Chapter 393: Punishment Doubled!

Yes, my lord, I am Adams; my father is Marquis Austin!

"Didn't you just return to camp? How could you already…"

Having confirmed Adams's identity, Hawkins was even more stunned.

Originally, he had arrived so quickly not because of a report from his subordinates.

Under normal circumstances, private brawls among noble heirs required no direct intervention from the knight commander—just a few Silver Knights could handle it.

After all, with these noble heirs, you could only try to calm them down, document the incident, report it upward, and wait for higher authorities to decide.

Thus, Hawkins had actually come here on orders from the legion's supreme commander, specifically to invite this noble youth who had earned great merit.

This was the legion's supreme commander's gesture to show respect for the Austin family.

He never expected that on his way to find Adams, he happened to witness the brawl.

"Lord Hawkins, I truly just returned to camp not long ago, and I had only just finished washing up and stepped out of our Austin family camp!"

"But unexpectedly, as I walked, Wyatt—drunk and just leaving Red Stone City—spotted me and deliberately provoked and humiliated me!"

"Even after I rebutted him, he flew into a rage and attacked me outright—this is the brawl you witnessed!"

Listening to Adams's explanation and seeing his bruised, swollen face, Hawkins's expression turned utterly grim, his gaze sharp as he fixed on Wyatt.

Adams, such a brave young man, had just returned from the battlefield, while Wyatt and these noble sons had only just finished their revelry.

That alone was bad enough—but they dared to harass Adams!

"Commander Hawkins, we were merely joking among young men, not deliberately humiliating him as he claims!"

Perhaps sensing Hawkins's unfavorable expression, Wyatt felt a flicker of fear and quickly defended himself.

After speaking, Wyatt prepared to flee.

But Hawkins naturally would not let him escape.

"Joking? Young Master Wyatt, you—a Silver Knight—fighting a Bronze Knight—is that joking?"

Hawkins's battle aura flared beneath his feet; his body shot forward like a bolt and seized Wyatt by the collar before he could run.

"Hawkins, what are you doing? My grandfather is Duke Hernade! If you dare harm me, the Hernade family will never let you live in peace!"

Hawkins sneered. "I know you're a Hernade heir, but this time, you won't be able to hide behind your family's title. You're coming with me to meet the legion's supreme commander."

Hawkins turned to Adams.

"Young Master Adams, I've come here on direct orders from the legion's supreme commander—to personally invite you, our great hero!"

"You led the Austin family soldiers and slew five hundred orcs, successfully thwarting their ambush on Gray Stone Bridge Camp!"

"Now, the supreme commander and two dukes are waiting—please come with me at once!"

Swish!

"What? Did I hear wrong? What did Commander Hawkins just say?"

"Commander Hawkins seemed to say Adams led Austin family troops and slew five hundred orcs, foiling some kind of ambush…"

Before Adams could answer, the group of noble youths erupted in shock.

They had all just come from taverns and had heard nothing of any battle.

"Let me tell you—tonight, while you were carousing, the Austin family received intelligence that orcs might attack Gray Stone Bridge Pass."

"Then Adams personally led five thousand Austin family guards and crushed an ambush of over a thousand orcs and three thousand auxiliaries!"

"Yet no one expected that such a hero, having just returned, would be bullied by worthless fools who only know drinking, gambling, and pleasure!"

"Of course, I'm certain the supreme commander and the two dukes will see justice done for Adams!"

"Young Master Adams, please."

"Thank you, Commander Hawkins!" Adams was pleased—Hawkins had just publicly praised him.

Seeing the stunned expressions of the noble youths around him, he knew he would become a celebrity from now on.

Meanwhile, Wyatt's face had turned ashen, like a withered eggplant.

All of this filled Adams with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and exhilaration.

Of course, Adams did not know he had, by sheer coincidence, just experienced the plot of a former elite soldier returning home and playing the fool.

…

"Supreme Commander, Young Master Adams has been brought!"

"Oh? He's here? Commander Hawkins, please bring Adams in!"

Hearing the report, the legion's supreme commander and the two dukes immediately turned their gazes toward the door.

Marquis Austin also beamed with pride, awaiting his son's entrance.

But in the next instant, everyone froze.

"Hawkins, what is this?" The supreme commander stared in disbelief at Adams's bruised face and Wyatt, dangling like a chicken.

"Adams, how did you get like this?" At last, Marquis Austin recognized his eldest son.

"This… this is Adams? Did he get injured earlier?" The supreme commander and the two dukes exchanged glances.

Fortunately, Hawkins quickly explained: "Supreme Commander, here's what happened…"

He recounted everything he knew, then pointed to Wyatt, who still kept his head bowed, refusing to look up.

"Wyatt?!"

Duke Hernade could hardly believe it.

Earlier, Wyatt had kept his head down—he hadn't recognized him.

But now, with Commander Hawkins naming him outright, he had no choice but to recognize him.

With a thud, Wyatt dropped to his knees.

"Grandfather, I know I'm wrong! I was only joking with him…"

"Enough!" Duke Hernade snapped.

Even Hawkins wouldn't believe that excuse—how could he possibly fool the duke?

The duke had previously heard rumors about his second grandson's debauchery.

He had even questioned his third son—Wyatt's father.

But Wyatt's parents had covered it all up.

Now it was clear: this boy had become far too arrogant and reckless.

The Austin family was even allied by marriage to his own—yet this fool dared to provoke and bully them!

For the first time, Wyatt saw his grandfather's fury—and he trembled, too terrified to speak another word.

"Austin, I failed to discipline my own descendants—I apologize to you!"

"Also, Supreme Commander, Wyatt has broken military law. Do not spare him out of respect for me—punish him severely! Whatever punishment others receive, double it!"

"No! Grandfather, I know I'm wrong!" Wyatt wailed.

He was to be punished even more severely?

If others got twenty lashes, he'd get forty?

Then he wouldn't just lose any chance of glory—he'd be lucky if he could get out of bed before the campaign ended.