Chapter 393: Punishment Doubled!

"Yes, Your Grace, I am Adams, and my father is Hou Jue Marquis Marquis Aosiding!"

"Didn't you just return to the camp? How could you..."

After confirming Adams' identity, Hawkins was even more stunned.

It turned out that the reason he had arrived so quickly was not due to a subordinate's notification.

Under normal circumstances, private duels among noble offspring certainly did not require him, the commander of the knightly order, to intervene personally; a few Silver Knights would suffice to resolve the matter.

After all, regarding these children of great nobles, one could at most separate them, register the incident, inform the superiors, and wait for the superiors to handle it.

Therefore, this time Hawkins had actually come, following the instructions of the Army Commander-in-Chief, to invite this noble youth who had achieved merit, Adams.

This was an action by the Army Commander-in-Chief to demonstrate his regard for the Marquis Marquis Aosiding family.

He simply did not expect to stumble upon a private duel while on his way to find Adams.

"Your Grace Hawkins, I indeed returned to the camp not long ago, and I had just finished washing and stepped out of our Marquis Marquis Aosiding family camp!"

"But I did not expect that, while walking on the road, I was encountered by Wyatt, who had just returned drunk from Red Stone City; he deliberately provoked and insulted me!"

"Furthermore, after I refuted him, he flew into a rage out of shame and directly attacked, intending to teach me a lesson, which led to the brawl you witnessed!"

Listening to Adams' explanation and seeing his bruised and swollen face, Hawkins' expression turned completely gloomy, and his sharp gaze fixed upon Wyatt.

A brave young man like Adams had just returned from slaughter on the battlefield, yet these young masters like Wyatt had only just finished their days of debauchery.

That was bad enough, but they actually dared to cause trouble for Adams!

"Commander Hawkins, we were merely joking among the younger generation; it was not the deliberate insult he described!"

Perhaps sensing that Commander Hawkins' demeanor was amiss, Wyatt felt a flicker of fear and hurriedly offered his defense.

After defending himself, Wyatt prepared to slip away.

But Hawkins certainly would not allow him to escape.

"A joke? Young Master Wyatt, is fighting a Bronze Knight with a Silver Knight a joke?"

With the light of battle qi swirling beneath his feet, Hawkins shot forward and grabbed the fleeing Wyatt, lifting him up by the hand.

"Hawkins, what do you think you are doing? My grandfather is Grand Duke Hernand! If you dare harm me, our Hernand family will certainly not let you off easily!"

Hawkins sneered, "I know you are a scion of the Hernand family, but this time you cannot rely on the Hernand family title to intimidate anyone anymore; you need to come with me to see the Army Commander-in-Chief!"

Hawkins then turned his gaze to Adams.

"Young Master Adams, this time I actually came specifically to invite you, this great hero, by order of the Army Commander-in-Chief!"

"You led the Marquis Marquis Aosiding family soldiers to slay five hundred orcs and successfully thwarted the orcs' plot to ambush the Gray Shiqiao camp!"

"Now, the Commander-in-Chief and the two Dukes are waiting; please come with me immediately!"

Swish!

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

"It seems Commander Hawkins said that Adams led the Marquis Marquis Aosiding family soldiers to slay five hundred orcs and thwarted the orcs' ambush of something something..."

Before Adams could answer, the crowd of noble youths erupted in a clamor.

They had all just come out of the taverns and had heard nothing about any combat incident.

"Let me tell you, just tonight, while you were indulging in wine and women, the Marquis Marquis Aosiding family received intelligence that the orcs might attack the Gray Shiqiao checkpoint."

"Then, Adams personally led five thousand Marquis Marquis Aosiding family guards to crush the ambush of over a thousand orcs and more than three thousand auxiliary troops!"

"Who would have thought that such a hero had just returned, only to be bullied by some useless fellows who know nothing but eating, drinking, and playing!"

"Of course, I believe the Commander-in-Chief and the two Dukes will later uphold justice for Adams!"

"Young Master Adams, please!"

"Thank you, Commander Hawkins!" Hearing that Hawkins had helped him make a name for himself, Adams felt happy in his heart.

Looking at the surprised expressions of the noble youths around him, he could imagine that he would henceforth be regarded as a celebrity.

Additionally, at this moment, Wyatt's face was as pale as a frost-bitten eggplant.

All of this gave him a sense of satisfaction and excitement in his heart unlike anything he had ever felt before.

Of course, Adams did not know that by a stroke of luck, he was experiencing the plot of a former special forces soldier returning home and pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger.

"Commander-in-Chief, Young Master Adams has been brought here!"

"Oh? He has arrived. Commander Hawkins, then please invite Young Master Adams in immediately!"

Upon hearing the report, the Army Commander-in-Chief and the two Dukes immediately turned their interest toward the entrance.

Hou Jue Marquis Marquis Aosiding also waited with a face full of glory for his son to enter.

However, in the next instant, everyone was stunned.

"Hawkins, what is going on?" The Army Commander-in-Chief looked in astonishment at the bruised and swollen Adams, and at Wyatt, who was being held like a little chick.

"Adams, how did you end up like this?" At this moment, Hou Jue Marquis Marquis Aosiding finally recognized his eldest son.

"This... this is Adams? Could it be that he was injured earlier?" The Army Commander-in-Chief and the two Dukes exchanged glances.

Fortunately, Hawkins immediately explained the situation to the group, "Commander-in-Chief, the situation is as follows..."

Immediately, Hawkins recounted the situation he had learned, and also mentioned Wyatt, who had kept his head down, daring not to look forward.

"Wyatt?!"

Duke Hernand was incredulous.

Earlier, Wyatt had kept his head down, so he had not recognized him.

But now that Commander Hawkins had directly named him, he naturally recognized him.

With a thud, Wyatt immediately knelt on the ground.

"Grandfather, I know I was wrong! I was just joking with him..."

"Silence!" Duke Hernand shouted.

This excuse couldn't even fool Hawkins, so how could it possibly fool him?

As for his own second grandson, Grand Duke Hernandez had vaguely heard rumors of his debauchery before.

And he had also asked the third son, Wyatt's father.

But Wyatt's parents had covered it all up.

But now it seems this was truly too arrogant and overbearing.

Keep in mind the Marquis Marquis Aosiding family is still an allied family of his own clan; yet this fellow dares to provoke and bully them.

Seeing his grandfather so furious for the first time, Wyatt instantly shivered in fright, terrified to say another word.

"Marquis Marquis Aosiding, it is my fault for not disciplining these juniors of the family well; I apologize to you here!"

"Furthermore, Legion Commander, Wyatt has violated military regulations; do not hold back for my sake, you carry out the punishment! And it must be severe! Whatever penalty others receive, double it for him!"

"No! Grandfather, I know my mistake!" Wyatt immediately wailed aloud.

He even wanted to impose a severe punishment.

If others receive twenty lashes, wouldn't that mean forty lashes for him?

By then, forget about gaining merit; being lucky enough to get out of bed before the battle ends would be enough.