[Ta-da! The long-awaited anti-theft chapter!]
[Are you surprised? Are you going to get chicken dinner?]
[You'll get it back soon. Pirated versions, come and subscribe to the original version! You'll get addicted!]
Heroic Spirit Palace, in front of the Hall of Heroes.
Under the tense atmosphere, the confrontation between Black Sand Region and the other archdukes continued.
With the entrance of the stone hall as the center, the people stood in a clear division. The archdukes' subordinates and palace guards occupied the inner ring, while the people from Black Sand Region surrounded them from the outside. Both sides glared at each other. Many people had their palms pressed on their weapons. Their crossbows were on standby, and their shields were raised. They were ready to fight at any moment.
And all of this depended on the crucial conversation between the five archdukes in the stone hall.
Even in this situation, Viscount Lhasa Kentvida of Black Sand Region's City of Light Town was one of the few who could still keep his composure. At least, compared to the swordswoman Kroesch beside him, who had a fierce glint in her eyes and was flicking her fingers, Viscount Kentvida appeared calm and not nervous at all.
Then, a scout sent the latest news into his ears, causing Kentvida to furrow his brows.
The viscount pondered for a moment, then waved at Kroesch. With a solemn expression, he walked to a corner and sent someone to summon the Fire Knight, Tolja.
The three of them gathered together. Kentvida took a deep breath and carefully told them what he heard.
Viscount Kentvida lowered his voice and said in a deep voice, "The sentry post at the palace gate sent news that someone has broken into the gatehouse.
It's very likely that they've already invaded Heroic Spirit Palace. "
The moment he said this, Kroesch's expression changed slightly. Her gaze flickered, while Tolja put on a contemplative expression.
"Broke into the gatehouse?" the swordswoman asked worriedly, "Is there something wrong with our defense?"
Kentvida shook his head. "I don't know, but the gatehouse is still in our hands."
"How interesting." Tolja raised his head. There was a hint of anger in his voice. "Count Levan is indeed overconfident at times, but Vlad should be able to make up for his shortcomings."
"This is what I'm worried about." Kentvida sighed.
"A count of noble birth and a disciplinary officer who's a civilian captive — they can't possibly get along too well."
Kroesch's gaze flickered.
"How many invaders are there?"
Kentvida's expression was subtle. He seemed uncertain. "Not many. I heard that there are no more than a dozen of them, or even fewer."
The other two were stunned.
"So few?" Kroesch furrowed her brows. "What do they want?"
Kentvida shook his head to show that he did not know.
The Fire Knight snorted coldly. "We have a large group in the palace. There are nearly five hundred of them. Most of them are heavy infantrymen and heavy axemen. There is no need to worry."
The lord narrowed his eyes. "The identity of the intruder? Location? "
The moment this question was asked, Viscount Kentvida took a deep breath. He put on his most polite smile and spoke cautiously.
He seemed embarrassed by the question.
"According to the sentry's description, it's very likely that they are the remaining White Blade Guards outside. Perhaps there are also the Star Killer, or even those Constellatiates."
The viscount shrugged and casually said, "I guess they came back after kidnapping the prince."
As expected, after the words' White Blade Guards' and 'Star Killer' slipped out of his mouth, Tolja's expression became extremely terrifying. It was as if he had heard a great humiliation.
Kentvida observed his expression and said carefully, "As for their location, they disappeared not long after they broke in. They only left a carriage at the palace gate."
There was silence.
Even Kroesch did not say a word after Kentvida signaled her with his gaze.
Finally, Lord Tolja took a deep breath. "I'll go look for them. Give me a guard. Even just four squads, a hundred men."
At this moment, the Fire Knight's eyes seemed to be really ablaze. "This time, I will wipe them all out."
When Kentvida heard this, he could not help but sigh deeply.
Kroesch raised an eyebrow.
Tolja quietly waited for his answer.
The viscount crossed his arms, turned around, and glanced at the entrance of the hall.
"Look at these people in front of us."
Kentvida said softly.
Following his gaze, Tolja turned towards the hall and saw countless soldiers from both sides confronting each other nervously.
