Lord blessed by the elves

Chapter 89 Encounter

After all, as is customary, the ordinary soldiers recruited mainly undertake tasks such as auxiliary search and logistics protection, while the real assault battles are still led by the knights.

The force dispatched by Lion Fang Territory is perfectly suited to the role of "support".

The territory is currently in a critical period of rapid development, with numerous tasks including the construction of new manors, the resettlement of displaced people, and daily defense. Only with the experienced Wilstone in charge can the safety of the rear be ensured.

The procession had assembled in front of the castle gates, ready to depart.

Elena gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, her small face filled with tension and worry. She looked up at her eldest and second eldest brothers, who were about to set off, and pleaded in her voice, "Big brother, second brother, you must be careful! Remember, you're only going to provide support. If a fight really breaks out, don't be foolish and rush to the front!"

Kruze was amused by his sister's words and was about to pat her head to comfort her when Rezal puffed out his chest and interrupted with a serious expression: "Elena, you're wrong! As a knight, how can you be afraid of death? Glory lies in charging forward, and even if you die in battle, you should fall on the path of the charge!"

Upon hearing this, Elena stamped her feet in frustration.

Kruze lightly slapped Rezael on the back of the head, interrupting his straightforward chivalrous discourse.

“Don’t listen to your second brother’s nonsense.” Kruse turned to his sister, his tone gentle and reliable. “Don’t worry, your big brother will keep an eye on this reckless guy. Our mission this time is support, not the main force, so it’s not our turn to charge into battle.”

Elena finally breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. She opened her mouth as if to say something more, but Kruse's next words made her smile instantly vanish.

“And also, Elena.” Kruze’s face hardened, his tone becoming unquestionable, “While I’m away from the castle, I’ll have Wilstone supervise your swordsmanship and breathing exercises. When I return, if I hear of you slacking off in any way…” He deliberately dragged out his words, “I’ll punish you by making you train twice as hard. Also, I haven’t settled the score with you for instigating Raul last time; we can settle both old and new scores then.”

Elena's little face immediately scrunched up like a bun, and she replied in a tearful voice, "I...I know, big brother..."

That pitiful yet defiant little face lessened the sorrow of parting, and even made Rezael turn his head away and chuckle.

Kruze's team hadn't gone far from the Lion Fang Territory border when they encountered Lista's group from the Wild Boar Territory at a fork in the road.

Beside Lista was an old knight named Sterling, whose hair and beard were white but whose eyes were sharp. He was the only remaining bronze knight in the Boar Territory, and behind him were more than twenty militiamen from the Boar Territory, a configuration similar to that of the Lion Fang Territory.

"Kruze!" Lista spurred his horse forward, a hearty smile on his face. "I knew I'd run into you if I set off at this exact time!"

Kruse responded with an indifferent shrug.

Lista's gaze swept over the group behind Kruze, a hint of surprise on his face: "Isn't Sir Wilstone with you?"

In his view, Wilstone, the guardian knight of Lionfang Territory, should follow, at least to ensure the safety of the two young heirs.

He is widely regarded as a bronze knight.

That's why he specifically brought the old knight Sterling out of the territory.

“The territory is currently undergoing large-scale construction, and we are severely understaffed,” Kruse explained calmly, his tone quite frank. “Moreover, without Wilstone in command, if I bring so many men out here and a small group of rebels takes the opportunity to attack the territory, it will be difficult to defend it. As for this conscription…” He paused, revealing a seemingly relaxed expression, “We are merely an auxiliary force following the main force. As long as we stick close to Baron Hiddink’s main army, if they can be defeated, then even with Wilstone present, we probably won’t escape unscathed.”

This overly blunt and realistic analysis caused Lista and the old knight Sterling beside him to turn pale instantly.

Sterling's lips moved as if he wanted to refute, but he found that although Kruse's words were harsh, they were hard to argue with.

Soon, the Wolf Hair Tribe's team also came into view.

Given that Baron Haynes' only son is still young and far from being old enough to step onto the battlefield, this time, the heavy responsibility of the territory falls on the shoulders of the guardian knight Cato.

Clearly, the Knight of Cato was concerned about potential attacks along the way, and he deliberately delayed his departure, his intention being self-evident—to wait for a caravan that could accompany him.

At the very least, a sizable coalition would be enough to make any potential rebel forces think twice before taking action.

However, Cato did not go forward to join or greet the Lion's Tooth tribe, but instead ordered his troops to follow at a distance.

Soon after, the other three teams arrived one after another.

As it turns out, everyone had the same idea.

Wild Boar Territory and Wolf Hair Territory are both neighbors of Lion Tooth Territory, while the other three teams belong to the knightly territories under Baron Hiddink and Baron Sidil, respectively.

Their lords were also on the front lines, so most of the leaders were the lords' sons, except for Wolfhair Territory, where the leaders were guarded by knights.

These "second-generation lords" from similar backgrounds naturally gathered together.

Considering their status and class, they were clearly unwilling to associate with Cato, who was merely a guardian knight, and almost without hesitation, they relegated his team to the very end of the entire united force.

Thus, the situation became quite ironic: initially, Cato was reluctant to travel with Kruse out of caution, but in the end, it turned into no one wanting to walk alongside Cato.

His troops, as if abandoned, hung alone at the very end of this makeshift coalition.

Knight Cato witnessed this deliberate exclusion, and a surge of humiliated anger rose within him. However, he knew that his status as a guardian knight was inferior to these noble sons, and any protest would be futile and might even invite more ridicule. He could only swallow his anger and silently fulfill his duties.

Among this group of young nobles, Lista and Rezal were only just breaking through to become apprentice knights, still somewhat green.

The others had been immersed in the apprentice knight stage for several years, among whom Totti of the Golden Rooster Knights was the most outstanding, having reached the pinnacle of the apprentice knight stage.

His primary purpose in going to the battlefield was to personally experience the cruelty and pressure of war, hoping to break through on the edge of life and death and be promoted to a respected Bronze Knight.

(End of this chapter)