NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 58: Post-War Assessment
Chapter 58: Post-War Assessment
"Hahaha, excellent!"
"Steve, you've done well this time. Your merits are increased by fifty points! Also, get someone to treat Baron Pape Lawrence and his son immediately. I don't want them dead!"
Thor was delighted by Steve's report. He hadn't expected such a huge gain.
Out of over three thousand men, aside from the hundreds killed by the magic crystal cannons and the dozen knights who resisted and were killed, most were captured. Among them were Baron Pape Lawrence and his eldest son.
This was a massive haul.
Initially, Thor only intended to establish his authority and eliminate any potential threat from Baron Pape Lawrence. Capturing him hadn't been a primary goal. But now that he had, the possibilities were endless.
Baron Pape Lawrence, a long-established baron in the Northern Province, possessed considerable wealth and resources. Capturing him and his eldest son could yield significant benefits, potentially addressing the current shortage of manpower in Thor's territory.
"Yes, my lord!" Steve responded and swiftly left to handle the post-battle tasks.
Although the battle had ended quickly, there was still much to do, especially dealing with over two thousand prisoners. Arranging their accommodation was a significant challenge, among other tasks.
As Steve departed, Thor began to ponder his next steps. His recent actions had proven correct. Having defeated Baron Pape Lawrence and captured him, no noble or pioneering lord in the Maine River Valley could ignore him.
If he wished, Thor could expand Rachos Merchant Guild throughout the region without issue, under his banner. His name would become one that no neighboring lord could disregard.
However, this was contingent on keeping the large iron mine a secret. If the mine were exposed, it would incite envy and greed among the neighboring lords and nobles. The allure of a large iron mine was too great, and even defeating Baron Pape Lawrence might not deter all their ambitions.
Thor saw two paths: conceal the mine and continue as planned or dominate all the nobles and pioneering lords in the Maine River Valley. The latter was riskier but not impossible, given his resources, including the powerful Neil Morton and the magic crystal cannons.
Weighing the pros and cons of each option, Thor fell into deep thought.
Meanwhile, Baron Pape Lawrence and his son Lawrence were receiving urgent medical attention. Although Thor's territory lacked a priest, there were basic healing scrolls and some fruits containing life energy. Despite their severe injuries, their conditions quickly stabilized, especially the baron, who recovered faster due to his status as a grand knight.
Two hours later, Baron Pape Lawrence regained consciousness. Realizing his predicament, he whispered, "Defeated!" Feeling his body's poor state and understanding his current situation, he was overwhelmed by despair.
Moments earlier, he had hoped to capture Thor Dresrosa, but now he was Thor's prisoner, along with his eldest son. Such an outcome was hard to accept.
After a while, he slumped to the ground in resignation. Defeat in the Northern Province, where strength dictated the rules, meant his entire territory was at risk. Thor Dresrosa could easily conquer it, especially with nine-tenths of its forces now defeated.
His regret was profound. He regretted attacking Eagle's Ridge, bringing all his forces, and even his eldest son, Lawrence, who had greater potential than himself. If Lawrence had remained behind, the territory might still have hope. But the goddess of life would not grant him such reprieve.
His only solace was that Thor Dresrosa had shown mercy by not killing them and even treating their injuries. It was a small comfort in an otherwise bleak situation.
As dusk fell and night approached, the battlefield was quickly cleared. The captured knights and many slaves were absorbed into Thor's domain, seen as his property, with Baron Pape Lawrence expected to pay a significant ransom.
Thor had thought he had two choices, but in reality, there was only one clear path.