Chapter 96: Cooperation with Zewen! The Flames of Revenge!

At dusk on the second day, the caravan finally arrived at the border of the Red Leaf Forest Territory.

Just as the name suggests, maple trees covered the mountains and plains here, their leaves displaying a brilliant red under the glow of the setting sun.

A gentle breeze blew, sending red leaves drifting through the air; it was as beautiful as a painting.

However, this beauty could not conceal the desolation and chaos within the territory.

Villages that should have had smoke rising from their chimneys were now mostly empty.

The crops in the fields were left untended, overgrown with weeds.

The few villagers occasionally seen were also hurrying along, their eyes filled with fear and unease.

"Young Master, the situation here is even worse than we imagined."

Falco rode his horse to Roko's side and said in a low voice.

"It looks like this internal strife has been going on for a long time."

Roko nodded, his gaze sweeping over an abandoned village in the distance.

Traces of the flames of war still remained on the walls of the houses, and in some places, dried bloodstains could even be seen.

"Find a hidden place to set up camp."

Roko made his decision.

"Then send someone to scout out Zewen's exact location."

"Remember, be careful and do not alert anyone else."

Falco nodded immediately and turned to make arrangements.

Mike followed behind, looking at the scene before him with complicated feelings.

This was the consequence of noble infighting.

Innocent subjects became the biggest victims; they lost their homes, lost their livelihoods, and some even lost their lives.

Yet those high-and-mighty nobles continued to fight endlessly for power and profit.

"This cannot go on."

Mike could not help but say.

"Those innocent villagers, when will they be able to live a stable life?"

Roko glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"That is why we must end this strife as soon as possible."

"Only by restoring order can those villagers return to living and working in peace."

"And this is precisely one of the purposes of our trip."

Mike was stunned for a moment, then a flash of admiration crossed his eyes.

He had not expected that Roko was considering not just his own interests, but also the well-being of those ordinary villagers.

This kind of character was something he had never seen in other nobles.

Fula remained silently by Roko's side, her silver-gray cat ears twitching from time to time.

Her hearing was far superior to an ordinary person's, and she was constantly alert to the movements around them.

In a place as chaotic as this, danger could appear at any moment.

Night fell, and the caravan set up camp in a dense forest.

Roko did not light a campfire, instead having everyone stay quiet and try not to reveal their whereabouts.

After all, this was someone else's territory, and it was in the middle of a civil war.

A little more caution meant a little more safety.

In the dead of night, Falco quietly returned to the camp.

His face wore an excited expression; clearly, he had made an important discovery.

"Young Master, I have found Zewen's hiding place!"

He lowered his voice and pointed toward the deep mountains to the north.

"He is in a cave about ten miles to the north, and he truly has fewer than three hundred men left under his command."

"Moreover, from my observations, their condition is very poor."

"Not only are they lacking food, but even basic weapons and equipment are severely insufficient."

A flash of contemplation crossed Roko's eyes.

"How are the guards?"

"Very lax."

Falco shook his head.

"It is clear that their morale has dropped to the absolute bottom."

"If not for a few loyal old subordinates holding things together, they would have likely disbanded long ago."

"This is exactly our opportunity."

Roko stood up and looked toward the direction of the deep mountains.

"Prepare yourself; we will go to visit this Young Master Zewen tomorrow morning."

"Young Master, how many people should we take with us?"

Falco asked.

"Too many people will easily cause misunderstandings, and too few will not be safe enough."

Roko thought for a moment.

"We four will go alone."

"You, me, Fula, and Mike."

"The others will stay behind to guard the camp and be ready to provide support at any time."

Mike was startled to hear that he was also on the list.

"Master, I, am I really okay?"

"I'm worried that I'll hold you back."

"Don't worry."

Roko patted him on the shoulder.

"What you need is practical experience, not to hide in a safe place forever."

"Besides, you are a member of the Ramirez Family, and this identity might have unexpected uses."

Mike gritted his teeth and nodded.

"I understand, Master."

"I will work hard and will never lose face for you."

The next morning, the four of them traveled light and set off toward Zewen's hiding place.

The mountain road was rugged and difficult to travel, but fortunately, they were all young and full of stamina.

Two hours later, they finally reached their destination.

This was a naturally formed cave, and its location was quite hidden.

If Falco hadn't scouted the path beforehand, it would have been difficult to discover this place.

There were a few soldiers standing guard at the cave entrance, but their mental state was truly poor.

Some were dozing off, others were chatting; they completely lacked the vigilance they should have had.

"Who goes there!"

