Driven by the whispers of ambitious men, Karsain resolved to resort to a coup; his control over the palace guard and the capital garrison made the path to treason seem deceptively smooth. Yet, burdened by lingering hesitation, he intended to leave a way out for Demno. When the Lord saw armed soldiers massed before his residence, he did not flee. Instead, he donned his ceremonial Count’s robes and walked calmly out to face them, the Countess following serenely at his side.

　　Demno lashed out at the soldiers with a stinging rebuke, reminding them that their courage was meant for the defense of their homeland, not for the service of rebellion—that their blades should be bared against enemies, not their own sovereign. His scolding filled the men with shame; they were already trembling with uncertainty, having no heart for a treasonous life under the tyrannical Karsain.

　　Demno went further, promising them a full pardon. He acknowledged they were merely victims of circumstance, forced to obey the orders of their superiors. He vowed to restore the generous benefits of his father’s reign and to reduce the burden of unnecessary military service. The soldiers stood frozen in indecision, while their impatient officers screamed at them, threatening the direst punishments of military law.

　　The Count stepped directly into the midst of the ranks, pointing a defiant finger at a particularly bold officer and denouncing him. In that moment of tension, a battle-hardened veteran named Simans raised a cry: "A soldier’s weapon must never be turned against his Lord! We must purge the tyrant and the rebel!" Inspired by his words, the soldiers followed the veteran’s lead, swarming forward to strike down the centurion. On Demno’s command, they then turned their fury toward the Guard Headquarters.

　　Ger, the commander and chief lackey of the conspirators, was waiting there for news. When he saw the mob of soldiers charging in, he barely had time to open his mouth before a pike-staff pierced his abdomen. Simans was immediately promoted to Commander of the Guard. Under the Count’s direction, every defiant officer was either imprisoned or executed on the spot.

　　Subsequently, Simans and his men accompanied Demno to the main garrison camp. When the Commandant saw the Lord and the orders in his hand, he immediately unbuckled his sword in a gesture of homage and submission. With a calm smile, Demno accepted the sword, only to solemnly return it to the commander, confirming him in his vital post. All the while, Karsain and his retainers were still waiting for word in a tent at the army camp outside the city.

　　Receiving no news, a hesitant Karsain finally returned to the city and entered the Guard Headquarters, only to be stunned by the sight of unfamiliar faces. There sat Demno, presiding over the hall with absolute authority. By the Lord’s command, the former Commander-in-Chief was forced to unbuckle his sword and strip off the robes and regalia of his rank. Assisted by a group of slaves, he was forced into the ordinary garments of a high noble before being escorted back to his private estate.

　　A month later, Demno yielded to his mother’s tears and allowed Karsain to live under house arrest, shifting the full weight of the blame onto his brother's followers. Blinded by personal bitterness, Demno resolved to use the harshest measures against those who had dared to aid the rebel in challenging the law and authority of the Lord.

　　Yet, among the conspirators, a man named Slote slipped through the net. Evading capture and blockades, he found sanctuary under a minor lord in eastern Glostinis. This low-ranking noble, enticed by the prospect of a risky political gamble, believed Slote’s rhetoric and offered him open support.

　　However, a leak from the minor lord’s own retainers brought disaster upon his master and sealed Karsain’s fate. Demno had moved his brother to a secluded, opulent mansion; some time later, the former military chief died of "illness." He was given a funeral befitting a noble, but his gaunt, skeletal remains left many to suspect that Karsain had actually perished of starvation.

　　Bird also fell under the Lord’s suspicion. Summoned to the castle hall, he was "appointed" by his sovereign to go to Glostinis, where he was to live on the lands formerly belonging to the disgraced minor noble. From then on, Bird lived a life consumed by terror and sorrow. Whenever he heard an envoy from the capital arriving or even passing through Glostinis, he would break into tears, haunted by the fear that the messenger had come by the Lord’s command to take his life.

　　Though Slote’s sheer luck allowed him to escape justice once more—much to the Lord’s fury—Demno considered the "Karsain Affair" finally settled. He then set his sights on summoning the members of the Alliance to deliberate on the matters of Longedis.

　　The post-war state of Longedis sowed seeds of discord within the Alliance. Some were inclined to abandon this region, no longer a threat, leaving its people to their own fate. Others, however, believed that capable administrators should be dispatched to heal the wounds of war and truly integrate the land into the Alliance.

　　Meanwhile, in Ferafea, the appointment of a new Castellan ignited fresh fires of confrontation. Following the slayings of Gluner and his son Hedamus, the Lord of Feron claimed that out of consideration for his wife’s feelings, he would bestow the lordship upon Gluner’s younger son, Laros. This decision filled the citizenry with dread and fury; they feared the new Castellan would seek a bloody vengeance for his father and brother.

　　Having escaped punishment for their previous uprising, the citizens took up arms once more, intent on storming the Castellan’s residence. Cornered and desperate, Laros dispatched a messenger to Morasa to beg the Frontier army for aid.

