A message. Or rather, an order.

Of course, the order bore the seal of Lord Black. The contents were obvious enough. Lawrence’s heart still sank once Jacob came in with the order. It was a call to arms, a general mobilization order.

Everyone will gather at the Romanus Line, a defensive line created by Colonel Vava, but now guarded by Colonel Haussen and General Tarn. Colonel Vava has now withdrew to a resort, citing health reasons. Now, the military of the Kingdom of Carmine has effectively been consolidated within the hands of the experienced military leaders once again.

However, the one thing holding back these leaders were the fact that their own ruler has refused to send out reinforcements and the army is now forced to wait for squabbling lords and petty nobles to slowly bring their army forward.

Yet, at the end of the day, these experienced leaders had no doubt about who would get credit for the military victories and who would get blame for any defeats.

“Lawrence! Is it true that you will be going to war!?”

Lawrence had to entertain Ha’ad Hashite as well, the person who had promised to setup a trading company once the trading route was free of Sirens.

“Yes, I am…”

“Outrageous! Then when will you finally clear the route of those Sirens!?” Ha’ad said, almost a tad too arrogant and Lawrence who was already in a poor mood, grimaced.

“When I come back, alright? Look, if you tell them to cancel the war, I’ll go do it now.”

Lawrence’s sarcastic answer caused Ha’ad’s expression to sink a little as he sighed.

“You cannot die, you understand? We need to make money together!”

As Lawrence had some of his guards drag Ha’ad away, Kraft, decked out in a full suit of plate armour walked up to Lawrence.

“We have enough food for 180 days exactly. This is double what most lords would bring, but I suppose we should prepare more, Sir Carstein. If we are surrounded, the other lords won’t be sharing their food.”

Good thinking.

Nodding in reply, Lawrence watched as the soldiers got into position. In the absence of the Owl Guards, the Civil Defense placed under Jacob and Craig’s command would become the predominant force in the city.

Roland had insisted on coming along and Lawrence, despite being uncomfortable, had asked that Trey follow along for the campaign as well. Lawrence knew that he would need top quality information to fight this war and that was something that Trey offered readily. Lawrence was also warned by Jacob that it was possible that many lords will leverage heavily on the Owls to reduce their own casualty as Lord Black, Lawrence’s liege lord, was not someone influential enough to deny a Count, Baron or even a more influential lord, let alone the General Staff.

“Lord Black’s orders is to march to his fortress first. Let’s get this over and done with,” Lawrence sighed, mounting his horse, a fine black stallion. He was told that it was an amazing horse and he pretended to agree, seeing that he knew nothing about horses.

Lawrence had asked that extra equipment be prepared as well, in the event that they were indeed surrounded and forced to carve a bloody way out. Longines had taken care of that. Lawrence, though a powerful character, felt that he was actually in the care of people with far more experience than him.

Kraft, for his skill in planning, Longines, for his skill in leading his men. Trey, his network of spies. Roland will be there to assist Lawrence as well. He felt thankful to Roland for all the assistance he is rendering.

“To war, we go?” Roland said, having urged his own horse beside Lawrence and the Guardian in Another World nodded. Giving the signal to Longines, he took out a large horn made of ivory and blew it.

The loud blare of the horn reverberated through the city of Tears. People going about their lives stopped to watch as the army departed. Wives stood at the sides, tears streaking down their faces and men in the army held back their tears as they marched off to war.

Elderly mothers and fathers watched, holding back tears as they stood stock still, watching their sons going off to battle. No matter how far the column went, they followed to the outskirts of the city, for it may be the last time they saw their children.

Lawrence looked ahead, where the men and women of the Civil Defense force stood in salute, a trumpet playing a triumphant tune, their way of wishing the men going to war, good fortunes in the battles to come.

He spotted Talafina who forced a smile upon seeing Lawrence. Lawrence responded with a small smile of his own and he looked straight ahead. Not one person marching forward looked back towards home and Lawrence thought that he understood why.

If one were to see home for the last time, you would never leave.

Lawrence's heart ached.

For whom is he fighting this war for anyway?