Artemis didn't know how to respond to Aeliana's question. After all, Aeliana made her point clear.

If Artemis confessed everything, she might suffer terribly for all the crimes she committed while guarding the southern borders.

However, if she doesn't confess, then she will definitely suffer.

Shortly after Artemis thought it through, she eventually surrendered herself to the present situation and confessed everything.

Over the years, she had been making secret deals with the border lords of the Holy Knight Empire, which included selling intel to each other. As a result, she avoided skirmishes with the empire and didn't have to worry about assassinations in her sleep.

It was the only way to survive in the border regions when one lacked both strength and backing to repulse any threat.

Even so, no matter how insignificant the intel she sold to the empire was, it was still an act of betrayal to her kingdom.

"So what now? Are you going to send me to the capital to be judged by Her Majesty?" Artemis asked shortly after her confession.

However, Vaan shook his head.

"No, you are in luck. Transcendent Henrietta isn't around to judge you for your crimes," Vaan replied before adding, "More importantly, you still have a chance to redeem yourself. Swear your allegiance and fight for me."

"Wouldn't that make me betray Her Majesty?" Artemis raised an eyebrow in surprise and alarm.

"Even if it was a means of survival, you already betrayed her trust by selling intel to an enemy country. So why does it matter?" Vaan casually said.

"Furthermore, you'll still be serving your kingdom, so it's not really betraying your queen. You'll just be following the orders of the supreme commander to win this war."

"Orders of the supreme commander..? You want to assume the supreme commander position, sir?" Artemis asked with a startled look.

"Even if I agree, there's no way everyone else would do the same. It'll be difficult to convince them all. After all, you're a.."

"It doesn't matter," Aeliana interrupted before firmly stating, "My lord will become the supreme commander, and that's not something we came here to negotiate. We aren't asking people to agree; we are telling them."

"So if they don't agree... Hehehe, let's just say that I am fond of bending people's will with the use of violence," Aeliana stated with a menacing grin.

The corners of Artemis and Arabelle's lips couldn't help but twitch speechlessly when they heard that.

They were both prime examples of Aeliana's violence.

Nevertheless, Artemis eventually submitted to Vaan, swearing her allegiance. To prove her loyalty, she swore the Oath of Magic, which would scatter her magic and sever her heart veins if she broke it.

Like that, Fort Whitebridge fell under Vaan's rule.

At the same time, after Artemis swore her allegiance and became one of Vaan's people, she felt more comfortable with the group and no longer pressured.historical

"I have something I must say, Lord Vahn. I have some friendships with the empire's border lords due to our mutual deals. So if the empire was truly planning to go to war with our kingdom, I believe they would at least warn me," Artemis mentioned before asking, "How can you be so sure that the empire will start a war with our kingdom?"

"You overestimate your importance, Lord Artemis. Why would they tell you anything important when the basis of your friendship with the empire's border lords was founded on mutual self-interest?" Vaan calmly replied.

"Nevertheless, answering your questions, the empire is amassing a large number of troops and supplies in their border cities. Do you really think they are doing all that just to scare us?"

"No, the empire always wanted to invade; they just needed justification," Vaan stated.

"And that justification is the imperial princess Dorothy?" Artemis asked.

"Precisely," Vaan nodded and said, "Aeliana will tell you the details if you want to listen to the full reason."

"However, right now, we have more important things to do. You should have accumulated many scout reports over the years. I want to read them all; bring them to me," Vaan ordered.

"A-All of them?" Artemis was shocked, thinking it was impossible for anyone to read it all within a short time. "Are you sure?"

"Hm, you're right. It will be inconvenient to bring them all here," Vaan replied after some thought and said, "You can take me to the report archive later."

Artemis was struck speechless, thinking that was beside the main point.

"How many troops can the Vossen Household summon to the southern border within seven days, Lady Arabelle?" Vaan enquired after turning to her.

"Not that many," Arabelle shook her head with a sigh and said, "I've brought five hundred elites with me to Sunpeak Town. But if I return to the capital, I can gather a thousand of my private army at most."

"Then, please go ahead and do just that," Vaan requested before saying, "I will see you in the capital when I'm ready to set up safe travels between the capital and Fort Whitebridge."

"Alright," Arabelle agreed with a nod, preparing to return through the teleporter with her two personal guards. "I'll leave my granddaughter in your care."

Vaan acknowledged.

Shortly after, he returned his attention to Artemis and instructed her to spread the news to the capital via her long-range communication magic tool and request reinforcements.

Even if doing so would sow greater chaos in the capital, it had to be done; they needed to amass troops for the war.

A few several thousand wouldn't cut it, not when the empire's army reached the several hundred of thousands and beyond.

"It will be done," Artemis accepted the task and left.

"Shall we go on a tour and see how reliable Fort Whitebridge's troops are?" Vaan suggested to the rest of the group, treating it like a little school excursion.

But of course, Vaan wasn't just planning to sightsee with them; he intended to inspect Fort Whitebridge's security and defense in detail.

He wouldn't want to miss a flaw the empire could have known and intended to exploit to take down Fort Whitebridge swiftly.