Chapter 363: Why Are There Orcs Here?

Should we increase the number of personnel?

Lide was torn.

This company's scout cavalry was not at full strength; most remained with the main force.

Thus, the actual number of scouts in the vanguard company was only three hundred.

Sending out eighty men for night watch at night means one-quarter are on duty—that's already a lot.

After all, one night on watch requires at least a full day of rest the next day, or combat effectiveness will drop sharply.

So, unless it's certain we've entered a dangerous zone where enemies could appear at any moment, there's no reason to keep increasing personnel.

But that Baron Gervas spoke so strangely, making him hesitate.

After all, whether from Baron Gervas's words and demeanor or the elite quality of his subordinates, his exceptional nature was clear.

This was also one of the main reasons he was willing to befriend him.

My lord, what's wrong?

The subordinate behind him noticed his movement and finally couldn't help asking.

Toca, order more four squads to join night watch tonight!

Increase personnel? My lord, we've only just reached Green River Valley—could there be an emergency?

Why so many questions? Just do as you're told! Lide didn't know how to explain, so he simply snapped, refusing to elaborate.

Yes, my lord! The subordinate dared not ask further and hurried off to carry out the order.

Captain Lide shook his head, as if to reassure himself.

…

Deep night!

On a hillock several miles ahead of the valley, several towering figures gathered together.

Chief, the human scout cavalry just passed by!

Good. Move out now. The humans' next patrol will be in about half an hour—we must reach their camp and launch the surprise attack within that time!

Yes, Chief!

Soon, more towering figures emerged from the hillock, converging onto the road.

And indeed, they had precisely calculated the humans' patrol intensity—encountered not a single scout along the way.

Quickly, a force of over a thousand arrived at the valley mouth.

Stay silent. Wait until we're close before striking. We've stealthily infiltrated the human heartland for days—we must kill until we're satisfied!

Heh heh, Chief, I can't wait to twist off those two-legged sheep's heads!

I know you're eager! Yesterday we saw two human camps—so, Bato, take a hundred men to the other camp and hold them off so they won't reinforce. Any problem?

A hundred men? Of course not a problem. Even if I charged straight into their camp and killed a few more, it wouldn't be much of an issue!

Bato, don't be careless! Kill a few near the camp edge to hold them—do not go deep inside!

Understood, Chief, rest assured!

Good! Then let's go!

Immediately, over a thousand orcs crouched low and moved toward the valley.

The grass inside the valley reached no higher than a human's calf.

For these orcs, whose average height was two and a half meters, it was even shorter.

Normally, if humans had built watchtowers and remained alert, they'd still have had a good chance of spotting us.

But since they considered this the interior, the vanguard treated it no differently than the lands beyond Black Dragon City.

So not only were there no watchtowers—even the walls had shrunk to mere fences.

Soon, the orcs drew within a mile, then split into two groups.

One continued toward the main camp; the other headed toward a nearby ravine.

As the groups separated, the orcs drew closer to the camps.

One thousand meters, eight hundred meters, six hundred meters…

Under normal circumstances, this surprise attack would have been highly successful.

But at that moment, a ten-man cavalry unit suddenly burst out of the vanguard camp.

As orcs who frequently fought humans, they instantly recognized them as human scout cavalry.

Yet there was still no cover nearby.

This is impossible—the next patrol shouldn't arrive for another ten minutes!

The orc leader's face turned pale.

It was completely beyond his expectations.

But now, it was too late to change anything.

The orcs' massive forms had barely emerged when the scout cavalry, having left the camp, immediately sensed something was wrong.

Who's there?

Bad! It's orcs! There are orcs outside the camp!

Soon, the scout cavalry cried out in alarm.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Seeing they were exposed, the orcs wasted no time.

They immediately launched a volley of short spears.

Plop! Plop! Plop!

Several front-line scouts instantly fell from their mounts.

However, because of this commotion, the guards on duty at the nearby camp were thoroughly alerted.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The urgent alarm bell rang incessantly.

"Damn it, we've been discovered. Since that's the case, there's no need to hide anymore. Beast Tribe warriors, charge with me now and slaughter these two-legged sheep!"

"Roar, roar, roar! Kill!"

Amidst the cries of battle, the orcs began their charge.

"What's going on?" At the same time, Captain Lide, who had only just fallen asleep, was the first to be startled awake.

Due to the habits of the rangers, he hadn't even taken off his armor and instantly got up and rushed out of the tent.

"My lord, it's... it's orcs. Those damn orcs have appeared in the river valley and launched a surprise attack on us. Fortunately, our patrol team that just went out ran into them!"

"Orcs? They really launched a surprise attack?!" Captain Lide felt his head instantly buzzing.

He himself had previously been so confident that no orcs would appear in the Verdant River Valley.

Yet on the very first day, he was slapped in the face so hard.

Moreover, judging by his subordinate's report, if the night patrol squad hadn't happened to run into them outside the camp, they probably wouldn't have known until the enemy reached the base of the walls!

Thinking of this, Captain Lide was both shocked and terrified.

Shocked that Viscount Gervas's premonition had actually come true.

Terrified that if he hadn't arranged for several extra squads and shortened the patrol intervals, they might not have discovered the orc surprise attack.

By then, although the vanguard camp wouldn't be annihilated, heavy casualties were certain.

"M-My lord, what should we do now?"

"Damn it, we didn't build a wall tonight, just an ordinary fence!"

"Quick, order the men to immediately set up defenses. I'll go notify Commander Ryan!"

Hearing his subordinate's question, Captain Lide finally came to his senses.

While giving orders to his subordinate, he cursed and headed toward the rear of the camp.

"Yes, my lord!"

At the same time, in the stone house at the rear, Commander Ryan had also woken up.

However, unlike Captain Lide, he was not wearing leather armor.

Moreover, he was somewhat confused by the sudden uproar.

"What's going on?" Commander Ryan immediately asked his subordinate aloud.

"Commander, it seems there are orc battle cries outside the camp!"

"Orcs? How could they appear here?" Ryan found it hard to believe.

"Commander, this humble one doesn't know either, but judging by the battle cries and roars, it must be them!"

Ryan knew he couldn't get any more information from this subordinate. "Quick, gather the men immediately and prepare to follow me to the fence for support. We absolutely cannot let the orcs charge into the camp!"

"Yes, my lord!"