Chapter 261: The Silver Moon Caravan

But faced with the guards' shouts, the dozen or so figures did not respond or halt—they accelerated their pace.

The guards, who had hesitated upon seeing their tribal attire, finally realized something was wrong and immediately prepared to shout.

"Enemy—"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

But before the word finished, they were met with a storm of arrows.

More than a dozen sharp arrows shot forth, instantly felling him and seven or eight men beside him.

The remaining two or three guards froze in terror; as they turned to flee, the dozen approaching shadows surged forward and slashed them to the ground.

Of course, such a commotion could not be concealed.

"Attack! First seize the horses, then kill everyone!"

"Kill!"

Shouts of battle erupted suddenly, stunning every member of the Silver Moon Tribe who had been dining.

The Third Elder's face darkened. "What's happening?"

"Third Elder, the rear camp is under attack—the enemy is numerous!"

"Could it be the kingdom's nobles? Weren't there sentries on the hilltop?" the Third Elder exclaimed in shock.

At the same time, he instinctively believed it must be the kingdom's nobles.

"Quick! Counterattack immediately!"

…

"Gervas, when will your grand spectacle begin?"

On a dirt slope several li away from the Silver Moon Tribe's camp.

Gervas and Catherine had been hiding behind the grassy slope for over an hour.

Catherine was genuinely puzzled about what grand spectacle Gervas had come to watch.

Especially now that night had fully fallen and nothing had happened.

"It has already begun—look over there!"

Hearing Gervas's reply, Catherine followed his gaze and immediately saw a crimson glow on the distant horizon.

At this distance, with such a fire, "Gervas, are people fighting over there?"

As a lord, Catherine understood warfare.

Gervas nodded with a smile.

"Who are the two sides, Gervas? How did you know a battle would break out?" Catherine's blue eyes sparkled as she gazed at Gervas.

Though in this world, combat was the norm and not unusual.

But for Gervas to precisely foresee a battle occurring in a specific place was truly miraculous.

Especially as it reminded her of when she had been kidnapped by bandits.

Back then, Gervas had received word and rescued her.

"Here, take this!"

Gervas handed her a finely crafted monocular telescope.

This monocular differed from previous ones—it was entirely made of Bai Yin, engraved with golden patterns.

Held in hand, it resembled an artwork more than a practical tool.

And this was precisely the luxury version of the monocular telescope.

Only a few had been made so far, intended for high-price sales.

Originally, Gervas had planned to gift one to Catherine upon her departure.

Now he gave it to her ahead of time.

Catherine was naturally familiar with monocular telescopes, yet such an exquisite one made her eyes brighten.

Fortunately, the distant battle was the most urgent matter—she had no time to admire it closely, raising the telescope to gaze into the distance.

By the firelight, she faintly made out two groups of figures clad in animal hides fighting.

"Tribal people?!" Catherine exclaimed in surprise.

"Correct! One side is the Silver Moon Tribe that just left my territory!"

"This… isn't the Silver Moon Tribe the main force of the Tribal Alliance's Grand Chief? How dare another tribe attack them?" Catherine was even more stunned.

"Though I'm not entirely certain, a little imagination reveals they must have internal conflicts."

Catherine nodded upon hearing this.

Aside from the initial shock, after a moment's thought, it wasn't surprising at all.

Even within the human kingdom, infighting was rampant.

Among the wild tribes, it was inevitable.

"Gervas, are you going to intervene and save the Silver Moon Tribe?" Catherine

"Exactly. Those bastards attacked the Silver Moon Tribe at this moment to frame me—I won't let them get away with it!"

With that, Gervas waved to Lei Meng. "Everyone, prepare to move out!"

…

While Gervas remained calm and composed, the Silver Moon Tribe's caravan was far from safe.

The enemy was too numerous and had precisely eliminated the Silver Moon Tribe's strongest force—the cavalry—right at the start of the ambush.

The horses in the corral, terrified by slashing blades and fire, had stampeded out of the camp—none would be recovered tonight.

Thus, stripped of its cavalry, the Silver Moon caravan began retreating step by step, its situation growing dire.

"Which tribe are you? Why attack the Silver Moon Tribe's caravan?"

The Third Elder finally clearly saw the attackers.

Though most of them imitated human attire, wearing linen tunics,

a glance at their faces and shouts revealed them unmistakably as tribal people.

Yet this realization only deepened the Third Elder's despair.

If they were humans, they would kill most of the caravan and leave—no need for total annihilation.

But these were tribal people—they would leave no survivors.

"Hmph, old man, ask your questions in the depths of hell after you're dead!"

The attackers naturally gave no answer; the Third Elder's demand met only with mocking laughter.

The Third Elder's face turned ashen. "You treacherous bastards—you're more hateful than human nobles! Warriors of the Silver Moon Tribe, fight them to the death!"

The next instant, the remaining two hundred or so Silver Moon warriors launched a counterattack.

Thanks to the mission's danger, the caravan consisted only of the Silver Moon Tribe's finest warriors.

That was why they hadn't been crushed immediately.

As his subordinates began their final stand, the Third Elder swiftly turned to Freya and the others.

"Princess Freya, and you young masters, flee the camp at once!"

"We can't hold out much longer—run as far as you can!"

The tribal heirs were already panicked; upon hearing this, they nodded frantically.

But Freya's gaze was resolute. "Third Elder, I fight alongside you!"

"Princess Freya, your safety is paramount! Only if you escape alive can you inform the Grand Chief of the betrayal within the Tribal Alliance!" the Third Elder pleaded.

Freya's motion to assist halted.

Indeed, if she didn't warn her father, he too might be assassinated later.

Freya understood. Her teeth clenched as she opened her mouth to speak—but a cold laugh came from the enemy, "Think you can run? Do you believe you can escape?"

"Kill!"

The next instant, over a hundred men surged from the front of the camp, cutting off all escape routes for Freya and the tribal heirs.

"This… what do we do now?" The tribal heirs panicked completely.

The Third Elder's eyes filled with despair. "Princess, you must survive!"

The Third Elder handed Freya a dagger and joined the battle himself.

Clearly, there was no longer any chance of breakout!