Chapter 105 – The Betrayal of Altenburg
The dawn cast golden light across the war council chamber in Eisenwald. Fenrir sat at the great oaken table, maps sprawled before him, pins and markers pressed deep into parchment roads and rivers. The emissary of Altenburg stood nervously at the far end, his hands clutching a scroll sealed with the serpent crest of his lord.
With steady fingers, Fenrir broke the seal. The wax cracked, and silence blanketed the hall. He read aloud so that every commander present could hear:
> To Fenrir Eisenwald, the Crimson Wolf.
I, Baron Altenburg, surrender my lands. I submit to the protection of Eisenwald. Better to live under your shadow than to die in vain on the battlefield.
—Baron Altenburg
The last words lingered in the air. No one spoke. Even the flickering torchlight seemed to pause.
---
Fenrir folded the letter, his expression unreadable. Then, with a voice calm yet firm, he declared:
"From this moment, Altenburg is no longer an enemy. They are a vassal of Eisenwald. Send a garrison—not to conquer, but to secure order and ensure stability."
Darius Holt, commander of the infantry, bowed his head. "Wise, my lord. With this, our western supply line is guaranteed."
Selene Aestra, commander of the archers, added softly, "And Altenburg's merchants will flock to our markets. Grain and cloth flowing here will double our reserves."
Kael Morgenstern, his dark eyes steady, offered a faint smile. "My lord, this will echo across the frontier. You've shown that resisting you leads to ruin, but yielding means salvation. That message will spread like wildfire."
Fenrir nodded. "Then let it spread."
---
News of Altenburg's submission raced through Eisenwald faster than any rider. In the markets, peasants and merchants murmured in disbelief:
"Did you hear? Altenburg has bent the knee!"
"No baron has ever surrendered without a fight before…"
"Then it's true—the Crimson Wolf brings both fear and protection."
Days later, Altenburg merchants arrived, carts laden with grain and woven fabrics. Instead of hostility, they were welcomed. The Eisenwald marketplace swelled with twice its usual crowd, laughter and bargaining drowning out the lingering memories of war.
---
Beyond Eisenwald, fury boiled.
At Castle Hohenberg, the baron slammed his fist onto a stone table, cracking it down the middle. "Altenburg is a traitor! He dishonors us all!"
In Falkenhain, the burly baron stroked his beard, sneering. "So be it. This clarifies the lines of war. Three against one—it will be his undoing."
Meanwhile, Drachenfels erupted with laughter. "Let him kneel! It only makes Eisenwald's noose tighter. When the time comes, I'll crush Fenrir and his pet vassals together."
---
That night, as Fenrir stood before the hearth, the cold mechanical voice rang in his mind:
> [Quest Update]
Expand Eisenwald's Territory – Conquer or integrate two neighboring baronies (2/2 ✔ Completed).
Shadows of the Border –
• Spies neutralized (✔)
• Military strengthened to 10,500 (✔)
• Expand diplomatic alliances (✔)
Rewards Granted:
– +2 Levels
– +30 Aura
– +25 Strength
– +20 Stamina
– +25 Cunning
– +15 Charisma
– New Skill: [Wolf's Dominion Lv.1] – The Crimson Wolf's presence boosts allied morale (+10%) and attack power (+5%).
Fenrir exhaled slowly. He could feel the raw energy coursing through him, his aura of molten red flickering more intensely than before. The battlefield would never see him the same way again.
---
[Status Panel – Fenrir Eisenwald]
Name: Fenrir Eisenwald
Title: The Crimson Wolf, Baron of Eisenwald
Age: 18
Level: 17
EXP: 31,000 / 35,000
Aura: 165 (+30)
Stamina: 165 (+20)
Strength: 130 (+25)
Cunning: 215 (+25)
Charisma: 135 (+15)
Mental Fortitude: 185
Skills:
[Aura Control Lv.3] – Refined aura manipulation.
[Swordsmanship Lv.3] – Adaptive blade techniques.
[Leadership Lv.4] – +20% morale to commanded units.
[Tactical Instinct Lv.3] – Battlefield adaptation.
[Passive – Legacy of Strategies] – Ancient stratagem knowledge from another life.
[Wolf's Dominion Lv.1] – New!
Traits:
[Wounds That Shape] – Trauma forged into mental strength.
[Lord of the Marsh] – +25% Cunning, +15% Strength when fighting in swamps.
Active Quest:
Shadows of the Border – Final Objective: Defeat the hostile barons of the frontier.
---
Fenrir tossed the Altenburg letter into the flames. The parchment curled, blackened, and was swallowed whole by fire.
"One has yielded," he murmured, eyes reflecting the blaze. "Three remain. And when the war begins, only one banner will stand above the frontier—Eisenwald's."
---
#wanD48