It wasn't until Roko and his group walked up close that one soldier discovered them.

He hurriedly raised the spear in his hand, but his hand was trembling.

Clearly, their long-term life as fugitives had already caused them to lose their necessary combat effectiveness.

"We are here to visit Master Zewen."

Roko raised both hands to show he had no malicious intent.

"Please report that Baron Roko of Vanguard Valley requests an audience."

The soldier was stunned for a moment, clearly having never heard of this name.

But the title of "Baron" still made him dare not be negligent.

"You wait here, I'll go report it."

He turned and ran into the cave, and a short while later, he ran back out.

"The Master says you may enter."

The interior of the cave was larger than imagined and had undergone a certain degree of modification.

There were crude tables and chairs, makeshift beds, and some basic daily necessities.

But the overall environment was still quite harsh—damp, dark, and permeated with a musty smell.

Deep inside the cave sat a young man about twenty-five or twenty-six years old.

He was tall and handsome, but his complexion was haggard, and his eyes held weariness and despair.

Presumably, this was that down-and-out Viscount heir, Zewen Brick.

【Name: Zewen Brick】

【Rank: Bronze Rank Knight Qishi Chuji】

【Talent: A-】

【Favorability: 10】

【Loyalty: 0】

Roko quickly scanned the system information and felt confident.

A Bronze Rank Knight at the initial stage; his strength was not bad.

"You are Baron Roko?"

Zewen stood up and managed to squeeze out a faint smile.

"I have long heard of your name, but I didn't expect to meet in a place like this."

"Please excuse the lack of hospitality."

His tone carried a hint of bitterness; clearly, he was very dissatisfied with his current situation.

Roko smiled faintly, showing no contempt or sympathy.

"Master Zewen is too polite."

"I have come here this time because there is a business matter I would like to discuss with you."

"Business?"

A hint of doubt flashed in Zewen's eyes.

"Master Baron, if I may speak frankly, given my current situation, I fear I have nothing worth your attention."

"Have you found the wrong person?"

"I have not."

Roko shook his head, his gaze firm.

"Moreover, I believe that what you possess is exactly what I need most."

Zewen was stunned for a moment, then gave a bitter laugh.

"Master Baron, you are joking."

"I have nothing now; what could I possibly have that you need?"

Roko did not answer immediately, but instead looked around the cave.

"Young Master Zewen, why don't we speak with complete candor?"

"Your current situation is indeed poor, but that does not mean you have no value."

"On the contrary, in my view, your value is not small at all."

Zewen's expression became complex.

This young Baron spoke with great skill; there was neither condescending arrogance nor hypocritical sympathy.

Instead, he was communicating with him from a position of equality.

This made him feel a long-lost sense of respect.

"I would like to hear the details."

Zewen sat back down and made a gesture of invitation.

Roko did not stand on ceremony and sat down directly across from him.

Fula remained standing silently behind him, alert to the movements around them.

Falco and Mike stood a little further away, ready to respond to any sudden situation at any time.

"First, you possess the legal right of succession to the Red Leaf Forest Territory."

Roko said, getting straight to the point.

"This is an undeniable fact, regardless of your current circumstances."

"Second, you still possess a group of loyal subordinates; although they are few in number, their Loyalty is very high."

"Finally, your understanding of the Red Leaf Forest Territory far exceeds that of any outsider."

As Zewen listened, a light gradually appeared in his eyes.

"You mean..."

"I mean that I am willing to help you take back the territory that belongs to you."

Roko's words echoed in the cave.

Zewen stood up abruptly, looking at Roko in disbelief.

"You, what did you say?"

"You are willing to help me take back the territory?"

"Why?"

"We are complete strangers; why would you want to help me?"

Roko smiled faintly.

"Because this is beneficial to both of us."

"You need outside help, and I need a business partner."

"You need to take back your territory, and I need trade routes and resources."

"Our goals do not conflict; on the contrary, we can achieve success together."

Zewen looked deeply at Roko, the light in his eyes growing brighter.

"What are your conditions?"

He was very smart and knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.

Since Roko was willing to help, there must be a return expected.

"It is very simple."

Roko held up three fingers.

"First, I want the priority purchasing rights for timber from the Red Leaf Forest Territory for the next ten years, at eighty percent of the market price."

"Second, I want the exclusive operating rights for all medicinal herbs within the territory, and we will split the profits fifty-fifty."

"Third, I want to establish trade route stations within your territory and enjoy tax-exempt status."

Zewen pondered for a moment, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

These conditions were neither heavy nor light.

