The Lord of the Rings: Lords of Middle-earth.

Chapter 242 Retreat

"Run away? You really won't fight again?" Seeing that there was really no movement, Omske hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay, but only his voice was heard and faded away in the wind.

"That's incredibly cowardly! How did he even get to the fourth Ringwraith position?" Omsk was genuinely shocked. This was the first time he'd seen a Ringwraith run away after suffering a minor setback, and run away so decisively. It was truly astonishing. Omsk wondered if his attack had been fatal. Apart from looking a bit disheveled, it shouldn't have affected Amorazo much. Although it looked like he was severely injured, Amorazo, being in the darkness, could quickly use the power of shadow to heal himself, so there was no need for him to run away. He should have at least exchanged a few more blows!
……

"How is he?" Roland rushed over to Omske, who was covered in blood, and pulled him over to examine him carefully.

“It’s alright, the enemy has been confirmed! The Fourth Ringwraith, Amorazo!” Omsk nodded to Roland.

"Where is he?" Roland asked anxiously.

“They’ve run away! And it seems the orc army has retreated as well!” Omsk shook his head.

"You beat him?" Roland asked excitedly.

"No, no, no! At most it's a draw. In reality, neither of us can really defeat the other. Even if I could wear him down, it would take several days. But I don't know this guy is a bit too cowardly... he just ran away." Omske said helplessly, covering his face.

"Huh? Is this all the fourth Ringwraith has to offer? He ran away after suffering a little loss?" Caslo was also shocked. He had always thought that Ringwraiths were brain-dead creatures who wanted to destroy any living being they saw, and would beat the brains out of any opposing human heroes they encountered.

"Forget it, it's better that they're gone. We came here to reclaim Moria, not to fight the Gombard Orcs!" Balin let out a long sigh of relief. Without the support of war machines, the dwarves were struggling against the Orc wolf riders.

"Alright, let's get everyone energized. After our night watch, we'll rest a bit in the morning and set off again at noon!" Roland said quickly, looking at the somewhat tired soldiers.

"Your Highness! Thank you for your kindness!"

"Thank God..."

Looking at the soldiers who had been under immense stress all night, Roland grinned helplessly. "Damn it! Look at these bastards, staying up all night to pull these crazy stunts! Why don't we all eat our fill, rest up, and come and fight in broad daylight?"
"Your Highness, you should rest too. Omske and I will take over the guard duty!" Caslo advised.

“It’s nothing…” Roland shook his head.

“Your Highness, you still have a wound on your chest. Internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma is not easy to heal! Although you have healed it with holy light, be careful to leave hidden injuries and hidden dangers, which will make your future advancement more difficult!” Caslo warned.

"Um... I think your suggestion makes sense! I'll go rest now, thank you for your hard work!" Roland quickly turned and left. He knew that in this wretched place called Middle-earth, strength was the best guarantee and passport. Roland wanted to become a hero, and it wouldn't be good if a mere internal injury affected his future prospects. "Um, is it okay for you to lie to His Highness like that? Aren't you afraid His Highness will find out and kill you? Divine power, as one of the highest-level powers, isn't as insignificant as you make it out to be. How could there be any hidden dangers under Holy Light healing? Aren't you afraid the paladins and holy priests will beat you to death?" Omske looked at Caslo with the admiration one would show a warrior! Truly worthy of being His Highness's favorite! Just like that! He can spout lies so easily, without even needing to organize his thoughts beforehand.

"Ahem, keep it a secret! Don't let it slip, or His Highness will forget..." Caslo coughed a few times and quickly reminded him.

"Good heavens! Trying to drag innocent people down with you? I'm not going to board your pirate ship! If His Highness asks, I'll tell you the truth..." Omske glanced at Caslo with a mischievous grin.

"...So our friendship wasn't so strong after all?" Caslo coaxed.

"No, no, no! This has nothing to do with friendship. I just want to see you get beaten up by His Highness." Omske smiled wickedly, but to Caslo, that smile was like the chill of the dead of winter rising up his tailbone.

“It’s okay, I’ll drag you down with me even if it kills me!” Caslo looked at Omsk with an incredibly friendly (gritting teeth) and “affectionate” expression.

"Oh! Dragon God above! You can't drag me down with you! In His Highness's eyes, I've always been a hardworking, capable, and composed Lagrange knight! You can't ruin my image like this!" Omske's eyes widened immediately. God! This damned bastard is going to destroy my honor? As a knight, I value honor more than life itself. I never expected that this thick-browed, big-eyed guy, Caslo, would try to slander me out of thin air...

"Wait... I'll remain silent!" Omske finally succumbed to Caslo's "tyranny." His Highness, it's not that this old minister wanted to deceive you, but Caslo is simply inhuman...

“Ah! That’s right! Am I lying? It’s a white lie!” Caslo instructed.

"Isn't this a crime of deceiving the king?" Omske felt a headache coming on. His king and his most trusted guards were nothing short of snakes and rats... no! Crouching dragons and phoenix chicks!

“Be careful, His Highness is very kind, he won’t blame you for these things!” Caslo shook his head, because he had followed Roland since Roland was a nobody and was Roland’s first general. So, growing up together, his relationship with Roland was more like that of friends than monarch and subject. The two could joke with each other, and there was no sense of alienation towards the king that the colleagues who joined later did.

"Alas... this is what it means to be a lonely person!" Caslo sighed inwardly as he looked at the somewhat cautious Omske. When a person stands too high, they find that they have no real friends around them. Caslo suddenly understood Roland's loneliness.

"Perhaps we should spend more time with Grand Duke Nyx in the future. His Highness always has the happiest smile when he's with Grand Duke Nyx... It would be better if His Highness didn't have to go on these expeditions in the future!" Caslo silently calculated in his heart. This time, things almost went wrong. If it weren't for Omsk's strength and that Fourth Ringwraith's cowardice, tonight would definitely have been a terrible night. And all of this was caused by just a royal banner!
"Hoo~ Empire! Empire! What can I do to save you?" Caslo murmured softly in the darkness, clutching his dragon flute tightly in his hand. The waters of this world were too deep, and even as a dragon knight, he could still feel his own insignificance.

"The long night will eventually end, and the light will return! I will follow under the dragon banner and fulfill my vow!" Caslo raised his head and smiled as he looked at the rising sun in the east.

"It's dawn! Leave enough sentries behind, the rest of you can take turns resting!" Caslo sprang up from the ground full of energy, brushed the dust off his body, and shouted as loudly as ever.

The entire camp was bustling with activity, warm and welcoming!
(End of this chapter)