Chapter 149 : Chapter 149

Chapter 149. Slaughter Before the Battle

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍next day, after completing their task of assisting Count Habe, Eli and Ron did not linger for long.

They ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍immediately set out for their main defensive zone—Dragon Gate.

The ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍closer they drew to Dragon Gate, the heavier the atmosphere of approaching war became.

As ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍one of the anticipated main attack directions of the enemy army, preparations here were proceeding in full swing.

On ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the wide road, large numbers of carts and laborers moved back and forth under the command of soldiers, transporting supplies for the city defense.

Bundled ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍arrows, enormous rolling logs, stacked throwing stones, and cauldron after cauldron of hot oil being boiled elsewhere.

Atop the towering city walls, the Golden Lion banner representing the La Roche Family and Count Quintus’s family banner snapped loudly in the wind.

The tall and broad city gate had already been shut tight, with reinforcements placed behind it.

On the city walls, various defensive devices and supplies had already been moved into their predetermined positions.

The soldiers on the walls patrolled back and forth with solemn faces.

Everywhere the eye could see was filled with a murderous chill.

Eli and Ron passed through the busy crowd, climbed onto the city wall, and arrived at the temporary command post near the gate tower.

It was a room built from heavy stone, with an open field of vision.

From there, one could overlook a large area outside the city while also keeping watch over the situation on the wall.

At this moment, Count Quintus was standing before an unfolded map of the surrounding terrain, holding his breath in concentration as he studied it.

Hearing footsteps, he raised his head and saw Eli and Ron.

“Count,” the two stepped forward and saluted.

Count Quintus nodded in return, then asked directly,

“Have the tasks on Count Habe’s side been completed?”

“Yes, Count. The recruitment and initial reorganization have been completed. Count Habe has taken over the follow-up arrangements for the city’s internal defense.”

“Good.” A trace of satisfaction appeared on Count Quintus’s face.

“Since the matter there is finished, you will remain at Dragon Gate from now on and assist me with the defense.”

He beckoned, signaling for the two to come closer to the map.

“Eli, I heard that you are skilled with the bow and possess excellent archery.

The five hundred ranged archers deployed on Dragon Gate will all be placed under your command.

Your task is to maximize killing efficiency, suppress the enemy’s attempts to climb the walls, and prioritize shooting their officers and siege-equipment operators.”

This was an important responsibility.

Eli did not hesitate at all and nodded steadily. “Yes, Count! Eli accepts the order.”

Count Quintus then turned his gaze to Ron. “Baron Ron, you will serve as my guard captain while also commanding the gate reserve force.

Your task is to ensure the safety of the command post and, according to my orders, lead the reserve force at any time to support critical sections of the wall.”

Ron likewise straightened his chest and accepted the order. “Yes! I will obey all of your commands!”

After that, Count Quintus gave the two of them a detailed explanation of Dragon Gate’s specific deployment.

This included the officers responsible for each section of the wall, the locations of supply stockpiles, as well as the communication and support procedures to be followed in emergencies.

Once the instructions were complete, he had Eli leave first to take over the five hundred archers and familiarize himself with the defenses on the wall.

Eli accepted the order and withdrew, walking out of the command post.

His gaze turned toward the direction of Obsidian Territory. He sighed faintly, then began carrying out his new duties.

.......

Time passed slowly but firmly amid the tense atmosphere of war preparations.

A few days went by in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, after several days of marching and a chaotic advance following their assembly, the main force of the Federation allied army was only about half a day’s journey from Thorne City.

An army of nearly ten thousand men, with complicated origins and numerous federations represented, was far more difficult to arrange and mobilize than Paul had imagined.

Inside the command tent, Paul was facing a map and a pile of disordered intelligence documents, feeling waves of frustration and exhaustion.

He clearly realized that the position of Alliance Lord he had obtained through Wanliu’s powerful strength rather than his own personal prestige

was fundamentally insufficient to effectively restrain this group of allies who had long since grown accustomed to indulging themselves in the Western Frontier.

Orders were greatly discounted in execution, and situations where each party acted on its own were common.

At this moment, his adjutant’s somewhat urgent voice came from outside the tent. “Lord Paul! A report from the vanguard force!”

Paul rubbed the space between his brows and said in a low voice, “Speak.”

“Lord Sessen of the vanguard force sent someone back to report that they encountered a… pioneer outpost ahead.”

“An outpost? What scale is it? How many defenders?” Paul frowned.

He did not want to create too many complications before reaching Thorne City and consume his forces.

If the matter was mishandled, there was even a possibility that the plan would be exposed early.

The adjutant’s voice sounded somewhat hesitant. “Uh… the soldier who reported back said that Lord Sessen stated they could resolve it immediately.

And… and he asks you to lead the main force over and set up camp there to rest…”

“What?” Paul’s low growl echoed inside the tent.

The vanguard force was led by Boulder Sessen of Hofgard. He was an out-and-out reckless brute.

........

At the same time, near the edge of a relatively gentle valley ahead of the main force,

a small pioneer territory was located there, and its wooden palisade had only recently been erected.

Several crude buildings were scattered inside, and its defensive facilities were extremely incomplete.

At this moment, the people inside the territory had clearly already discovered the murderous army not far away.

Panicked shouts and the hastily rung alarm bell mixed together.

Before the ranks of Hofgard’s vanguard force, an adjutant spoke with some unease to Sessen, who was mounted on a tall warhorse.

