On the outermost edge of the Rock Breaker Knight Order's camp, two Knights in ill-fitting leather armor were huddled in the shadow of a grain cart, sharing a piece of hard, dry black bread.
They were the two minor lords who had been forcibly conscripted.
"Kane, do you think... Baron Ola can win?" asked one of them, a slender Knight named Mo'er, his voice filled with worry.
Kane, the lord of Valley Village who had been extorted for protection money by Ola just a few days ago, chewed his bread bitterly and shook his head.
"I don't know, Mo'er. To be honest, I have mixed feelings."
He paused, his voice pessimistic.
"Of course I hope he wins. If he does, we won't have to go into battle ourselves and face those... monsters. And maybe His Lordship the 'generous' Baron will even spare us some table scraps."
Mo'er nodded in deep agreement, but then his expression grew even more worried.
"But, Kane, have you ever thought about... what will happen if he *does* win?"
Kane fell silent.
