Chapter 170 : Chapter 170

Chapter 170. Recovering Kael City

No ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍sooner had Viscount Felman spoken those words in disbelief than it seemed as if reality itself meant to prove his judgment correct.

Nearby, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a sharp-eyed soldier cried out in excitement.

“Lord ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Mellon! The gate! The gate of Kael City has been opened from the inside!”

Marquess ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Mellon focused his gaze and looked over. Sure enough, the city gate that should have blocked the army’s advance was now slowly opening wide.

Behind ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it, the defending soldiers could vaguely be seen fleeing in collapse.

Although ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he had long since learned from Eli’s intelligence that the defenses inside the city were hollow, such a swift and thunderous breach still left him shaken.

Too fast!

How long had it been from the moment the vanguard charged to the moment the city gate opened?

This Viscount Eli was not only personally brave and unmatched in archery; the ferocity and elite quality of the soldiers under his command had far surpassed Mellon’s expectations as well.

So young, yet already so capable. He had also formed a marriage alliance with the La Roche Family, gaining a firm background and reliable support...

Thoughts turned rapidly in Marquess Mellon’s mind, and he became increasingly certain that his earlier decision to befriend Eli had been the correct one.

It seemed that, after this, he had to let Soren spend more time with him...

“Lord Mellon!” Seeing the marquess somewhat lost in thought, Viscount Felman hurriedly called out again, his tone urging him on.

On the battlefield, every second was crucial.

Marquess Mellon instantly returned from his thoughts, and the decisiveness of a commander returned to his eyes.

He drew his sword, swung it forcefully forward, and his loud voice carried across the entire army.

“The city gate is open! All forces—charge!”

“For Winterbourne!”

“Vengeance! Kill them all!”

The main force, which had long since been unable to restrain itself, erupted with earthshaking roars like a flood bursting through a dam.

Under the command of their respective vassals and officers, they surged toward the open city gate!

The thunder of hooves, the pounding of footsteps, and the clash of armor and weapons merged into one, making even the earth tremble faintly.

Marquess Mellon grabbed his son Soren, who was about to rush forward with the troops, and pushed him toward the steady Viscount Armand beside him.

“Soren! Stay close to Armand! He will protect you!” His tone allowed no argument.

A trace of helplessness passed over Soren’s face, but looking at his father’s stern gaze, he could only reply in a low voice.

“Yes, Father.”

He then followed close beside Viscount Armand.

Viscount Armand nodded gently to Soren, his tone firm.

“Sir Soren, there is no need to worry. Stay close to me, and I will protect your safety even at the cost of my life.”

Among the vassals of Winterbourne, if one had to say who most defended and supported this gentle-tempered heir, Armand was undoubtedly one of them.

He understood Marquess Mellon’s painstaking intentions, and he was also willing to shoulder the responsibility of guiding and protecting his future lord.

The Winterbourne main force surged through the city gate like a flood of steel and poured into Kael City.

They happened to collide head-on with Federation reinforcements that had hastily gathered inside the city and were attempting to retake the gate.

These reinforcements had already assembled in haste, and they were at an absolute disadvantage in numbers.

How could they possibly withstand this group of Western Frontier elites, whose hearts burned with vengeance and whose morale was blazing?

“Kill them all!” Viscount Felman’s face was splashed with enemy blood, making him look especially ferocious.

He swung his longsword and led from the front, tearing apart every enemy who dared block his path like the edge of a knife.

Viscount Armand, meanwhile, paid more attention to formation. He advanced steadily, clearing out the remaining enemies on both sides of the street.

The battle was almost a one-sided slaughter.

Before long, the few groups of reinforcements that tried to resist were utterly annihilated before absolute strength.

The streets were left covered with corpses clad in Hofgard-style armor.

Felman, his face drenched in blood, found Armand and quickly assigned tasks, his voice hoarse after battle.

“Armand! Take your men and pacify the civilians in the city. Occupy and clear the lord’s residence, and maintain basic order!”

He then looked toward several eager officers under his command.

“I will take men to seize Kael City’s warehouses, armory, and every other important location! We must make certain nothing goes wrong!”

Viscount Armand nodded solemnly. “I understand!”

He paused, then looked at Felman and the soldiers behind him, whose eyes were still red from killing, and added in a grave tone.

“Felman, remember to control your soldiers! From this moment onward, the residents in the city are subjects of the Western Frontier! Looting and indiscriminate killing are absolutely forbidden!”

Viscount Felman wiped the blood from his face and snorted. “I know what matters! Do not worry!”

Then, with a broad wave of his hand, he led his soldiers sweeping toward the other strategic points in the city like a whirlwind.

Viscount Armand began directing the soldiers to control the main roads, surround and kill the remnants, and dispatch an elite unit straight toward the lord’s keep at the center of the city.

