Chapter 179

Chapter 179. Pre-Battle Deployment and the Shadow of Loyalty

The next day, the situation developed exactly as Eli had predicted.

After weighing the matter for an entire night, Iman of Storm City finally made the decision to send troops.

They planned to dispatch a force of nearly three thousand men. Naturally, this army could not consist entirely of Hofgard’s elite core.

Mixed among them were a considerable number of soldiers from Wanliu City-State who had been captured or forced to surrender in earlier battles.

Clearly, they were being treated as expendable troops and cannon fodder used to fill out the numbers.

Their mission was to coordinate from inside and outside with the Federation remnants on Dragonbreath Plain and defeat Viscount Armand’s force.

The two young Cintran messengers, after experiencing Iman’s unique hospitality, were also released.

They carried back Iman’s agreement to send troops, along with the arrangement that the attack would begin punctually at noon the next day, and returned overnight to the remnant army’s camp to deliver the message.

At the same time, the fast horse messengers sent by Viscount Armand had also reached Kigaka Gorge.

They explained Eli’s baiting plan and the follow-up battle arrangements to Marquess Claire in detail.

The two sides agreed that once Armand’s forces sent out the agreed signal—three red signal rockets launched into the sky in succession—

Marquess Claire would immediately lead the main cavalry force into battle, launch a fierce assault on the rear of the Federation remnant army, and complete the fatal blow.

.......

At that moment, inside Viscount Armand’s tent, the atmosphere was solemn yet heated.

All officers of mid rank and above had gathered together, listening as Armand made the pre-battle deployment.

“Gentlemen!” Viscount Armand’s voice rang firm and powerful, his gaze sweeping across every resolute or excited face.

“Since the decision has been made, then perhaps tomorrow, or perhaps the day after, will be the key battle in which we wash away the Western Frontier’s shame! We must win!

“When the time comes, I, Armand, will personally request merit for every brave warrior present here from Lord Mellon and Sir Lucius!”

“OHH—!” The tent instantly erupted with roars full of fighting spirit.

Armand nodded in satisfaction, then pressed both hands downward, signaling for silence.

“Next, I will assign specific combat tasks.”

However, a crucial issue regarding command candidates put him in a difficult position.

In the coming battle, his army had to be divided into two forces, each responsible for resisting enemies from two different directions.

One side would face the Federation remnants hiding on the plain, while the other would face Iman’s reinforcements arriving from Storm City.

And the side directly facing Storm City’s reinforcements would undoubtedly endure the greatest pressure and the fiercest attack.

In Armand’s subconscious, Eli was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.

He was remarkably capable, possessed a noble status, and had already gathered considerable prestige. The soldiers under his command were unmatched elites as well, and he also had two Gold-Tier powerhouses, Wolfgang and Buck, stationed at his side.

As for Sir Soren... Armand removed that option from his mind directly.

But...

Armand’s gaze swept over Eli, who was sitting quietly to one side, then glanced at Sir Soren, who was also present.

Eli was a young talent valued by Lord Lucius and bound to him by marriage alliance. Soren, meanwhile, was his future liege and the heir of the Winterbourne Family.

Their statuses were far too exalted. If anything happened to either of them during the battle, the consequences were not something Armand, a mere viscount, could bear.

Especially Eli. Lord Lucius had clearly stated that he would hold Eli’s wedding in Storm City after it was recovered. If Eli suffered some mishap because of Armand’s orders...

After thinking it over again and again, Armand felt the safest method was still to shoulder the most dangerous task himself.

“Sergeant Major Tika, Captain Brun, Baron Bors...” Armand began calling out names.

“When the time comes, you gentlemen and the forces under your command will act with me. We will be responsible for directly engaging Iman’s reinforcements from Storm City.

“Our task is to hold them down no matter what, buying time for Marquess Claire’s cavalry to complete the encirclement...”

“Lord Armand,” a calm voice interrupted him.

Eli rose to his feet and looked directly at Armand. “Please give me one thousand soldiers. Also, please leave the enemy forces coming from Storm City to me to block.”

Armand’s brows immediately furrowed. He looked at Eli’s young yet unusually determined face, his tone carrying dissuasion.

“Viscount Eli, I admire your courage and your sense of honor.

“But you must understand that the reinforcements Iman sends, even if they are not all elites, will by no means be easy opponents.

“You will bear tremendous frontal pressure. This is very dangerous. And...”

He silently added in his heart, Your status is too special. I absolutely cannot let you take this risk.

He waved a hand, attempting to end the topic.

“Enough, Eli. This is not up for discussion. The most dangerous task will still be mine.”

However, Eli did not back down. He still stood there quietly, his voice carrying clearly throughout the tent.

“Lord Armand, please believe in our soldiers, and please believe in the soldiers of Obsidian Territory. We are not weak either... In fact, it can even be said that we are very strong.”

He paused, then added, “Moreover, I need this merit.”

Those undisguised, straightforward words eased the slightly tense atmosphere inside the tent, and even drew a burst of good-natured laughter from the officers.

