Chapter 319: Act 86 – Omens of War (Fourth update, more to come)
This was the battlefield of over ten days ago —
The air still seemed to linger with a faint smell of gunpowder — despite the winter, the corpses had been cleared away according to Brendel’s strict requirements. An outbreak of plague was no joke, even during the cold days, no one was willing to take the risk.
Therefore, at this moment, apart from the bloodstains on the open ground, only the occasional scattered remains of armor and weapon shards between the grass could prove that a fierce battle had taken place here.
A certain kind of bird with gray-black feathers — either a blackbird or a raven — swept low over the battlefield. The northern wind grew increasingly desolate, the weather day by day becoming drier and colder.
Due to the lack of priests, Brendel had no choice but to handle the bodies in a simpler way.
The several columns of black smoke on the horizon were proof, the smoke rising over the forest, resembling the phenomenon of the end times. A few scouts cautiously entered this old battlefield, each involuntarily glancing nervously at the black smoke in the southern sky.
They squatted down, carefully examined the battlefield, then stood up, looking at each other in confusion.
They were spies from Parsons, arriving here day and night after hearing about Sir Minate’s terrible defeat — at first, they did not believe it. How could a mob have that much capability.
But when they passed through Sir Minate’s former territory, they were astonished to find that the knight’s lands had been occupied by another group of people. Some of them had seen these people before — they were a mercenary group called ‘Amber Sword.’ Several months ago, they had led a group of refugees across the border, claiming they intended to farm barren land.
The last news about these people came when they stayed in Port Gris, but who knew how they ended up back here.
However, the answer to the scouts’ doubts was actually quite simple, as Brendel knew Sir Minate was preparing to attack the Cold Fir Territory. If that was the case, then tit-for-tat was fair, he had already sent a letter to the Druids requiring Retao to immediately lead people across the Patton Wilderness, waiting to raid Sir Minate’s stronghold as soon as the knight set out.
Poor Sir Minate never imagined that a group of commoners would be so bold, and thus from the start of the conflict, the knight took an early setback. Of course, he himself was unaware, and by the time he realized it, he had already become a prisoner of Brendel.
But the scouts did not know these details, they just instinctively perceived the forces with the acute instincts of spies, then quickly left Sir Minate’s territory, rushing south over the Gris River, arriving on this land where a great battle erupted not long ago.
What they considered a great battle, according to Brendel, would be dubbed a ‘village level skirmish.’
Having experienced true large-scale wars, Brendel frankly never worried about whether he could overcome Sir Minate. This was why he dared to let Major Vurn and Crenshia take command of Fireland Group.
However, Brendel also understood that there would soon be a fierce battle ahead.
At this moment, one end of the wick leading to this fierce battle rested in the hands of these few scouts who had infiltrated the young nobleman’s domain —
”The rumors are true,” said a scout after checking around. He turned to his companions, “Sir Minate has been defeated, and it was a crushing defeat.”
Everyone went quiet.
Although they had suspected this outcome, the news of Sir Minate’s defeat had already spread along both banks of the Gris River. It wouldn’t be long before it reached Lord Parsons. But after confirming the news firsthand, they were still left trembling inside.
Each pair of eyes turned to the most experienced and vocal veteran among them. After pondering for a moment, this skilled scout said, “It’s crucial to relay the message back. This situation feels a bit strange, in all my years as a scout, I’ve never heard of such capable rebels —” he glanced around, “This was an ambush.”
”An ambush?”
”I heard Captain Carglis also participated in this battle,” said a scout, referring to the son of Sir Minate — if you have a good memory, you’ll recall this young man once worked under Parsons.
But this was not all. Captain Carglis wasn’t overstating his abilities. Since Parsons had no offspring of his own, he always regarded this young man as his child, teaching him all his experiences from battles. And the young knight did not disappoint him, earning distinction in battles against the mountain people, commanding great respect in Parsons’ ranks.
Even his decision to join Princess Grifian was personally approved by the old knight. While Parsons was loyal to Count Rendener, deep down, he leaned toward the royalists, hopeful that his protégé would one day aid the true Erluin throne in its resurgence.
After his statement, the scout hesitated, adding, “How could Captain Carglis fall prey to an ambush? Under his leadership, we never got tricked by those cunning mountain people.”
Silence fell among the scouts, the strangeness of the event unsettling them greatly.
But the veteran waved a hand, “Here’s what I suggest: we split up. Some of you will take the message back to Lord Parsons. The rest should proceed to Firburh for reconnaissance— just to see what luck we might have—”
”That’s too risky,” a younger scout interjected.
