Chapter 166

Whoa!

"What? They're also nobles who barely survived the Left Wing Army? Didn't Count Farrio say all the other nobles died in the encirclement?"

"Yes, but these lords are in such terrible shape—if Grivas hadn't brought them, I'd have thought they were wild men in leather armor!"

"True, they're supposed to be barons—serfs look more respectable than they do now..."

Gasps erupted through the crowd as nobles chattered among themselves.

They were stunned that more survivors had emerged from the Left Wing Army.

And even more shocked by the men's ragged, pitiful state.

"You're really nobles from the Left Wing Army?" Milus couldn't believe it.

"Yes, Marquis Milus, I am Mil Rude, Lord of the Mil Baronry!"

"My Lord Marquis, I am Baron Bon Newman..."

As each noble announced his name, Farrio lost all hope, his body trembling like a sieve.

Marquis Milus noticed Farrio's condition, cast him a cold glance, then turned back to Mil and the others: "Barons, is what Baron Grivas said true? What exactly happened to your Left Wing Army?"

Mil and the others instantly turned their hatred toward Farrio: "Your Excellency, Baron Grivas spoke the truth—we accuse Farrio of cowardice, shamelessness, and vile treachery!"

"He caused the deaths of our nine thousand men in the Left Wing Army..."

Then, gritting their teeth, Mil and the others recounted everything that had happened that night.

How Farrio had suddenly fled the battlefield with a few nobles, shattering camp morale, allowing the tribal forces to seize the opportunity and breach the gates.

"My Lord Marquis, if not for Commander Brick sacrificing himself to hold off the enemy and buy us nobles time, we five would never have escaped the Baronry of O'Neill!"

"So please, you must deliver justice and punish Farrio and these shameless, vile wretches!"

"Good heavens—deserting the battlefield and opening the gates for the enemy? He's a damned monster!"

"Exactly! Our main camp was breached the same way—could he have done that too?"

"Damn him—he deserves the gallows!"

"Wrong—the gallows are too kind. I say hand him over to the tribal savages!"

After hearing the five Left Wing nobles' accusations, the crowd erupted in fury.

"Count Farrio, where are you going?"

At that moment, Farrio tried to slip away through the crowd, but Grivas stepped forward with a smile and blocked his path.

"Get out of my way!" Farrio, frantic and furious, shouted and swung his fist hard at Grivas.

Grivas's eyes flashed with cold light; he sidestepped effortlessly, avoiding the blow.

Seeing this, Farrio, enraged and humiliated, prepared to attack again.

Slap!

But Grivas moved faster—he delivered a brutal slap across Farrio's face.

Instantly, Farrio was stunned.

Grivas didn't stop—he grabbed Farrio's collar and lifted the round, ball-like nobleman high into the air with one hand.

Slap!

"Trying to run, are you?"

Slap!

"Trying to hit me, are you?"

Slap slap slap!

"Killed the Left Wing Army, are you?"

Slap slap slap!

"Killed them and then framed them, are you?"

Slap slap slap!

"Tell me—was it you who opened the gates of the main camp?"

Slap slap slap!

"Did you and your accomplices murder Baron Dallas and Baron Liam?"

Slap slap slap slap slap!

"Wah... stop... stop! I'll tell you, I'll tell you all—yes, we opened the main camp gates, I'm... I'm shameless... don't hit me anymore, or I'll die..."

Whoa!

Facing Grivas's relentless, merciless slaps, Count Farrio was reeling—blood and teeth flew everywhere, and his already round face swelled into a bloated balloon.

Seeing Grivas still hadn't stopped, and with Farrio barely breathing, he finally began to beg.

He truly feared being beaten to death by this man.

So he confessed outright.

Perhaps his father, who served under the Viceroy of the Southern Region, could still save his life.

The surrounding nobles had initially thought Grivas was a bit cruel, seeing Farrio's swollen, pig-like head.

But when they heard Farrio admit he had opened the main camp gates, their eyes turned blood-red as they glared at him, eager to tear him apart alive.

Slap slap slap!

"Tell me—were Dallas and Liam murdered by you? Where did you bury them?"

"Don't... don't hit me anymore... yes, we killed them... buried them in a black pine forest a short distance ahead of the Left Wing pass!"

Slap slap slap!

"And your accomplices? Are they the nobles standing with you just now?"

"Yes... yes, I convinced them—including Dallas and Liam—to flee together. But when we saw the Marquis's reinforcements arrive, we knew we couldn't hide this anymore."

"So... so we killed Dallas and Liam, because they were in charge of guarding the northern gate—they would have exposed us..."

Whoa!

"Despicable! Shameless!"

"Scum! Damned bastards!"

"Kill them! They're the ones who caused our camp to fall and lost us so many men!"

The nobles could no longer contain themselves—they surged toward Farrio.

Grivas didn't hesitate—he hurled Farrio into the crowd.

Fists and feet flew wild—he couldn't afford to be caught in the crossfire.

Of course, Grivas secretly wished the nobles would "send Farrio on his way."

But Commander Narsi acted swiftly.

"Your Excellencies, stop! We must interrogate Farrio properly—he cannot die yet, or we might miss other conspirators!"

As he shouted, Commander Narsi stepped between Farrio and the mob.

The enraged nobles finally halted—otherwise, Farrio might have been beaten to death right there.

Grivas silently sighed in regret.

"Take him away. Interrogate him tonight. No matter his rank or origin, I, Milus, swear by the God of Glory—I will not let them escape punishment!"

Marquis Milus spoke coldly—he was truly enraged.

Farrio's actions weren't just shameless—they nearly made Milus himself bear the blame.

He was the overall commander of this campaign.

A campaign failure, no matter how favored, would bring consequences.

But his words also reassured the nobles: Farrio would not escape—he would be made to answer for his crimes.

"Yes, My Lord Marquis!"

Commander Narsi personally led men to drag Farrio and the others away.

Only then did Marquis Milus turn to Grivas.

"Grivas, you did well. Without you, that vile scoundrel Farrio would have slipped away."

"My Lord Marquis, such a shameless wretch is hated by all—so this was merely my duty."

Grivas was delighted—he had toppled Farrio in one stroke, saving himself countless troubles.

"Hmm." Marquis Milus nodded, then paused and changed tone: "But you assaulted a noble—a count—and beat him severely. According to Imperial law, you must be punished."

"Hmm!" Marquis Miusis nodded, but after a pause, he changed the subject, "However, you just assaulted a nobleman—a count—and struck him so severely that, according to imperial law, you must be punished!"

"But since Farrio got what he deserved, I'll decide today: you will ride your horse around the camp perimeter. That will settle the matter. Grivas, do you accept your punishment?"

"But since Fario got what he deserved, I'll decide today that you all ride a lap around the campsite as punishment—this matter is settled. Gervas, do you accept your punishment?"