Chapter 144: Who Knows It

"Oh?" Brik was taken aback.

"Commander Brik, order the pursuit now! Only three hundred savages—our charge will crush them outright; this is a great merit!" Count Fario's eyes lit up, eager and impatient.

But Brik ignored him. "What are these savages armed with? Are they elite? And what's the terrain around them? Any ambushes?"

"My lord, the savages wear animal hides—almost no leather armor—and their weapons are crude: mostly stone hammers, wooden clubs, and bows."

"The surrounding terrain is open grassland with low vegetation; the nearest forest is over ten miles away—no place to hide troops."

"Commander Brik, what are you waiting for? If there's no ambush, are you afraid of three hundred savages?" Fario urged again, his excitement obvious.

"Order the entire army to pursue. Also, send out scouts to confirm the perimeter's safety—any danger, raise the alarm immediately!"

With the threat ruled out, Brik could only choose pursuit.

After all, if they didn't attack, the label of cowardice would stick to them.

…

Upon learning of the three hundred isolated savages ahead, the minor nobles also grew excited.

The Storm Legion's solo "feast" in recent days had filled them with envy.

The noble forces began rapid pursuit.

Only Gervas remained assigned to the rear.

Soon, the noble forces caught up with the isolated savage band and began slaughtering them.

Less than twenty minutes, the battle ended.

Over half of the three hundred savages were wiped out; the remaining hundred or so fled swiftly, diving into the forest ahead.

Brik, cautious, chose not to pursue.

Thus, the Left Force (left and right wings—note: "right" may trigger moderation, so from now on use Left Force and Right Force; readers, please understand!) still claimed one hundred eighty-plus heads.

Of course, after interrogating a few survivors, they learned why the savages had fled.

The elite savages had been deployed to resist the Kingdom's main army.

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

Upon hearing that the lone Black Tiger Warrior unit had been annihilated, they were terrified—and upon learning the noble army was approaching, they simply retreated.

Upon receiving this news, the nobles were elated, and their advance grew even faster.

Just one day later, at dusk, they reached the Lordship of O'Neill.

Upon arriving at this lordship, another thousand-strong savage band fled at the sight of them.

But this group was smarter; after being chased for two hours and realizing they couldn't outrun the nobles, they dove into the nearby hillside forest.

Fortunately, this forest was different—not endless.

It was maintained specifically to supply the castle with game and firewood.

Thus, its total area spanned only two hills, with no thick undergrowth or thorn bushes to obstruct vision.

"Surround this place! By tomorrow morning, they won't fly away!" Fario commanded, beaming with excitement.

Brik, though slightly frowning, said nothing in opposition.

Had it not been dark, they would have ordered an immediate assault.

So Fario's order aligned with his own intent.

"By the way, Baron Brik, to prevent these savages from escaping, we should station detachments at the key gaps in O'Neill's lordship. What do you think?"

Fario pointed to a crude map.

Brik glanced at the map—O'Neill's lordship indeed had three routes leading to other territories.

Two led toward the Central Force, one toward Paka City in the southwest.

Though these savages were surrounded by nine thousand men and unlikely to escape,

it wouldn't hurt to set up checkpoints, just in case.

But Brik knew exactly what Fario intended. He frowned. "Count Fario, is this really necessary? These thousand tribal savages are already completely surrounded!"

"Besides, we've already taken three territories—our plan is proceeding smoothly. No need to complicate things!"

Brik's tone made it clear: their progress was going so well, they shouldn't stir up trouble.

After all, reaching Paka City benefits everyone.

It was clearly a persuasion—a gentle warning.

But Fario wouldn't listen. "Commander Brik, this isn't trouble—it's precaution."

"Besides, I hear you've served in Greyrock City for five years—next year, you'll have a chance to be reassigned as commander of a medium-sized city?"

"Let me ask my father to speak on your behalf!"

Brik's face darkened instantly. This seemed like goodwill—but it was a threat.

"If Count Fario wants to station troops, then send them!"

"Ha! Then it's settled—thank you, Commander Brik!" Fario laughed heartily.

Soon, the order reached Gervas: he was to detach from the main force and guard a checkpoint at the border of O'Neill's lordship.

"My lord, there are only a thousand ordinary savages in that forest—how could they possibly escape?"

"That fat pig Fario is ordering us to leave now—clearly, he doesn't want us to earn merit!"

As soon as Migen and the others pitched their tents, they received the order—and each clenched their teeth in fury.

Not only because they'd lose the chance for glory, but because their assigned post was over thirty miles away.

The order demanded they march through the night.

They'd likely arrive only in the early hours of morning.

"Enough, Migen. Don't complain. Good fortune often follows misfortune—who knows if our luck isn't right ahead?"

Hearing his lord's obvious self-reassurance, Migen remained furious, but he quietly began repacking supplies.

Gervas, too, calmly ordered his men to break camp swiftly.

Because the system had already revealed this information.

Moreover, today's system report had marked that the thousand savages were also a decoy.

And this decoy hadn't fled—it had hidden in the hills. That changed everything.

So being sent away from the main camp, Gervas felt it might spare him from danger.

Half an hour later, his men were ready to march.

As Gervas reached the camp gate, Commander Brik was waiting there.

"Baron Gervas, take this flask of ale—it's my apology."

Gervas was slightly surprised, but took the beer Brik offered.

Then he led his men out through the gate.

But just as the gate was about to close, Gervas paused, turned back.

"Commander Brik, from what I've heard, tribal savages have never been this cowardly before!"

"Otherwise, they wouldn't have resisted the Kingdom for decades!"

"And isn't this forest appearing just a little too conveniently?"

Brik froze. "Baron Gervas, you mean…"

But Brik received no reply. Gervas had already waved and walked away, leaving only his back.

As if the warning had never been spoken.