”There’s no scouting without risk.” The veteran waved again, “Since I hold the highest rank among us, follow my orders. You all go back, I’ll proceed with just two of you.”
Upon hearing the command, the scouts exchanged looks. They weren’t apprehensive of danger — after all, they were the elite under Parsons. However, the mysterious aura enveloping their mission since their southern expedition had for the first time sparked in them a notion of retreat.
…
While the scouts debated outside the forest, inside, Vurn and Crenshia exchanged glances. Turning around, they noticed the young nobleman sitting on a rock a short distance away, clad in a red robe. On one side was Chief Tagib of the穴居族, who appeared wary of Charles.
This young wizard’s magic completely masked their presence, and even the most skilful scout would not detect them. Otherwise, at this distance, Vurn would have been uncertain whether the experienced scouts would notice anything. He had seen many scouts during his service in the Karasu Cavalry Brigade, and sometimes he acted as a scout himself.
However, the veteran scouts outside were as seasoned as the best he had seen in the most elite battalions.
They were undoubtedly top-notch elites.
Though more astonishing to him was Charles’ identity. Coming from Karasu, he had encountered those mysterious highland wizards. He could confirm with full certainty that Charles belonged to their kind, bearing the same aura — the scent of the Highlands and the Black Tower.
He had heard that Brendel was a Highland knight, and in that moment, he couldn’t help but believe it. But a Highland knight with a mentor-level wizard as a retain?
What kind of being was that?
As Vurn’s thoughts tangled together, Crenshia redirected his gaze from outside to the woods again, “They have quite the nerve.”
He was referring to the scouts outside.
The scouts had split into two groups, one heading toward Firburh and the other northward, intending to return to Parsons. They parted ways outside the woods, their figures quickly disappearing at both ends of the road.
”Hey,” Charles, looking in that direction, slightly arched his eyebrows — his expression mirrored Brendel’s; the young wizard considered Brendel an excellent master — enigmatic, as though knowing everything.
He had lately been consciously mimicking Brendel’s every move, bordering on obsession. Nevertheless, he soon smirked self-deprecatingly, “Carglis? Unexpectedly, that young chap’s name resonates so much among Parsons’ scouts. He keeps crying about challenging either of you veterans. Aren’t you two great masters feeling the itch?”
Vurn and Crenshia’s faces immediately turned awkward.
During the ambush on Sir Minate, the biggest troublemakers were none other than the young Carglis. His battlefield judgment was impeccable, even a veteran like Vurn praised him endlessly. Had they not captured Sir Minate, that young man might have successfully carved out a bloody escape route.
Back then, Charles had intended to see the veteran trio of Huoque, Vurn, and Crenshia make fools of themselves. They had guaranteed success, but ultimately failed.
Were Charles to intervene personally, Carglis would have been captured even if he sprouted wings.
However, the young man remained unyielding. Though he didn’t voice anything juvenile like wanting to do it all over again, he repeatedly demanded duels with either Crenshia, Huoque, or Vurn while imprisoned.
Trouble compounded when Charles discovered the young knight’s swordsmanship was exceptional. Crenshia had tried to teach him a lesson but instead suffered minor embarrassment, since then Huoque, Vurn, and Crenshia would detour around the dungeon to avoid awkwardness.
Charles had actually mentioned needing the young lord educated.
Seeing the perplexed and wordless expressions of the two group leaders, the young man smiled faintly and shook his head, “So, how do you intend to handle this?”
He shifted the topic, pointing outside.
”And what do you plan to do?” The silver-haired middle-aged man looked at Charles with a questioning gaze.
The three seemed to disregard Chief Tagib beside them, which slightly annoyed the穴居族 leader — after all, it was his people who first discovered the scouts and reported them to these humans immediately.
However, Charles hadn’t forgotten this穴居族 leader who hadn’t been content with the recent status quo. First, he nodded to Tagib, “Of course, this is primarily Tagib’s doing. As for how we proceed— those heading toward our territory must be captured, and what to do with them is Lord’s affair—”
Tagib heard this and puffed his chest out a little.
”What about the rest?” Vurn asked frowningly, sensing that Charles meant letting the scouts who would return home go free.
Charles nodded, “Let them go, it’s Lord’s wish.”
That young man’s will?
Vurn and Crenshia glanced at each other. What did the young noble intend to do? If those scouts were let go, it could alert Parsons. Thus, it was uncertain what might happen next.
But Charles did not answer this question. Instead, he lifted his head to check the sky, thinking, it seemed that this time his Lord intended to play a big game.
…
(PS. Ha! Yet another update, did you guess it would come?) (To be continued. For further details, please log in, there are more chapters to support the author, support genuine reading!)
