Translator: CinderTL
A grin crept onto Yuriko's face as his gauntlet lightly tapped the hilt of his sword. He cleared his throat and announced in a deliberately deepened voice, "In the name of my royal brother, the King, and as Regimental Commander of the Royal Knights, I, Prince Yuriko, hereby accept your allegiance!"
Yulga's ears perked up sharply. Behind his back, his calloused fingers surreptitiously pinched his thigh—this outcome exceeded his wildest expectations.
He immediately threw himself to the ground, his forehead slamming against the muddy earth. "Merciful Your Highness!" he cried, his voice trembling theatrically. "Your radiance surpasses even the sun of the Grassland!"
Brock and the other Orc warriors exchanged bewildered glances. Shaman Goruk was the first to react, hastily prostrating himself with a clatter as the bells on his bone staff jingled.
Seizing the moment, Yulga growled in Orcish, "Kneel, all of you!" The Orcs behind him immediately prostrated themselves in unison, creating a dramatic spectacle.
"From this day forth, you shall serve as an auxiliary force to the Royal Knights!" Yuriko declared triumphantly, completely oblivious to the twitching corner of the Knight Captain's mouth beside him.
The prince even personally untied Yulga's ropes—a gesture that made the guards grip their muskets tighter in nervous anticipation.
Yulga rubbed his wrists, chafing under the marks left by the ropes. Suddenly, he grabbed Yuriko's boots and pressed his face against the cold metal. "Your Highness's benevolence... the Black Bone Tribe can never repay it!"
He surreptitiously pinched his thigh, forcing out two murky tears. "I swear, I would lead my warriors into battle for Your Highness at once!"
Yuriko, flustered by this sudden display of fervor, fidgeted awkwardly. His face flushed crimson beneath his visor—he'd never experienced such a scene before, and it was undeniably intoxicating.
He nodded gravely, feigning authority. "Very... very good!"
The Knight Captain couldn't resist leaning in to whisper a reminder: "Your Highness, shouldn't we consult Lord Harrison first?"
"We are the Royal Knights!" Yuriko snapped, cutting him off with a dismissive flick of his cloak. "We are not subordinate to the Kingdom's New Army under the System!"
Yulga maintained his posture of devout gratitude, but his tusks quietly grazed the inside of his cheek. This foolish prince is even easier to manipulate than I thought. Catching Brock's horrified expression, he subtly winked with his right eye.
Shaman Goruk had already shrewdly begun helping the knights gather their scattered weapons, his eagerness almost comical.
The prince turned to the Orc Chieftain. "You must swear an oath, by your faith, to remain eternally loyal to Aldor and His Majesty Rodney XVIII."
Yulga immediately mimicked the human knights, kneeling on one knee. He scooped up a handful of dirt with his rough hands and proclaimed in an exaggerated tone, "Witnessed by the Spirit of the Steppe and the souls of our ancestors, the Black Bone Tribe pledges allegiance to the great Aldor and the noble Rodney!"
He deliberately smeared the dirt across his forehead, leaving comical streaks.
The newly arrived painter hastily set up his easel, his charcoal pencil scratching across the paper. Yuriko smugly adjusted his cloak, carefully positioning his sword at a more imposing angle for the portrait.
At that moment, Emerson Wilde pushed through the crowd, his gleaming breastplate still smudged with gunpowder residue.
"Your Highness!" he saluted urgently. "Allow me to lead the assault on Bradley Estate!"
Yuriko's eyes lit up. He clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Excellent idea! This will be the perfect opportunity for these newly sworn warriors to prove their loyalty."
The prince turned to Yulga, his tone suddenly serious. "You know the city layout well. Lead Sir Wilde's men."
Yulga immediately pounded his chest in salute. "I am honored to serve as Your Highness's vanguard!" He glanced at his tribesmen, and Brock and the others quickly retrieved their recently returned weapons.
"Painter, keep up!" Yuriko shouted excitedly. "I want to immortalize this triumph with a portrait right in the traitors' stronghold!" The servants scrambled to pack their paint boxes, terrified of missing this historic moment.
Emerson drew his sword, its tip nearly pricking Yulga's nose. "Lead the way, fur ball, and don't try any tricks!"
Shaman Goruk quietly sidled up to Yulga and muttered in Orcish, "Are you really going to help them?"
A bitter smile twisted Yulga's lips. "We'll play along for now," he replied in Orcish, "and look for a chance to slip away later. By the way, did we bury all the gold coins?"
The shaman nodded. "All hidden!"
Deliberately raising his voice, Yulga shouted in broken human speech, "Warriors of the Black Bone Tribe! Clear the path for His Highness the Prince!"
The chaotic procession surged toward the inner city.
Moments later, Harrison Abbott led the New Army troops through the breach in the city wall. A few Knights who had remained behind rushed over to report, excitedly discussing the prince's success in subduing the Orc Clan.
Harrison abruptly reined in his warhorse, its front hooves rearing high and scattering a spray of gravel.
"What did you say?" His voice was as cold as ice. "The prince entered the city with those Orcs?"
The Knight Captain nodded. "Reporting, General. His Highness said... he wanted the Orcs to lead the way to capture Lamost..."
Harrison tightened his grip on the reins, his throat bobbing as he glanced at the column of smoke rising from the city center. "First Regiment, assemble immediately! We advance!"
Even as the bugler sounded the assembly call, cold sweat broke out on Harrison's forehead.
His gaze swept across the rubble-strewn streets, where he saw several Orcs eagerly helping Royal Knights carry off their spoils. The servile display only deepened his unease.
With enemy resistance in the city completely collapsed, Harrison's Royal Army's First Infantry Regiment swiftly secured the town center under his command.
Harrison reined in his horse before the plaza, his tense shoulders finally relaxing as he spotted Yuriko standing unharmed by the fountain, directing the soldiers.
"Your Highness!" Harrison approached, lowering his voice. "That was too dangerous! You should have waited for the main force..."
"Ah, Harrison's here!" Yuriko rarely conceded, but this time his visor dipped slightly. "You're right. I didn't think this through properly. I accept your criticism."
He lifted his visor, his youthful face flushed with excitement. "But look! These Orcs are surprisingly useful—"
Before he could finish, a commotion erupted from the castle's side gate.
Emerson Wilde strode forward, dragging a woman dressed as a peasant, with Yulga close behind, his battleaxe slung over his shoulder.
The woman struggled violently. As her coarse headscarf slipped, it revealed the pale face of Lamost Bradley.
"Your Highness!" Emerson declared triumphantly, ripping off the prisoner's rough outer robe to expose a silk shirt embroidered with gold thread beneath. "This bastard was trying to sneak away disguised as a maid!"
Yulga punctuated the moment with a timely kick, sending Lamost sprawling to his knees. "I caught his scent! That's how I stopped him!"
He grinned obsequiously at Yuriko, blood from some unknown victim still clinging to his fangs.
"Well done!" Yuriko clapped Emerson on the shoulder and turned to shout at the painter, "Quick! Capture this scene on canvas!"
He deliberately positioned his sword across Lamost's neck, striking a triumphant victor's pose.
(End of the Chapter)
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