“Good! Well said! As expected of the youngest viscount of our Western Frontier!”

“Hahaha! Lord Eli, those words suit my taste perfectly!”

“Excellent! You have nerve, Viscount Eli!”

The officers spoke up one after another, their words filled with appreciation for Eli’s frankness.

In the army, such direct pursuit of military achievement was far more convincing than false modesty.

Armand looked at the scene before him and could not help giving a bitter smile. He looked helplessly at Eli.

“You... you really are...” He shook his head, and his tone softened considerably.

“Are you truly certain? You should know that once battle is joined, you may have no path of retreat.”

Eli nodded, his eyes showing not the slightest wavering. “I am certain.

“Lord Armand, I believe that with your ability and Marquess Claire’s, you will be able to quickly resolve that Federation remnant force.

“When the time comes, you can swiftly turn back and support me. That time difference is the key to our victory. Please do not worry too much about my safety.”

Armand looked deeply at Eli. What he saw in Eli’s eyes was only confidence and unquestionable resolve.

That steadiness and courage, far beyond Eli’s age, finally moved him.

Armand slapped the table hard and said loudly, “Good! Eli Pendragon! Your resolve and courage have made me see you in a new light!

“Since you possess such determination and nerve, then let it be as you wish!

“I will give you one thousand soldiers, along with your own troops. The heavy responsibility of blocking Storm City’s reinforcements will be entrusted to you!

“Remember, your task is not to annihilate them. It is to hold them in place! Once we deal with the bastards on that side, we will immediately come to support you!”

“Yes, Lord Armand! Eli Pendragon will not fail this duty!” Eli placed his right hand over his chest and saluted solemnly.

.......

Just as the decision was made in Armand’s camp, the two young messengers from Cintra, Sebas and Sevi,

also traveled through the night and returned to the temporary gathering place hidden in the mountains and forests by the Federation remnants.

Inside the largest tent, several nobles from different federations had gathered together, anxiously waiting for news.

Seeing Sebas and Sevi return safely, one noble could not help standing first, asking urgently,

“How did it go? Was the letter delivered? Did General Iman agree?”

Sebas stepped forward. Although exhaustion was visible on his face, his voice remained steady.

“Yes, my lord. General Iman has already agreed to send troops and is willing to work with us to resolve the Western Frontier army on Dragonbreath Plain. We have agreed to launch the attack punctually at noon tomorrow.”

Upon hearing that certain answer, the heavy atmosphere inside the tent instantly eased, and relieved expressions appeared on the faces of the nobles.

This remnant army’s grain reserves had already bottomed out. They could no longer afford to waste any more time.

“Good! Hahaha! Excellent!” A stout leader from Aslaed slapped his thigh hard.

“Baron Greenwood, those two servants of yours have rendered great merit this time!”

Baron Greenwood, who had been called by name, was a middle-aged man with a gentle bearing and relatively neat clothing.

The look he gave Sebas and Sevi was filled with praise and... an indescribable trace of meaning.

“Mm. Sebas, Sevi, you did very well. You did not disappoint me.”

Receiving praise from their master, Sebas and Sevi looked at each other, and joy instinctively appeared on their faces.

But immediately afterward, the rough and humiliating scenes they had experienced in Storm City the night before surfaced uncontrollably in their minds.

That joy was instantly covered by a shadow, and an unspeakable shame and humiliation rose to their cheeks.

It left the two unable to look directly at Baron Greenwood’s gentle face.

They hurriedly lowered their heads, hiding the complicated emotions in their eyes, and spoke in unison with even greater respect.

“Thank you for your praise, Baron Greenwood. Our whole selves and our loyalty are offered to you.”

Baron Greenwood nodded in satisfaction, then turned toward the other nobles in the tent.

“Good! Since General Iman has already agreed, gentlemen, please return at once and reorganize your troops. Inspect your weapons and armor.

“At noon tomorrow, we will attack on time. Together with Storm City’s reinforcements, we will crush this Western Frontier army that dares block our path!”

“Good!”

“Kill those hateful Western Frontier men!”

Voices of agreement, mixed with different accents, rang out inside the tent, filled with the vicious determination of men struggling to survive and the anticipation of tomorrow’s battle.

The nobles rose one after another and left the tent to prepare for the battle tomorrow.

Outside the tent, the moonlight tonight seemed especially bright.

That moonlight shone upon faces either savage or worried, and the air was filled with the unique oppression and restlessness that came on the eve of a great battle.

The night wind howled, sweeping up the scattered withered grass on the ground.

It made the Federation nobles leaving the tent unconsciously tighten their robes around themselves to ward off the chill of the night.

Soon, only Baron Greenwood and his two twin attendants remained inside the tent.

Baron Greenwood looked at Sebas and Sevi standing before him, perhaps trembling slightly because of the cold, and a trace of heartache flashed through his eyes.

He gently extended a hand and said softly,

“Sebas, Sevi, come here. Come into my arms. Let me... properly reward my little heroes.”