The blazing fire reflected off the serene lake, its flickering light dancing on the water's surface. Smoke began to spread in all directions.
"Ha! Burns like a charm," one of the men chuckled.
Sir Ronald stood silently, his lips pressed into a tight line as he watched the scene. This was all part of an elaborately staged charade.
Under the orders of Dominic, the former Count of Crassus, they were orchestrating a convincing spectacle in cooperation with remnants of the Pamir Empire's forces. The goal: to make it appear that a portion of the estate had been attacked by imperial remnants.
The flames reflected off Sir Ronald's freshly polished armor as he squinted at the destruction beyond the blaze. Soldiers sent by the Pamir Crown Prince ruthlessly tore down the hastily constructed shacks by the lake. These crude structures, thrown together in a single day, crumbled easily under the soldiers' rough hands.
"Should we hit this one too?" another soldier asked.
"Throw it! Throw it all!" came the reply, their clumsy attempts at the common tongue adding to the surreal scene.
To heighten the effect, a large barrel of pig's blood was rolled out. As thick smoke filled the air, blood was splattered everywhere, mixing with the soil to turn the entire settlement into a sticky, dark red mess. The charred remains of the houses and the crimson-stained ground combined to create the appearance of a catastrophic tragedy.
"Is this enough?" one soldier asked the commanding officer.
"More. We need to make it convincing," he replied.
The soldier, nodding, approached one of the half-burnt shacks and began smearing pig's blood on the planks, leaving grotesque crimson streaks that resembled desperate, dying struggles.
Throughout the chaos, Sir Ronald maintained a stoic demeanor as he supervised the operation. The soldiers dispatched from the Empire continued their destructive work, demolishing shacks and throwing torches, creating an increasingly hellish scene. The stench of blood and smoke filled the air, making the entire area unbearable.
"Who would have thought I'd one day work alongside these people?" Sir Ronald mused grimly. Having spent his life battling imperial soldiers, the sight before him felt utterly foreign. His mind understood the necessity of the task, but his heart screamed for him to draw his sword and cut them down.
As a man of straightforward principles, he struggled to grasp the greater implications of this act. However, he was a knight—a man of honor. A true knight obeyed orders, no matter how distasteful.
"Is this sufficient?" the imperial commander asked, breaking Ronald's train of thought.
Surveying the area, now a complete disaster zone, Sir Ronald gave a silent nod. The scene had been transformed into something that anyone would believe was the aftermath of a violent attack.
Dominic, the former Count of Crassus, welcomed Sir Ronald back quietly, observing the soot and grime that now sullied his armor. Clearing his throat, Dominic offered a few words of encouragement.
"Well done, Sir Ronald. There's no one else I'd trust to handle such matters."
Sir Ronald thumped his chest with a fist, his eyes shining with determination.
"Whatever the task, leave it to me! I'll see it through."
Dominic smiled, appreciating the knight's unshakable loyalty, and dismissed him to clean up. He knew that a man like Sir Ronald would never betray the secrecy of their operation.
Once alone in his study, Dominic picked up a quill and dipped it in ink. The silence of the library was broken only by the scratching of the pen against parchment as he began to write:
To His Majesty, Whom I Hold in the Utmost Esteem,
While reclaiming the swampy lands near the lake, a tragic event has occurred. Ruthless remnants of the Pamir Empire's forces have invaded the estate, mercilessly killing the settlers working to develop the area.
Despite the swift response of patrolling soldiers, who rushed to the scene upon noticing smoke rising from the settlement, the attackers managed to escape.
This atrocity has resulted in the destruction of over 250 homes and the brutal massacre of nearly a thousand innocent settlers. The invaders left behind a written threat, vowing to continue their attacks unless the five tribal leaders captured by my son are released.
As evidence, I enclose the imperial insignias and letters recovered from the site of the destruction.
I implore Your Majesty to address the injustice suffered by the estate's people and extend your mercy upon their plight. I write this with a heavy heart and utmost sincerity.
Dominic von Crassus, Former Count of Crassus
Sealing the letter with the Crassus family crest in molten wax, Dominic summoned his steward.
"Take this and ensure it is delivered to His Majesty by the fastest means possible."
The clever steward decided to employ one of the estate's gargoyles for the task. As intelligent and eloquent creatures, the gargoyles were capable of conversing with humans and would handle the mission with dignity.