Upon entering Lionheart's territory, Arnold had Funner disband the peasants who had been recruited from the army, and continued with only the standing army and knights of Lionheart.

Fort Hotu is roughly halfway between Foriken City and Fort Lionheart, and Arnold can pass through Fort Hotu's territory by following the road.

Giving such a hinterland-based territory and castle to William, Tegman's intentions were already evident when he canonized his son. However, it is precisely because of its proximity to Fort Lionheart that Fort Hotu is much smaller and its garrison is not strong. The castle was originally built only as an external fulcrum for Lionheart.

This made it very easy to attack Fort Hotu, which had no reinforcements from outside.

Titus, who had arrived here in advance, had already besieged Fort Hotu with 3,000 men, and William and his assistants, who had not received any prior news, still treated Tituses and his army as allies, but did not expect that this friendly army would suddenly turn against themselves.

When Arnold and his army joined Titus, the army besieging Fort Khotu exceeded 8,000 men, which was more than the total mobilization force of William's territory, not to mention that they were now besieged in the castle and could not mobilize a single soldier, so they could only watch and be helpless.

When the army of 8,000 had completely surrounded the castle, Arnold viewed the castle from a safe place on the periphery of the castle.

"It's a little small, and it's shabby. However, even such a small castle is not something that a lowly like William can have. ”

Fonnar and Titus, who had been summoned back by Arnold, bowed their heads and listened silently beside Arnold.

"Hmph, these stupid don't know why the former duke was so kind to them, not because he liked it, my father didn't really like someone, he only liked what made him happy, that was war, that constant strife was his love. As for the scumbags...... Those self-righteous fools are nothing more than props for him to continue this need and realize his dreams. ”

Titus still bowed his head deeply, not saying a word, while Funner looked up and looked at Arnold meaningfully.

"What are you going to do with William?" he asked in a deep voice, "You've taken care of the Davide family and the Gloomy Castle, and now there's only one question left in the territory, what are you going to do with William?"

Arnold glanced sideways at Fonner, and then said as if he didn't care: "William's kind of person, it doesn't matter, even if he is kept alive, he can't be a threat to me." ”

Hearing Arnold say this, Titus couldn't help but raise his head and look at Arnold.

"But......" Arnold suddenly changed his words, and his expression became hideous, "that kind of bastard life is an insult to me, an insult to our brothers and sisters! a great stain against the Figlaf family, and a disgrace to the noble name of my mother Althea! I will never allow, absolutely not allow such a fellow to continue to pollute my sight in this land, and dishonor our brothers and sisters!"

Titus and Fonner looked at each other, and although they knew each other before, Arnold's hidden paranoia was beyond their imagination.

"Which of you wants to gain the reputation for conquering this castle?" Arnold asked, turning to Titus and Fonnar.

"Lord Duke, we don't need to attack the city, the other party should surrender, such a difference in strength ......"

Funner quickly tugged at Titus' sleeve and interrupted him.

"Please let me go, Lord Duke. Fonner stepped forward and took the initiative.

Arnold glanced at Fonner, then shifted his gaze to Titus.

"Titus, you go. ”

Both Titus and Funner were stunned, and Titus seemed to want to say something, but Funner quickly grabbed his hand.

"The 3,000 people you brought over are still under your command, such a small castle can be captured in one day. ”

"Yes, Lord Duke......" Titus replied sullenly, and then walked silently towards the besieging troops.

"Am I too cruel, Funner?" Arnold suddenly asked Fanna behind him, looking at Titus riding away, "Forcing Titus to do what he doesn't want to do, in a way, is it the same as my father?"

Fonnar pursed his lips and lowered his eyes slightly. "It's a quality you have to be a duke, that's it, Titus...... will understand you. ”

"Really?" Arnold asked, his eyes focused on the walls of Fort Hotu, "how reliable, John, I have almost no prestige in my realm now, and without your help, I will not be able to move an inch." ”

"Don't dare to be. Fonner lowered his head, "You are the master of this territory, and all people, your subjects, will bow down before you respectfully and worship you as king." ”

"O king......" Arnold exhaled softly, not knowing what was in mind.

"What a lonely word. ”

Fonner's eyes moved, and he continued to keep his head down.

Fort Hotub soon fell, and as Titus said, after learning that Tegman had been banished and realizing that he would not have any backup in the Cold Mountain Territory, Fort Hotuu surrendered.

William and the assistants assigned to him by Tagman were all taken prisoner by Titus, however, Arnold himself was not interested in dealing with these fellows now, and he did not even glance at the captured William, and directly ordered the army to continue their march towards Lionheart.

And Arnold's ambiguous handling of William made Titus and Fonner even more worried.

————————————————

On the other hand, Lionheart Fort finally got the news that Duke Tegman was banished, Arnold became the new duke and was supported by the vast majority of vassals, and the castle finally panicked, most of the people in Lionheart Fort were naturally Tegman's henchmen, no one thought that Tegman would be exiled like this, and suddenly lost the lord, these people were suddenly at a loss, not to mention that the Lionheart Fort governor Reilly was also transferred, and the main forces, including the Blood Cross Knights, had also defected under Arnold's banner, so the people in the castle could only prepare to defend the city in a panic, and planned to contact Fort Hotu in order to elect William as the new duke to fight Arnold。

However, it didn't take long for news from the Hotuburg side that Hotuburg had been breached by Arnold, that William had become a prisoner, and that their last hope had been lost.

