Chapter 193: Trap
A group of several dozen riders galloped across the plains,
led by a middle-aged man.
He was guiding this cavalry unit forward swiftly.
Though he was the leader of this unit, he had been intentionally looking after a young boy riding beside him throughout the journey.
“Master Aches, according to our earlier reconnaissance, the enemy has scattered into multiple small groups of fleeing remnants. Lord Yam wishes for us to eliminate these stragglers as quickly as possible. So, if you are the one giving orders now, how do you plan to proceed?” Sien asked.
As the commander of Westerburg, Sien’s scholarly ability might be limited, but as a veteran field soldier with extensive combat experience, his command ability was by no ans weak—sufficient, at least, to handle these retreating Aust Empire soldiers with ease.
Yam had instructed him to guide and teach Aches, so he had been doing his utmost along the way.
“Divide the forces.” Aches thought for a mont before replying.
He looked like a student completing an assignnt given by his ntor, answering promptly with his reasoning: “Based on the intelligence we gathered earlier, the enemy numbers between two hundred and five hundred. But since they’re divided into small groups of twenty to thirty each, as long as we don’t let them regroup, they pose no real threat to our forces.”
Yam had given Sien two hundred soldiers, accompanied by four Bloodline Knights—including Sien, Roda, and two knights from the White Mountain Territory. These n, except for Roda, were among the thirteen veterans who survived the first White Mountain War. Yet, whether veterans or not, their potential had already been exhausted. Their current strength was their limit.
By contrast, the mbers of the Shelf rcenary Group showed greater promise.
Aliman was almost certain to advance to the Fourth-Tier, while the other three were expected to reach the Third-Tier.
That was why Aliman was willing to lead the Shelf rcenary Group and serve the Soderbell Family with unwavering loyalty. Sien and the others bore no resentnt—after all, the difference in talent was clear. Being trusted and valued at this stage was already more than enough for them.
What truly concerned them was the next generation—many of their children, around the sa age as Cindy and Liam, were growing up, though their potential remained uncertain. If they lacked talent, they might fail to keep pace with the rise of the Soderbell Family.
Thus, whether it was Sien or the other veterans, their only ans of securing a future for their families was through military rit.
That was why Sien devoted himself so earnestly.
“If we divide the troops, how will you proceed?” Sien asked again.
At the sa ti, he unfolded a map already marked with symbols—compiled from intelligence gathered over the past few days. From this map, it was evident that a nearby settlent housed about fifty Aust Empire soldiers, guarded by two Bloodline Users—making it the strongest force in the vicinity.
Smaller units were scattered around, but no one could guarantee they wouldn’t regroup for support.
They couldn’t even be sure whether this was a trap.
All of this would test a commander’s situational judgnt.
“When will our infantry arrive?” Aches asked after a brief silence.
Sien’s eyes glead with approval, though he didn’t praise openly. “They’ll reach us by noon tomorrow.”
The horses they rode were those left by Wade Kasein for Yam—used primarily for rapid communication and reconnaissance. Yam had kept a few for Aliman’s scouting missions and gave the rest to Aches, allowing him to form a cavalry unit of about fifty n.
However, due to the terrain of White Mountain Territory—and similar conditions in Gem Territory—neither had proper cavalry training. These n could ride, but not truly fight on horseback.
Aches knew this shortcoming, so he didn’t actually deploy them as cavalry, instead using the horses for movent and reconnaissance—learning field tactics firsthand. Sien and Roda followed closely, fearing for his safety.
“My plan is this.” Aches thought for a mont, then said, “Once our rear forces arrive,
we’ll surround the settlent first. The enemies inside aren’t many, so a few of us can handle the assault. But for safety’s sake, Uncle Sien, you should stay outside to command. Once you see our distress signal from within, lead the n in to support.”
“Understood.” Sien nodded. “Do you have a specific layout plan?”
“We’ll first determine how many entry and exit points this settlent has.”
“Good.” Sien’s face finally showed approval. “You’ve reached a passing level in tactical command, Lord Aches. Forming a basic battle layout from limited intelligence—that’s a fundantal skill for any commander.
Only after mastering this can one be called a commander at all.”
Currently, within White Mountain and Gem Territories, Yam, Ion, and Akar—the father and sons—all t that standard, as did Ryan and Sien, who handled specific military affairs for their respective regions. Judging from today’s performance, Sien believed Aches had also reached that threshold. Whether he could beco an outstanding commander, however, remained uncertain—it required far more than just one or two battles.
Within the Soderbell Family, only Ion commanded universal respect.
Even Yam and Akar had yet to earn the full trust of veterans like Sien and Ryan.
After a brief rest, when evening fell, Aches and Sien led a small squad toward their target settlent.
They didn’t approach recklessly—even though the settlent appeared pitch dark, without a single light. According to scouts, a force of over fifty Aust Empire soldiers had entered the settlent the previous day and set it ablaze. The villagers unable to flee had been captured, their fate undoubtedly grim.
