Chapter 482: You Have Great Courage!

"It seems I am honored, that even the Beast King has heard of me!" Gervas continued smiling.

The Beast King had no intention of further banter with Gervas. "Human Gervas, release Sukama now. I, the Beast King, swear here and now to guarantee your safe departure today! How about it? My word is binding—you can trust me!"

"Your Majesty, as a ruler of your race, I certainly believe you. But Your Majesty, I risked my life to attack your royal tent, then braved further danger to come find you—not merely to save my own skin. Otherwise, I would have retreated westward long ago!"

"Five thousand gold coins! I will guarantee your safe departure—and add five thousand gold coins as ransom! Human Gervas, the ransom for one of your noble marquises is roughly this much. What do you say?" The Beast King’s expression remained unreadable, yet he immediately raised the ransom offer.

Five thousand gold coins were indeed a substantial sum.

Yet Gervas remained calm, shaking his head softly. "Your Majesty, not good enough."

The Beast King finally erupted in rage. "Human Gervas, I warn you—not to be greedy! If you anger me, I will order your execution this instant. You won’t get a single gold coin—and all of you will die here!"

The atmosphere froze. Every wolf rider and beast warrior glared at Gervas and his men with fury.

They all knew: if the Beast King gave the order, they would charge without hesitation and tear Gervas’s party to shreds.

The Storm Legion members instantly tensed. Migen unhesitatingly seized Prada, pressing his sword directly against his throat.

"Woo-oo-oo!" Prada’s face twisted in terror and humiliation as he struggled violently.

Yet Gervas remained unperturbed, smiling easily. "Your Majesty, you won’t do that."

"Because I know you and Princess Sukama share deep affection—and I’ve heard the Great Shaman of the Beastmen prophesied that this youngest prince will become the wisest and most valiant leader of your race in centuries."

"So if Your Majesty truly orders us killed, I won’t lose either. Trading my lowly viscount’s life for the key to your race’s future rise? I’d be hailed as a hero among humans!"

The Beast King fell silent, his gaze locked on Gervas.

Gervas met his stare without fear.

For a full minute, they held each other’s gaze. Finally, the Beast King’s eyes calmed. "Human Gervas, you have courage. Few humans dare bargain with me like this. What do you want?"

Gervas’s smile widened. "Your Majesty, I’ve heard our kingdom’s army is breaking out. I wish to see them first."

"You know that too?" The Beast King’s brow furrowed again.

Clearly, the Beast King had hoped to simply pay Gervas off.

After all, Gervas likely didn’t know the true state of Lindongcheng.

Yet now, Gervas knew the kingdom’s army was attempting a breakout.

Where had he gotten this information?

Was there a human spy within his own ranks?

And even if there was—how was information being passed between them?

All these questions stirred doubt within the Beast King.

Gervas, faced with the inquiry, merely smiled and offered no explanation.

The Beast King knew he wouldn’t get answers from Gervas. He no longer delayed. "Fine. Come, I’ll take you to see them."

If it were only Princess Sukama, the Beast King might have already killed him.

Not only to eliminate Gervas—a potential future threat to the beastmen.

But also to prevent missing the chance to annihilate the human army.

Yet his new prince now lay in Gervas’s hands.

The Beast King dared not gamble. That prince was the prophecy’s hope for the Beastmen’s future rise.

…

Under the Beast King’s lead, Gervas’s party set off toward Lindongcheng.

"Phew! My lord, that just scared me half to death—I feared the Beast King would go mad and order our execution!"

As the column moved forward, Migen cautiously sidled up to Gervas, still visibly shaken.

"But what truly impresses us is how utterly calm you were—your composure just now made us worship you."

"You’re here just to flatter me, aren’t you?" Gervas chuckled.

"My lord, I’m not flattering you—I genuinely admire you! Ask them!" Migen pointed to the other knights.

The other knights immediately nodded—even Lei Meng agreed with a solemn nod.

These knights weren’t afraid of death.

But no one willingly wished to die if they could avoid it.

So under such circumstances, tension was inevitable.

Given that visceral fear, Gervas’s calmness naturally inspired awe.

"Alright, I’ll take your word for it!" Gervas nodded. Honestly, he felt a small surge of pride.

…

Meanwhile, as Gervas’s spirits lifted, the kingdom’s army finally united the Northern Light Cavalry and the Shatterstone Light Cavalry.

Though their combined force totaled only about two thousand six hundred riders.

It still brought a sigh of relief to the noble lords.

"How lucky! The wolf riders didn’t launch an attack!"

"Yes! We feared they’d realize our move and resume assault—then all our last hope would vanish!"

"Commander-in-Chief, should we launch the breakout now?"

The nobles, still relieved, couldn’t wait to act.

"No problem, gentlemen. Let’s begin!"

The Commander-in-Chief wasted no time, immediately mobilizing the light cavalry.

"Look! The humans are trying to break out!"

"Those damned creatures—they think our stopping the wolf riders was a chance to flee?"

"Do they really think we didn’t notice them moving those other eight or nine hundred light cavalry over?"

"Gentlemen, since they want to die, let’s oblige them. What do you say?"

"Agreed!"

The humans’ subtle maneuvers didn’t escape the beastmen’s notice.

Earlier, to avoid driving the humans to desperation, they’d ordered the wolf riders to halt combat.

But now that the human army was again deploying light cavalry for a breakout, they wouldn’t allow it.

No sooner had the beastmen spoken than the human side erupted in battle cries—the light cavalry charged.

Seeing this, the beastmen leader immediately ordered his horn blown!

Ooo-ooo-ooo!

Soon, the light cavalry and wolf riders clashed again.

This time, with sufficient numbers, the humans finally had the strength to match the wolf riders.

"Quick! Send our elite guards forward! The light cavalry has held the wolf riders—this is our chance!" The Commander-in-Chief’s eyes lit with hope for breakout.

The noble lords echoed his cry, shouting for their own elite guards to advance.

But their actions looked laughable to the beastmen leader.

"These two-legged sheep actually think they can break out? Let them experience the special gift the Beast King prepared for them!"

Roar! Roar! Roar!

As the beastmen leader spoke, a few moments later, chilling roars echoed from the rear of the army.

Then five massive, jet-black lizards appeared on the battlefield.