Chapter 580: Act 327 – The Battle of Saintly White XI
Lord Finn of Narelle, accompanied by several knights cloaked in deep blue robes, ascended a high ground near the fortified city of Bunoan, his face ashen as he raised the monocular binoculars in his hand to observe the thick smoke rising from the northern fort city of Ampere Seale.
At the end of the narrow field of vision through the binoculars, a corner of the Bunoan fort had completely collapsed, with broken rocks partially melted into a crystalline form, as thick smoke billowed up to the sky. Based on his years of experience, the enemy must have used pyromancy to breach the wall before attacking the city, causing over a hundred Port Guard soldiers inside the fort to scatter into the countryside without much resistance.
Lord Finn remained silent. Was this the impenetrable fortress the Port Guard officer had boasted about? The poorly maintained walls had less defensive ability than many northern fortresses, and some embrasures were clearly covered in moss. If it weren’t for the tattered, anchor-adorned flags thrown down to the city below, he might have thought this was a long-abandoned ancient castle. Not to mention the pitiful fighting strength of its soldiers.
Soon, the reports from the scouting cavalry confirmed his suspicions. The princess’s army was supposed to have passed through this area between 8 and 9 PM. The feedback from the dragon knights supported this evidence, but the scouts also found some injured Port Guard soldiers—according to these first-hand witnesses, a small detachment under the princess had infiltrated near the castle. Two women—specifically, powerful sorceresses—had used fireball spells to demolish the wall, and then the light cavalry surged in. After putting up a ‘desperate resistance,’ they were overwhelmed.
However, Lord Finn received more reliable information that described the attackers as a small detachment indeed, but not what one would call powerful sorceresses; rather, they were two elven girls, one tall and one short, who appeared to be children. It seemed they initially aimed to test the city defenses with fireballs, only to find that the walls of Bunoan were so dilapidated that they suddenly exploded upon encountering high temperatures, killing a dozen Port Guard soldiers—this was the only loss for the Port Guard in this battle.
Then the light cavalry of the Royal Knight Academy surged through the breach, and the Port Guard immediately surrendered, with only a few escaping into the wilderness.
“The kingdom is filled with these pathetic people,” Lord Finn replied angrily.
However, he didn’t dare raise his voice too high, as the Black Blade Legion’s performance was not much better. In fact, this was what made him rage; Baron Valen, who had confidently assured him in the afternoon that he would hold up the princess’s army, ended up leading an entire regiment of Highland infantry to serve a meal to the enemy. Not only did he lose his life, but the entire squad also saw less than three hundred people return, making it difficult for him to explain to Earl Victorkin.
Meanwhile, those mountain folk who usually boasted and banded together were beaten so badly they acted as if they had seen a ghost, unable to speak clearly, which left Lord Finn seething with resentment. More importantly, Baron’s erroneous judgment indirectly affected his own; the confounded mountain people led him to miss a golden opportunity—of course, he didn’t dare confess that he himself was scared, fearing the princess might turn back to finish off his advance troops—such a scenario wasn’t impossible. Consequently, in a panic, he recalled the dragon knights, and the repercussions were all too clear.
From the high ground, it was now all too obvious: the princess’s army cunningly turned around to attack Bunoan, sweeping away the food supplies stored within. Even more embarrassingly, the enemy had set fire to the nearby noble estates.
Those noble lords were now furiously seeking trouble with his superior, Earl Victorkin. The local nobility in Erluin was intricately intertwined, even someone as important as Earl Victorkin wouldn’t dare easily offend them, but the trouble he was bringing to this lord surely wouldn’t go unanswered.
Fortunately, he had not returned empty-handed. He put down the copper binoculars, clutching a page of parchment report in the other hand. This report was the official confirmation from the commanding officer of the fort, confirming that the princess indeed had a group of Rubis mercenaries under her command.
This coincided with the intelligence received from the rear.
Lord Finn put away the report and observed the chaotic Bunoan area one last time before wiping his sleeve and descending from the high ground. Accompanied by several knights, he mounted his horse and hurried toward a nearby pine grove.
Earl Victorkin was waiting for him.
Earl Victorkin was currently standing in a clearing among the trees, flanked by several high-ranking officials from the Northern Army including Julian, Duke Siphai, Old Knight Reld, and Marquis Baltar. If they were caught here, the Northern Alliance near Ampere Seale would likely collapse.
Unfortunately, the ten knights clad in gold and red flame-patterned robes, wielding massive flaming swords, around the edge of the forest would not permit such an outcome.
Earl Victorkin glanced at the written report, curled his pale knuckles, and gently flicked it. His expression was devoid of joy or sorrow. It wasn’t that he intended to maintain such composure; he genuinely felt that losing a whole regiment of Highland infantry was not that significant to him—it was not his direct acquaintances. While his earldom was in the Grey Hills, the Highlanders were always disobedient and maintained their independence.