　　However, the Lord of Feron, already alerted to the situation, reached the city outskirts first and deployed his forces, intercepting the suspicious messenger. Secret agents waiting within the city threw open the gates, allowing the Lord’s army to sweep inside. Laros was dragged from his residence with utter indignity and publicly executed amidst the roaring cheers of the crowd.

　　The "Royal Army" arrived just in time. A Sirleid force quickly appeared at the Feron border and established a camp. Simultaneously, Binehus and Ral issued mobilization orders, arming every adult male in their domains to prepare for the looming clash.

　　The Frontier Alliance ultimately abandoned its plans for war to maintain its strategic advantage in Sibilis. According to their intelligence, the "Royal Army" only dared to gather their forces because they had secured the backing of the eastern lords. While the Alliance members were debating the fate of Longedis, the fugitive Slote arrived in their midst, eventually finding sanctuary under Mechosas.

　　Though Mechosas had served under Karsain, Demno saw no fault in it. Recognizing his distinguished service in the war for Longedis, the Lord released him from his status as a retainer and elevated him to the nobility. Entrusting him with official duties, Demno sent him with an army to Cozis in Longedis to restore order and provide relief to the suffering populace.

　　Yet, egged on by Slote, Mechosas sought to stir up a storm on calm waters. At a banquet celebrating the beginning of spring, he sent lavish invitations to the local nobility of all ranks. They arrived at his manor with light hearts, accompanied by their families. The air was thick with the warmth of shared wine and music as people reminisced about the perils of the battlefield or introduced their children to one another, weaving plans for the future.

　　This auspicious atmosphere vanished the moment the music stopped. Mechosas appeared before his guests in full military uniform, his grim expression a jarring contrast to the festive attire of the crowd. Suddenly, a band of armed retainers surrounded the hall.

　　Mechosas laid out his ambitions, demanding their support. Although the guests remained loyal to their respective lords or feared the consequences of treason, they were helpless against the cold steel of the retainers. One by one, they were forced to leave their names and thumbprints on a manifesto of rebellion.

　　Relying on such extortion, Mechosas and Slote organized a force in Longedis and began a march toward Pard. However, the rebels had not even cleared Longedis before they were intercepted in the Karada region by an army led by Urumus. Striking a battle stance, Urumus denounced Mechosas's treachery and issued a final warning.

　　After a moment of chaotic hesitation, the coerced followers made their choice. While Mechosas was still preparing to give the order to fight, the very men he had intimidated rushed into his tent and seized both him and Slote.

　　Slote was executed on the spot. As for Mechosas, Demno stripped him of his rank and status, ordering him to take his own life by poison. After a perfunctory funeral, he was buried in haste. Urumus, a man of barbarian origin, was promoted to continue his service in Longedis.

　　The Lord wished to see no more blood spilled, unwilling to let his throne be further stained. The Alliance members, mindful of their collective security, decided to cast the so-called "list of traitors" into the fire. Those pardoned sang praises of the Lord’s mercy while marvelling at the fickleness of fate. Yet, just as the lords believed the "Karsain Affair" was finally over, a newly risen barbarian power began to stir.

　　On the borders of the West Town, the chieftains of the Huror region had always considered themselves vassals of Limidia. They had accepted the favorable terms of the Frontier sovereign and sought protection during turbulent times, allowing them to lead stable lives that contributed to the tranquility of the border. As allies of the Limidians, the Huror frequently hosted foreign embassies and merchant caravans.

　　The embassies brought messages of friendship by order of their rulers, while the caravans arrived laden with goods and wealth, allowing the people to enjoy the fruits of peace. The Limidians, with their open and contemplative minds, welcomed foreign gods to reside in their new lands. They gathered the useful fragments of foreign thought, using them to broaden their horizons and enrich their intellects.

　　Impressed by the ruler’s magnanimity, these foreigners settled here as subjects of Limidia, enjoying the same rights as the locals while following the customs and laws of the land.

　　Of course, this did not mean the Lord or his army relaxed their guard. They continued to watch the frictions and conflicts of the outside world with vigilant eyes, determined to prevent external disputes from spilling over or allowing a new strongman to threaten their peace.

　　Fortunately, moving northwest from the walls of the East Town lies a vast expanse spanning many longitudes and latitudes. This land, filled with pastoral fields, meadows, groves, and deserts, is the natural stage for conquerors and the ambitious—a place where the dramas of conquest and resistance, of unity and division, are perpetually performed.

　　On the other side of the East Town walls, in the Huluhun Steppe, the landscape shifts beautifully with the seasons. The withered yellow of autumn is buried under winter snows, which melt to nourish the lush emerald of spring. By summer, the plains are adorned with a tapestry of multicolored wildflowers.

