As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the camp, they saw a whole line of soldiers slowly advancing towards the camp. Because they were a regular army, the formation was extremely neat. In front were 30 soldiers with large shields. Behind them were two-handed swordsmen, forming a harvesting team. Behind them were archers and a small number of cavalry. It was a perfect combination of professions. Every soldier was wearing the standard iron armor of the Empire and wielding the steel sword of the Empire. Compared to the equipment of the Thieves, this kind of equipment was enough to make people despair before they even started fighting.
"The main force … I estimate there are 10 squads, at least 300 people." Gurem, who was next to him, immediately estimated the number of the enemy. Because of the enlistment, the enemy had to leave some people behind to watch over the captured Thieves. It was expected that the number would not reach 500. However, the Nasser Bandits only had a little more than 100 people, including the old, the weak, the sick and the disabled.
The members of the Nasser Bandits also slowly gathered. The wooden gate of the camp had been closed. Because of the sudden attack, the members of the Nasser Bandits seemed a little flustered. Some of them had just woken up and ran over with only the upper half of their body armor. The bows and arrows used to defend the city, as well as the stones, were also moved from the warehouse. In short, it was a mess.
The wooden fence of the camp was only about 2 meters high. It was basically non-existent. A ditch was dug outside, but because of the lack of time, it was only half dug, and it was less than a meter deep. There was no water. In the winter, everything was frozen, so there was no way to irrigate it.
In short, the defense of the camp was very weak. It was almost to the extent that it would collapse after one attack. To be honest, this level of defense didn't even need to be commanded. All they needed to do was to charge in.
However, the enemy didn't attack immediately. The team slowly pushed forward until they were about 50 meters away from the gate. Suddenly, the shield team in front split in the middle, and a human general in fiery red armor rode out from the team. The general carried a black bow and arrows on his back, and a silver one-handed military knife on his waist. Although he had a half-white beard, he looked energetic and had a proud smile on his face.
"I'm Balian De Chris!" The general in red shouted towards the camp with a loud and clear voice, "Where is your commander, Gilbert? Why don't you come out and meet me?"
"If you have something to say, just say it." Gilbert stood on the wooden archer's stand at the entrance and replied to Balian.
"Humph." Seeing that Gilbert did not go out, Balian sneered at him for being timid. She then said, "You're Gilbert, the leader of the Nasser Bandits? You are indeed as young as the rumors say. Eh, I seem to have an impression of your face. Have we met before? You were in the army? Or did you see him on the battlefield? "
"I don't have an impression of you. If you have something to say, say it quickly," Gilbert replied immediately.
"This is an amnesty document personally issued by His Highness the King of the Empire." Balian said as he took out a piece of paper from his pocket and raised it in front of him. "His Highness the King has personally pardoned all of you for your crimes as bandits. He now agrees to surrender your heads. Those who accept the surrender will immediately be incorporated into the army. After fighting for the Empire for three years, you will be discharged and have official civilian status. I hereby issue a final warning. If you don't lay down your weapons and surrender in ten minutes, we will eradicate all of you."
"Commander, what should we do?" Gurem asked immediately. The surrounding bandits also turned around and looked at Gilbert hesitantly. To be honest, they were also a little hesitant. Although they had to fight for the Empire for three years to obtain civilian status, and the battle between the Humans and the Demons was so intense, it was basically impossible for them to survive. However, if they didn't agree, it seemed like they would die immediately.
"I advise you not to resist stubbornly. Otherwise, you will end up like him." Seeing that Gilbert did not respond immediately, Balian suddenly waved his hand. Then, two soldiers came out from behind him and carried a man who was tied up with a rope.
"Merlin!" Gilbert immediately recognized the man. It was Merlin, the commander of the Marth Bandits who had been captured by Balian.
"Hehe, Gilbert, I didn't expect to meet you under such circumstances." Although he was tied up like a dumpling and there were traces of injuries on his face, Merlin still laughed heartily.
"You idiot!" Gilbert shouted. No one knew what he was talking about.
"I knew you wouldn't hate me. I'm going to die anyway," Merlin said with a smile. "Bill, that guy, has caused you trouble, but please don't blame him. He was just panicking and fell into a trap."
"I know!" Gilbert said.