It was fine to let those barbarians endure some hardship; however, he felt a bit of regret over Baron’s untimely death, his fiercely loyal subordinate.
He handed the sheepskin report to others, then raised his head to look at the man standing among them in a notably elevated position, clad in a red robe that revealed silver Gothic plate armor underneath. This man had a unique appearance, with a long, sharp face, yet his curled mustaches lent his countenance an air of distinctive authority. Underneath a pair of thick golden eyebrows, his azure blue eyes shone with the intensity comparable to that of swords.
“Lord Williams, it seems the White Lion army’s judgment was not wrong. The princess indeed possesses unexpected trump cards; in fact, they far exceeded our expectations,” Earl Victorkin spoke with a genuine tone of respect that was devoid of any pretense—his expression before High Priest Merros would only reflect a semblance of reverence, but facing this middle-aged man felt like a mouse facing a cat.
This man was none other than the leader of the Knights of the Temple, a reserve instructor of the Temple of Fire, deputy commander of the Knights, and Duke Dolenk of the Cruz Empire, Knight Williams.
If Brendel were present, he would instantly recognize this figure, for his status in the Cruz Empire was comparable to that of the Warrior Goddess Veronika, and could be said to be far superior to the High Priest of Ampere Seale. Moreover, his own strength exceeded that of Veronika, reportedly nearing the ultimate realm in the peak laws.
However, this person was an incorrigible chauvinist of a great nation and a member of the pureblood Cruz nobility, likely regarding Erluin with sheer contempt. Although he understood the special significance of the Kingdom of Erluin for Cruz, his visit here was merely to clear out some pests and naturally welcome back the Blade of Fire, Odrefice.
Williams arrogantly nodded but did not respond.
“However, we have more or less figured out that the forces under the princess are neither her own private troops nor the royalist forces. The royalists have indeed parted ways with her, and the power in her hands likely comes from a young man named Brendel.”
“Brendel?” Williams raised an eyebrow, “I haven’t heard of such a noble in your kingdom. Is he one of Queen Wind’s followers?”
“Somewhat related,” Earl Victorkin coldly smiled, “This person is about twenty years old; he first appeared in Buche…”
Upon hearing the name Buche, the deputy commander of the Knights raised his head, frowning.
“Then he gathered a group of outlaws in Toniger, in fact, we previously misjudged him to be merely a pawn of the princess, but later discovered we were terribly mistaken.”
Earl Victorkin shot Marquis Julian a glance, who promptly responded, “I saw him in Ampere Seale; he was honored by High Priest Wood to become a Knight of the Sanctuary. My subordinate encountered him in combat, and the High Priest can attest to that.”
“Wait, you’re saying this person is only twenty years old and possesses the strength of the Golden Tier?”
“Exactly, when I first saw him, he was being honored as a Knight by High Priest Wood, and my subordinate engaged him in one bout,” the Marquis continued.
“Alright, I believe you. However, since this person has chosen to convert to the Sanctuary, he is indeed a material worth cultivating.” Williams replied indifferently.
“If that were the case, it would be fine, but we didn’t expect it to be merely part of his scheme to infiltrate the Sanctuary. Later evidence indicated that he was secretly supporting the princess in inciting rebellion and had organized pagan assaults against the attending nobles in Ampere Seale.”
“So this person is actually a spy for the Everything Returns Society or the Pastoralist?”
“Probably more than that, my lord,” Marquis Julian respectfully replied. “The second time I encountered him, he was with Earl Yanbao. However, at that time, I suspected he was actually Earl Yanbao.”
“Oh, that protector family?”
“Exactly, but the fact proved I was wrong. Later, based on the investigations from our agents on the princess’s side, we found that this person’s background is highly suspicious; not only is he colluding with cultists, but he is also secretly allied with the Naga. Recent updates have indicated that that Rubis mercenary group is also under his command…”
“And even earlier, it was likely this person who cast the Celestial Arms in the city,” Marquis Julian added with a cruel smile, his words cutting deeply.
It was well-known that the Rubis mercenaries came from Baigang and the city-state of Rubis, and both Baigang and Rubis belonged to the Alliance of Ten Cities, which is under the influence of the Sanctuary Kingdom of Fanzan. The fact that Brendel had both Rubis mercenaries and Celestial Arms in his command conveyed a rather chilling implication.
Williams’s expression darkened in an instant: “Hmph, the Sanctuary’s reach is perhaps a bit too long,” he glanced at Earl Victorkin and the others, his tone carrying a hint of reprimand, “But I suppose for them it is merely to restrain the Sanctuary’s maneuvers; to them, it’s just an enclave. Don’t forget who is closer to the Empire.”
The few representatives from the kingdom said nothing, with only Reld’s face darkening. In terms of seniority, he did not fall behind this so-called deputy commander of the Knights. The two had fought alongside each other during the November War era, their positions quite similar, except that Williams was born in a great empire like Cruz and enjoyed better luck. Had the old knight also possessed such abundant financial backing, his accomplishments would not have been limited to elemental forces.
