Dozens of miles away, "Blood Wolf" Karl had just finished plundering a village and was preparing to enjoy the spoils when he received the news: his base camp had been raided, and the stay-behind force was completely annihilated.
He abruptly crushed the wine cup in his hand. The crimson liquid dripped through his fingers like fresh blood. Karl's expression was terrifyingly dark, his eyes shimmering with a cold, viper-like light. He hadn't expected that seemingly young noble lord to be so decisive and ruthless! Not only did the boy dare to maim his messenger, but he also dared to launch a proactive night raid on his camp!
This was no longer a provocation; it was an overt declaration of war.
He had underestimated this opponent. Beneath Blackstone Town's fragile exterior lay a tiger waiting to devour its prey. Storming a town with prepared defenses without infantry support would inevitably lead to heavy casualties. Moreover, he could not afford to lose his precious knights against fortified walls.
Now that his rear camp was gone and his supplies heavily damaged, continuing the siege and pillaging had lost its meaning. On the contrary, it might give the opponent an opportunity to counterattack again. Karl took a deep breath, suppressing his volcanic rage. He had started from nothing to build the Blood Wolf Mercenaries into the tyrants of the Blackstone Mountains; he was no mere brute with only muscle.
"Pass down the order," Karl's voice was icy. "Withdraw for now. Leave the territory of Blackstone."
A close subordinate started. "Boss, we're just letting it go?"
"Letting it go?" Karl sneered, a trace of cruelty and calculation flashing in his eyes. "Someone asked me to move against this little lord, but now it seems the price they offered was far too low! I'll head back to talk price with that pale-skinned noble first, then I'll come back to meet this new Lord of Blackstone again."
The bandit cavalry quietly retreated into the night toward their lair in the Blackstone Mountains. Even with his Earth Knight cultivation and keen senses, Karl failed to notice a ghostly white shadow silently trailing them from behind.
The next morning.
Sunlight graced Blackstone Town, allowing the newly safe settlement to feel warmth once again. Leylo ate breakfast while browsing today's refreshed intelligence.
[Daily Intelligence Refreshed]
[1: A small herd of stray Magic Horned Horses has arrived in the Blackstone Territory; they will stay here for several days.]
[2: The "Poison Fang" Mercenary Group, active around the Blackstone Mountains, has been frequenting the area lately; they are suspected of accepting a high-value contract potentially related to the Blackstone Territory.]
[3: The usually calm Blackwater River has seen an abnormal rise in water levels, flooding fields. Fishermen report a giant aquatic magical beast in the river with extreme aggression.]
[4: Wreckage of a suspected merchant ship attack has been found upstream on the Blackstone River. Dispatching troops to search may yield supplies from the debris.]
[5: In a grove of stunted trees fifty kilometers northwest of Blackstone Town, an injured Dragon once briefly rested. Due to the influence of the Dragon's aura, a large patch of Earth Dragon Grass now grows there.]
[...]
[8: A Magic Snake minion squad has left the Emerald Swamp and entered Blackstone Territory. The leader is the same Magic Snake Priest, Slark, who escaped last time. For revenge, he has brought a tamed Rank 3 magical beast—a Mire Giant Crocodile.]
[9: Tomorrow, a large-scale slaver party returning from the northwestern wilderness with their spoils will pass through Blackstone for a brief resupply. Among the barbarian slaves is a youth named Thor, who carries a dense "Earth Bear" bloodline from the Bear Tribe of the Thirteen Barbarian Tribes. One with this bloodline is guaranteed to become a Rank 4 Sky Knight, with a small chance of breaking through to a Rank 5 Domain Knight.]
[10: Constant threats have exhausted your knights' spirits. Due to your recent actions, the young lord has gained the support of the people. Recruit a batch of knight squires from your subjects; giving the young men a chance to become knights and jump social classes will earn you their heartfelt gratitude and devotion.]
The Magic Snake minions were invading again. Slark, and a Rank 3 Mire Giant Crocodile.
"A Rank 3 magical beast..."
Blackstone's current defense centered on Ed, the Earth Knight, plus a dozen trained knights. They were fine against ordinary bandits or low-rank beasts, but to face a thick-skinned, powerful Rank 3 Mire Giant Crocodile head-on—especially with a cunning priest in the mix—would result in heavy losses even with the wooden walls.
A head-on clash was a poor move.
Leylo stood up and walked to the window. On the distant hillside, the two half-grown rhino calves were chasing each other carefree. Since being captured, they had adapted completely and even become familiar with some of the bolder townspeople.
A bold idea began to take shape in Leylo's mind.
"Ed!" Leylo called out.
"My Lord!" Ed's burly figure appeared at the door. He had just finished training; sweat beaded on his forehead, and his breathing was steady and powerful.
"The Magic Snake minions have reappeared. This time, they have a Rank 3 Mire Giant Crocodile," Leylo said.
"A Mire Giant Crocodile?" Ed frowned. "That's a tough one. Even though I am an Earth Knight, I'd struggle to match such a massive beast in pure strength. Moreover, with that crocodile there, our wooden walls would be easily demolished."
Leylo nodded. "Exactly. That's why we cannot let it get near the town. We must strike proactively and annihilate the enemy outside the town."
"My Lord, your meaning is?"
"Not a grand strategy, but it will require Captain Ed to take a bit of a risk..."
"Just give the word!" Ed replied.
"Ed, do you remember that mother Iron-Armored Rhino we encountered?" Leylo asked suddenly.
Ed blinked, then nodded. "I remember. She's not to be trifled with. If she goes berserk, even I would have to retreat for the moment."
"What if... we make that mother rhino deal with the Mire Giant Crocodile?" Leylo's lips curled into an arc.
Ed's eyes widened as he understood, though it seemed incredible. "You mean... lure the mother? But that's too dangerous! Her territory isn't far, but to lure her exactly where we want and make her fight the crocodile..."
"I know there is risk, but it's the method with the lowest casualties." Leylo interrupted Ed's doubts. "The Iron-Armored Rhino is a Rank 3 beast; its strength is absolutely not inferior to the crocodile's. It's also thick-skinned, and once provoked—especially regarding its calves—its madness is not to be underestimated. The crocodile is semi-aquatic, while the rhino is a pure terrestrial overlord. On land, the rhino holds the advantage."
Leylo's plan was simple yet extremely perilous: exploit the mother rhino's protective instinct for her young to lure her to a pre-set battlefield, then provoke her fury so that it vents onto the equally massive Mire Giant Crocodile.
In the afternoon, a scout knight returned with urgent news.
"My Lord! Magic Snake tracks discovered! About thirty men led by a priest, with a massive crocodile beast! They are moving upstream along the west bank of the Blackwater River. They are expected to enter our ambush zone in two hours!"
"They're here!" Leylo said solemnly to Ed. "Act according to the plan!"
"Yes, My Lord!" Ed took his command and departed.