...

...

"This Baron Rod is difficult to deal with; he has many soldiers. We should retreat."

Chris immediately ordered a retreat without hesitation.

Soon, the soldiers withdrew like a tide.

Seagate also naturally didn't have a chance to return to the merchant caravan as Chris took him away.

Rod led the guards in a charge but did not pursue Chris.

He just stood in place, watching their departing backs.

"You are safe now."

Rod scanned the entire caravan with his gaze and said, "I am Baron Rod Tulip of Black Pine Ridge. I will ensure your safe entry into my territory."

"Thank you for coming to save our lives."

The caravan leader bowed with gratitude in his voice,

"I am Fluo Gray Claw, the leader of the Gray Claw Trading Team, and thank you again for saving us."

"If it weren't for you, we would probably all have died. Rest assured, I will certainly pay you enough taxes and rewards!

I will also convey your goodwill to Viscount Leo of the Giant Bear Clan!"

"You are naturally under my protection in Black Pine Ridge."

Rod smiled and then asked, "Who exactly attacked you? Was it robbers?

If it were robbers, I would clear them out tomorrow."

The caravan leader Fluo hesitated for a moment and said, "He claimed to be Knight Chris of Count Hawk."

"Knight of Count Hawk? How could they appear here? How could they become robbers?"

Rod was full of doubt, his expression filled with surprise,

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Lord Baron. I saw the family banner of Count Hawk, and their armor also bore the emblem of the Hawk Clan."

"Quite surprising."

Rod took a deep, astonished breath, then became furious,

"I never expected such a dignified noble would do such a thing!"

Fluo nodded and sighed, "I also never imagined Count Hawk would do such things. I will report all these matters to Viscount Leo."

"That is your right. Count Hawk's crimes should be condemned by all nobles."

Rod was indignant, "Alright, now I will escort you to Frost Leaf Town. The desert is unsafe at night."

"Immensely grateful!"

The caravan leader, full of excitement, immediately instructed the survivors to organize the caravan and followed Rod on their way.

...

...

Under the night sky.

Chris led the soldiers a long distance away until they reached a mountain hollow and stopped,

"Knight Chris, why did we flee just now?" Seagate asked proactively.

"Didn't you hear the dense hoof beats? Baron Rod's army is quite formidable, and we are no match."

He told Seagate, "Go back and inform the Count that we need reinforcements."

Seagate frowned slightly.

He hadn't heard any dense hoof beats.

Only heard a young boy's shouts.

It didn't seem so terrifying, right?

Seagate was puzzled but did not question Chris's words.

"Alright, I will send the message back."

Seagate bowed and prepared to turn and leave.

At that moment, Chris suddenly struck, patting Seagate at the back of the neck.

Seagate's body instantly went limp, and a nearby soldier caught him.

"Tie him up and cover his face."

Chris ordered.

"Yes, sir." The soldier responded respectfully.

"It's not easy to put on an act."

Knight Chris sighed, reaching up to take off his enclosed helmet.

Under the moonlight, Durant's face appeared, with a few beads of sweat on his forehead.

Rod did not pursue Chris, because the so-called Chris was actually acted by Durant.

In the cover of darkness, no one could see who was who, but with Chris's knight emblem and Count Hawk's banner, it explained everything.

Rod intended to use Knight Chris's identity to investigate the merchant caravan's reality.

Indeed, it led out the caravan's spy.

Unfortunately, the final plan had some differences from what Rod intended.

This Seagate wasn't as easily deceived as he seemed.

...

...

The next noon.

When Durant returned to Frost Leaf Town, he was in a different outfit.

As for Chris and the soldiers' armor and equipment, they were all packed in boxes, and the army quietly returned to the town in batches.

"Your acting skills are quite mediocre."

In the manor's hall, Rod mocked with a smile, "You ran away before you even saw my shadow. This Knight Chris sure has a small courage."

Durant displayed a pained expression, "I was afraid that mixing soldiers like that, if we really fought, it would be our own loss."

Durant had chosen the soldiers in Chris's guise for their smartness and loyalty, knowing it was all an act.

But Rod's troops were unaware of the act, and in case of a real fight, someone could get hurt.

"But I must say, you were right that I indeed lack acting skills."

Durant put away his smile and reported: "That Seagate became suspicious, so I couldn't follow your plan and lay down the bait and could only bring him back."

Durant initially thought of killing Seagate, but reconsidered that he might be useful, so decided to bring him back instead.

"No problem."

Rod already had a second plan in mind and instructed: "Next time when sending the response to Count Hawk, report the attack on the merchant caravan last night and discreetly lay down the bait.

"We'll use the granary as bait."

"Lord Baron, you're planning to use the granary as bait again?"

"It's very effective."

Rodrik couldn't help but smile.

His strategy was indeed old-fashioned.

But the iron and salt mines were secrets and couldn't be used as bait.

Grain wasn't novel, and everyone needed it.

"Alright, it is indeed effective."

Durant then asked, "Should we inform Count Hawk about the Seagate incident?"

