Chapter 683: Abandoning Camp to Fight

Senar's hand rests on the hilt of his sword. He looks ready to strike at any moment.

Jonathan says, "If the two of you want to fight, wait until Henwell is dead. I can judge your duel then."

Senar and the Dramatist each snort coldly and step back.

Jonathan looks at Senar.

"Remember our task. Henwell is the target. Did you bring the item?"

Senar takes out a long box and places it on the table.

"It is unnecessary, but the upper ranks gave the order. If tomorrow's plan fails, I will personally solve him."

Jonathan opens the long box.

The box is heavy.

Inside lies a long sword.

It is a hand-and-a-half sword. The blade alone is about 1.3 meters long, and the total length is close to 1.6 meters.

The entire sword has a dark black metallic luster. Mysterious patterns cover the spine of the blade, and the pommel bears the Church emblem.

Jonathan lifts the long sword.

"A fine sword. The Church is truly willing to pay."

Senar asks, "Do you mean the sword, or Henwell?"

Jonathan smiles without answering.

He swings the Punishment Longsword once.

"Too heavy. Henwell is strong enough to use it."

Jonathan hands the sword to Senar.

"The Dramatist Jeremy was right. We should fear Henwell, because tonight he will assassinate me and almost kill me."

Senar takes the Punishment Longsword.

Jonathan says, "Strike steadily. Otherwise, I will die."

Then Jonathan looks at the Dramatist.

"Have your people been arranged?"

The Dramatist says, "They are not my people. They are people who seek revenge on Henwell. They have already arrived. They missed the morning's slaughter, but they confirmed their target in the afternoon."

Jonathan says, "Remember, tomorrow is Henwell's final curtain. Do not let internal fighting ruin the plan."

Half an hour later, Jonathan's royal camp descends into chaos.

Duke Marcus and the other nobles quickly receive the news.

The lord of Blood Hill has assassinated Jonathan. Jonathan is unconscious, his life or death unknown, and the lord of Blood Hill has been repelled.

Duke Marcus's first reaction after hearing the report is a sneer.

"A self-wounding ploy. If Henwell truly wanted to kill him, would Jonathan still be alive?"

Duke Obiken also gives a similar judgment.

"If Henwell wanted to kill Jonathan, Jonathan would already be dead."

That night, Henwell's camp receives more than a dozen secret letters tied to arrows.

Duke Marcus signs his own name openly. The others remain anonymous.

Henwell quickly learns that Jonathan is framing him in order to stir up the soldiers and middle- and lower-ranking officers.

The next day, Henwell's army does not fight.

Most officers, including Hank, commander of the Formation Breaker Legion, believe the royal army's morale is too high right now and that they should avoid its edge.

Jonathan's goal is clearly to ruin Henwell's reputation, seize the moral high ground, and mobilize even more troops.

Some legion commanders, warband commanders, and nobles know that this may be a frame-up.

But the ordinary soldiers believe that Henwell assassinated their commander.

Cumberland of the Military Intelligence Office says, "Human fever has a time limit. At most, it will last five days. After that, their fear of your slaughter will return."

Henwell says, "I cannot wait five days."

Cumberland is silent.

Henwell looks toward Cellarwine City.

"The cage has been opened. If I do not jump in, the enemy will kill Arius."

He then orders everyone to rest for the day and fight tomorrow.

This time, he will break the trap with raw force.

Everyone wants to know just how strong he is.

Tomorrow, he will show them.

For the whole day, the royal army sends people to challenge and provoke them.

Henwell forbids anyone from leaving camp.

The next morning, just when everyone believes Henwell will continue to avoid the enemy's edge, he marches out with his three main warbands.

As the royal army tries to cut off his retreat, Duke Marcus leads the East Mist Legion toward the Peace Haven camp.

Many people wonder whether this old fox has finally decided to join his son-in-law.

Then the logistics soldiers in Peace Haven's rear camp surrender to Duke Marcus.

The onlookers now suspect Duke Marcus is merely helping Henwell protect the rear camp so he can return later.

But Jonathan's Steel Lion Legion and Seventeenth Legion soon block the road between Henwell and the camp.

Two garrison legions also reinforce that line.

Even if Duke Marcus is acting, Henwell can no longer retreat.

Therefore, most people believe Henwell is going to force his way into Cellarwine City.

Jonathan thinks the same.

What they do not know is that Henwell's three main warbands carry five days of supplies.

Their tactical packs are filled with dried fruit, jerky, and heavy water bags.

Before the battle begins, Henwell says, "Anyone afraid can stay behind and wait for Duke Marcus. Your task is to keep fighting until you have killed all enemies, or until you are killed. I will have my own battle. No matter how dangerous it looks, no one is to approach. You cannot participate in it. That is an order."

Henwell knows that the killing move prepared for him has arrived.

From the moment he left camp, he could sense several hostile auras faintly locking onto him.