For someone about to lose everything, being able to keep the territory was already a great stroke of luck.

Moreover, the conditions Roko proposed were not excessive and left him with a considerable amount of room for profit.

"If I agree, are you confident you can defeat that woman?"

Zewen's voice trembled slightly.

That woman naturally referred to his vicious stepmother.

"I am."

Roko's answer was concise, powerful, and full of confidence.

"Furthermore, I guarantee to resolve the problem in the shortest possible time."

Zewen took a deep breath, a look of determination flashing in his eyes.

"Good!"

"I agree to your conditions!"

"From now on, we are allies!"

He reached out his hand, Roko reached out his as well, and the two hands gripped each other tightly.

And the moment their cooperation was reached, the atmosphere inside the cave changed subtly.

The flame of hope was rekindled in Zewen's eyes, while Roko calculated his next plan of action in his heart.

【Loyalty: 0】

【Favorability: 60】

The system prompt sounded, making Roko nod with satisfaction.

Although they had not yet reached the level of complete trust, at least this cooperative relationship had been initially established.

"Since we have reached an agreement, let's talk about the specific action plan."

Roko let go of his hand and sat back down.

"First, I need to understand the specific situation of your stepmother."

"How many troops does she have now? Where is her territory? What kind of powerhouses are stationed there?"

Zewen's expression turned gloomy; mentioning that woman, a thick hatred flashed in his eyes.

"Anlinna, my father's third wife."

"On the surface, she looks gentle and virtuous, but in reality, she is a vicious viper."

"She currently occupies Red Leaf Forest City and the three main villages and towns around it, with about eight hundred soldiers under her command."

"Among them, her personal Guard Captain is a guy named Mel, who has the strength of a mid-stage Bronze Knight."

"Besides that, there are two early-stage Bronze Knights working for her."

Roko listened carefully, his mind quickly analyzing the strength comparison between the two sides.

Eight hundred against three hundred; they were indeed at a disadvantage in numbers.

But if he counted the fifty Storm Knights he brought, the gap was not that stark.

More importantly, in terms of high-end combat power, they were not at a disadvantage.

"Why did she do this?"

Mike couldn't help but interrupt and ask.

"After all, she is already a Viscountess with a noble status; why would she still want to seize the territory?"

Zewen sneered.

"Because she is not a decent woman at all."

"Her true identity is the illegitimate daughter of some fallen noble family in the south."

"She has lived at the bottom of society since she was a child and has seen enough of the world's coldness."

"Therefore, once there is an opportunity, she will climb up by any means necessary."

"And we brothers have become the stumbling blocks on her path."

Falco listened with righteous indignation.

"This kind of woman is simply scum!"

"Young Master, we must give her a taste of our power!"

Fula remained silent, but a trace of cold killing intent flashed in her heterochromatic pupils.

She had never had any favorability for such vicious women who harmed others for profit.

"Where is her main stronghold now?"

Roko continued to ask.

"Red Leaf Forest City, right in the center of the territory."

Zewen pointed toward the entrance of the cave.

"About thirty miles south from here, that place has the strongest city defenses in the entire territory."

"Moreover, she has also hired some mercenary groups, and the city is now heavily guarded."

Roko frowned.

A frontal assault on a city, even if they could win, would result in heavy losses.

Furthermore, this approach would easily harm innocent subjects.

He had to think of a better way.

"Besides Red Leaf Forest City, what other places does she control?"

"Mainly Maple Leaf Town to the east, Red Stone Village to the south, and Flowing Water Slope to the west."

Zewen introduced them one by one.

"These three places are important material production bases; controlling them basically means controlling the economic lifeline of the entire territory."

Roko sketched the map of the entire territory in his mind while thinking about the best attack route.

"Which target do you think we should attack first?"

He asked Zewen, both to seek advice and to test the strategic vision of this ally.

Zewen pondered for a moment, a light of contemplation flashing in his eyes.

"I think we should attack Flowing Water Slope first."

"The defenses there are relatively weak, and the terrain is favorable to us."

"More importantly, Flowing Water Slope controls the main water source in the territory; once taken, the water supply in other places will have problems."

Roko nodded secretly; this analysis made a lot of sense.

It seemed that although Zewen was down and out, his mind was still clear.

"However..."

Zewen changed the subject.

"What I am worried about is that once we take action, that woman Anlinna will definitely notice."

"At that time, she might strike first and launch an all-out attack on us."

"That is indeed a problem."

Roko admitted.

"Therefore, our operation must be swift and covert."

