Chapter 1301 - 708: Black Clouds Over the City (Part 2)

Chapter 1301: Chapter 708: Black Clouds Over the City (Part 2)

Reynard holds significant sway, even though Alhazred is formidable, he’s just a consultant and doesn’t interfere with their decisions.

Lance’s ability to act swiftly influences Hamlet’s style, precise and effective, immediately finding solutions when issues arise, and implementing decided plans without hesitation.

The hall saw constant movement, an expanded meeting called together the current leadership of the small town, including the town chief responsible for its operations, the police chief, and several military officers.

Those who were summoned quickly responded, executing their assigned tasks to prepare for the unknown impact.

Meanwhile, several swift horses departed from the town, some heading to the front lines to consolidate forces, others returning to notify the city.

Due to different training regimens, the front lines had distinct zones. Thus, they dispersed not only to notify the adventurers and scavengers active in the periphery to return promptly.

Those returning also had to take separate routes, as the path from the city to the town crossed more than just outposts.

There were several villages formed during the wild expansions, each hosting hundreds or thousands, who must be notified to gather their labor forces for a more organized evacuation, avoiding the chaos seen during the Warwolf invasion.

"We can’t reach the Honor Guard and the teams deep in the ruins."

Someone mentioned a crucial issue, concerning the Honor Guard which departed in the morning.

After every major battle, outstanding performers are selected to join. From the initial thirty, the Honor Guard has grown to fifty, all elites, with masters not being uncommon among them.

Though the Lord drew five away, forty-five remain active in the ruins, some "splurging" to carry out the Lord’s secret tasks.

Others act as law enforcement alongside heroes, exploring and collecting data on the ruins. Counting them, there are fifty to sixty deep within the ruins.

At this point, a situation arose. The army on the outskirts had definitive positions, only requiring a swift horse to deliver messages.

However, the smaller teams that ventured into the ruins in the morning have no communication channels, and even if they wanted to locate them, their positions were unknown.

"Light the wolf smoke."

"No, it’s already dark; too far to see."

"What about signal flares? Regular folks can’t understand them, only our people will know."

By "signal flares," they meant fireworks. Adding different materials creates different effects. These were quickly invented after discovering the limitations of whistles and the uncertainty of wolf smoke.

At night, they’re pure fireworks, while during the day, they produce color-infused smoke.

"No, a pistol-style launch reaches only twenty to thirty yards. A mortar-fired flare reaches a hundred, but the ruins’ buildings block the view owing to height restrictions."

"It’s not that simple." Alhazred finally spoke, raising a vital issue about the Skeletons.

"Though I don’t know the specific conditions inside the ruins, it’s clear that power is severing Hamlet’s connection with the sun, affecting the undead, making retreat impossible."

Everyone, being in the ruins for so long and army personnel, naturally understood — it meant that post-nightfall, the Skeleton riots would cut off the retreat route. Even if they received notice, they’d be engulfed by endless Skeletons.

"Here!" Reynard seemed to have made a decision, pointing directly to a spot on the ruins map without any hesitation.

"The ruins might lack walls, but at the edges remain several old watchtowers about ten yards high. From here, we can launch signal flares toward the city; I believe they’ll see them."

Reynard’s finger drew a line from the town to the ruins, then pressed it heavily.

"Guide them to break through in this direction, along the ancient road. I will lead the cavalry there to assist, and if there’s no road, we’ll make one. We trust in their strength not to easily fall."

"If Lord Lance made such a decision, I would raise no objections. But have you considered that mercenaries will also see it and rush here out of survival? What will you do then?

Hamlet has just one cavalry brigade, likely to be ensnared by Skeletons, but more likely to be scattered by mercenaries who wouldn’t hesitate to use you as a buffer against the Skeletons."

Alhazred’s calm was remarkable; without it, he would’ve long been controlled by the void’s presence.

"Hamlet has never abandoned his comrades."

Reynard answered simply, making everyone solemn.

Indeed, the Lord said that Hamlet would not abandon anyone.

"Let’s move; there’s no time for us to waste here."

Barton showed some mettle, ready to share the cost of failure upon speaking.

As Reynard stepped out, the cavalry brigade had already assembled, expanding from fifty to a hundred over this period.

Limitations on Hamlet’s cavalry growth once stemmed from soldier quality, horsemanship training time, and the scarcity of suitable warhorses.

The sudden expansion was due to tapping into Walter and the empire’s logistic networks, sourcing imperial resources.

These cavalrymen, after screening and rigorous training, could execute tactical maneuvers and were unmatched in mounted combat, with the pervasive Skeletons serving as ideal training targets.

As forces were scheduled for redeployment, the Lord intended the cavalry to guard the city, leveraging mobility like a tactical spearhead.

Thus, they hadn’t left for the front lines in the morning, making them the first to assemble, now the town’s strongest force.

Notified, they soon sensed something awry. The veterans quickly noticed unusual movements, with people leaving the council hall urgently, revealing solemnity and urgency.

As more were mobilized, an oppressive sense of approaching peril spread.

Finally, Reynard returned to the cavalry, shouting loudly.

"An unforeseen outbreak, signs of Skeleton unrest in the ruins, but many comrades are deeply entangled.

Our mission now is to head into the ruins to rescue them; I can’t guarantee our return.

However, Hamlet never had a precedent of abandoning comrades. Those willing to join me, step forward."

Speaking, Reynard mounted his horse, donning his helmet with determination likened to his resolve.

Hamlet’s call to action was inherited from the Lord’s style, always straightforward and concise.

Never reiterating rewards or benefits, as their everyday provisions were ample, the Lord never left them wanting, on the contrary, his grace was immeasurable.

Moreover, the ideological education within the army clarified why they fought, maintaining morale without material incentives, sustaining a high spirit instead.

The cavalry began to respond, silent yet choosing through their actions to ready their gear and mount up.

None stepped back.

Seeing this, Reynard spoke no further, drawing his longsword and issuing a furious roar at the ruins.

"Move out!"

Charging foremost, Reynard’s warhorse leapt forward, the prepared cavalry spurring on to follow, swiftly forming a torrent echoing one phrase.

"Hamlet must win!"