Before dusk, the wind rose in the northern canyon.

Louis stood on a high ground, gazing at the narrow roadway below.

"They are indeed taking this route," he murmured.

The scouts had already tracked the daily route of the Silver Plate caravan.

Departing in the evening, avoiding the official road, taking the small paths, making their way through the canyon.

This caravan was well-hidden, but he had uncovered it in advance.

On both sides of the canyon, traps like horse pits and rock slides had long been set up, marked with extreme subtlety.

Several igniting torches were concealed at strategic heights, ready to be used as a signal for gathering anytime.

The pathways on both ends were equipped with movable blocking obstacles. Once activated, it would trap the prey like a turtle in a jar.

Under the instructions, Lambert assembled thirty Red Tide Elite Iron Cavalry and fifty Official Knights, all battle-hardened.

"Try to keep them alive," was Louis's request.

To lure the enemy into the ambush, he specially arranged for two knights to patrol incidentally along the caravan's route.

Forcing the opponent to enter the canyon early and speed up, stepping into the trap.

The trap was set.

Just waiting for the prey to walk into it themselves, fortunately, he didn't have to wait long.

As the last carriage slowly entered the heart of the canyon, the signal knights who had been lying in ambush on both sides simultaneously raised their torches.

"Ignite—!"

The flame burst forth in the wind, and the ambushed knights immediately activated the trap upon receiving the signal.

In an instant, the canyon's openings on both ends closed like a giant beast's jaws.

Boom!

Falling boulders mingled with dust-raising wooden barriers crashed down, locking the entire caravan within the valley!

The horse trap at the front suddenly collapsed, with the leading horses whinnying in surprise, leaping into the air.

Hooves stumbled, carriage shafts tilted, several carriages overturned on the ground, rolling logs shattered the carriage canopies, wailing and curses rose in unison!

"Charge!" Lambert led the charge, the vanguard of the Red Tide Iron Cavalry surging in like a raging tide!

Fighting energy focused at the tip of his sword, scorching red like a fiery long serpent, trailing a beam of light several feet long, illuminating the entire canyon!

Even before the blade reached, the cold was already biting.

A few sharp cries tore through the silence, the caravan guard captain had just raised the command flag, yet before issuing the command.

He was slashed off his horse by a sweeping fighting energy strike, smashing into the adjacent carriage board, blood splattering three feet!

The escorts near the prisoner cart hurriedly turned back, unable to draw their blades before being tackled and subdued by knights descending from above, quickly collapsing.

"Successful segmentation!" Lambert's eyes, sharp as blades, scanned the battlefield, then lifted his sword, pointing to the high slope, "Elite forces, advance!"

However, in the center of the caravan, ten sharp fighting energies suddenly rose up like cold, stinging needles from the ground.

It was a silver light, solid as cold iron, sharp as a spear that pierces the sky!

"They're here…" his gaze darkened.

Ten gray-armored Silver Plate guards flashed out like phantoms, silently stepping into the battle.

Silver fighting energy wrapped around them, like snowflakes in the wind, akin to blades cutting through the air.

They were few in number, but each held formidable combat strength, surpassing even the Elite Knights.

These were powerhouses meticulously trained by the guild, born to escort under the radar.

Though the Red Tide Knights held a numerical advantage, their formation was instantly torn apart.

Amidst the swirling fighting energy storm, red and silver intersected, like two angry tides clashing, intensifying the battle!

"Don't let them break through!" Lambert roared, red fighting energy surged from his feet, leaping up the rock wall, and his sword barred the path like a meteor in an instant!

A direct confrontation!

His sword aimed straight at a leading Silver Plate guard, their fighting energies clashed in the air, creating distorted halos and thunderous booms!

Despite having numerical superiority, the Red Tide Iron Cavalry were momentarily thwarted by these ten gray-armored powerhouses.

Some took on three opponents, yet remained steadfast, their movements swift as shadows.

Suddenly, "clicks" sounded from the slopes on both sides—rock slides were activated!

Rocks and rolling logs poured down like rain, disrupting the rhythm of the Silver Plate powerhouses.

In a brief moment of vulnerability, Lambert delivered a piercing strike, fast as lightning!

Boom!

He descended like a meteor, forcibly knocking a Silver Plate guard dozens of yards away, shattering a carriage!

Another powerhouse attempted to leverage himself towards the rear of the convoy, intending to rush out of the chaos, but was intercepted mid-air by Lambert, cutting him off.

"Go back."

With that, his red sword entwined like a serpent, fighting energy infused, delivering a throat-locking strike, knocking the opponent unconscious to the ground.

And at the very end, Kalan was digging through an oilcloth bundle, his face frantic.

He pulled out several tightly folded intelligence documents, lit a torch, and raised it high, intending to burn them.

"Too late."

With a hoarse whisper, Lambert suddenly appeared, delivering an elbow strike to his back, sending Kalan flying several meters with the torch, rolling into the mud!

The torch fell, sparks scattered, but failed to ignite the documents.

Kalan attempted to struggle and turn over, but a longsword was already at his throat.

Lambert's expression was stern, the firelight dancing in his eyes.

"It's over."

The ambush concluded there.

The dust hadn't settled, and the canyon was a scene of devastation.

Yet Kalan, pinned firmly to the ground, maintained a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Draped in a half-open gray robe, his face smeared with dirt and sparks, he still assessed the situation with seasoned eyes.

