Upon hearing Patch’s words, Knight Zoron’s eyes flickered with intrigue.
He grasped Patch’s hand, leading him into the lord’s hall, and said, “Let’s talk at length. Tell me everything about Howard. I’ll consider your words.”
Once settled in the hall, Patch began to spin his tale of Howard’s brutality.
According to him, Howard’s victory in the war was mere luck.
If it had been a fair fight, Patch insisted, Howard would have stood no chance against him, thus belittling Howard’s capabilities.
Furthermore, Patch began to slander Howard, painting him as a ruthless man lacking knightly honor, and used every means to persuade Knight Zoron to declare war on Howard.
Knight Zoron, possessing two villages, was more powerful than Patch.
Patch sought to incite Zoron to help him exact revenge.
Knight Zoron, already wary of Howard, felt that Howard’s power among Baron Fernsouth’s vassals was becoming too formidable.
Envious of Howard’s position and fearing that Howard might eventually turn against him and seize his lands, Zoron was a ripe target for Patch’s instigations.
The combination of Patch’s provocation and the courage found in wine led Knight Zoron to a moment of decisive action.
Clenching his teeth and slamming his fist on the table, he declared, “Fine! I shall declare war on Howard under the pretense of aiding you to reclaim Kenfa Village!”
Zoron’s intent to declare war on Howard was clear.
Lacking a formal declaration, he needed to maneuver strategically, relying on Patch to make the announcement.
Patch, in a moment of solidarity, slapped his thigh and expressed his allegiance to Knight Zoron, vowing that once Kenfa Village was reclaimed, he would be utterly loyal to Zoron and implored him to send troops to avenge his loss.
On the sixth day, Knight Zoron officially declared war on Howard, proclaiming his intent to help his subordinate reclaim his land.
Howard, practicing combat moves with Margaret in the training field, was interrupted by Bosiden, who arrived breathlessly with news, “Lord Howard, it’s dire! Knight Zoron has declared war on us!”
Howard, as if he had anticipated this, responded, “I know. I deliberately let Patch go, pretending to send him to persuade Zoron on my behalf. But I knew Patch would never sincerely work for me. The moment he met Zoron, he was bound to incite him to declare war against me.”
Bosiden, taken aback, asked, “Ah? My lord, why would you do that?”
Howard, with a triumphant grin, explained, “Ha, how else would that cautious Knight Zoron have ever waged war against me?”
Anna, astonished, interjected, “Could it be that all this was your strategy?”
Howard then instructed Bosiden, “Go to Rui Village, Safa Village, and Kenfa Village.
Gather the conscripted soldiers and have them assemble in Yami Village.
This time, we will strike with the force of thunder, aiming to defeat Knight Zoron’s troops head-on!”
Seeing Howard’s confident demeanor, Bosiden’s worries dissipated, and a smile spread across his face.
By the eighth day, the troops of both Howard and Knight Zoron were fully mustered.
Howard’s side, encompassing four villages, took a bit longer to gather due to the greater distances involved compared to Zoron’s two villages.
Knight Zoron, moving swiftly, had already amassed his troops and was advancing towards Rui Village.
Should Rui Village fall, it would inevitably be plundered by Zoron’s forces.
For Howard, it was imperative to devise a strategy to divert Zoron’s attention from Rui Village and engage his army directly in battle.
Howard shared his concerns with Resarite, asking him to devise a solution.
Resarite, stroking his chin thoughtfully, said, “My lord, I understand your reluctance to see Rui Village plundered, but once the war begins, Rui Village becomes more than just a village.”
He paused as if struck by a sudden thought, then fell silent.
Urged by Howard to speak freely, Resarite continued, “My lord, the moment war commences, be it Rui Village or Yami Village, they all transform into strategic points. Once we enter the war, these locations become expendable assets on a tactical level. If necessary, we must be prepared to forsake Rui Village.”
Howard remained silent, contemplating the gravity of the situation.
Bosiden, gathering his courage, stepped forward and bowed to Howard, saying, “My lord, harsh as it may be, if we march our troops hastily to Rui Village, they will arrive exhausted, significantly weakening our combat effectiveness. We have conscripted soldiers from four villages, more than Knight Zoron’s two, giving us a firm grip on victory should war break out.”
