The Lord Of Blood Hill-Chapter 222: Don’t Use My Own Stuff to Reward!

The Lord Of Blood Hill-Chapter 222: Don’t Use My Own Stuff to Reward!

The Vorska front is going from bad to worse, and the Vorry Duchy is starting to sweat bullets—it might even threaten the Iron Wall defense line.
Especially after hearing that the Ika Kingdom plans to pull together two legions to break through here.
The duchy’s top brass can’t sit still anymore. Their grand duke’s steward assigned to Peace Haven has been talking with Henwell more than once.
One day, the steward shows up at the front again and corners Henwell.
“Henwell, we really can’t drag this out any longer up north. Once the Vorska line collapses, it’s your back on the line! We’re fighting for the duchy, but we’re also fighting for you! The grand duke won’t shortchange anyone who has made contributions!”
Henwell sets down the papers in his hands. “Oh? Won’t shortchange those who has made contributions? Really? Like what, for example?”
Kadia goes silent—yeah, that was a bit of an awkward, even insulting, thing to say to Henwell.
After a moment, Kadia clears his throat. “Henwell, you name the terms! What do you want to send troops north and break the mess at Vorska?”
Henwell doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he has someone bring over a detailed map of the Vorska front.
“Look here, Lord Kadia! The Ika Kingdom fields five full legions and four border defense legions. That’s over 70,000 regular troops, plus more than 20,000 from the Ika noble alliance—that’s a total of 100,000 men!”
”After Count Descartes and his crew messed things up, the duchy only has three full legions holding the Vorska line.Add in the border defense legions and those mostly useless noble alliance troops, and it’s just over 60,000.That’s nearly half the manpower lost!”
”Tell me, how many troops do you think I need to pull up there to even salvage this fucked-up situation?”
Kadia forces a wry smile. “Henwell, you’re the expert here—asking me is like asking the wrong guy! But since Peace Haven’s legions are so strong, I figure just sending one over should do the trick.”
”Your First Legion, for example—that one’s pretty powerful. If you back them up there, I bet it’ll turn the tide.”
Henwell removes the marker representing the First Legion from the Peace Haven battle map.
He points to the huge gap left exposed. “So what about this hole I leave behind if I pull the First Legion out? The Ika Kingdom’s two elite legions over there aren’t going anywhere! Who’s gonna stop their advance?”
Kadia points to the Second Legion’s marker. “Don’t you still have another elite legion?”
Henwell doesn’t say a word. He moves the Second Legion marker to cover the First Legion’s old position.
Then, the entire Peace Haven front line shows a massive gap.
“And what about here? We don’t have enough troops!”
“You could pull back a little, give up some useless lands. Shrink the front and it’ll be easier to defend.”
Henwell calmly looks at Kadia. “You’re suggesting I abandon territory won with the blood of countless soldiers? I want to know if this is your idea or the Grand Duke Amir’s. If it’s the duchy’s official stance, I expect clear orders.”
Kadia waves his hand quickly. “No, no! That’s neither the duchy’s nor the Grand Duke’s intent. Just my fool suggestion—you know I’m not well-versed in military matters.”
Henwell keeps pointing at the huge blank in the front line. “Even if I manage to hold off the Ika Kingdom’s two elite legions, what about the rest? Don’t forget, they still have four main battle legions here, plus border defense troops—over 60,000 regulars in total.”
”Not to mention the damage they’d do to Peace Haven if they move. Even if they don’t attack Peace Haven directly and just march through to the duchy’s southern borders, what kind of destruction could those 60,000 troops wreak?”
”When that mess happens, it’ll be way worse than now! Who’s going to take responsibility for that?”
Kadia doesn’t dare argue and can only plead, “Henwell, the Vorska line really can’t hold much longer! You have to think about the bigger picture!”
Henwell replies coolly, “I’m already thinking about the bigger picture. I’m fighting tooth and nail against two of the Ika Kingdom’s elite legions. After multiple battles, I’ve pulled every legion Peace Haven has and nearly crippled the Ika Kingdom’s southeastern forces.”
”What more do you want from me? What else do I need to do to satisfy the duchy?”
Kadia says, “Henwell, please figure something out! The duchy really needs your help right now! Just shrink the front a little, and send one legion north.”
Henwell looks at Kadia. “I’m willing to do that. But how exactly will the duchy make it up to me?”
When Henwell makes his demand, Kadia finally breathes a sigh of relief.
He’s not afraid of Henwell asking for things—he just fears Henwell can’t actually spare any troops.
At this point, the duchy honestly doesn’t have the face to ask Henwell for more.
Kadia gathers his thoughts. “The duchy will name you Protector of the Southwest and promote you to Count. Peace Haven and surrounding areas will officially be under your control. The lands previously pledged to you by the duchy will become yours outright.”
Henwell chuckles. “Haha…Kadia, you’re a real comedian, joking around with me at a time like this.”
Kadia freezes for a moment. “I’m not joking. As long as you agree to send troops north, the official documents will be delivered immediately!”
Henwell rolls his eyes. “Lord Kadia, if you’re not joking, then why the hell are you promising me my own land as a reward?”
Kadia didn’t expect Henwell to have the balls to say something like that.
Even though Peace Haven is already under Henwell’s control, legally speaking, Henwell only owns that small patch of Blood Hill.
The whole Peace Haven area still officially belongs to the duchy.
From Kadia’s perspective, Henwell needs the duchy’s recognition of his ownership.
But Henwell doesn’t see it that way. “Lord Kadia, I’ll be blunt—Peace Haven already belongs to me. This isn’t me grabbing duchy land; it’s what I’m owed. It’s what the Rhine family owes me. It’s what the entire duchy owes me!”
”As for that pledged land, I’m not interested in it. Just pay me back the money the duchy owes me.”
”Oh, and one more thing—I want to remind you that in a few months, the duchy will repay me the first installment of interest. Fifteen percent interest, totaling 750,000 gold coins, and I want it in cold, hard cash.”
Kadia narrows his eyes. “So, Henwell, what exactly do you want before you send troops?”
Henwell points at the map. “That’s not up to me. It depends on what price the duchy is willing to pay to save Vorska.”
Kadia stares deeply at Henwell. “Henwell, this is your chance to mend fences with the duchy. Your talent and strength have earned you respect from everyone. Let bygones be bygones. As for your current demands, they will put you squarely against the duchy.”
Henwell lets out a light chuckle. “Haha… Kadia, you’re exaggerating. I’m not against the duchy. I’m just against the Rhine family. And not even all of them—Arius and Fabio have no beef with me.”

Chapter 222: Don’t Use My Own Stuff to Reward!