He furrowed his brows.
Kentvida said calmly and in a manner that allowed no room for doubt, "The palace guards, White Blade Guards, and the archdukes' attendants add up to more than two hundred people. These are not like the leaderless warriors outside. They know very well what they have to protect."
"If the situation changes, they will fight with their lives on the line.
"And His Grace is right here."
Kentvida paused for a few seconds.
Tolja did not say a word. He seemed to be thinking.
"In this game of chess, the archdukes' location is the key." Kentvida looked at Tolja's expression and nodded.
"We must maintain an absolute advantage in the Hall of Heroes. Five hundred people against two hundred people is already very difficult. We cannot take the risk of splitting our forces.
"And those four archdukes are not fools. Any of our actions will reveal unnecessary information to them, which will then hinder His Grace's plan."
Tolja took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
The viscount continued to speak, "As long as we have a large number of soldiers and control the hall, neither the invaders nor these people will have a chance to take advantage of us."
On the other side, the swordswoman Kroesch narrowed her eyes and spoke in a timely manner, "Why can't we bring more people here? Perhaps it would be easier to fight? "
Kentvida threw her a look of approval.
"The 'more people' you mentioned are regular soldiers and not recruits, My Lady." Kentvida turned to her and said politely, "Besides, we did not come here to defend the palace in the first place, nor do we plan to take down the gatehouse. It's only because of an accident that we have no choice but to stand here."
He lifted his gaze and glanced at Tolja, intentionally or otherwise. "Our only mission is to protect His Grace."
Tolja snorted coldly.
Kroesch curled up the corners of her lips and stared at the viscount with a subtle look in her eyes. "Then are we just going to watch and let those dozen flies run amok in the palace?"
Kentvida shook his head.
"His Grace is fighting alone inside, and I am very confident in him." He nodded. "What we need to do is to stand behind him and prevent any accidents from happening."
As soon as he finished speaking …
Kentvida and Kroesch looked at Tolja.
A few seconds passed.
Tolja finally opened his eyes and heaved a long sigh.
"You are the temporary commander appointed by His Grace, and your rank is also higher than mine," the Fire Knight said coldly. "You decide what to do."
Hearing Tolja's answer, Kentvida finally smiled.
"Very good." Viscount Kentvida nodded. His tone was sincere and convincing. "That's right, we can indeed wait here, rely on a large number of soldiers, and wait for our enemy to exhaust themselves …"
He then changed the topic.
Kentvida exhaled and said with a faint smile, "But I think that if the opponent is that Lord of Constellation, he won't be so foolish as to fight the weak against the strong and come here with a weak military force to die."
Kroesch stared at him and smiled.
"Your Lordship, Honorable Lady, and even that person." Kentvida's gaze flickered slightly, and his words were profound. "If you stay in the army with combat power like yours, you will not be much more useful than a few ordinary class warriors who work well together in a chaotic battle."
"So," the viscount's tone was thick with mockery, "Are you ready?"
Tolja's eyes brightened, while Kroesch narrowed her eyes.
"No matter what those people want to do, be it a desperate assassination, a reckless attempt to stir up trouble, or even a sneaky sneak attack …" Kentvida looked at the corridor, at the path illuminated by the braziers, and smiled faintly. "We have to keep them busy."
"No time to split.
"No place to hide.
"No way to get close."
— — —
In another part of Heroic Spirit Palace, Thales and the others waited cautiously in a remote corner.
The remaining White Blade Guards were anxiously cleaning up their wounds from the chaotic battle, while the Constellatiate soldiers spread out to report the movements in front of them.
"Nicholas is just standing there?"
Thales leaned against the wall and frowned, recalling the unbelievable scene just now. "Holding back those hundreds of enemies?"
Mirk looked up.
"If he wants to maintain the effects of the Severing Souls Blade, yes."
The former administrator with a crew cut nodded. His expression was solemn, and his tone was somber. "The conditions for that legendary anti-mystic equipment are very harsh."
On the other side, Putray sighed. "I think we've lost a supreme class fighter.
