Chapter 246: Dark Creatures Are Coming!

Report! My lord, Viscount Park has returned to the castle, and Centurion Ke has begun retreating to the outpost!

"Good. Isabella, where are the dark creatures?"

"My lord, the dark creatures are about to cross the southern border of Stormhold!"

"Excellent. Magic Swift Eagle Squad, proceed with the original plan—use sheep to lure the dark creatures toward Viscount Park's castle!"

"Yes, my lord! Magic Swift Eagle Squad will complete the mission!"

With a rustling sound, the Magic Swift Eagle Squad began ascending one by one; beneath each eagle's talons hung two hemp ropes, each tied to a freshly slaughtered sheep.

Fresh blood was the most irresistible bait for dark creatures.

Thus, using them to lure the dark creatures toward Viscount Park's domain would be flawless.

"Magic Swift Eagle Squad, deploy!" Once all members had taken to the air, Isabella gave a sharp command and led the squad southward.

"Let's go, we're moving out too!"

As the Magic Swift Eagles flew far away, Gervas gave his order and led his men south as well.

Raiding a noble's castle was an extremely grave offense.

Thus, out of caution, Gervas also planned to detour around the border.

Fortunately, the route had already been scouted by the Magic Swift Eagle Squad during daylight, and with the noisy dark creatures ahead, there was no need to fear getting lost in the dark.

"Ha! Finally, we can move!"

Upon hearing the order to advance, Mi Gen and the other knights immediately spurred their horses.

In their own words, their longswords were starving for blood!

……

"My lord, what do we do now? Viscount Gervas will surely ride to Eagle City to lodge a complaint!"

"And with the corpses of those light cavalrymen and Captain Yadan, we can fully prove we requested outside aid!"

"There's only one way: send someone to Eagle City at top speed and bribe the right people with a large sum of gold first!"

"My lord, isn't there still Minister Weilade? Could we use his connections to lessen our guilt?"

"No, Kiran—I'm now worried Weilade will shift the blame onto us. So yes, we'll notify him—but we still need to bribe the same connections!"

"My lord is wise. It's only our incompetence that's to blame!" Kiran bowed his head in shame.

Though he still lay on the sofa, the recovery ability of a Title Knight was precisely this.

As long as he didn't have a fatal wound, he would slowly heal over time.

Right now, he was no longer in mortal danger—only his fractured legs and arms needed over a month to recover.

He was also deeply grateful that Park had saved him and Bell at the last moment.

"It's not your fault—it's that damn Gervas who's too strong!" Park gritted his teeth.

This time, Gervas had utterly annihilated his guards; the Park family's influence would plummet.

Thus, Park's hatred for Gervas had risen even higher than before.

"As long as we survive this crisis, we'll surely see him dead one day!" Park suddenly added.

Kiran immediately understood his lord's meaning.

That was, Minister Weilade would never let this go.

As long as they emerged unscathed, all they'd need to do was watch as Minister Weilade crushed Stormhold.

"Riley!"

Without further words, Park turned to the castle steward beside him.

"My lord, what are your orders?"

"How many gold coins are in the vault?"

"My lord, including the seven hundred gold coins from the recent iron mine auction, we have a total of one thousand seven hundred gold coins."

"Too few! Not enough to clear our guilt!" Park frowned and shook his head.

Attempting to murder a noble, though causing no actual harm to Gervas,

if proven, would at least strip away his title and lands.

To survive and retain his position, he must increase his payments.

"My lord, if we add the castle's gold and silverware, we should easily reach two thousand three hundred gold coins!"

Park clenched his teeth. "Fine. Two thousand three hundred gold coins. Quickly inventory them. You'll take them to Eagle City yourself tomorrow. If it's still not enough, you can promise more as needed…"

Ding-dong-dong!

"What's happening?"

As Park was still instructing his steward, the urgent alarm bell suddenly rang out.

"Report! My lord, there… there's an attack…!" A guard staggered into the hall, gasping for breath, his eyes filled with terror.

Park's face turned pale. "Is it that damn Gervas? Damn bastard—I knew he wouldn't let me off, but I have a sturdy castle—even if…"

"N-no, my lord—it's… it's the dark creatures! So many… so many dark creatures!"

"What?!"

The words cut off as Viscount Park leapt off the sofa.

If it were Gervas's force, he wouldn't be terribly afraid.

After all, nearly two hundred men, plus the towering, fortified keep, could easily hold off Gervas's five or six hundred.

Even if he had barbarians, it wouldn't matter—this wasn't open-field battle.

But hearing it was dark creatures was beyond his expectations.

Dark creatures were evil and terrifying—among the most feared species by all nobles.

Not only were they numerous, but they were also hard to kill.

Unless utterly exterminated, they would never retreat.

Park rushed to the castle walls and looked out—sure enough, countless dark creatures swarmed around the fortress.

Fortunately, the viscount's castle stood atop a hill, with only one path up—so the dark creatures were still climbing.

Yet the sight still filled him with dread.

After all, there were too many dark creatures.

"Damn it! Why are these monsters appearing suddenly?" Park fumed, even more confused.

"My lord, we just heard strange noises—something seemed to be splashed onto the castle's towers and rooftops!"

A guard captain reported his discovery.

Park followed his gaze and saw clear dark-brown stains on several rooftops.

He walked straight to the nearest arrow tower with stains.

Just as he prepared to examine closely, he noticed small pools of dark-brown substance beneath the tower.

He stepped forward and brushed his fingers lightly across it.

"Blood! Bloodstains?! Damn it—this is deliberate! Who the hell wants to destroy me?!"

With this discovery, Park was certain: the arrival of the dark creatures was no accident.

But who would go to such lengths—splashing so much blood—to target him?

Gervas?

Park found it impossible.

To splash that much blood, one would need flying beasts.

Did Gervas even have flying beasts?

And not just one—several at once—otherwise he couldn't have splashed so much blood and vanished so quickly.

Unless… he was the son of some great noble!

"My lord! They're attacking!"

As Park remained stunned, his men's panicked shouts came rushing in.

"Quick! Everyone, defend at once! If we hold out until dawn, the dark creatures' strength will weaken greatly!"

"But if they break through, none of you will live!"