Since then, none of those soldiers had left. So even though the place seed deserted now, Aches and his n refused to step in carelessly.
They dismounted nearby, leaving two soldiers to guard the horses, then advanced several hundred ters closer on foot.
From this distance, the structures of the settlent beca visible.
“How is it?” Aches asked one of the Bloodline Knights beside him.
The man’s Bloodline Ability was 【Eagle Eye】—allowing him to adjust his vision to see three or four hundred ters ahead, a prized ability among archers.
“No figures in sight. This direction is clear.”
The veteran watched cautiously for more than ten minutes before answering.
Aches nodded slightly, saying, “This direction seems clear for now. Let’s move a bit closer.”
“Alright.” Sien nodded.
The group began closing in on the settlent quickly.
After the Kasein Family took control of Bayor Territory, they had centralized scattered villagers into fortresses through strict policies. Still, so continued to live in smaller settlents.
Wade Kasein had tolerated this, as he still needed so settlents to maintain local production.
Even so, these settlents had dwindled—from hundreds of residents to re dozens.
When war later broke out, so survivors fled to the fortresses, but others who thought their isolated locations safe stayed behind—and suffered even worse after the Aust Empire’s collapse.
As Aches’s group drew closer, a lingering burnt stench filled the air.
Aches, who hadn’t experienced the first White Mountain War, didn’t recognize the sll, but Sien and Roda’s expressions darkened instantly.
“This sll... isn’t right.”
“What do you an?” Aches asked.
“These settlents in Bayor Territory rarely have more than thirty survivors now. Each could house hundreds originally, aning the area isn’t small.” Sien explained. “The stench of burnt corpses like this doesn’t co from thirty or fifty bodies—especially from”
Sien’s eyes locked on the settlent. “A settlent this large.” Aches imdiately understood. “To spread the sll across this whole area, at least a hundred bodies—or more—must’ve been burned.”
“And all at once,” Roda added grimly, recalling a past horror. “I saw sothing like this once in Mountain Ridge Village.—If they burned that many people, but our scouts didn’t notice———”
Everyone froze in shock.
“When’s our next contact with the scouts?” Aches asked sharply.
“Tomorrow,” Sien answered in a low voice.
“Withdraw imdiately,” Aches took a deep breath. “This is a trap!”
No one objected—they all turned back swiftly.
But!
As they neared where they had left their horses, Aches suddenly raised his hand.
At once, everyone stopped.
No one asked why—but all drew their weapons instinctively.
A chill ran down Aches’s spine.
He took several deep breaths, then slowly reached for the hilt of the Demonic Sword on his back—drawing it gently. In that instant, a surge of murderous intent pulsed from the blade.
And in that mont, Aches finally understood why Cindy was chosen as its wielder.
For he too had just received the sword’s warning—enemies were lying in ambush nearby!
“Cindy, aren’t you afraid?”
anwhile, back in the dining hall of the White Mountain Lord’s Manor, Liam turned to Cindy, who was lying on the table waiting idly for dinner.
“Afraid of what?”
“Your father—” Liam scratched his head, “—won’t he be in danger?”
“Oh, that.” Cindy blinked in realization. “Isn’t danger normal? It’s war. No one can promise they’ll never get hurt—it’s impossible.”
“Then why aren’t you afraid?” Liam asked in confusion. “Look at Sister Angelina—she hasn’t eaten properly in days.”
“Would fear help?” Cindy asked blankly. “If you’re afraid, does that keep your father safe? We can’t stop what’s happening, so shouldn’t we do our best instead? Otherwise, our fathers will worry if we’re sleeping well, eating well, or studying properly even while they’re fighting.”
“Rather than worry, you should study and train seriously.”
“Because soday, we’ll face the sa things our fathers do.”
Liam blinked. He understood each word she said—but not when strung together. “Then… shouldn’t you comfort Sister Angelina? She’s been so quiet lately.”
“I don’t know how.” After a long silence, Cindy said softly, “I’m afraid if I say sothing wrong, she’ll feel worse—and then she’ll pretend to be fine just to comfort . That would make sad.”
“I’m worried about Aches.”
“No need to be.” Cindy took a deep breath and spoke firmly. “Father will keep Aches by his side.
And if Aches isn’t with Father, then Father will surely give him the Demonic Sword. With the Demonic Sword by his side, Aches will be safe.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I made a promise with the Demonic Sword,” Cindy said solemnly. “It will protect Father, Aches, and Uncle Akar. As long as they carry it, nothing will happen to them.”
ㄴ
A fragrant, sweet scent rose through Aches’s nostrils as he gripped the Demonic Sword.
In the next mont, his eyes glimred faintly—
like a beacon lighting up the darkness.
Dozens of faint silhouettes appeared before him—
human-like figures glowing in the dark.
“Enemy attack一一”
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