Chapter 382: Chapter 247: What Right Does a Defeated Foe Have to Bargain With Me?

The soldiers had watched the entire battle between Fang Zhen and Duke Balenzuo unfold.

Fang Zhen noticed the way the men around him looked at him had changed.

He scanned the crowd. The moment his gaze fell upon the soldiers, they felt an intense pressure, instinctively stepping back and lowering their heads.

His presence was overwhelming.

Seeing this, Fang Zhen decided the time was right.

He lifted his head and, using his power to vibrate his vocal cords, boomed in a voice like thunder, "The real Duke Balenzuo is dead! The one I killed was a demon that murdered the true Duke and took his place!"

"After murdering the Duke, the demon assumed his identity and committed many heinous acts."

"I exposed this demon’s plot and have now slain it."

"Soldiers! You are merely pitiable pawns, deceived by a demon. I have no wish to be cruel to you. Now that you have seen the truth, you would do well to lay down your weapons and surrender."

"Otherwise, I will be forced to punish you just as I punished that demon."

Fang Zhen paused, his voice slow and majestic. "I will give you a choice. Lay down your weapons by the time I count to three."

"Surrender, and I will spare your lives. Your futures will not be harmed."

Fang Zhen’s voice boomed like thunder across the entire battlefield, reaching even the soldiers in the far-off ranks.

Fang Zhen could clearly feel that by using his power to amplify his voice, his words carried an immense persuasive force.

He already possessed a persuasion skill, but now he had discovered a new technique. By infusing the thunderous sound produced by his power with his persuasion skill, he could also weave in a form of aggressive hypnotic suppression using his Spiritual Power.

This combination instantly imbued his voice with an overwhelming sense of authority and conviction.

The soldiers nearby had witnessed Fang Zhen’s battle with the demon, so they were already mostly convinced.

Now, as his words spread across the battlefield, his persuasive tone made them unconsciously want to obey his commands.

Fang Zhen’s choice of words was also very strategic.

’Of course, he had no idea when the real Duke Balenzuo had died—whether the demon had been impersonating him from the very beginning, or if the switch had happened somewhere along the way.’

’But either way, pinning all the blame on the now-dead Balenzuo absolved the vast majority of the men of any responsibility and removed any ethical dilemmas.’

With that, Fang Zhen was transformed from an enemy of Duke Balenzuo and a challenger of the empire’s laws into a defender of those very laws—an embodiment of justice. Killing Balenzuo was no longer rebellion; it was a righteous crusade against evil.

With this shift in narrative, many of the soldiers now had an honorable way out.

Fang Zhen scanned his surroundings, his voice slow, deep, and majestic as he counted down. "Three... two... one!"

As he spoke, soldiers around him began to unconsciously obey, slowly placing their weapons on the ground.

Once a few had started, more and more followed suit, laying down their arms and surrendering.

A consensus gradually formed among Balenzuo’s soldiers. They believed the battle was lost, and Fang Zhen’s words had convinced them that he truly would not kill them.

More and more soldiers began to drop their weapons.

Such is the nature of a battlefield; once someone takes the lead, a chain reaction is easily triggered.

Fang Zhen witnessed this and nodded slightly. ’This is how a proper military surrender should go.’

Just then, the sound of urgent hoofbeats echoed from the distance.

Fang Zhen turned to see a dozen or so riders on warhorses galloping toward his position.

The riders all wore the long, hooded robes characteristic of Mages.

Fang Zhen’s expression grew stern.

’My own Mage Corps is right here beside me,’ he thought. ’These newcomers must be from the Balenzuo Legion.’

Fang Zhen knew all too well the devastating power of a Mage Corps concentrating their magical fire.

’Are these Mages charging in for another fight?’

Fang Zhen took a deep breath, his gaze resolute.

’Even if we have to fight again, I’m not afraid.’

The Mages rode at incredible speed, closing the distance to Fang Zhen in a matter of moments.

Fang Zhen tightened his grip on his spear.

As the Mages charged forward, the leader suddenly reined in his horse while still some distance from Fang Zhen.

The man at the head of the Mage Corps was an Elder Mage who appeared to be in his fifties. His features were plain, but his muscles were exceptionally developed; his biceps were a size larger than those of the other Mages, who were already built like mountains of muscle.

The Elder Mage surveyed the scene of the battle, silent for a moment before calling out, "Are you Lord Fang Zhen Augustus?"

Hearing the man’s tone, Fang Zhen was intrigued.

’He’s already addressing me as ’Lord,’ so it seems his stance has softened.’

’So they don’t want to continue the fight?’

Fang Zhen nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "I am. And who are you?"

"My Lord, I am Maso, the Chief Mage of the Balenzuo Legion’s Mage Corps."

"I witnessed your heroic battle against the demon just now."

"I never imagined a demon was hidden in our midst. It seems the original Duke Balenzuo met with an unfortunate end."

Maso said, his voice filled with emotion.

Fang Zhen looked at Maso, wondering if the Mage truly believed this or was simply going along with the narrative Fang Zhen had just established.

’In any case, it proves Maso is extending an olive branch.’

Fang Zhen nodded slightly. "The forces of evil are insidious."

"These demons are exceedingly wicked and possess the ability to shapeshift. It is only natural that you failed to notice."

"The blame does not lie with you. The demon was simply too cunning."

Maso nodded repeatedly. "Indeed."

As Fang Zhen and Maso spoke, they both sensed they were giving each other a way to save face. Their attitudes were amicable, and both felt the other was a reasonable man with whom they could negotiate.

Soon, the two reached a tacit understanding.

"My Lord, our conflict was a war instigated by that demon’s provocations. Now, the situation is clear."

"Duke Balenzuo has been defeated, and it’s clear he was not a man worthy of our loyalty."

"You are the one who has set things right and exposed the demon’s plot. I believe there is no longer a need to continue this war."

Maso said.

Maso glanced around, noting that the fighting had ceased and Balenzuo’s soldiers were disarmed and surrendering. He let out a long breath and said to Fang Zhen, "My Lord, I cannot speak for the soldiers belonging to the other nobles within the Balenzuo Legion. However, I can speak for the soldiers directly under the Duke’s command. Now that they are without a Lord, tradition dictates that the Mage Corps assumes leadership of the troops."

"On behalf of the Balenzuo Legion, I wish to formally and completely surrender to you. We are willing to submit to your rule."

"My Lord, are you willing to accept our surrender?"