Chapter 81: Northwest Defense Line

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Northwest Defense Line

"I disagree!"

Ricker objected immediately.

"You don’t have the authority to refuse."

Cres suddenly sneered. "Either carry out my orders, or you can present your opinion to the Lord Baron yourself."

Ricker’s expression turned ugly. He was speechless for a long moment before finally forcing out, "If that’s the case, then we’ll follow Commander Cres’s arrangements."

Cres ignored Ricker’s passive-aggressive tone.

He was disgusted by the behavior of Ricker and the other three captains. Even at such a critical time, they were still obsessed with the sliver of power in their hands, still trying to consolidate their own positions in Diamond Town.

...

「Three days later.」

On the road to the border defense line, Vili urged his horse forward. Following behind him were two fully armed young men—his subordinates, the two vice-captains of Diamond Team Six, Sandoor and Dane.

Behind the three of them followed twenty cavalrymen and eighty foot soldiers, all of them selected from the Guard Team.

"Captain, we’re about to reach the border defense line."

The one who spoke was Sandoor. He had a rather lean build, but his eyes were incredibly sharp, and he possessed the unique vigor of youth.

Although his father was a high-ranking Civil Servant in Diamond Town, he didn’t have the slightest air of superiority. Especially in front of Vili, he acted as a perfectly competent subordinate. Even though Vili was younger than him, Sandoor showed no resentment.

"We should have about three kilometers to go."

The burly Dane added. He had spoken very little along the way, having a rather introverted personality—not at all like a child from a merchant family.

Vili nodded and continued to ride onward.

The Light Armor Vili wore had been custom-made for him at Bamos’s request. It was not only incredibly hard but also very light, made from top-tier materials. At his waist hung the Swift Sword gifted to him by Lacas.

Since Vili didn’t have a suitable weapon when heading to the battlefield, he had sent someone directly to Fandou Village to retrieve it for him.

"I can see the welcoming party!"

Sandoor suddenly exclaimed.

Vili looked ahead and saw three figures on horseback at the front of a group in the distance. Behind them were about twenty men who looked like Personal Guards.

"Captain Vili."

Vili had just drawn near when the man in the middle of the trio smiled and greeted him.

Vili glanced at him and confirmed his identity. "Commander Cres."

Bamos had previously given him a copy of the list of high-ranking officers of the border’s Guard Teams.

After confirming their identities, they all dismounted simultaneously. Dane, who was behind Vili, handed the Lord Baron’s dispatch papers to Cres.

"Let me introduce you. This is Ricker, the one in charge of Diamond Team One."

Cres introduced him without a hint of emotion.

"Hello."

Vili’s eyes narrowed slightly. From the moment he first saw Ricker, he had noticed the man’s gaze was far from friendly.

’The unfriendly old-timers Bamos mentioned definitely include Ricker.’

"As expected of the young man our Lord Baron has taken a fancy to."

Ricker’s smile was not a friendly one.

Vili paid it little mind, his expression not betraying even a hint of emotion.

This came as a slight surprise to Cres and Weibun, who was standing to the side.

"I’m Weibun, the one in charge of Diamond Team Two."

Before Cres could make the introduction, Weibun introduced himself.

"Hello, I’m Vili."

This time, Vili gave a slight nod, a gesture of respect from a junior to a senior.

’According to Bamos, besides Cres, this Weibun was one of the decent guys on the defense line.’

"The others couldn’t make it due to their defense duties at the border. I hope you don’t mind."

Cres said with a chuckle.

Vili nodded silently without saying much. He knew full well whether it was truly because they had no time or if it was a power play.

"Lunch has been prepared. Let’s all go and eat together."

Cres said, "The food at the border isn’t as good as in Diamond Town. You’ll have to get used to it."

Following that, Vili and his two vice-captains had lunch, accompanied by Cres and the other two.

During the meal, Cres assigned Diamond Team Six its mission: to garrison the northwest border with the assistance of Ricker’s Diamond Team One.

The lunch was a pleasant affair—at least on the surface.

Two hours later, lunch concluded, and Vili led Diamond Team Six toward the northwest border.

"Captain, these old-timers are really hostile toward us!"

Sandoor rode his horse forward a couple of paces to ride alongside Vili.

Before coming to the border, they had all gained a general understanding of the situation. The state of the defense line was very uncertain, especially the Northwest Defense Line, where the situation was most chaotic. The soldiers of the two nations had already engaged in two large-scale brawls involving over a hundred people each. It was the place where one was most likely to shed blood, or even lose their life.

It was safe to say this assignment was specifically targeting Vili.

"Commander Cres seems really unfriendly toward us."

Sandoor sighed helplessly.

Vili shook his head and smiled. "Cres and Weibun are decent people. Assigning us to the northwest border was likely the result of a compromise with Ricker and the others. If he really wanted to target us, he wouldn’t have half of Ricker’s Diamond Team One come assist us on the Northwest Defense Line."

Vili’s understanding of these men ran deeper than Sandoor’s.

Diamond Team Six continued onward.

Soon, they saw a barracks enclosed by a stone wall.

Outside the barracks were vigilant Guards.

"Who goes there?"

The moment they drew near, a Guard reacted as if facing a great enemy.

"Hm?"

Vili’s brow furrowed.

’These Guards must be the fifty men from Ricker’s Diamond Team One who were left behind.’

’Their reaction made Vili’s gaze turn cold.’

’These Guards hadn’t been notified beforehand that we would be arriving. Their superior clearly doesn’t take us seriously at all.’

"We’re from Diamond Team Six."

Sandoor leaped directly from his horse and said in a stern voice.

"Diamond Team Six?"

Upon hearing this, the patrolling Guard frowned. He only knew of Diamond Team Five; he had never even heard the name Diamond Team Six.

If not for their neat uniforms and the lack of any scout reports, he would have suspected they were soldiers from the Wata Duchy who had broken through the defense line.

"We’ve received no orders regarding a Diamond Team Six. Please turn back the way you came!"

A dozen or so Guards had already begun to slowly gather, taking up defensive stances.

Vili remained on his horse, saying nothing.

Dane also leaped from his horse and walked over to Sandoor’s side, his face filled with anger.

Sandoor was furious. "Get your person-in-charge out here! Captain Vili of Diamond Team Six has arrived! Are you going to refuse him entry? This is an order from Commander Cres! Are you going to defy it?!"