ㅤ
“Understood. What did the Lords decide to do?”
ㅤ
“They said they will interrogate them and then decide.”
ㅤ
“Understood. Tell them I will co as soon as possible.”
ㅤ
Suetlg made a look as if to say, ‘𝘚𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?’ Whether surrounded by forest or whatever, facing knights with just a few dozen rcenaries was absolutely impossible.
ㅤ
The captain of the guard shouted, gathering the captains of the rcenaries. Since the knights had already gone ahead and were causing trouble, they also had to hurry.
ㅤ
Honestly, the knights aren’t fools, they’ll handle it well. . .
ㅤ
But what if they’re late? What would they hear then?
ㅤ
“It would be easier if the Sir Knights just swept them all away.”
ㅤ
“I’m afraid to say that, it seems like we would get an earful for that. Aren’t the preparations complete yet?”
ㅤ
“They say it’s all ready now.”
ㅤ
Upon hearing the adjutant’s report, the captain of the guard nodded.
ㅤ
The plan of subjugation was simple.
ㅤ
Sweep through the nearby forest, destroying all possible camping sites, and kill any rcenary or rogue they encounter.
ㅤ
It was a simple but effective thod. Since they had more numbers and better quality of troops, there was no need for complicated tactics.
ㅤ
The only reason these bands of rogues held out was because of the vast forest. If they destroyed all supplies and camping grounds, the rcenaries would be finished. Would these rcenaries, gathered for personal gain, regroup after a retreat? They would just scatter.
ㅤ
“Do you think they’ll run or fight?”
ㅤ
“Maybe they’ll fight at least once, right? After all that, they won’t just disband.”
ㅤ
Having betrayed the city and turned into a band of rogues, the rcenary captain had to produce results. Otherwise, he would be hanged by the angry rcenaries.
ㅤ
“Are you okay after drinking so much?”
ㅤ
“The wine? Good wine is like dicine.”
ㅤ
At Johan’s words, Suetlg made a disbelieving face. The elf knights and Johan had really drunk like madn. Seeing Johan drink well, the elf knights seed excited and kept pouring more.
ㅤ
‘𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺.’
ㅤ
Suetlg gulped down so cold water. Johan, while preparing for the march, asked.
ㅤ
“What conditions are needed to see the future?”
ㅤ
“Why? Do you want to predict your future?”
ㅤ
“Haha. How could I ask for that? I was just wondering if soone like Suetlg could foresee and avoid a disadvantageous future.”
ㅤ
“To see the future, a few conditions are necessary. When water wants to tell the future, when my life is in great danger, and most importantly, when I haven’t overdrunk the previous night.”
ㅤ
“Sounds plausible.”
ㅤ
“Why suddenly talk about the future? There must be a reason.”
ㅤ
“The rcenaries who betrayed the city and turned into a band of rogues wouldn’t have done it without reason. I was wondering if there’s sothing more to it.”
ㅤ
“Don’t overestimate those rcenary fools. Like I said, they’re like beasts. They eat when hungry, drink when thirsty. They resort to thievery when out of money. Probably thought they could extort more after receiving the down paynt. With the Empire in turmoil, they’d flee there and Marcel couldn’t do anything.”
ㅤ
Blocking the path to the city ant that the city would have no choice but to negotiate. It would be much more profitable than the money to hire the rcenaries.
ㅤ
If the Oak Tree rcenary Group and band of rogues were mistaken about anything, it was that the magistrate of Marcel was not an easy person.
ㅤ
“The rcenaries misjudged the person. In other cities, maybe, but here the magistrate is not so soft to fall for such tactics.”
ㅤ
“Hmm.”
ㅤ
They thought blocking the road would lead to negotiations, but the magistrate’s choice to hire twice as many troops for a counterattack was indeed threatening.
ㅤ
However, Johan felt strangely uneasy.
ㅤ
Could the opponent have so other plan in mind?
ㅤ
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
ㅤ
The sight of the burning fiefdom was horrific. The rcenaries who couldn’t escape in ti were slaughtered right there. Unlucky rchants who ca to the fiefdom to make so money, along with laborers and prostitutes, were also killed.
ㅤ
As the knights charged, shouting “For glory!”, one third of the rcenaries in the fiefdom panicked and fled, abandoning their weapons. Another third shouted, ‘𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳! 𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳!’, while the remaining third tried to fight, grasping their weapons.
ㅤ
The elf knights indiscriminately wiped out the rcenaries. Since the opponents were not nobles, there was no reason to accept their surrender.
ㅤ
“Sh, sh, sh, sh. . .”
ㅤ
A servant pointed a knife at the throat of a surviving female rcenary.
ㅤ
“You’re not alone, are you? Where are the others?”
ㅤ
“O-Over there, at the stream to the east. . . waiting to erge if anyone passes by on the road. . .”
ㅤ
Before she could finish speaking, the servant slit the rcenary’s throat with a dagger. It was a skill he had honed following the knights. Servants or slaves accompanying knights often beca skilled soldiers.
ㅤ
“Did you find out?”
ㅤ
“Yes. It seems they are waiting at the eastern stream.”
ㅤ
“Annoying bugs, scattered here and there.”
ㅤ
One of the knights frowned.
ㅤ
“The horses seem tired, let’s switch mounts. We need to attack before they hear the commotion and flee.”
ㅤ
None of the approximately thirty mbers of the party were injured. Even though the rcenaries were caught by surprise, the disparity in strength was imnse.
Reviews
All reviews (0)