"Hmm… I think you may have misunderstood something." He coughed once, trying to make his voice sound more like that of an innocent merchant, "I'm just a junior steward from the Ice Flame Commerce Association, here to transport some herbs…" he trailed off as a young but undeniable voice came from the edge of the canyon: "You're from the Silver Plate Guild, aren't you."

Kalan's expression froze, and he suddenly looked up.

The sound of footsteps came from afar, as a young man draped in a dark red cloak slowly walked down the slope, the sound of his boots on the gravel seeming to pound into one's heart.

He did not draw his sword, nor did he release any fighting energy, and he even looked somewhat too young.

Yet the air in the entire canyon seemed to drop by several degrees instantly.

Kalan's eyelids twitched violently, and his heart was filled with warning signs.

How could it be? How does he know we are...

This team's departure had not the slightest hint of a leak!

The route was randomly decided, and even the cargo was disguised!

Unless... it was Joseph who did something?

"Who are you?" Kalan gritted his teeth, still trying to buy time, "Do you know the responsibility that comes with the word 'Silver Plate'? You're just a... bandit; let me go and my commerce association can give you a generous ransom."

"The ledger," Louis spoke, unmoved.

Lambert immediately took out the thick book wrapped in oilcloth from his pouch and handed it over.

Louis flipped through a few pages, his fingers paused, his eyes slightly tightened.

"Southwest border garrison daily grain conversion table," "Southeast line knight deployment progress: third batch expected arrival mid-June"...

Every line of handwriting was meticulous and neat, obviously written personally by a noble.

The most critical page, the endorsement was clearly visible.

"Joseph Kadari."

This was the leverage he had left for the Silver Plate Guild to show his sincerity.

Yet he didn't expect it to fall into Louis's hands now.

Louis also didn't expect Joseph to be so bold.

He closed the ledger, his fingers lightly tapping on the cover, as if weighing something.

"You said you were an ordinary merchant."

Kalan forced a smile: "Perhaps... it is Mr. Kadari who is truly the problem.

You see, I'm just a middleman, responsible for transportation, without even having seen the cargo. If you really want to catch someone, you should go after him."

Louis' footsteps slowly approached, stopping in front of Kalan, looking down at him.

He didn't speak.

Just a slight curve of the mouth, revealing a teasing smile.

It was an expression of a superior, disdaining to argue, with no intention to debate, just quietly waiting for you to finish, and then decide your fate.

Kalan's smile immediately froze, cold sweat sliding down his neck.

He finally realized that the young man in front of him was not the kind of ordinary officer he could get by with words.

He didn't even know the other's background, but instinct told him that this was not someone easy to mess with.

Kalan's expression darkened, changing his tone, deep yet solemn: "Who exactly are you?"

Louis did not answer.

Just lowered his eyes to look at him, like a hunter watching the prey's final struggle.

Kalan's eyes flickered, weighing for a moment, suddenly revealing a trace of confident smile: "I understand. You're not a soldier here to die; you're a smart person."

He spat out a mouthful of bloody froth, whispering: "If you let me go now, I can offer terms. Real terms."

"The Silver Plate Guild never treats those who know the times harshly. As long as you're willing…" he raised his head, his voice slow and enticing:

"You can become a partner of Silver Plate. We have resources, channels, and backing from Federation members.

Even some vacant seats in the Noble Council or a strip of land, you will have everything you want.

Gold coins, slaves, land, monopoly rights, we can arrange it all.

You want women? A whole group is not a problem. You want territory? I can speak for you regarding control over Federation lands.

As long as you nod, no one will pursue this ambush."

Kalan looked at Louis, trying to find a trace of wavering in those eyes.

And Louis laughed out loud.

Not in sarcasm, not in anger, but genuinely amused, as if he had heard some absurd joke.

The dignified son of Duke Calvin, the future son-in-law of the Lord of the North, the full authority of the Calvin Family in the Northern Territory, the prefect of Snow Peak County, the sun of Red Tide Territory...

Would be swayed by these things?

Louis looked at those eyes desperately trying to manipulate the situation, his tone gentle yet contemptuous: "You think... I'm after these things?"

He turned to Lambert: "Personally escort him, along with all prisoners and evidence, to Frost Halberd City to be adjudicated by the Duke; I'm sure they have professionals there who can pry open his mouth."

Lambert knelt on one knee, replying solemnly: "As you command."

Kalan's face turned ashen in an instant, as if his throat was being choked. He struggled to shout loudly: "Wait! You don't understand! You have no idea what you're getting into! The Silver Plate Guild isn't something you can..."

Slap!

Lambert gave a swift backhand, rendering him unable to speak, with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

He struggled to keep his eyes open, but his spirit had already collapsed.

As he was being carried away, he still twisted futilely, yet got no response in return.

The slaves in the iron cages were also being escorted away, including some underaged girls not yet "complete."

Their eyes were hollow, having lost their sense of self, but now, those cold numbers and transaction vouchers would become solid evidence.

Tens of thousands of gold coins, sealed wooden boxes bearing the Silver Plate insignia, and Joseph Kadari's handwritten letter.

They really put in a considerable effort.

Louis stood in the center of the canyon, watching the escort team gradually fade into the distance.

He did not pocket those fortunes, although they were extremely tempting.

Such a thing, if he took it, would instead leave leverage against him.

It would be better to hand it all over to Duke Edmund, who would naturally know how to leverage it for an aggressive move.

This case, at the level of the Empire, was already an earth-shattering affair.

A noble colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, an entire smuggling penetration chain exposed, even involving the core business associations of the Federation.

And he was the one who broke this entire case open.

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