[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system":3,"chapter-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-49":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Exiled Duke's Lottery system",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1366757,1809,"Chapter 49 - 45:The prisoners","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-49",49,"\u003Cp>The forest erupted into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrows tore through the storm while horses screamed and reared against the sudden ambush. Snow exploded upward beneath boots as black-cloaked figures rushed from between the trees with frightening coordination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not bandits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphin recognized that immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These men moved too cleanly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too professionally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One attacker lunged toward the younger investigator only for a northern knight to intercept midway, swords colliding hard enough to throw sparks through the snowstorm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay behind us!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was already planning that!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another arrow flew from the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen caught it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not metaphorically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually caught it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gauntleted hand snapped upward and closed around the shaft before the projectile reached one of the scouts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For half a second, even the attackers seemed stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the Peak Knight moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snow beneath his feet shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One moment he stood beside the trail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was inside the enemy formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steel flashed once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A black-cloaked infiltrator was thrown backward hard enough to crash through a pine tree before collapsing motionless into the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphin’s eyes narrowed immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far too fast for ordinary knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another attacker rushed Malen from behind while two more attempted to flank simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Peak Knight stepped forward calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sword moved almost lazily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three weapons broke apart instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of shattering steel echoed through the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One infiltrator stared at the remains of his blade in disbelief before Malen punched him directly into the snowbank hard enough to bury half his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Capture if possible,\" the knight muttered bitterly. \"Terrible orders.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby, Aurethar landed among the trees with enough force to shake the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon did not attack immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mostly because Lucien explicitly forbade it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Aurethar interpreted \"do not kill them all\" very creatively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon lowered his massive head toward several infiltrators attempting to reposition through the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then inhaled deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden flames flickered faintly between his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The infiltrators froze instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not a comforting expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Run,\" he advised pleasantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Straight into northern patrol units waiting deeper among the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the knights stared at the fleeing infiltrators in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Did the dragon just herd them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Seraphin answered quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That sentence should not exist.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle spread through the forest quickly afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Small clashes erupted between the trees while northern scouts used the terrain expertly to isolate enemy groups one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphin found himself forced into combat soon enough when one cloaked infiltrator broke through the patrol line and charged directly toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The investigator drew his sword immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not elegant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not knightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But practiced enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steel collided sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The infiltrator pressed aggressively, likely expecting an easy target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Seraphin stepped sideways and slammed the hilt of his blade directly into the man’s throat before driving him backward into the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attacker collapsed coughing violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The younger investigator stared nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You said you handled paperwork.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I investigate dangerous nobles for a living.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fair point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud crash suddenly echoed deeper in the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone turned instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen had grabbed one unfortunate infiltrator and thrown him directly into another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both disappeared into a snow-covered slope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Peak Knight looked mildly disappointed afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They break too easily.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is a horrifying thing to say,\" Seraphin muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perspective.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, several infiltrators attempted retreat toward the western ridges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar noticed immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon spread his wings slowly before stepping into their path between the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Massive golden eyes watched them calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The infiltrators stopped instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One slowly raised his sword anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stupid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mostly stupid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar tilted his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You intend to fight me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The infiltrator hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon lowered his enormous head closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You smell southern.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow continued falling silently around them while warm smoke drifted from Aurethar’s nostrils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then one infiltrator suddenly moved for a hidden crossbow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon’s expression became deeply disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You almost had a good moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar flicked one claw casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crossbow shattered into pieces before the infiltrator even fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No killing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just overwhelming force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien’s orders remained technically obeyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back near the center of the battle, Malen finally pinned the last resisting attacker against a tree with one hand around his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forest slowly became quiet afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only heavy breathing, groaning wounded, and storm winds remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty-three infiltrators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most captured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few dead from resisting too aggressively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphin wiped snow from his face while looking around the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Efficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disturbingly efficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The northern forces handled the ambush like experienced veterans despite Elarion supposedly being an unstable exile territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That realization bothered him almost as much as the dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen dragged the captured leader forward moments later before throwing him into the snow near Seraphin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prisoner wore damaged southern armor beneath his black cloak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expensive armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not mercenary equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphin crouched slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen cracked his knuckles thoughtfully nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can help the conversation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You enjoy this too much,\" Seraphin observed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least he was honest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prisoner finally spat blood into the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You people have no idea what you’re protecting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar slowly approached from behind the trees afterward, enormous shadow swallowing half the clearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prisoner looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then visibly regretted every decision leading to this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon lowered his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Explain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",888,"2026-06-05T21:32:57.450Z",1,"novelbin.me","82e5bdbb6f10dd3d3436fa9fbaca8aad214564d5078b1794c98e12d5d79cd193","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-50","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-48",144,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-cover.jpg"]