Unlike the steady approach of Divarak on the Ogiro side, things are a bit more restless on Ika's end. Roderick, who has been promoted to commander of the 22nd Legion of the Ika Kingdom, is the military chief responsible for the Peace Haven front. He oversees the 11th and 12th Border Legions, making him a significant figure in the region.

  Over the years, his colboration with Henwell has been immensely profitable, attracting envy from many who covet such a lucrative position. Roderick takes Henwell's warnings seriously. After all, he has been working with Henwell since he was a teenager, longer than most, including Ogiro's Divarak.

  This long-standing retionship has allowed Roderick to witness aspects of Henwell that others haven't.

  He's seen Henwell's ruthless side, like when they hunted down bandits for treasure, and Henwell dismembered a living person without flinching.

  He knows about the time a caravan was wiped out because they didn't follow the rules, a massacre ordered by Henwell himself.

  Roderick is well aware of how vicious the seemingly amiable youth from Peace Haven can be when he bares his fangs.

  Even though Roderick doesn't agree with Henwell's initiation of the battle, he is even more opposed to the Ika Kingdom's pns to seize Peace Haven during this time. However, the Ika Kingdom hasn't yet faced Henwell's wrath and is unwilling to give up cims on Peace Haven.

  After Roderick repeatedly refused to attack, the kingdom stripped him of his position as the military head of the region.

  Left with no choice, Roderick sends trusted aides to warn Scar Tiger and the Bck Knight Senra to be on guard for Peace Haven.

  At that time, Scar Tiger and Senra are both hesitant. They have over six thousand troops hidden in the mountains along the border between Peace Haven and the Ika Kingdom.

  If Henwell is indeed dead, it would be an excellent opportunity for them to either establish their own domain or accept offers from either side. This prospect is tempting, promising them wealth and an easy path to nobility.

  However, like Roderick and Divarak, they fear the possibility that Henwell might still be alive. Should Henwell return, their only option would be to flee for their lives. Scar Tiger, being a desperado by nature, leans towards disbanding the group, taking the money, and making a run for it.

  Senra, however, disagrees. If they flee now, they can't take the army with them, only the money. The six thousand troops hidden in the mountains rely on Henwell for supplies; they can't sustain the army on their own. Without the army, their value diminishes significantly.

  Moreover, Senra knows that out of the 1,600 cavalry under his command, half were secretly recruited and sent by Henwell. He has no idea how many of the remaining cavalry have been bought off by Henwell. As for the infantry brigade of over four thousand, they aren't much better.

  Essentially, they have command over the army but not ownership.

  Being a knight by training, Senra's understanding of politics and military matters far exceeds that of Scar Tiger, who is essentially a bandit.

  He truly doesn't dare to rebel, especially when Henwell calls upon all armed forces to mobilize. Many officers and soldiers from the Wind Raider Legion express their desire to follow Henwell into battle.

  It is only when Senra produces Henwell's written orders to secretly protect Peace Haven that these eager volunteers are pacified.

  From this, Senra realizes that no matter how much effort he puts into this army, it will never truly belong to him.

  Just after Henwell captures the fortress, the Ika Kingdom finally deploys its troops. Senra hesitates only briefly before ordering his forces to intercept the Ika Kingdom's army. At this point, Scar Tiger loses his nerve and attempts to flee, only to be captured.

  The person who captures him is Elia, a centurion in the infantry brigade. Elia presents Henwell's token, stating that it's Henwell's directive, and quickly stabilizes the infantry before taking command of the brigade. Elia promptly promotes a few mid- and low-level officers to ensure control over the infantry.

  Elia is a member of Pi, one of the fourteen young gdiators who returned alive.

  Despite Senra's initial arm, he is surprised to find that no one attempts to seize his command. Elia assures him that Senra remains the commander of the Wind Raider.

  Next, they activate their network of informants to gather intelligence on the Ika Kingdom's troop movements. Elia also reys this information to Peace Haven, ensuring that Count Jansen, stationed there, is prepared for battle.

  A few days ter, as Henwell faces off against the allied forces of the two kingdoms, the Ika Kingdom's army approaches Peace Haven. Count Jansen leads over ten thousand troops to confront them head-on, while the Wind Raider unches a surprise attack on the Ika Kingdom's supply camp. Subsequently, they intercept a border legion sent to reinforce the battlefield.

  Though this is their first rge-scale war, and despite regur training, the Wind Raider does not exhibit the overwhelming dominance shown by other Peace Haven legions.

  Fortunately, the terrain offers some advantage in the defensive battle. Without reinforcements, the Wind Raider manages to hold off two border legions for three days. This buys crucial time for Count Jansen on the main battlefield, ultimately leading to the defeat of the Ika Kingdom's 22nd Legion.

  Ten days after the Ika Kingdom organizes a new offensive, they suddenly receive news that Henwell is perfectly fine and returning with over sixty thousand troops.

  The Ika Kingdom immediately halts their pns, hurriedly retreating to prepare for a potential retaliation from Henwell. They also reinstate Roderick as the military chief of the kingdom's southeastern corner.

  Upon receiving the news, Roderick rolls his eyes and cims he is gravely ill, on the brink of death, and unable to take on such responsibilities.

  Eventually, the position falls to a fool who fails to grasp the situation. This overconfident individual begins preparing for war, eagerly anticipating Henwell's return to deliver a crushing blow.

  After expining the current situation, Jansen asks Henwell, "What do you pn to do? Should we deploy our troops now?"

  Henwell shakes his head, "No need for now. Ika isn't going anywhere. We need to give the duchy some face. Let's wait until after Arius's wedding and for Fabio to return to the western frontier with the Iron Wall Legion."

  "My troops have been on the move for over three months and need some time to rest. I also need to reorganize my forces. This long-range raid has trained the army but also exposed several issues."

  Jansen nods in agreement and sighs, "It's a pity, though. Such a great opportunity for a counterattack, and we might not find such a good reason again!"

  Henwell chuckles, "Heh... Do we really need a reason to fight them? It's all about our strength! As long as we can win, I can make up any reason I want!”

  ”I find them annoying, this is reason enough to attack! Uncle, go back and reorganize the troops. I'll provide the money and equipment, and you provide the men. Let's recruit more soldiers, make it twenty thousand, and form two legions. When the time is right, we'll head to the Ika Kingdom and make a hefty profit!"