"Enough reminiscing, right?" Balian said to Merlin. He then raised his voice and shouted at the crowd, "This man still helped bandits after surrendering. The Empire is already doing him a great favor by pardoning his crimes. This guy actually doesn't know how to be grateful. Instead, he colluded with bandits. He has committed a heinous crime. According to the Empire's military law, he will be sentenced to death!"
With that, Balian gestured to the two sword-wielding soldiers standing beside him and said, "Do it!"
"Stop!" cried Gilbert. "Balian, wait a moment!"
"Gilbert, don't believe Balian! They've already received orders from Marquis Filmte. This time, they will definitely kill you, and not a single person from your group! "Merlin, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly raised his head and shouted.
"Kill!" Balian was enraged and immediately waved his hand.
"Kill!" The soldier next to him also shouted. Then, he raised his sword and slashed at Merlin's neck.
With a plop, a head fell to the ground, followed by a corpse that slowly fell to the ground and a pool of blood. Gilbert, who was on top of the city gate, was stunned …
"He's right. Actually, I never wanted to recruit bandits like you. I don't know why the king gave such an order." Since he had already been exposed, Balian stopped acting. "But Marquis Filmte has already informed us in private. Your Nasser Bandits have offended him. Do you think nothing will happen? Only you guys will not be able to escape. "
"Earl, I'm an employee of the De 'an Chamber of Commerce. I was captured by the bandits. Please save me and bring me back." At this moment, a young man on the wooden wall suddenly raised his hand and shouted. He was one of the young men that Gilbert had captured and joined the Chamber of Commerce.
The other members of the De 'an Chamber of Commerce who had joined the Chamber of Commerce also came to a sudden realization. Yes, they were forced. Just as they were about to shout, they heard a whooshing sound, followed by a scream. The former member of the Chamber of Commerce who had just shouted fell to the ground.
On horseback, Balian slowly put down the black bow in his hand. With a cruel tone, he said, "Marquis Filmte told me that none of the De 'an Chamber of Commerce's members surrendered. So, don't pretend to be members of the De' an Chamber of Commerce. I've already said, kill everyone in Nasser's camp. Leave no one alive!"
The situation was urgent, and there was no turning back. However, Gilbert still seemed to have not recovered from the shock. He was still staring at Merlin's corpse in a daze. It seemed that Merlin's death was a huge blow to him.
"This old guy actually ended up like this …" Gilbert muttered a little absent-mindedly.
"Captain!" Beside him, Gurem couldn't help but shout.
"I know … Stop talking. Prepare for battle …" Gilbert's voice sounded very heavy, as if he was suppressing his anger and sadness.
"But … it doesn't bode well. Should we consider retreating?" Gurem asked with a frown.
"He said that he would exterminate every last one of us. Where can we retreat to?" Gilbert countered.
"So, this is the last battle?" Gurem's expression suddenly relaxed a lot. Then, he actually laughed. "Haha, Captain, I suddenly feel a little relaxed."
Gilbert also saw Gurem's smile. After a while, he also laughed. "You're also an idiot. But, I think so too …"
After saying that, Gilbert suddenly raised the sword in his hand and shouted, "Everyone, I, Gilbert, have let you down. You have followed me for more than a month. Back then, I promised you that I would give you a way out. I have gone back on my word. I have let you down. Today, we might all die in battle, and after we die, we'll be forever branded as bandits. That's not a good identity, but it's strange. I don't feel that it's that scary to die with everyone … "
"Leader …" Beside him, Gurym suddenly punched Gilbert. "I've never heard you say something so mushy …"
"Blood flows forever, anger rises. Death has awakened, and war is calling!" Gilbert suddenly said. "Strange, I seem to have suddenly remembered this sentence. What does it mean?"
"What, Captain?" Gurem asked.
"No … nothing …" Gilbert shook his head. "Everyone, today may be the last battle. Gurem, Vanessa, Huailin, I'm sorry to have followed such a useless captain …"
"Captain, I followed you because I believed in you. I still believe in you now," Gurem said.
"I don't mind. It's hard to find 300 people to kill me. Plus, the Rebirth Point is just nearby. That's awesome. Captain, I really admire you," Li Huailin said.
"Wait, Captain, I still have a way …" Vanessa said.
"What way?" Gilbert asked curiously.
"Wait for me for an hour. I'll bring reinforcements in an hour. You must wait for me." Vanessa said and ran in the other direction of the camp.
"Captain?" Gurem turned to Gilbert.
"I believe in her. We must hold on for an hour!" Gilbert said immediately.
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