Chapter 444: Emperor Yannis Hadrian: "Georgia! Abandon the Fight and Surrender to Count Mecklenburg!"

In moments of national crisis, some seek self-preservation, others are overcome by anger or helplessness, some remain indifferent or even defect to the enemy, while a few rise to the occasion, taking bold action to turn the tide.

Georgia Hadrian was a man of no renown, with no extraordinary achievements to his name. Throughout his life, he never sought the spotlight, and the martial elites of the Old Continent likely had no memory of him.

Just as Charlot Mecklenburg would always forget Viggo...

Yet, it was this obscure Count Georgia Hadrian who, in the face of the Four-Nation Alliance, when despair engulfed the Black Phoenix Dynasty and many shirked the responsibility of command, stepped forward. He devised a simple, audacious, and seemingly reckless but highly effective strategy.

Exploiting the disorganized operations of the Four-Nation Alliance, whose forces had yet to converge, he gathered all Black Phoenix Saint-rank warriors and launched a surprise attack on the distant forces of the Ingrima Empire. Count Lamorak misjudged the situation, assuming the Black Phoenix army sought to break out and flee, and thus refrained from committing all his forces.

Furthermore, Lamorak was wary of an all-out confrontation between Ingrima and the Black Phoenix main force, which could allow other nations' armies to reap the benefits. This strategic blunder gave Count Georgia Hadrian an opening to crush the Ingrima forces before pivoting to assault the Fars Empire.

Although Emperor Alfred Guillaume of Fars personally led his troops, he was not at the front line. On that fateful day, Antonio, a prominent general, was absent, allowing Count Georgia Hadrian to rout seven Fars knight regiments within half an hour. The Black Phoenix army then turned its full strength against Byron.

This battle was fiercely contested. Juno Arthur was not present, but Viscount Constantine was. Despite Constantine’s formidable reputation as the strongest former Black Phoenix warrior, he was defeated. Georgia Hadrian emerged victorious and decisively crushed the Byron forces.

Confronted with the Black Phoenix army’s unstoppable momentum, having annihilated three armies in succession, Lionheart King Baldwin Asa sighed deeply and ordered a full retreat of his forces.

This campaign marked the first time Count Georgia Hadrian commanded troops.

But it was this singular victory that brought the Black Phoenix Count worldwide fame, making him a household name across the Old Continent.

As an old Earth adage goes, "When a bird finally sings, its song astonishes the world. When it takes flight, it soars to unimaginable heights."

Even Emperor Alfred Guillaume later sighed in admiration, proclaiming, “From this day forth, Georgia Hadrian is the foremost military genius of the Old Continent.”

Charlot Mecklenburg’s audacious plan to raid Black Phoenix City relied on the Four-Nation Alliance pinning down the Black Phoenix main army, leaving the rear unguarded. He could never have imagined such a dramatic reversal on the battlefield. With Georgia Hadrian driving back the Four-Nation Alliance, he could return to Black Phoenix City at any time, a prospect Charlot could not withstand against such a legendary commander.

After reviewing the war report, Charlot took a deep breath and issued over a dozen orders in quick succession.

The first order was to send the old lizardman to Machubi Fortress to bring back Emperor Yannis Hadrian.

Dozens of scouting teams were dispatched to monitor the frontlines, though Charlot knew this was a feeble measure. While Georgia Hadrian had only fought one war, his tactic of assembling Saint-rank warriors into elite strike teams was now famous across the continent. If he employed this strategy again, a Saint-rank strike force could appear in Black Phoenix City within days, and ordinary scouts would stand no chance of relaying intelligence.

Although Charlot had successfully seized the Black Phoenix Dynasty’s capital, his battlefield reputation was hardly inferior to Georgia Hadrian’s. However, he had no interest in competing with the Old Continent’s greatest general. His only hope was that Count Georgia Hadrian would remain embroiled in battles with the Four-Nation Alliance and not return to Black Phoenix City.

Facing a warrior capable of defeating Viscount Constantine, even with dozens of Saint-ranks under his command, Charlot had no other option but defeat.

As for abandoning Black Phoenix City...

It was a possibility worth considering.

Over the next few days, Charlot received dozens of war reports. With Black Phoenix City under his control, he now possessed dozens of magical alchemical communication devices, enabling long-distance transmissions previously unavailable to the West Wind Knight Order.

However, Charlot’s hopes were dashed when Count Georgia Hadrian, after defeating the Four-Nation Alliance, executed a brilliant feint. Abandoning the frontline at Saharamagan, he swiftly mobilized his entire army to return to the capital, Black Phoenix City.

Two days after receiving this report, Charlot activated the miraculous defensive structures of Black Phoenix City. Within hours, he saw dozens of brilliant streaks of light streaking toward the city.

Climbing to the highest point of the palace, Charlot, despite being surrounded by over thirty Saint-ranks, could not suppress a shiver as he gazed through the protective barrier at the plain, unremarkable face of a middle-aged man—Count Georgia Hadrian.

Raising a hand, Charlot had Emperor Yannis Hadrian, who had been hastily retrieved, hoisted up on display.

He declared loudly, “Your Majesty Emperor Yannis Hadrian, please order Count Georgia Hadrian to surrender immediately.”

“You are his emperor. For your life, he should not continue fighting.”

Disheveled and humiliated, Emperor Yannis Hadrian screamed, “Georgia ! Abandon the fight and surrender to Count Mecklenburg!”

These words enraged the Saint-ranks who had returned to rescue him. They could hardly believe that after their grueling battles, their sacrifices against the Four-Nation Alliance, and the loss of comrades in the assault, it was all to save an emperor who now begged them to surrender.

Tears suddenly streaked down Georgia Hadrian’s face. With a wave of his hand, he said quietly, “I am willing to surrender.”

“Count Mecklenburg, please lower the protective barrier and allow me to pay my respects to His Majesty once more.”

Charlot inhaled deeply. Though he dared not take risks, he had anticipated this scenario and commanded, “Lower the barrier. Prepare the lances!”

Each of the Saint-ranks readied a knight’s lance, aiming them at Emperor Yannis Hadrian.

As the barrier lowered and Emperor Yannis Hadrian was exposed, suspended from the flagpole, he gazed at the approaching Count Georgia Hadrian and whispered, “Use all your battle energy to protect me and ensure my escape.”

Georgia Hadrian replied in a low voice, “If dozens of Saint-ranks throw their lances with all their might, even I might not survive.”

Yannis Hadrian roared in fury, “Then let them die! Is it not their duty to die protecting their emperor?”

After a long silence, Georgia Hadrian finally responded, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

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