Translator: Cinder Translations
...
"No! Princess Catherine, please let me explain!"
Lamost panicked. He knew that the kingdom's army was inside the town.
The overwhelming fear gripped his heart, causing his head to spin in dizziness.
Catherine sneered.
"I can give you a chance to explain, but you must drop your weapon!"
Lamost hesitated for a moment.
One of his attendants immediately shouted, "If you drop your weapon, it's all over! We'll cover you as you make a break for it, there might still be a chance!"
Yes! There might still be a chance!
Lamost quickly spurred his horse and turned to flee towards the outskirts of the town, while his attendants circled around him.
Whoosh!
The sharp sound of crossbow bolts slicing through the air rang out, and several knights from the Bradley family fell off their horses.
The archers targeted the knights around Lamost, deliberately avoiding him.
The moment Lamost's group collided with the royal cavalry attempting to block them, the crossbow bolts ceased.
The clash of iron armor and swords echoed in the air. The townspeople who had been peeking out from their windows quickly recoiled, closing them tightly.
The Bradley family knights fought fiercely, hoping to cover their lord's escape from the town, but their light armor and swords were no match for the kingdom's heavily armored knights with lances. Soon, they began to falter.
As they neared the town's exit, in the midst of the chaotic battle, a rope shot out and ensnared Lamost. He was violently yanked from his horse and dragged helplessly along the ground.
"Ahhh—!"
Lamost let out a heart-wrenching scream as his leg was stomped by a horse's hooves, and the intense pain quickly spread throughout his body.
"My lord, I'm sorry! I almost killed this guy by accident!"
The knights, escorting Lamost, reported nervously to the princess.
Seeing Lamost grimacing in pain, Catherine's anger slightly eased.
This man had just insulted her not long ago. She had truly wanted to run him through with a sword.
But she held herself back.
"Princess, I am willing to confess everything to you! I only hope you will forgive my sins."
Now a broken man, Lamost humbly begged for mercy.
"Everything?"
"Yes, everything! My father's plot, and... and his collaboration with the orcs."
"Hmph! You can explain everything on the way. Keep a close watch on him, don't let him escape or die!"
Catherine's voice was cold and commanding.
"What about his attendants?"
"There are three left alive, the others are dead."
"What about the supply convoy?"
"It's all genuine supplies, and the people transporting them are just ordinary laborers."
"Prepare to retreat to Blackstone Pass immediately!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Catherine did not hesitate long and quickly gave the order to head west.
It was likely that the Bradley family had more than just Lamost in this area.
The royal knights rode swiftly, and the citizens of Marwin, who had been hiding in their homes, nervously watched from their windows as the streets were covered in dust.
Many of the townspeople now understood the worrying truth—that the kingdom's army had clashed with the duke's forces, and people had died.
This meant that the Yellow Earth Region was heading toward conflict with the kingdom.
Many people were anxious and prayed for the Light Lord's protection for themselves and their families, as conflicts between local lords and the king often led to war.
However, what reassured them for now was that the kingdom's army seemed to have no intention of pillaging the town—this was a common way of dealing with rebellious territories.
Once the army had formed ranks outside the town, they headed towards the distant west.
—
In a valley somewhere, the orc general, Calem, squinted as he looked up at the sun.
Was this day going to pass just like this?
When his gaze returned to the ground, he saw Langfero riding back.
"Human!"
Calem shouted at him.
Langfero reluctantly turned around, "What is it, General Calem?"
"My warriors and I have been wasting time here for two days. When is that little woman you promised coming?"
The orc's voice was filled with annoyance.
"We've already sent people to contact young Lamost. He should be bringing the target here soon. Not far now."
"Hmph! That guy, Boyle, said the same thing yesterday! Spirits of the grasslands damn them!"
The strong orc let out a painful shout.
"Our other army has already headed for the Watcher Fortress. They've made great achievements, perhaps even taking down that old guy, Morton."
"And I... the mighty warrior Calem... am here guarding and waiting to steal a woman for your master. How ridiculous!"
"I should have ignored your plan and gone straight to the fortress. Perhaps I would have been the one to earn the most credit this time!"
Hearing Calem's complaints, Langfero calmly reminded him, "General Calem, the royal knights are a formidable force. I believe you wouldn't want to find yourself being attacked from behind while attacking your enemies."
Calem glared, "Damn it, can't you even delay them for a few days?"
Just as their argument was about to escalate, a knight hurriedly arrived to report.
Seeing his panicked expression, both Langfero and Calem felt a bad premonition.
"I didn't encounter Lord Lamost on the road. When I arrived at Marwin, the locals said he was taken by the kingdom's army."
Damn it!
The sudden change caused Langfero to curse under his breath.
As he pondered a response, Calem's deep voice rang out, "The kingdom's army has entered the Yellow Earth Region?"
"Uh... yes!"
"Since they've captured your master, which way did they go?"
"West! The people in the town said they went west."
Langfero frowned and asked, "General, what are you planning to do?"
"Pursue them!"
Calem shouted excitedly.
"Now that we know the royal army's movements, of course we will chase them down, defeat them, kill them! Uh... and rescue your master while we're at it! Hahahaha!"
He may have missed out on the battle for the Watcher Fortress, but the royal knights were said to be an even stronger force than the Watcher Legion.
If he could destroy this army, the credit would be no less than attacking the Watcher Fortress.
In fact, Calem had always seen the royal knights as his target, otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to the ambush here with Langfero and the others.
His earlier complaints were mostly due to frustration over the lack of enemy movement.
Now that there was finally a clear direction, he was eager to move.
At his command, the army lying in ambush in the valley began to stir.
(End of the Chapter)
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