“However, if we rush there, with our formation in disarray and morale low, we risk being utterly defeated by the enemy. If we lose our army, then Knight Zoron could plunder our villages unopposed. Not just Rui Village, but Yami Village, Safa Village, and Kenfa Village would all suffer the same fate.”
Howard responded, “There must be a better way.”
At that moment, Anna turned to Howard and said, “Howard, my family has a substantial amount of gold coins. We could hire Bounty Hunters to aid you, without needing to rely on the conscripted soldiers.”
Howard glanced at Anna, seeing her in a new light.
She seemed to shine with a radiance he had never noticed before, her beauty striking.
Resarite, however, raised a concern, “But I’ve heard that the lands of the Katerina family are far from here.
Even if we were to send troops from there, it would still be too late.”
Anna, with a cheerful smile, took Howard’s hand and presented him with a small yet exquisitely crafted agate gemstone, saying, “I didn’t mean to send troops from my family’s lands. I’m offering you the funds to hire Bounty Hunters yourself.”
Howard examined the gemstone, recognizing its high quality.
He initially thought to decline, but considering the urgency of the situation, he accepted it without further ado.
Bosiden commented, “This is indeed a good idea. After all, this is our own war within Baron Fernsouth’s territory. The Katerina family has no reason or right to interfere.”
Howard made a quick decision, understanding the need to act swiftly.
He handed the agate gemstone to Alonso, instructing him to search for Bounty Hunters in the nearby territories to march to Rui Village and confront Knight Zoron’s forces.
The Bounty Hunters, each with a swift steed, would travel much faster than the conscripted peasant soldiers from the villages.
By the afternoon of the eighth day, motivated by the generous bounty, a group of light cavalry accepted the task, setting off from Kenfa Village, located between Yami Village and Rui Village.
Howard’s directive to the troop was clear: reach Rui Village at all costs to protect the villagers.
The agate gemstone would be their reward if they succeeded.
Indeed, Howard had underestimated the speed of the light cavalry.
By the dawn of the ninth day, the leader of the cavalry, Olaf, along with his troops, had already arrived at Rui Village.
His band of Bounty Hunters encircled the village, safeguarding Rui Village from harm.
By noon, Knight Zoron’s forces reached the village, only to be taken aback by the sight of battle-hardened men guarding it.
Knight Zoron, emerging from his troops on horseback, confronted Olaf, “What are you doing here?”
Olaf, knowing the situation well, sneered back, “Hmph, what are you doing here? I see from your crest that you’re a noble. Why have you ventured into Lord Howard’s territory?”
Knight Zoron, his face twitching, was unsure whether Olaf genuinely didn’t know or was mocking him. 𝘦.𝘤𝘰𝑚
He reluctantly shared the ongoing conflict with Howard.
In turn, Olaf disclosed that they were commissioned by Howard and warned Knight Zoron, “Let me tell you, my brothers here are not to be trifled with. Since we’ve taken the money, we have a job to do. If you dare to plunder Rui Village, I’ll be the first to stand against you.”
Hearing their leader’s bold statement, the Bounty Hunters erupted into a chorus of shouts and cheers, their thunderous voices echoing through the surrounding hills, a testament to their unwavering resolve and solidarity.
Knight Zoron had brought Patch along this time, reasoning that Patch, being a knight trained in military tactics, possessed far superior combat skills than peasant soldiers.
While Zoron was still pondering their next move, Patch, consumed by rage, vehemently insisted on engaging in battle.
His words stirred Knight Zoron’s army into a fervent readiness.
Ultimately, Knight Zoron ordered his troops to fight against Olaf’s contingent.
However, the outcome was disheartening for Zoron’s forces.
Repeated charges were repelled by Olaf’s well-prepared men, forcing Zoron’s troops to retreat, defeated and demoralized, to the vicinity of Rui Village.
By noon of the tenth day, Knight Zoron’s forces, now advancing towards Safa Village, were intercepted by Howard and his assembled troops from the four villages.
Howard’s forces, like remnants of a windstorm, swiftly and decisively overpowered Knight Zoron’s weary and battered soldiers.
Knight Zoron was captured, while Patch managed to flee.
With their leader taken and no remaining military strength, Zoron’s two villages remained inactive and motionless in the following days, their fate hanging in uncertainty.
Updated from 𝑖𝘳.𝒸ℴ𝑚