Chapter 144: Misfortune May Be a Blessing!

"Oh?" Brick was somewhat surprised.

"Commander Brick, order the pursuit immediately! It's only three hundred savages; one charge will crush them. This is a great merit!" Count Fario's eyes lit up, and he seemed eager to act.

Brick ignored him. "How is the equipment of those savages? Are they elites? Also, what is the situation around here? Is there an ambush?"

"My lord, those savages wear beast skins; we saw almost no leather armor. Their weapons are chaotic, mostly stone hammers, wooden clubs, bows, and the like."

"The surrounding environment is a wasteland covered entirely in low grass and flowers. The nearest jungle is more than ten li away; there is absolutely no possibility of hiding people."

"Commander Brick, what are you waiting for? Since there is no ambush, do you fear three hundred savages?" Fario urged again upon hearing this, his eagerness evident from his excited expression.

"Give the order: the entire army will pursue. Additionally, ensure the scouts confirm the safety of the surroundings; if any danger arises, sound the alarm immediately!"

Having ruled out danger, Brick had no choice but to choose pursuit.

After all, if they did not attack, a reputation for cowardice in battle was inevitable.

And upon learning that three hundred isolated savages lay ahead, the minor nobles grew equally excited.

A few days ago, the Storm Legion had eaten the meat alone, leaving everyone quite envious.

The noble army began a rapid pursuit.

Only Gervas remained assigned to guard the rear.

Soon, the noble army caught up with that isolated savage group and began the slaughter.

In less than twenty minutes, the battle ended.

More than three hundred savages were mostly eliminated; the remaining hundred-plus, running fast, plunged straight into the jungle ahead.

Brick, being cautious, chose not to pursue.

Thus, this time the Left Route Army (the Left Wing and Right* seem to trigger censorship, so henceforth it will be called Left Route Army and Right Route Army; readers, please understand!) still had just over one hundred eighty heads.

Of course, only after interrogating individual survivors did they learn why these savages had fled.

It was because the elite savages had been assigned to resist the Kingdom's main army.

And the noble castles on both flanks were defended only by hundreds of weak, ordinary tribal savages.

Upon hearing that the only Black Tiger Warrior squad ahead had been killed, everyone was terrified; learning of the noble army's arrival, they simply chose to retreat.

After receiving this news, the nobility was overjoyed, and the subsequent advance became even faster.

Thus, only one day later at dusk, they arrived at Viscount O'Neill's fief.

Upon arriving at this viscount's fief, indeed another group of a thousand savages fled at the mere sight of them.

However, these savages were more cunning; after being pursued by the main army for two hours, seeing they could not outrun the noble army, they simply plunged straight into the mountain-jungle to one side.

Fortunately, this jungle was different; it was not endless.

Because it was specifically used by the castle to provide wild game and firewood.

Therefore, the total area covered only two mountain peaks, and inside there were no weeds or thorny bushes to obscure vision.

"Surround this place! By tomorrow morning, they won't be able to fly away even with wings!" Fario commanded with a face full of excitement.

Upon hearing this, Brick frowned slightly but did not oppose.

If the sky had not already turned dark, they would have even ordered an immediate charge into the jungle to wipe them out.

So, Fario's order was actually the same as his own intention.

"By the way, Baron Brick, to prevent this group of savages from escaping as much as possible, we must also send several squads to block the gaps in Viscount O'Neill's fief. What do you think?"

Fario spoke while pointing at a crude map.

Brick glanced at the map; indeed, Viscount O'Neill's fief had three passages leading to other territories.

Two led toward the direction of the Central Route Army, and one led toward the southwest, to Paka City.

Although these savages were surrounded by their nine thousand troops and likely could not escape.

But to be safe, setting up checkpoints was not unreasonable.

Of course, Brick understood what Fario intended to do and frowned, saying, "Count Fario, there is really no need for this; these thousand tribal savages are already surrounded by us!"

"Furthermore, we have already captured three territories in a row; the plan is proceeding so smoothly. There is no need to create more trouble!"

Brick's subsequent words made it clear: with their progress so smooth, they should not complicate matters unnecessarily.

After all, as long as they arrived smoothly at Paka City, it would benefit everyone.

This clearly carried a tone of persuasion.

But how could Count Fario listen? "Commander Brick, this is not trouble; it is to be safe."

"Furthermore, I heard that Commander Brick has served in Grayrock City for five years; next year you will have the opportunity to try transferring to a medium-sized city as commander?"

"Perhaps then I will have my father speak a word on your behalf!"

Brick's face immediately darkened; this seemed like a gesture of goodwill, but it was also a threat.

"If Count Fario wants to send people to guard, then send them!"

"Haha, then it is settled. Thank you, Commander Brick!" Fario laughed heartily.

Soon, the order for Gervas to detach from the army and proceed to guard the checkpoints at the border of Viscount O'Neill's fief was transmitted.

"My lord, there are clearly only one thousand ordinary savages in this jungle; how could any of them escape!"

"That fat pig Fario is making us leave now; this clearly means he does not want us to gain merit again!"

As soon as Knight Mi Gen and the others had finished pitching their tents and received the order from the messenger, each of them ground their teeth in anger.

This was not only because they could no longer gain merit, but also because the position they needed to guard this time was more than thirty li away.

The order was for them to travel all night.

Thus, they would probably not reach their destination until the second half of the night.

"Enough, Knight Mi Gen, stop complaining. Good luck often follows bad luck; who knows if, after we are driven away, good luck might be right before our eyes!"

Hearing his lord's words, which were clearly self-consolation, Knight Mi Gen, though still angry, obediently began to pack up the supplies again.

And on Gervas's side, he likewise remained calm in expression, ordering his subordinates to quickly break camp.

Because the System had actually provided this intelligence long ago.

Moreover, today's intelligence from the System had already noted that those thousand men were also decoys.

And since this time the decoys did not flee, but instead hid in these mountains, the situation was worth pondering.

Therefore, being allowed to leave the main camp, Gervas actually felt it would avoid placing him in danger.

Half an hour later, his subordinates were re-equipped and ready to depart.

Just as Gervas arrived at the camp gate, Commander Brick was waiting there.

"Baron Gervas, take this pot of wine; it represents my apology!"

Gervas was slightly surprised, but still accepted the beer handed to him by Commander Brick.

Immediately, Gervas led his subordinates out through the gate.

However, just as the gate was about to close, Gervas thought for a moment, then turned his head back.

"Commander Brick, judging from the rumors we have received in the past, the tribal savages do not seem to be so afraid of death and so greedy for life as they are now!"

"Otherwise, they would not have been opposing the Kingdom for decades!"

"And besides, did this mountain forest appear at just the right moment today?"

Brick was stunned. "Baron Gervas, your meaning is..."

But Brick received no response; Gervas had already waved his hand, turned, and left, leaving only his back behind.

As if the warning just given did not exist at all.