Chapter 69: Iron Lion Knights! Kingdom Allied Forces?

"Everyone."

Roko's voice broke the silence in the council hall.

His gaze swept slowly over everyone present.

"Summoning everyone here today is mainly to discuss the future development direction of our Vanguard Valley and how to deal with the increasingly severe situation in the Xin Feng Province."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions became serious.

"First, let Bake report the latest situation in the Xin Feng Province to everyone."

Roko's gaze turned to Scout Captain Bake.

Bake stood up immediately, his face carrying a hint of solemnity.

"Yes, Young Master."

He cleared his throat and said in a deep voice.

"According to the latest intelligence gathered by our scouts and the information summarized from some fleeing nobles."

"Currently, the situation in the entire Xin Feng Province is still very chaotic."

"Although the 'Iron Lion Knights,' which belong to the Kingdom and are stationed near the Xin Feng Province, have begun to gradually advance into the province to clear out the roaming Orc units."

"Iron Lion Knights?"

Martina's fox ears twitched slightly, and she looked up, a hint of thought flashing in her pure white eyes.

"I have heard of this knight order; it is one of the ace legions of the Bulake Kingdom."

"It is said that every member is a battle-hardened elite, and their strength should not be underestimated."

Hart nodded and added.

"The Legion Commander of the Iron Lion Knights is Gelifen Aogusudu, known as the 'Iron-Blooded Lion'."

"With them taking action, the Orcs in the province should restrain themselves a bit."

Bake continued.

"That's right, the intervention of the Iron Lion Knights has indeed curbed the Orcs' arrogant momentum to a certain extent."

"Some smaller Orc tribes almost collapsed at the first touch after encountering the Iron Lion Knights."

"However, the scale of this Orc invasion is too large, and there seems to be unified organization and command."

"Although the Iron Lion Knights are powerful, their troops are limited."

"Facing the massive Orc army, they also appear somewhat stretched."

"Under such circumstances, they can only prioritize securing those important strategic towns and transportation hubs."

"In addition, Duke Auston, who is the actual controller of the Xin Feng Province, has also gradually begun to mobilize his private army and the troops of vassal nobles."

"Setting out to deal with the Orcs within the province, appease the fleeing people, and maintain order."

"However, Duke Auston's movements seem a bit slow."

Bake said this with a hint of imperceptible meaning in his tone.

A look of profound meaning flashed in Roko's eyes.

Duke Auston, the supreme ruler of the Xin Feng Province—his intentions were probably not just about clearing out Orcs.

This sudden Orc invasion was a devastating disaster for many nobles.

But for some ambitious people, wasn't it also an opportunity to reshuffle the deck and expand their influence?

"We don't need to pay too much attention to the movements of those big nobles within the province for now."

Roko said lightly.

"What is the current situation in our Vanguard Valley?"

"In the past few days, have any blind Orc units dared to provoke us?"

Upon hearing this, Bake showed a hint of pride on his face.

"Reporting to Young Master, there have indeed been several Orc units wandering near our Vanguard Valley in the past few days."

"The largest one was an army composed of about two thousand Chailangren, and their commander seemed to be a Great Warrior of no small strength."

"They also tried to launch several probing attacks on our Vanguard Valley."

"But..."

Bake paused, his tone carrying a hint of smugness.

"Our Vanguard Valley now has solid city defenses, elite troops, and sufficient food, especially those bed crossbows and siege equipment, which are extremely powerful."

"Those Chailangren couldn't get any advantage at all and instead left behind hundreds of corpses."

"After hitting a wall repeatedly, the commander of that Chailangren army seemed to realize that our Vanguard Valley was a hard nut to crack."

"Afterward, they didn't continue to pester us and slipped away to attack other noble territories that were easier to conquer."

Hearing this, everyone in the council hall showed knowing smiles.

The strength of Vanguard Valley was the result of their joint efforts and their greatest reliance for survival in these troubled times.

"Very good."

Roko nodded with satisfaction.

"It seems that the reputation we built earlier on the Kobolds still has some effect."

"At least, it can make those blind guys weigh their own weight before making a move."

Just then, a knight attendant responsible for guarding the castle gate ran in quickly.

He knelt on one knee, holding a letter sealed with red wax in his hands.

"Reporting to Young Master, a knight claiming to be a Kingdom messenger has arrived outside the castle and delivered this letter, specifically asking for it to be handed to you."

Roko raised an eyebrow slightly.

Kingdom messenger?

He took the letter, tore off the wax, took out the letter paper, and read it carefully.

The content of the letter was not complicated; it was a conscription order issued by the Military Department of the Bulake Kingdom.

It required all noble lords in the Xin Feng Province to lead their private armies to gather at the "Luoxing Pingyuan" on the eastern border of the province within five days of receiving the order.

To jointly form the Kingdom Allied Forces to clear out the Orc tribes entrenched in the Xin Feng Province.

At the end of the letter, there was the bright red seal of the Military Department of the Bulake Kingdom, as well as a family crest that Roko was somewhat familiar with—a roaring lion.

That was the crest of the Aogusudu family.

It seemed that the commander of this Kingdom Allied Forces was most likely that "Iron-Blooded Lion," Legion Commander Gelifen Aogusudu.

"Heh, moving quite fast."

Roko put down the letter, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"It seems that the high-level officials of the Kingdom can't sit still either."

He briefly recounted the content of the letter to everyone present.

Martina's snow-white fox ears stood up alertly.

"Gathering private armies? Forming Kingdom Allied Forces?"

A hint of worry flashed in her pure white eyes.

"Roko, this is not a good job."

"The combat effectiveness of noble private armies is uneven, and they are often used as cannon fodder."

"Our Vanguard Valley has finally accumulated this little bit of foundation; if it is lost on the battlefield, it would be too much of a loss."

Captain Hart also frowned and said in a deep voice.

"Martina is right."

"In such large-scale battles, casualties are often immeasurable."

"Moreover, it is not easy to divide the credit."

"The results we worked so hard to achieve might end up becoming the achievements of those big shots."

Roko waved his hand, signaling them not to be impatient.

"I understand your concerns."

"However, we cannot defy the Kingdom's conscription order."

"Otherwise, it would be openly becoming an enemy of the Kingdom, and by then, it would be even more troublesome than facing the Orcs."

"Moreover..."

A flash of brilliance crossed Roko's eyes.

"Risk and opportunity often coexist."

"If we can perform well in this war and establish enough merit."

"Then, whether it is raising my noble title or expanding the strength of Vanguard Valley, it will be of great benefit." ===== CHAPTER 70 =====