“Lord Sessen, the cavalry and infantry are ready. We can attack.

But… without Alliance Lord Paul’s order, it would not be good for us to act without authorization, would it?”

When Sessen heard this, he impatiently knocked his iron-gloved fist against the adjutant’s helmet, producing a clang.

“Ow…”

“Idiot! My only lord is General Iman! Does that pretty boy from Wanliu think he is worthy of commanding me?”

He looked contemptuously at that pitiful territory in the distance, which did not even have proper walls, and a cruel, bloodthirsty smile appeared on his face.

“It is only a small matter like this. We can resolve it ourselves with a casual wave of the hand. Why bother them? This is just right for letting the brothers stretch their muscles!”

He abruptly drew the heavy warhammer from his waist and raised it high.

“Warriors of Hofgard! Charge! Crush them!”

“Ohhhh!”

“Kill them all!”

“For Hofgard!”

The soldiers behind him had long since grown impatient. When they heard the order and the temptation it carried, they immediately surged forward like a flood breaking through a dam, letting out fanatical roars.

Following Sessen, they urged their warhorses onward and launched a frenzied charge toward that small territory.

The sound of hooves rang out like thunder, stirring up dust that filled the sky.

In the distant territory, the lord, a young man wearing old leather armor, had already lost all color from his face.

He shouted himself hoarse, trying to organize the little more than a hundred soldiers and the small number of militia he had into a thin defensive line.

But the disparity in strength between the two sides was truly too great.

A bloody massacre began in an instant.

The soldiers of Hofgard were like vicious wolves charging into a flock of sheep.

They grinned ferociously, swung their heavy weapons, easily split apart the crude palisade, and drove their sharp blades deep into the bodies of the defenders who tried to resist.

Screams, the clash of weapons, and wild laughter mixed together.

From the very beginning, the battle was a one-sided crushing.

“Lord! Run! We will hold them back!”

A loyal knight stood in front of the young lord and roared, trying to buy him time to escape.

“Annoying insect!” Sessen grinned ferociously and charged over on horseback. The warhammer in his hand carried a foul wind as he smashed it down without the slightest flourish.

The knight raised his sword to block, but both man and sword were sent flying by the terrifying force. He crashed into the wall of a wooden house and made no sound again.

“Elson!”

Sessen did not even look at the knight. He casually drew a thick javelin from beside his saddle.

His gaze locked onto the young lord, whose face was filled with despair and fury, and he wore the playful expression of a cat toying with a mouse.

“Poor little lamb! Die!”

The muscles of his arm swelled, and he hurled the javelin with all his strength!

The javelin turned into a black blur, letting out a sharp sound as it tore through the air and crossed the short distance in an instant.

The young lord watched helplessly as the javelin rapidly enlarged in his pupils.

His eyes were filled with anger and unwillingness. He wanted to dodge, but his body seemed to have been nailed in place.

SQUELCH!

There was a dull sound. The javelin accurately and viciously pierced through his chest.

The enormous force even carried his body backward for a short distance before he crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

“Lord!!”

Several personal guards beside him who had been fighting desperately witnessed this scene. Their eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and they let out heart-wrenching roars.

“Avenge the lord! Fight these bastards to the death!”

Like mad tigers, they charged toward Sessen and the Hofgard soldiers around him without regard for anything else.

However, courage could not make up for the absolute disparity in strength. Instead, it only stirred the enemy’s bloodlust.

More Hofgard soldiers surrounded them, and blades and swords fell together…

Another round of bloody slaughter began, and it soon spread to the unarmed civilians.

When Paul led the main force of the allied army to this valley, this was the scene he saw.

The small territory that had originally been rather peaceful had now turned into a ruined mess.

The wooden palisade had collapsed in all directions, and most of the crude houses had been set aflame, spewing black smoke.

The ground and the broken walls were splattered with dark-red blood.

Corpses lay scattered everywhere: soldiers in crude leather armor, civilians in coarse cloth, men, women…

The thick stench of blood and char filled the air, making one want to vomit.

Sessen came forward with several personal guards. At this moment, their faces still carried a strange flush.

“Lord Alliance Lord, my lords, you have arrived at just the right time!

We happened to run into a blind little territory on the road, so I took care of it in passing.

This place is not bad. Let us set up camp here and rest for the night!”

The leaders of the various federations looked at the miserable scene before them with different expressions.

Some were indifferent, some frowned slightly, and some even wore faintly admiring smiles.

But none of them said anything. They merely turned their gazes toward Paul, whose face was ashen.

Paul’s gaze slowly swept over this land soaked in blood. Finally, that cold gaze fixed on Sessen’s smiling face.

Sessen felt his scalp prickle under that gaze. The smile on his face froze, and he unconsciously swallowed.

The air seemed to freeze for several seconds.

In the end, Paul said nothing. He merely nodded with extreme coldness and forced one word through clenched teeth.

“…Camp.”

As though granted amnesty, Sessen quickly stepped aside to clear the path and bowed. “Lord Paul, please!”

Seeing this, false compliments immediately rang out among the Federation leaders who had been watching silently.

It was as though the massacre just now had merely been a trivial hunt.

“Hahaha! Commander Sessen is indeed brave!”

“As expected of a warrior of Hofgard. Clean and decisive!”

“This just happened to save us the trouble!”

The afterglow of the setting sun scattered down, staining the blood even darker.