Moreover, he represented the White Lion army, a mortal enemy of the Cruz. The elder simply huffed and turned away, tired of looking at that man.
Marquis Julian had not anticipated that his words would prompt discord on their side, quickly changing the subject, “Actually, there is something far more important that has been overlooked, my lord.”
“That’s enough,” Williams gave him a disgusted look, “I know what you’re trying to say. However, colluding with the Sanctuary is already a sufficient charge for him to bring about his own demise. I am aware you wish to request the Sanctuary’s intervention, but if you want me to take action, I have one condition: you must escort your princess back to the Empire—”
He didn’t mention the cultists; the deputy commander of the Knights was not foolish; he had long sensed that there was something fishy about this matter. However, nobles have a shady side to their relationships, and as long as they don’t completely oppose the order, things could be tolerated.
After all, he knew these fellows were merely using each other.
Marquis Julian was momentarily taken aback, not expecting the other party to bring up this request. Honestly, Princess Grifian was, after all, a royal family member; they would dare to poison her for assassination, but to escort her back to the Empire would be an affront to the nobility of Erluin.
However, the deputy commander of the Sanctuary Knights clearly wasn’t there to reason; he merely answered indifferently, “Since the Sanctuary is involved, it is only fitting that the Sanctuary needs a sufficiently weighty scapegoat for an explanation.”
“But that person is significant enough.” The ever-silent Duke Siphai suddenly replied.
“En?” Williams grunted with dissatisfaction.
“The Highland knights’ previous comments have already exposed the identity of the opposing side. If I am not mistaken, the one who is with that young man should be Charles from the Palash family. Therefore, the identity of the young man who has been secretly manipulating the waters is also apparent; within the kingdom, who else holds such influence but his descendant?”
“Cadillos Darus.”
As soon as this name was mentioned, Williams’s expression immediately changed. He turned around, coldly fixing his gaze on Duke Siphai—as if the man were not a duke of a nation but his subordinate.
In that moment, Duke Siphai felt a chilling sensation, as if he were being stared at by Brendel himself.
“You had best not be joking. Even if you do not understand the severity of this matter, you should know the Sanctuary’s bottom line.”
“No, my lord, what we say is true…” Marquis Julian also felt the sudden cold killing intent and stammered in response.
“No, this is merely your speculation.” The old knight Reld suddenly furrowed his brows and interrupted them, “As Duke Dolenk said, you all should be aware of the gravity of this matter; until it is confirmed one hundred percent, do not speak rashly!”
“Old Commander Reld, you should know better! That guy, Begening, once mentioned that the wielder of the Lionheart Sword is a descendant of the Earth Knight, and that girl is Freya Everton. All of you are well aware of who took the descendants of the Earth Knight away back then, and since she has appeared, why can’t he?”
“All clues are pointing to the truth!” Marquis Julian shouted hoarsely, “Mr. Reld, I am aware of your feelings. You should understand what choice benefits the kingdom!”
The old knight hesitated slightly and then could only sigh and shake his head.
Williams’s countenance was shifting, staring at the group, and finally nodded, “Very well, it’s best that it’s true. I cannot decide this matter, but I will notify the Sanctuary immediately.”
After saying this, he slightly closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them again, and his azure blue eyes were filled with killing intent. “Darus is dead, but he indeed left behind descendants; however, whether or not they can be spared, better to kill a hundred innocents than to let one escape.”
The deputy commander of the Sanctuary Knights coldly glanced at the few individuals: “You had best be accountable for your words and deeds. You should be responsible for all the innocent souls who died here today; anyone who followed him is doomed.”
“The Sanctuary will absolutely not repeat the mistakes of yesteryear, resulting in today’s fate. I will take matters into my own hands, but you had better keep your mouths shut.”
Marquis Julian and the others were momentarily chilled to the bone, unable to utter a single word. Only Knight Reld seemed to have aged decades in an instant, becoming a feeble old man, shaking his head and deeply sighing.
Williams turned around, addressing his fellow knights of the Sanctuary, demanding, “I need manpower; inform High Priest Wood about whether he has discovered any traces of Mephistopheles.”
“My lord,” the knight immediately replied, “there should be news, but it won’t return anytime soon. This is High Priest Wood’s exact wording.”
“You sly old man,” Williams couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
Nevertheless, he lifted his head, and in his gaze was a cold determination: “Where has the princess gotten to?”
“They headed toward the Margao Highlands, my lord.”
“Trying to enter the Anlek Mountains?”
“Not so easily—”
…
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Background Note:
(1) Dolenk, a duke territory in northern Cruz Empire. At the same time, the Duke of Dolenk has rightful succession to the throne in the Cruz Empire.
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PS: Finally finished typing this out before sleeping, still a big chapter of 5K words, keeping my word. So tired, heading to bed now, and by the way, looking for votes! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to qidian.com to give your recommendations and monthly votes; your support is my greatest motivation.)
