Chapter 371: Your Heroic Bearing, We Have All Witnessed!

"Coming from outside the camp? How is that possible? Isn't the area outside filled with orcs? The orcs' voices… uh! What's going on?"

The nobles still wanted to claim they could distinguish between human and orc battle cries.

But before their words had even faded, shadows of human soldiers indeed appeared outside the camp.

Their figures and the gleaming silver armor confirmed they were genuine humans.

And right now, amid the battle cries, they were charging after the retreating orcs.

This left the nobles utterly incredulous.

"Ah! It… it looks like Baron Mil!"

"This… it really is Baron Mil! He… he didn't die?"

"Yes! Baron Mil not only didn't die—he actually drove off the orc force?!"

Then came an even more shocking development for the nobles.

The Baron Mil they believed dead now appeared at the rear of the pursuing force.

Just moments ago, they had sworn he was dead—now he was the one chasing the orcs.

Commander Lein's face was also filled with shock and confusion, but his reaction was swift.

Regardless, those soldiers outside were human—meaning the orcs' retreat was genuine.

"What are you all standing around for? Don't you see our human soldiers chasing the orcs outside? Quickly, go support them!" Commander Lein shouted.

Only then did the nobles realize—eyes lighting up—"That's right! With Baron Mil and his men out there, the danger must be low. Now's the perfect time to pursue!"

"Exactly! Chasing the orcs away is far better than just watching their report… cough, cough, sorry, sorry, slipped my tongue—let's move!"

"Right! Let's pursue!"

Immediately, the main camp sprang into action, rushing out three or four thousand men.

It wasn't that they were unwilling to send more.

Their pursuit was merely for show—too many would only cause chaos.

Better to keep some troops behind to guard the camp.

Next, the humans and orcs engaged in a chase, covering three or four li.

Throughout, both sides moved with perfect coordination, maintaining a steady distance of roughly seven or eight hundred meters.

When they reached a great river three or four li away, the orcs pulled out hide rafts from the nearby forest.

These orcs had infiltrated deep into enemy territory precisely by traveling upstream along the Black Stone River.

They hid by day and rowed by night, slipping past human checkpoints along the way.

Their goal: to ambush the human vanguard and deliver a warning to the human reinforcements.

But they hadn't anticipated this raid would go awry.

Once aboard the rafts, and now riding the downstream current, the orcs vanished swiftly into the night.

Seeing this, the nobles didn't feel disappointment—they each let out a sigh of relief.

The performance was finally over.

"Ha! The orcs have finally run! This battle is over!"

"Yes! This battle is truly over—we've won! Ha ha ha!"

Of course, the happiest among them were Mil and his men.

Their final pursuit had also been for show.

But their efforts tonight were real—and the orcs' retreat meant their accomplishment was now secure.

"Baron Mil!"

"Hm? Commander Lein, everyone, is there something?"

As Mil and his men cheered, the main camp's troops suddenly surrounded them.

Seeing their intense stares, Mil immediately grew wary.

In battle, stealing credit was common.

Though these men likely didn't dare—after all, he had a large force with him; they couldn't kill him and erase the evidence.

Still, caution was necessary.

But soon, Mil realized he'd overthought it.

The next instant, the nobles from the main camp all pressed their right hands to their chests and bowed deeply to him.

"Baron Mil, allow us to express our respect!"

"Yes, Baron Mil, allow us to express our respect!"

"Huh? Respect?" Mil froze.

"Baron Mil, your bravery we have witnessed! Especially you—twice leading the charge to lure the orcs away, risking death without hesitation—this is true knightly spirit!"

"Exactly! Baron Mil, you had every chance to flee, yet you chose to stay and helped us drive off the orcs—this is the very model of valor!"

"And those vanished orcs—weren't they eliminated by you? That greatly reduced the pressure and losses on our main camp!"

Only then did Mil and his men understand.

But they dared not accept this credit.

Especially Mil.

Heroism? Fearlessness of death? None of that had anything to do with him.

Without Gervas, they'd have fled long ago.

Mil's face flushed red. "Gentlemen, please don't say that—I didn't do anything…"

"Baron Mil, don't deny it—your heroic bearing, we have all seen with our own eyes!"

"Exactly! Baron Mil, come on! Let's return to camp—let's properly celebrate this victory!"

Mil sighed helplessly. "Gentlemen, listen—I must tell you, the greatest credit belongs to…"

"Cough! Mil, since Commander Lein and these nobles all say it, just go with them back to camp!"

Just as Mil was about to reveal Gervas's name, Gervas arrived—and gave him a sharp glance.

Mil paused, his words cutting off.

In that moment of hesitation, the crowd had already surrounded Mil and was escorting him back to camp.

"Baron Gervas, why didn't you let Mil reveal the truth? After all, tonight's greatest credit belongs to you—we were only assistants!"

Watching Mil swept away by Lein and the others, Yin felt confused.

In the past, they'd only ever seen people fighting to claim glory for themselves.

But to push it away? He'd never seen that before.

"Whether we say it or not doesn't matter—as long as the official records show enough credit and enemy heads assigned to me."

Gervas had his own calculations.

People fear fame; pigs fear growing fat.

The last battle had already proven that lesson.

Freya had led a band of tribal warriors all the way to his castle.

Had he not had his intelligence network, the danger would have been severe.

Beyond fearing enemies targeting him, he also feared those he'd offended.

Like Solit. Like Willard.

So, let the nobles keep their misunderstanding.

When it came time to log the credits, Mil could simply explain to Commander Lein.

No real loss of benefit, no becoming the target—two birds with one stone.