"What do you mean the staff of authority is missing? Are you telling a joke or what?" Rowan asked with a dark expression on his face.
Fagin remained speechless as he looked at the ground, as if seeking an answer from it.
He couldn't even believe his own discovery; the staff missing meant someone was already planning to seize his position from the very beginning.
That person might have hidden the staff of authority, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and seize his position. But he couldn't help but wonder who that person was and where they had taken his staff of authority.
The realization that the position he was proud of had already been sabotaged before the war made him even more dejected.
Rowan observed his expression and demeanor, he could tell that Fagin was telling the truth.
'Fuck, this is the only way I can get my hands on a staff of authority right now!' Rowan cursed inwardly.
"Who amongst your people do you suspect?" he asked.
Fagin shook his head and replied, "There is no one I suspect."
"What the heck? How can you not suspect anyone? You're a bastard who knows nothing other than eating, defiling women, and making wrong choices. You should know that your people loathe you, and there must be someone who has openly shown hatred for you!" Rowan barked at him.
The more he looked at Fagin, the more he felt the urge to punch him to death.
"I think I know someone," Ren spoke up after a few seconds.
"Hmm?" Rowan gave him a questioning look, urging him to speak.
Even Fagin listened carefully. Throughout his reign, he had trusted everyone and relied on the protection of the ancestors. He had never suspected anyone.
"Stanis," Ren replied instantly. "There have been rumors among the low-ranking soldiers that he had his eyes on Elara and the other women Lord Fagin kept for himself. There were talks that he planned to kill Fagin and take his women."
The more Ren explained, the wider Fagin's eyes grew. Even the men kneeling on the ground couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"Hmm, I know about his disgusting lust for my women, but I never suspected he'd consider killing his lord for such a foolish reason," Rowan commented.
However, he realized that Stanis' decision was natural, given his position in the village. He was the strongest man, while his lord was just a glutton with no strength. The urge to dominate would certainly be there.
'It all makes sense now that I think about it,' Rowan nodded in realization.
On the other hand, Fagin found the information too hard to believe. His most trusted soldier had been planning to kill him all along, and he had never suspected a thing!
"You said you defeated Stanis already? Which means he's dead. He's the only suspect, the only one who might know the whereabouts of the Staff of Authority," Fagin tried to explain.
He had only been told that Rowan defeated Stanis and didn't know Stanis was still alive.
"You shouldn't worry. That bastard is still alive," Rowan smirked.
He felt relieved that he had chosen not to kill Stanis earlier, even when he had the chance.
'This would've been a hell of a difficult task if that bastard were dead,' Rowan sighed inwardly.
"Let's return to the others. Stanis is with them," he said as he pulled the reins and began riding away.
"What should we do about these men?" Bruce asked, pointing his sword at the men kneeling on the ground.
Rowan tilted his head back, observing their terrified faces. Some were already shedding tears, pleading for mercy.
Fagin and Ren looked at Rowan, waiting for his answer as well.
'There's no benefit in killing these bastards, and no consequence either. I could've done it myself, but they're worthless,' Rowan thought.
He waved his hand, giving the captains approval to do as they pleased.
Fagin and Ren's eyes widened in surprise.
Meanwhile, the captains grinned and moved toward the men, who scrambled on the ground, pleading for their lives.
"I never wanted to join them, they forced me. Don't kill me!"
"I don't want to die!"
Rowan continued forward without looking back. Ren dragged Fagin along with him.
As Rowan neared the gate, a notification suddenly popped up before him, causing his eyes to widen.
"Fuck!" he cursed out loud, quickly jumping off his horse and sprinting at full speed toward the border. Chaos was brewing!
At the border of Glenwood, a crowd of more than seven thousand people caused a chaotic commotion, much worse than the earlier disturbance from the men who had already faced the consequences.
The youth and a few middle-aged men from Glenwood were tossing large stones at Winterseed soldiers.
Some grabbed heavy objects from the ground and rushed toward the Winterseed soldiers, who were trying their best to calm the commotion while also guarding the surrendered soldiers.
As they attacked Rowan's men, they hurled insults and curses.
"Get back to your village, you pathetic bastards!"
"You'll be our slaves soon!"
"Your lord is already dead! You should just give up!"
Their curses left the Winterseed soldiers confused. How could their Lord Rowan be dead?
"Everyone under Captain Bryce, come with me! Let's defend against these bastards while the rest of you stay on guard. We can't let them get close to their soldiers, or they might free them, and things will become much harder for us."
Winston ordered loudly as he grabbed his sword, watching the people charging toward them with heavy objects, ready to attack.
Thanks to the large number of people in Glenwood, even the attacks from their untrained men became a big threat to the soldiers, who were less than one-tenth of their population.
"Fuck all these bastards!" one of the soldiers near Winston shouted, attacking without hesitation.
The others followed suit, attacking as well.
But as they charged toward the incoming attackers, more people from Glenwood joined in, making the battle even more intense and difficult.
They clashed, and casualties began almost immediately. Men from both Glenwood and Winterseed fell to the ground following the first seconds of clashing.