At that moment, Eli had already led his subordinates in completely clearing the remaining enemies from the walls and had taken full control of the gate defenses of Kael City.

The wheat-ear banner of Winterbourne flew high above the gate tower.

Surrounded by several personal guards, Marquess Mellon rode up beneath the gatehouse.

Seeing this, Eli quickly descended from the wall with Buck to greet him.

“Eli,” Marquess Mellon said, looking at the young viscount walking toward him, his face brimming with undisguised admiration.

He clapped Eli hard on the shoulder. “You did well! Very well!”

He sighed with emotion. “Ah, what a pity. Truly a pity. Sir Lucius found this pearl before I had the chance.”

The corner of Eli’s mouth twitched slightly. Naturally, he understood the regret hidden in the marquess’s words.

He bowed slightly with humility. “You praise me too highly, Lord Marquess.

“That this battle went so smoothly was all thanks to your brilliant strategy and the timely pressure applied by the main force. Eli would not dare claim the credit for himself.”

Marquess Mellon burst into hearty laughter at this proper reply, and his mood seemed to become even better.

“Heh, what a sweet-tongued young man.

“Let me tell you this. A lord may lack literary talent, and he may be weak in military strategy, but he must have the judgment to recognize people. That is the foundation on which he stands.”

“I will remember your teaching,” Eli said, bowing once more.

“Hahaha! Eli, you truly know how to please old men like us.” Marquess Mellon smiled and shook his head.

Then, as if he had thought of something, the smile faded, revealing a trace of helplessness.

“Compared to Soren and that... sheep-like temperament of his—sigh. It is all my fault. I spoiled him too much when he was young... Enough, let us not speak of that.”

He waved his hand. “Come into the city with me and take a look.”

Eli nodded in agreement. With Buck at his side, he followed beside Marquess Mellon.

Their party stepped over the bloodstained and chaotic ground, slowly making their way toward the lord’s keep at the center of the city.

On both sides of the street, many houses were damaged. Behind some of the windows, the fearful and uneasy eyes of residents could occasionally be seen.

Western Frontier soldiers were patrolling the streets and clearing the battlefield.

Shouts of command, the groans of the wounded, and the clamor of soldiers moving supplies all intertwined.

The air was thick with the stench of blood and the scent of fear.

Marquess Mellon walked in silence, his gaze sweeping across the frightened citizens, the ruined houses, and the soldiers coming and going. He let out a heavy sigh.

“Sigh... A fine Kael City has been reduced to this state...” His voice carried the sentimental sorrow unique to an old man.

“I remember that the ruling family of Kael City was the Tucker Family. Ah, that family was famous for producing the finest wine in the Western Frontier...

“I used to deal with them quite often. Count Tucker was a forthright man... Mm... and he had an adorable daughter...”

Eli silently followed beside him, listening to the old man’s seemingly unconscious rambling.

He could clearly sense that behind these ordinary words lay a deep sorrow for the suffering this land had endured.

He did not interrupt. He merely remained a quiet listener.

The party continued forward in silence and finally arrived at the lord’s residence in the city center.

The estate had a grand exterior, but at this moment, its gates stood wide open, and solemn Winterbourne Family soldiers stood guard outside.

At just that moment, Viscount Armand, who had received the news, quickly came out from inside the residence and stepped forward to greet them.

“Lord Mellon,” Viscount Armand said, saluting as he reported.

“The interior has been completely cleared, and its safety has been ensured. Please enter.”

Marquess Mellon nodded and stepped into this deep residence that had once belonged to the Tucker Family, later been occupied by Iman, and now had changed hands once more.

As he walked, he asked casually, “Armand, where is that brat Soren? He was not frightened into wetting himself by the battle just now, was he?”

His tone carried a father’s teasing toward his son, but deep in his eyes, concern was hidden as well.

A helpless smile appeared on Armand’s face, and he quickly defended Soren.

“Er... Lord Mellon, Sir Soren... fought quite bravely just now and stayed close to me the entire time.

“At the moment, he is inside the study, carefully examining any documents and materials he can find, hoping to discover valuable information about the Federation army.”

He paused, then added sincerely, “Lord Mellon, although Sir Soren is... not skilled at commanding battle formations,

“he is serious and meticulous in his work, and he is kind-hearted. These are rare qualities. You... you do not need to be so harsh with him...”

At that point, Armand seemed to realize that Eli, an “outsider,” was standing nearby.

Discussing his liege’s family affairs was rather inappropriate, so he immediately stopped speaking.

Hearing Armand’s defense and praise of Soren, the lines of Marquess Mellon’s face softened slightly, and he gave a soft grunt.

“That had better be the case.”

He changed the subject. “And Felman? How is progress on his side?”

Armand immediately answered, “Viscount Felman has already taken men to seize the important locations in the city. I believe he will come to report the situation to you very soon.”