Chapter 201: The Hernandes Family's Column!

"Spear formation, advance one step, thrust!"

Pfft-pfft-pfft!

But Gervas's side paid no heed to whether they were elite or not; taking advantage of the enemy's momentary daze, they instead began to advance proactively.

The spearmen advanced in unison by a single stride, and then thrust their spears out again.

As the sound of spears piercing flesh echoed, another dozen or so Pat guards were harvested!

This sight finally snapped the guards, who had just been dazed, out of their trance, frightening them into retreating repeatedly.

"Damn it, no retreat! Kieran, Berry, you bastards, get up there and charge!" Pat roared in fury.

Hearing the scolding, the vassals and the Knight Commander who had been standing on both sides of the formation dared not delay any longer.

They drew their long swords, circulated their battle qi, and prepared to break through this spear formation.

But just then, a figure also swept in from the side of the spear formation.

It was Lei Meng.

Lei Meng's battle qi suddenly bloomed, and his figure rushed rapidly toward Kieran Baron, the strongest among the several men.

Kieran Baron had not paid much attention at first; he was an old Bronze Knight, with few opponents remaining at the Bronze Knight realm.

But the instant the opponent's battle qi erupted, he could not help but be shocked. "Silver Knight?!"

Clang!

With a fast, precise, and ruthless strike, Lei Meng's sword directly knocked Kieran Baron's long sword away.

Then, his movements did not stop.

In Kieran Baron's horrified gaze, the cold gleam of the blade swept across his chest.

Rrrrip!

Kieran Baron felt a chill on his chest, instantly frightening him pale; he looked down in terror.

Fortunately, only a large gash was cut into the leather armor on his chest; the flesh and blood were not injured.

"Let your Pat Viscount have the sense to withdraw from Storm Territory immediately! Otherwise, this will be my lord Gervas's final warning!"

Before Kieran Baron could even finish the thought that his luck had been incredibly good, Lei Meng's cold admonition reached his ears.

Only then did Kieran Baron realize it was not that his luck was good, but that the opponent had held back.

Daring not to delay even a moment, and without even seeking Pat's orders, Kieran Baron shouted: "Retreat! Everyone, retreat quickly!"

Afterwards, the Pat guards, who had already been terrified, could no longer hold on; with a clamor, they discarded their armor and weapons and fled down the mountain like a tide.

In the end, Pat's group had arrived in high spirits but fled across the border in a panic.

"Damn it, Kieran Baron, why did you order the retreat? Do you not obey my orders as a Viscount?"

After escaping across the border and confirming that Storm Territory's main army was not pursuing, Pat's face twisted as he roared at Kieran.

Kieran Baron's expression was not pleasant, but since Pat was his liege lord, he directly showed his breastplate to Pat.

"My Lord Viscount, this is the leather armor that was just split open by the opponent's Knight Commander; if the opponent had not held back, I would already be dead beneath his sword!"

"How is this possible? Kieran Baron, you have been a Bronze for twenty years!" Pat said, incredulous.

Because Kieran Baron was the strongest combat power of his own family, he was very clear about this point.

"My Lord Viscount, that Viscount Gervas's Knight Commander is a... Silver Knight!"

"S-Silver Knight?" Pat's expression froze. "How is this possible? He has only been a Viscount for a little over a month; how could he have a Silver Knight as his Knight Commander?!"

"Moreover, in this border region, how many Viscounts can obtain the loyal protection of a Silver Knight?"

Pat found it hard to believe; after all, even his Pat family, a Viscount family that had cultivated for several decades, had no Silver Knight subordinates.

Kieran understood his Viscount's feelings, but he did not want his Viscount to continue making irrational decisions.

"My Lord Viscount, both Berry and Wolf just saw the terrifying might of that Silver Knight's battle qi, so... we had best not provoke them in the future..."

"I..." Pat wanted to say something, but found he could not speak.

He was not without brains.

Before, he had thought the opponent's strength was weak and that he could bully them a bit.

But now, the opponent was not only strong in troops and horses but also had a Silver Knight as their Knight Commander; he truly could not provoke them anymore.

Reluctantly glancing back at the mine behind them, Pat felt his heart bleeding.