"The only supreme class fighter."
Thales furrowed his brows.
Beside him, Little Rascal said dejectedly, "He'll be fine."
After the chaotic battle just now, Nicholas turned around and ordered them to continue forward with a fierce look.
He continued to stay in the circle of yellow light, resisting Black Sand Region's pursuit.
Indeed, with Nicholas' extraordinary performance, they managed to break into Heroic Spirit Palace.
But then …
Thales took a deep breath.
"Let's continue." The prince clenched his teeth and clenched his fists. "Let's go find Lampard and the archdukes.
"Let's end this damn farce."
Raphael's voice came from behind them.
"For now, it seems to be a little difficult."
Raphael flashed a relaxed smile. "We've just scouted the situation in the two corridors in front of us. Although there are no enemy defenses, but …"
Raphael stopped talking and swept his gaze across everyone. His smile did not fade.
Everyone furrowed their brows and waited for his words.
"We've caused too much of a commotion. It's very likely that we've alerted the enemy's sentries." Miranda walked up from behind him and said flatly, "The people in Heroic Spirit Palace — Lampard probably already knows of our existence."
Thales sighed. "How many people do they have in the palace?"
"Not more than the gatehouse. After all, the pressure on the gatehouse is greater." Miranda looked at the prince. Her gaze unconsciously tensed up and revealed a hint of guilt. "But the worst-case scenario is …
"As many as the gatehouse."
Everyone's heart sank.
"So, we're still in danger. Even if I followed Shiles in, the situation won't be any better?" Thales thought of those fearless Black Sand Region soldiers and their wave-like pursuit. He felt extremely irritated.
"About that …" Kohen raised his eyebrows and rolled his eyes. "That uncle Star Killer … Can we call him back? You want to play that trick again? "
The White Blade Guards glared at him.
Mirk also cast him a sideways glance. His meaning was self-evident.
Cohen's expression froze. He shrugged and smiled awkwardly. "I'm just asking."
Just as everyone was frowning, a familiar yet strange voice rang out.
It was the veteran, Genard.
"They did not form a defense line in front of the palace gate, nor did they split up their troops to patrol the corridors and passageways." The veteran from Starlight Brigade narrowed his eyes. The new recruit, Willow, leaned against the wall beside him. Under the gazes of so many important people, he seemed very nervous. "Duke John once said, 'Where the enemy is, is what the enemy thinks'.
"On the battlefield, this can explain a lot of things."
Listening to his words, Putray's gaze flickered slightly.
Thales' eyes lit up. "For example?"
Putray continued the veteran's words and took a deep breath. "For example, they are very confident in the defense of the gatehouse. They think that no one can break through the gatehouse."
Thales raised his eyebrows. "Very good. At least, we don't have to worry about this anymore."
Putray pondered, his gaze could not help but flicker. "Secondly, they must have something more important to do. They cannot afford to disperse their forces.
"For example, deploying a large number of troops to protect the most crucial and vital places."
'The most crucial places.'
Thales' heart skipped a beat. He understood something.
"Just now, the commander said that the hall …" The prince recalled the chaotic battle just now. "I think Lampard is in the Hall of Heroes!"
Raphael nodded slowly. "Guess what he is doing?"
"Thirdly," Putray narrowed his eyes and seemed to be deep in thought, "at least in Heroic Spirit Palace, Black Sand Region's military strength is already stretched thin. They cannot be moved easily."
Thales took a deep breath.
"I understand," the prince said, a little moved. "They are confronting the four archdukes!"
Thales raised his head abruptly. "So they cannot disperse their forces, nor do they dare to take the risk!
"Because to them … the attitude of the four archdukes is more important!"
He had to think this way.
He had to think this way.
Putray nodded with a firm expression.
"So, while our current situation may seem bad," the vice diplomat said softly, "but compared to just now, it's a world of difference.
"We have indeed caught their vital point."
Putray raised his head and revealed a smile. "From now on, even though we are few in number, as the third party who suddenly entered the battlefield …
"We have the initiative."
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