𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 (1)
The dwarf sub-captains unconsciously glanced at Mackald.
If this happened, there was a high possibility that the battle would be decided in an encounter battle. If that was the case, the siege warfare that Mackald wanted. . .
“. . .I’m fine. Even if it’s not a siege, can’t we still show our bravery?”
“You’re right! Let’s show the vampires the fearsome might of the dwarves.”
Even without siege warfare, the dwarf mercenaries were powerful. Armed with spears, axes and shields, their approach was like a solid fortress.
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𝘢𝐰𝐞𝕓𝕤𝐭𝙤𝚛ɪ𝙚𝕤.ᴄ𝐨ᴍ
“Looks like information leaked out.”
Johan muttered dissatisfiedly. At those words, the mercenary captains tensed up.
Although the plague and curse had ended, Johan’s authority was still absolute. The mercenaries still worshipped Johan. If someone stood in front of the mercenaries and shouted ‘𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴!’, they would rush like mad dogs to hang their commanders.
Since Johan spoke like that, they couldn’t help but feel nervous. If there was a culprit among them who leaked information. . .
“What makes you think so?”
Among the mercenary captains, only Gurelic could open his mouth. Thanks to being the first to change sides.
Initially ridiculed with ‘𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘶𝘺?’, Gurelic was now praised as ‘𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘻 𝘞𝘢𝘳’.
The other mercenary captains also glanced at Gurelic. The adjutant of the powerful was always more fearful than the powerful themselves. They practically held the power over life and death of their underlings with their tongues.
“The speed at which the vassals are joining seems faster than I thought.”
The Count of Jekyllid didn’t come to attack with less than a hundred soldiers just because he went crazy. He was able to do this because his vassals were rallying.
The situation was different from when Johan had broken through the south with the full support of the Order and seized the county.
At that time, Johan had justification with the unconditional support of the Order. Plus the Asada family brothers were busily slandering the duke from behind.
The atmosphere was such that the vassals didn’t need to stand up.
However, Johan was a pagan foreign invader. No vassal would fail to respond to such an invasion. No matter how much they didn’t want to go, they had to at least answer the summons.
“But. . . Didn’t you already expect this?”
“Well, that’s true.”
Johan had anticipated that the count’s vassals would come running. In a situation where they were facing off against each other and had declared war, it was unlikely that the enemy would not prepare.
However, the movements of the enemy were too fast compared to the intelligence that had been heard. Johan thought the enemies would gather around the middle of the siege. He had even made plans for skirmishes.
He was about to eat them raw, but when the enemies moved normally, he felt regretful for no reason.
‘𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘴𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘺.’
“I. . . I didn’t tell my sub-captains about the expedition either, Your Excellency.”
Deosam, the head of the Gorgale Mercenary Group, stepped forward and spoke. Johan asked curiously.
“Didn’t I say you could tell the sub-captains?”
“No. . . because security was important. . .”
“You did something unnecessary. You should have told the sub-captains to reduce confusion. It must have been hard for the mercenaries to prepare.”
When he was treated like an idiot after saying something unnecessary, smiles spread across the mouths of the other mercenary captains. There was nothing more enjoyable than seeing arrogant people get humiliated.
“It was probably the hostages who smuggled out the information. It wouldn’t have been difficult for them to pass on news to envoys and servants coming and going.”
“Oh. . . You’re right!”
“That makes sense!”
The mercenary captains were relieved. Johan wasn’t suspecting them.
“To think they dare betray His Excellency that allows them to preserve their lives. . . We should take them out right now and execute them!”
And those who were quick-witted moved even faster here. The others made regretful expressions. I should have spoken first!
“No. We cannot execute nobles for uncertain reasons. It goes against honor.”
Johan flatly refused. Of course, it wasn’t because of honor but because of their ransom value. The hostages captured now were from the noble families of the Hundred Kingdoms. They were guys who would be useful to exploit later.
His mood was unpleasant but Johan could wait as long as necessary. He would collect several times more for this incident.
“Don’t allow their servants to go out and double the surveillance. What is the scale of the enemy?”
According to the report, the enemy forces numbered three to four thousand. Most were lightly armed or hastily conscripted soldiers.
Hearing that report, the mercenary captains openly ridiculed them. Their number was a whopping five thousand. And that was after filtering out the ragtag and newcomers to pick only elite troops.
Most were well armed and experienced, and there were many heavy infantry as well. They were amused that the enemies dared to attack with that kind of force.
‘𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘶𝘴?’
‘𝘎𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴. . .’
“Don’t be arrogant. This is enemy territory.”
“Sorry.”
“Closely identify enemy cavalry. Unforeseen situations may arise.”
“Yes, understood.”
Despite the overwhelmingly advantageous situation, Johan thoroughly prepared. As before, they approached along the coast with the fleet’s escort. They could receive supplies and support in case of emergency.
‘𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥. 𝘋𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩? 𝘐 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭.’
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