"My lord, that was truly satisfying! Haha, that damn Pat Viscount actually shamelessly wanted to snatch the mine back; he won't dare again, right?"

"Haha, after this battle, my lord's reputation will surely spread far and wide among the surrounding nobles!" Watching the enemies flee in panic, Knight Mi Gen and the other knights could not help but laugh heartily.

Regarding border conflicts between nobles, they were not unfamiliar.

Because this was one of the situations causing the most guard deaths besides wars of the kingdom.

And such friction had both benefits and drawbacks.

The benefit was that after victory, one could enhance one's family's influence around the territory.

For example, in the past, in their vicinity, the Pat Viscount family was undoubtedly the one with the greatest influence.

The minor nobles implicitly looked to the Pat Viscount family for leadership.

But after this incident, my lord's reputation would absolutely overshadow the Pat Viscount family.

"It's a pity, damn kingdom laws; nobles cannot kill nobles. Otherwise, my lord, if you had taken down the entire Pat Viscount at once, then in the future, no one in this surrounding area would dare to provoke Storm Territory!"

After a moment of "tsk tsk," Knight Mi Gen felt somewhat unsatisfied.

However, this was only human nature; after all, Pat had just been routed, and if a counter-charge had been launched, they could absolutely have harvested Pat family's main army.

It was a pity that the kingdom laws stipulated that no noble could kill another noble; only the King and the Noble Council had the authority to judge a noble guilty.

Otherwise, even in a situation like Pat's, Gervas would have faced severe punishment.

The reason was simple: in a world with backward communication, forging evidence was often very simple.

Therefore, if this path were not blocked off, great nobles could then at any time and place treat minor nobles like fish and meat, annexing the territories of minor nobles.

Thus, this kingdom law, though well-intentioned, was designed to protect some weaker nobles.

"There is nothing to regret. I hope Viscount Pat will remember this lesson; otherwise, next time, 'bandits' may pay a visit to his castle!" Gervas's expression remained calm.

For, on the surface, the kingdom's laws can indeed constrain the actions of nobles.

But often, if one truly wishes to deal with a certain noble, there is room for flexibility!

For example, decades ago, the previous lord of Baron Kane's territory died in a 'bandit' attack.

Since then, the Pat family's ownership of the iron mine has never been disputed again.

So, I hope Pat will remember this narrow escape; otherwise, if he dares to court death again, I will not be lenient!

In fact, Pat was indeed afraid.

Upon learning that Lei Meng was actually a Silver Knight, he silently led his routed troops back to the castle without uttering a word.

As long as neither he nor his subordinates break through to become a Silver Knight, he will not dare to trouble Gervas again.

Of course, Pat does not wish to cause trouble again.

However, when his routed army passed through Pat Town, a free citizen who had just moved from the north a few days ago to run a small stall immediately packed up his roadside stand.

Rushing back to his rented small room, he asked, "What's wrong?"

"News has arrived. Viscount Pat has been defeated. I must immediately deliver this message to my lord in Eagle City!"

"Good!"

Immediately, this free citizen pulled a carriage from the backyard. Once they reached the outskirts of the town under the pretense of a normal journey, he discarded the carriage frame in the bushes and rode his horse northward.

"You are the lord of Storm Territory, Gervas?"

"That is correct. I am Gervas Gale. May I ask how you are addressed?"

At dusk, a group of uninvited guests visited Storm Territory.

Over a hundred of them arrived, well-equipped with weapons, all riding fine warhorses rarely seen in the Southern Region, clearly of extraordinary origin.

And indeed, this was the contingent of the Hernand family.

Upon hearing the reply, Finer continued to scrutinize this young border noble before him; aside from his youth, he possessed no distinguishing features.

But recalling his mission this time, he concealed the contempt in his eyes and forced a warm smile: "I am Finer, from the Duke Hernand family!"

"So it is Lord Finer. Then, may I ask what brings you to my Storm Territory?"

Gervas naturally understood the other's intent; thus, although a smile hung on his face, it was a fake smile, and certainly not warm.

Seeing this, Finer immediately frowned; the reaction of this small noble was surprisingly cold.

These border country nobles, upon hearing of the illustrious Duke family, should not they be trembling with fear?