Some also tried to support Lady Aguelby and her two sons in the castle, and captured Serena and Isabella as hostages and threatened Arnold in a last-ditch struggle. However, they underestimated Serena too much.

Lionheart Fort stands on the vast and boundless plain, but this night the majestic Lionheart Fort is surrounded by boundless flames, and a little rain can not extinguish those flame spirits jumping around the castle, as if infected by the night, turned into a ruthless black flame that is extremely feared, constantly devouring the lives of those who dare to fight it and its master.

"Damn it!" Knight Dal, who remained behind in Lionheart's castle, commanded the remnants of his forces and struggled to control Lionheart's castle, fighting to snatch Edward and Albert from the city, who were already too frightened to walk, but when he tried to go further into the main castle, he was completely stopped by two flame elemental giants who were too large for him to resist.

"Push the siege crossbow over!" shouted the knight of Dale, the heavy crossbow that had been used for defense was now used as a weapon to attack his castle.

The men of Lionheart tried their best to push the siege crossbow to the side of the main fort, but the ballista cart they had managed to push up was burned to ashes by a rain of fire that fell from the main fort.

"How could it be ......?"

Knight Dalle looked desperately at the balcony hall on the top floor of the main castle, a beautiful silhouette was standing on the terrace, the fence on the edge had been broken in the previous attack, and the figure only took one more step forward, and it would fall to the unobstructed high platform.

"It's ugly. Serena looked indifferently at the troops surrounding the main castle, especially as her eyes swept over Edward and Albert, her slender and supple eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"Before my brother returns, let's finish you here. ”

Serena raised her hand, her long thin nails aimed at Edward and Albert, and then the two flame elemental giants guarding the perimeter of the main castle ran directly towards Edward and Albert as if they had received orders.

The powerless brothers could only hug each other and watch in horror as the flame giant ran towards them.

"Protect them!" the Knight of Darle shouted, and then ran up to the ground of the two flame giants.

However, the disparity in size between the two sides is not something he can make up for with courage alone.

The Flame Giant slammed down with a punch and sent Dalle clean and slammed into the air.

Serena flicked her fingers, and the flames burning in the city surrounded her, trapping Edward and Albert in it.

"Okay, let's end the senseless struggle, causing our brothers and sisters to be so embarrassed, like goods driven by valuation, such hatred, revenge is very serious. ”

There was no warmth on Serena's beautiful face, she seemed to have always been like this, without excessive expression, just with an almost indifferent indifference to others, excluding everyone from sight except her brother Arnold and sister Isabella.

"Ahh

Just as Serena's flames were about to consume the two boys, a cold wind blew and built an ice wall in front of the flames, blocking the spread of the flames.

"Meredith?" Serena frowned and looked at the Mage Tower to the west, "What do you want to do?"

Meredith, standing atop the Mage's Tower, bowed to Serena, who seemed to be able to hear Serena talking to herself from a considerable distance.

"I beg your pardon, Miss Serena, I think it would be better for them to be left to the Duke. ”

"Who do you mean?" Serena raised her head and looked at Meredith with a slight haught, "My father?"

"Lord Arnold, of course. Meredith bowed again, acting very respectfully, "Moreover, killing two children who are incapable of resisting like this will probably damage the reputation of the Duke." ”

Serena stared at Meredith for a long time.

"What a court mage like a dog. Serena's tone was still so indifferent, even the insulting words were as cold as the snow and ice of winter.

"I'm just a servant of you and Duke Arnold. Meredith's waist was bent lower, but although his demeanor seemed low, his voice was still so steady, and he did not deliberately lower his posture, "As far as I am concerned, you and Lord Duke are my masters, and I only dare to respectfully dedicate my insignificant abilities to you and Lord Duke." ”

"Sow discord?" Serena raised her eyebrows slightly, the flames gathering around her, and then swaying in the wind that lingered around the tall building.

"Don't dare, I just beg you to spare their lives for the time being. ”

Serena stared at Meredith for a moment, then nodded at the end.

"Oh well. ”

Edward and Albert, who were crying on the ground, finally stopped crying a little, and the knight of Dale, who fell to the ground, also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Since it's a court mage's request, then I'm ......"

Serena flicked her perfectly shaped nails.

"Let's just let them die a little worse. ”

Her tone was very calm, just a little with the usual indifference, as if she was just saying something that could not be more natural.

Meredith was stunned, but before he could react, Serena's flame elemental giant broke through the ice wall he had set and forcibly captured Edward and Albert.

The flames scorched the two boys, causing them to scream incessantly, but Serena's beautiful face was not moved by their sorrows, and she still stared coldly at the appearance of her two half-brothers being devoured by her own flame giant.

"Please stop......" Meredith hurriedly shouted, but Serena was one step ahead of him and controlled the flow of magic around him.

"Your level of magic, let me down. Serena looked at Meredith indifferently, her tone lukewarm, neither proud nor disappointed.

"Magical Confinement ......" Meredith slowly sweated on his forehead, and he only now realized that Serena's magic level was probably more than a star and a half higher than his own.

A cold and beautiful smile crossed Serena's lips, and then she watched silently as Edward and Albert were completely consumed by the flame giant, their bodies gradually disintegrating in the flames.

"What my brother can't do......" Serena muttered to herself, "let me do it." ”