Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Giovanni had just arrived in Iron Sand Fort and the first thing he noticed was the impoverished conditions of the fortress. He revealed a look of disgust when he saw a group of residents wearing dirty, coarse linen clothes.

That old bastard Dominic actually sent me here as punishment! Dammit!

Thinking about the old man, he spat out furiously.

Because of the crimson tower fiasco a few months ago, he had received punishment and was even asked to compensate the families of those affected by the incident. With his strongest backer gone, he could only swallow his anger and accept his punishment with gritted teeth.

As if that wasn’t enough, Dominic showed up at his doorstep and told him to help in defending Iron Sand Fort against the invaders.

Of course, Giovanni didn’t want to accept this troublesome task so he rejected Dominic’s request. However, the old man suddenly beat him up and told him that his identity as the second heir to the throne would be taken from him if he refused. Badly beaten and left with no choice, Prince Giovanni could only reluctantly comply.

That was what led him to this place.

While he was cursing Dominic in his mind, he suddenly felt a strong aura quickly approaching them.

He narrowed his eyes and looked in a certain direction.

“Marco?” He immediately recognized the other party.

Marquis Marco Herald was famous throughout the empire and he was known as the Western Sword Marquis due to his high proficiency in swordsmanship.

Soon, a middle-aged man on horseback whose armor was painted with dried-up blood appeared before him.

Looking at his blood-stained armor and his grimy face, the second prince could already tell that he had gone through a tough battle.

“You look like hammered shit, Sir Marco.” Prince Giovanni remarked with a chuckle.

Marco frowned at his words, but he was in no mood to quarrel with him. He looked behind the prince and asked. “Your Highness, how many soldiers did you bring with you?”

Giovanni was pissed. This guy hadn’t even greeted him yet and he was already asking how many soldiers he brought. “Look here, Sir Marco. I know that your situation isn’t looking good, but how dare you take this prince lightly?! Do I look like a pushover to you?!”

He thought that the other party was looking down on him, a huge misunderstanding on his part.

Marco who was already in a bad mood almost snapped. He took a deep breath to calm his brewing rage.

He still needed the second prince’s support to defend Iron Sand Fort so he could only lower his head.

He cupped his fists and greeted the second prince in a cold voice. “I apologize for my rudeness, Your Highness. The situation is urgent so I…”

“Enough! I am in no mood to hear your excuse! Have you prepared my accommodation?” Prince Giovanni rubbed his temples, his face revealing unconcealed displeasure.

Marco stared deeply at the spoiled prince. He had the sudden urge to punch the latter’s face, but he held himself back for the greater picture.

“Yes, Your Highness. We have prepared an estate for you and your men.” Marco responded, veins protruding on his face.

“Lead the way,” Giovanni said in a commanding tone.

Marco gripped the reins tightly as he nodded with a dark look. “Yes, Your Highness.”

This bastard only brought two thousand soldiers with him. This wouldn’t be enough to defend the fortress!

He looked at the prince’s arrogant mug and asked.

“Your Highness, if I may ask. Are there more reinforcements coming?”

Hearing this, Giovanni sent him a deep look and replied. “Sir Andre will be here in five days with eight thousand soldiers.”

Marco fell silent.

Andre Thompson was ranked lower than him in the Astanian Dragon Leaderboard, but the man was also a formidable character.

Knowing that he had brought eight thousand soldiers to reinforce them made him feel a bit better.

He no longer spoke to the second prince after that inquiry.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the entrance of a small estate which had been prepared for the reinforcement troops.

“You call this an estate?” Giovanni expressed his dissatisfaction when he saw the old mansion at a distance.

Marco ignored his words and told the guards to open the gates. He then gestured for the prince to enter. “Your Highness, please follow me. I have something to discuss with you regarding the situation on the frontlines.”

The atmosphere was tense and it looked like the two would fight at any second. Luckily, nothing happened other than the second prince throwing a few shades at the marquis.

This spoiled piece of shit! If I didn’t have the need for your troops, I would have cut off your head right at this instant!

Marco cursed in his heart while leading the prince to the main mansion.

Soon, they entered the old building. He then brought the second prince and his confidants to the meeting hall.

“Make it quick. I want to get some rest.” Giovanni waved his hand inpatiently.

Marco could barely control his fury and it was a miracle that nothing happened until now.

With a gloomy expression, he recounted his experiences on the frontline.

At first, the second prince didn’t seem to be interested, but his face quickly changed when he heard Marco’s report.

“You mean the enemy has twenty thousand soldiers?” Giovanni asked, his expression looking unsightly to behold.

He had come here in a hurry in hopes of completing his task soon, but Marco’s information made him feel like he had been fooled by Dominic.

That old bastard didn’t even tell me this! For fuck’s sake!

He was frustrated and it was apparent on his face.

“That is just the estimated number, Your Highness. There could be more of them, but we are not certain for now.”

Marco had been fighting with the troops from Harune for a week now. He had this feeling that they had more troops hidden away. However, he still hadn’t confirmed this since all the scouts he sent had been killed.