　　During the warm season, the central region of Huluhun becomes the most captivating sight. At this time, the plains burst forth with a vibrant variety of grasses, capable of sustaining the Tartar livestock—especially their prized horses. Yet, such a magnificent land is destined to be a bone of contention for bellicose barbarians; it is only natural that it serves as the cradle for future conquerors.

　　In the era of Demno, the great central grasslands were shared by three tribes: the Bolsei, the Korza, and the Nazigu. Initially, the people here focused solely on their internal affairs and enjoyed a life of abundance. The nomadic herders were friendly at heart, willing to share the border pastures with their neighbors.

　　The annual horse racing festivals held across the steppe were long-awaited events for the riders. They would showcase their equestrian and archery skills with such mastery that they seemed to fuse seamlessly with their mounts. In times of peace, these competitions were not only commercial ventures that drew crowds and brought profit, but also social gatherings for the nobility—opportunities to strengthen tribal ties and foster personal and family bonds.

　　Out of compassion, Kazitini, the chieftain of the Bolsei, had once taken in a group of fleeing Dumel people. These individuals had been members of the "Kaga Brotherhood" of Andrus. Under the banner of trade and cooperation, they had actually engaged in predatory extortion and market manipulation, earning them the hatred of the locals, the suppression of the Hank family, and the relentless pursuit of local officials.

　　Unaware of their past, Kazitini admired these new subjects for their commercial cunning. As they amassed wealth for the chieftain, they earned his absolute trust. Yet, these men, under the guise of gratitude, secretly and persistently goaded their chieftain, fueling his ambition to expand the influence of the Bolsei.

　　To forge a marital alliance with the neighboring Harato, Kazitini forced his youngest son to dissolve his marriage to his newly pregnant wife, compelling him instead to wed a widow of the Harato. This maneuver not only placed the passage to the west within the Bolsei sphere of influence but also allowed them to seize a lush meadow of Blue Alfalfa.

　　To monopolize the superior horses of central Huluhun, the Bolsei chieftain issued a decree establishing a state monopoly on horse trading, bringing local horse merchants under his direct control. Subsequently, under the pretext of lacking business credentials or transit permits, he barred outside merchants from transporting horses through his territory. As for horses carrying freight, they were subjected to crushing taxes.

　　During this time, the emboldened Harato went so far as to dispatch cavalry to harass the lands of the neighboring Sabuta tribe, attempting to control the passage to the Northern Basin—an act that sparked vigilance in Limidia. A legal official, escorted by a cavalry unit from the Governor of the Mud City, traveled to Zhanya. Through stern negotiations, they forced the Bolsei to scrap their unequal terms and reopen the borders.

　　But the Bolsei soon returned in a different guise. Through the financial machinations of the Dumel people, the Sabuta chieftain was lured into a "partnership" with the Harato. In truth, they were acting in collusion to restrict the horse trade and reap illicit profits.

　　The Limidians to the south and those on the Pirater Highlands to the west did not lack for fine horses. Moreover, the people there had no taste for draping horses in ornate robes to be paraded in public like pets. Consequently, merchants from the other two great tribes—the Korza and the Nazigu—found it impossible to get a fair price for their steeds. In their helplessness, they were forced to sell them at low rates to Bolsei merchants.

　　Of course, they could choose to approach the Bolsei proactively, petitioning for a status that allowed "normal" activity, and then sell their goods to designated groups. Though the price remained the same, they could secure "extra" benefits. In this way, although these people did not live in Bolsei, they effectively became subordinates to the tribe by accepting its conditions in exchange for permits and profit.

　　The horses of Huluhun were sturdy, elegant, and full of vitality, leading Dumel nobles to compete in purchasing them from Bolsei merchants regardless of the cost. Yet they did not use these animals to equip armies or for production; instead, they draped them in magnificent robes to flaunt their own wealth. The Bolsei chieftain even sent agents to spread rumors in the Northern Basin, managing to drive the price of horses to an unbelievable height.

　　The high-end fabrics used for these robes were crafted by the skillful hands of Limidian women. According to rumors, the raw material for the cloth was a miraculous combination of a plant and an insect that grew only in the villages where they lived.

　　Even the Limidian soldiers guarding the Frontier Walls heard of the "wealth-clashing" incident that occurred in Maudras. Two local tycoons, in the heat of a drunken argument over who was the wealthiest, took their dispute to an open field outside the city. In the end, it was the spectacular array of fine horses raised by Wiseram that forced his rival, Kradier, to admit defeat.

　　The chieftains of the Korza and the Nazigu felt deeply insulted by these unequal dealings. Though their lands teemed with galloping horses and industrious herders, they, as chieftains, gained nothing from it—it was as if these horses no longer belonged to their own tribes.

　　At this time, the Limidians were focused solely on their internal affairs, allowing the power of the Bolsei to extend silently. Meanwhile, the people of Pirater stood by and watched the disputes among the steppe tribes, believing such friction brought them safety. For the aggrieved chieftains who wished to defend their rightful interests but found themselves unable to launch a proportionate counter-response, only one path remained: the recourse to arms.