Chapter 164: My Lord Hou Jue, I Have Something to Say!

Next, Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi did not say much more to Gervas.

Because the reward for this military merit was not something he could promise.

Of course, Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi did have the authority to decide how much merit to report.

Judging by his praise for Gervas just now, Gervas's merit was basically secured.

Even if the report was a bit generous, it would not be too excessive.

Next, they tallied the casualties and gathered the routed soldiers.

Meanwhile, many nobles who had broken out earlier were now returning to the camp one after another.

In fact, they had already seen Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi leading the reinforcements arrive before.

But to avoid being treated as deserters by Marshal Mi Xiusi, or even being forcibly conscripted back to continue fighting, the nobles simply avoided meeting him.

Now that they learned the tribal army had actually retreated, they began to return one by one, including Count Farrio and several others.

With the return of these nobles, Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi finally began to investigate who had fled the battlefield and opened the camp gates, allowing the enemy to rush in.

Facing the questioning, the assembled nobles all shook their heads and denied it.

Each one claimed they had only left the camp during the subsequent breakout.

And since the situation was chaotic at the time, without direct evidence, it was truly difficult to distinguish who was responsible.

Farrio and his companions exchanged glances, each secretly relieved that they had escaped while masked.

"My Lord Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi, Viscount Dorian, Baron Wick, and I broke out only after discovering the camp had been breached!"

"We are ashamed before Your Majesty, failing to hold the enemy to the death after they rushed into the camp; we merely... merely at that time, many nobles were shouting that the camp could not be held and urging everyone to flee..."

"So... so my heart wavered, and I followed others retreating backward..."

Farrio's eyes turned red, and with a face full of shame, he slowly lowered his head.

The few nobles beside him were equally overwhelmed with shame.

Marshal Mi Xiusi did not think so deeply; he knew Farrio's identity clearly—he was merely here to gain prestige, holding no actual military command. "Count Farrio, you are merely an honorary noble who has not experienced war before; panic under such circumstances is understandable."

Good heavens! Gervas exclaimed, "Good heavens!"

Standing at the rear of the crowd, he exchanged a glance with Catherine.

He deeply admired Farrio's shamelessness and acting skills.

Especially since Gervas could confirm from the system intelligence that it was indeed Farrio who had opened the main camp gate.

So, he still dared to stand up and perform at this moment; he was truly a master of acting.

However, Gervas also noticed that the intelligence stated Farrio's group consisted of seven nobles escaping together, yet only five were standing in the field now, which was worth pondering.

Of course, very soon, Gervas understood what was happening.

"Since no one admits to being the chief culprit of fleeing the battlefield, then all nobles on guard duty at the northern camp wall tonight, step forward!" Narciss spoke coldly.

Several nobles shuddered, their faces full of worry, and stepped forward; there were fully more than ten nobles.

"Come on, tell me, who exactly opened the camp gate?"

"This... Commander Narciss, I was guarding the wall near the east side and do not know what exactly happened at the gate!"

"Commander Narciss, I was also guarding the wall near the west side and do not know what happened at the gate!"

"Then who was guarding the gate?"

According to the report from the Magic Swift Eagle Knights, those cowardly nobles had fled from the gate.

Therefore, once the noble on guard at the gate at that time was identified, he would basically have no escape!

However, for some reason, the field fell silent for a moment.

Finally, a Viscount named Dorian, who had stepped out from beside Farrio, replied, "Commander Narciss, it was Viscount Dallas and Baron Liam; they were guarding the northern gate of the camp!"

"And my guard area was relatively close to the gate area, so I saw them during the first half of the night."

"Then where are Viscount Dallas and Baron Liam?" Narciss immediately pressed.

But this Viscount Dorian shook his head. "Commander Narciss, after the enemy breached the camp, we did not see them again; later, I only received a hasty report from my subordinates saying the enemy had entered the camp."

"I could only lead my subordinates to retreat step by step and merge with other nobles..."

Clearly, those who could team up with Farrio would not lack acting skills.

After listening, Narciss detected no flaws and could only turn to Marshal Mi Xiusi.

"Since Viscount Dallas and Baron Liam have not returned, we must wait until they are found before conducting a thorough investigation!" Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi frowned slightly but had to suspend the investigation.

Nobles are not commoners; to punish them requires a complete chain of evidence.

Upon hearing this, the corner of Farrio's mouth, which had been lowered, curled up slightly.

Find Viscount Dallas and Baron Liam?

Those two were buried long ago in a remote ditch.

Earlier, upon discovering Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi's reinforcements on the road, he knew tonight's plan would likely change.

Although he secretly hated his bad luck, if he had known the reinforcements would arrive so quickly, they would not have risked fleeing.

But since the deed was already done, there was no chance for regret.

Thus, he directly implied to the others to deal with Viscount Dallas and Baron Liam, because they knew the two were the most likely to expose them.

And now, with the dead unable to testify, and so many nobles fleeing chaotically during the breakout tonight, they were already safe and sound.

Just as Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi was about to dismiss everyone, a voice suddenly rose from the rear of the crowd.

"My Lord Hou Jue, I have something to say!"

"Oh? Baron Gervas, what do you have to say?" Marshal Mi Xiusi, realizing it was Gervas, found his originally gloomy expression improved slightly.

Regarding Gervas, Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi truly admired him.

After all, what Gervas saved was not only the army, but also restored his honor.

Baron Gervas?

However, while others were merely puzzled, Fario, who was secretly gloating in his heart, shuddered and whirled around.

Seeing Gervas's familiar face, Fario's pupils contracted as if he had seen a ghost.

Gervas sensed his gaze, smiled faintly, and then stepped forward slowly.

"My lord Hou Jue, I have some matters regarding the Left Army to report!"

"Oh? Matters regarding the Left Army? What is it? Speak, Gervas!" Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi paid little attention; what concerned him most now was rooting out the culprit responsible for the main army's defeat.

"My lord Hou Jue, I heard that previously someone blamed the Left Army's defeat entirely on Commander Brick's negligence and the nobles' underestimation of the enemy!"

"But as a member of the Left Army, I wish to say here that while the nobles were indeed somewhat underestimating the enemy, that was not the primary reason for the Left Army's devastating losses."

"Could the previous report be false?" Marshal Mi Xiusi immediately looked at Narsi.

The situation of the Left Army had been delivered to him by Narsi along with the plea for aid.

Narsi's expression changed instantly, and he immediately explained, "My lord Hou Jue, I wrote everything strictly according to the testimonies of Count Fario and several other surviving nobles."

Everyone immediately turned their gaze to Fario again!