Rodrik shook his head, "No need. Let's just say he was killed during the raid on the caravan."

"We'll send the letter after the celebration.

We want everyone to know that anyone invading Black Pine Ridge has to pay the price."

A cold, sharp glint shone in Rodrik's eyes.

This Falcon Count dared invade Black Pine Ridge, Rodrik had to make him pay a price.

"Yes, Lord Baron." Durant replied respectfully, bowing his head.

"Last night, that Fluo from the Gray Claw Trading Team was scared out of his wits. His legs were still trembling when returning with me."

Rodrik put away his sternness and smiled again.

This time, the other gain was dragging Viscount Giant Bear into this whirlpool to oppose Count Hawk.

If he didn't want the Viscount to fall into the trap, Rodrik might have waited for Durant to finish plundering before taking action, just like the story of the Golden Sand Trading Team.

This wasn't because Rodrik was conniving,

——This was following Count Hawk's orders, after all, it was a raid on the Black Pine Ridge's caravan.

Of course, everything was just the beginning, to see if Viscount Giant Bear would resent Count Hawk, more elements were needed.

"However, he was quite generous, offering all goods to us at half price. There are fifteen sets of armor shirts and skirt armor among them, allowing us to arm more soldiers.

"So, although the celebration is soon, you still need to be busy recruiting more soldiers beforehand."

The Gray Claw Trading Team brought fifteen sets of armor, together with those seized from the Bandit Group and Chris's troops, totaling seventy sets of chain armor.

Equipped with these, Rodrik's regular army could reach a hundred men.

Rodrik aimed to train these men into veterans, and by the time of battle, with his own bonuses, these men would be more than mere infantry.

Rodrik gave them a flattering name, Foot Battle Knights.

Of course, it was still just a beautiful vision for now.

Additionally, Rodrik planned to train fifty militia, who would farm in peacetime and be drafted in wartime.

And these didn't include the Wild Spear Throwers.

The Wild Spear Throwers weren't accustomed to wearing iron armaments, so Rodrik planned to provide them with a batch of leather armor, specifically training them as long-range troops.

"Understood, my lord. Can I select the new recruits from among those Wildmen?"

Durant asked with anticipation, "They can now understand some simple language.

Moreover, when it comes to fighting for you, they are crazier than anyone else."

"Yes, that's fine."

Rodrik nodded, advising, "But be sure they get used to wearing chain armor."

Previously, Durant wasn't allowed to select them because of the language barrier, but now communication wasn't much of an obstacle.

"Understood, I will choose qualified soldiers."

"If there's nothing else, you may proceed with the arrangements."

With that, Rodrik finished speaking, and Durant bowed and left.

Because Durant had posed as Chris as a precaution, Rodrik didn't let him appear in front of the Gray Claw Trading Team again.

Durant also had no extra time, as he was immersed in recruiting and training fifty new soldiers every day.

Amongst them, thirty-five were Wildmen, and only fifteen were slaves.

To quickly make them battle-ready, Durant subjected them each day to hellish torture, with an intensity that would frighten others.

The food was sufficient, and the future prospects attractive, so the new recruits endured it all.

Until the Gray Claw Trading Team left, Durant did not show up.

Two days before the celebration, Rodrik sent someone to notify him, and then Durant came out of the barracks.

But before Rodrik could exchange a few words with Durant, a carrier pigeon from the northern patrol flew back.

Frost Leaf Town welcomed another visitor.

——Blade Clan, Blade Baron Blom.

...

...

The next day.

Rodrik, along with Durant and the soldiers, personally went out of town to greet Baron Blom.

In the sunlight, Rodrik could see from afar two bear-like burly figures on horseback.

One was the familiar Gang Le, and the other should be Blade Baron Blom from the Blade Clan.

"Rumor has it the Blade Clan has the bloodline of giants. Seeing it today, it seems the rumor is true."

Durant murmured quietly, unable to refrain from taking a glance ahead at Rodrik.

Rodrik nodded and then led Durant in approaching Baron Blom, who was dismounting.

"I am the lord of Black Pine Ridge, Baron Rodrik Tulip."

Rodrik nodded slightly, "Welcome to Black Pine Ridge, Baron Blom."

Baron Blom took off his helmet, and a face even more delicate than Rodrik's appeared before him.

Baron Blom bowed, "Please forgive my intrusion."

His voice was crisp, carrying a hint of apology.

"I brought soldiers to raid Chaotic Stone Village, intending to eliminate the Blade Brotherhood, only to find there were just over twenty people left."

"After interrogating those left to guard the place, they informed me that the Blade Brotherhood planned to raid your granary."

"Because of our agreement, I feared for your territory's safety and wished to assist you."

Rodrik was a little stunned.

Not because of what Baron Blom said.

But because of his appearance and voice.

Is this guy a man?

But if it's a woman, could she be nearly two meters tall and as strong as a bear?

Rodrik suppressed his curiosity, responding with courtesy, "Gang Le has already reported to me, your spirit of honoring the contract deeply moves me."

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