"Before she can react, we must take at least two or three strongholds."

He stood up and paced back and forth in the cave, quickly formulating a battle plan in his mind.

"Like this, we will split into several groups."

"You take a portion of the men to attack Flowing Water Slope, and I will take men to attack Red Stone Village."

"Both routes will proceed simultaneously, striving to take the targets in the shortest possible time."

"Then, we will rendezvous at Maple Leaf Town, and finally attack Red Leaf Forest City together."

A glimmer of excitement flashed in Zewen's eyes.

"Good plan!"

"However, if I may speak frankly, Baron Roko, do you have enough men?"

"After all, the defenses of Red Stone Village are not weak."

Roko smiled faintly.

"Rest assured, although I don't have many men, they are all elites."

"Dealing with a small village is more than enough."

Indeed, the combat power of fifty Storm Knights was far from comparable to ordinary soldiers.

Not to mention, there were also him and Fula, two powerhouses at the mid-stage of the Bronze Rank Knight realm, presiding over the situation.

"Then when shall we begin the operation?"

Zewen asked impatiently.

"Tonight."

Roko's answer took everyone by surprise.

"Tonight?"

Zewen's eyes widened.

"Wouldn't that be too rushed?"

"Not rushed."

Roko shook his head.

"Speed is the essence of war, and nighttime operations are easier to catch the enemy off guard."

"Besides, you have been hiding in this cave for too long; it is time to take back what belongs to you."

Zewen looked at Roko deeply, his eyes full of gratitude.

This young Baron was not only willing to help him, but also possessed extremely strong executive power.

This was exactly the ally he needed most.

"Good!"

Zewen slapped his thigh.

"Then we will act tonight!"

"I will go gather the men and prepare to set off right now!"

As he spoke, he started to walk toward the outside of the cave.

"Wait."

Roko called him back.

"Before the operation, I still have a few questions that need to be confirmed."

"Please, go ahead."

Zewen stopped and looked at Roko earnestly.

"First, what is the combat capability of your men? Are they capable of handling a night raid mission?"

Zewen thought for a moment and answered honestly.

"To be honest, after this period of fleeing, their morale and physical strength are not in their best state."

"However, they are loyal to me, and they hate that woman Anlinna to the bone."

"Once there is a chance for revenge, I believe they will erupt with astonishing combat power."

"Very good."

Roko nodded.

"Second, regarding Flowing Water Slope, are you familiar with the terrain?"

"Of course."

A glimmer of confidence flashed in Zewen's eyes.

"That is a place I grew up playing in; I could walk through every corner of it with my eyes closed."

"Moreover, I have some reliable insiders there."

"Insiders?"

Roko raised an eyebrow.

This was good news.

"Yes, the village chief of Flowing Water Slope, Old Tom, and several villagers were all loyal supporters of my father during his lifetime."

Zewen explained.

"They obey Anlinna's rule on the surface, but in reality, they have been waiting for an opportunity."

"As soon as I appear, they will definitely turn against her."

Roko nodded with satisfaction.

With an inside man, the success rate of the night raid would increase significantly.

"One last question."

Roko's expression turned serious.

"Once we begin our operation, there is no turning back."

"Are you sure you are prepared to bear all the consequences?"

Zewen was silent for a moment, then nodded firmly.

"I have already lost everything, what else is there to fear?"

"Rather than lingering on in this cave, it is better to go out in a blaze of glory!"

"Even if I fail, at least I will have tried my best."

His words were simple, but they revealed a determination to face death without fear.

This made Roko even more satisfied with this ally.

Only someone who dares to take risks and dares to struggle is worthy of trust and cooperation.

"Very good."

Roko stood up and reached out his hand.

"Then, I wish us a pleasant cooperation."

"Pleasant cooperation!"

Zewen also reached out his hand, and the two gripped each other's hands again.

This handshake represented the formal establishment of a true alliance.

Over the next few hours, both sides prepared nervously.

Zewen gathered his core subordinates and briefly explained the situation.

These loyal warriors who had followed him in his flight were boiling with excitement upon hearing that they were finally going to strike back.

Roko returned to his own camp and arranged the specific battle plan.

The Storm Knights were also rubbing their hands, ready to demonstrate their strength in this operation.

Night fell, with a dark moon and high winds.

It was the perfect time for a night raid.

The two teams converged in the forest and then set off toward their respective targets.

Zewen led two hundred men toward Flowing Water Slope, while Roko led Fula, Falco, Mike, and fifty Storm Knights to sneak toward the direction of Red Stone Village.