Chapter 277: Chapter 276: Arriving at Shore City First

After the battle of Giant Stone City, some soldiers were exhausted, even those who hadn’t been injured.

However, when they heard Ridder and Toru were gathering forces to reclaim Quicksand Town and the other lost towns, they still eagerly volunteered.

Just as Baron German had said, it wasn’t just the lightly injured soldiers who insisted on participating—even men on the verge of collapsing from blood loss wanted to join.

They knew the upcoming battles wouldn’t be very dangerous. Only a fool would pass up honor and wealth that were within easy reach.

The new force was reorganized quickly.

After a short rest and lunch, a large detachment of knights and cavalry charged out of Giant Stone City.

This time, to travel light and fast, they didn’t even carry provisions. The castles in the towns along their route would have everything they needed.

Unfortunately for the Noble Alliance Army, Ronin had already occupied Casier Town. Otherwise, they could have plundered a fortune from the two locations.

Ronin and Ridder arrived at Chishan Town with the main force and listened to Macken’s report.

“My Lord, our occupation of Casier Town and Chishan Town went very smoothly. However, in the few small skirmishes that broke out, over a dozen infantrymen were seriously wounded. One man’s throat was slit, and even though Elron used a Strong Healing Skill on him immediately, he couldn’t be saved.”

Elron added helplessly, “His head was only hanging on by a bit of skin. The wound was too severe; he was beyond saving.”

“Casualties are an unavoidable part of war.”

Ronin said, “Record the names of the casualties. We will arrange for their compensation when we return to Wubei Territory.”

Casualties can happen even in military drills, let alone a real war.

Even with Macken and Elron providing protection, some casualties were inevitable.

Ronin cherished the Knight Squad he had worked so hard to assemble, but he also understood. ’Only a unit that has experienced real combat and been bathed in blood can become a truly formidable fighting force.’

And frankly, compared to the losses suffered by the rest of the Noble Alliance Army, Wubei Territory’s casualties were minuscule.

“The war is nearing its end, but there are still several towns waiting to be reclaimed.”

Most of the enemy forces were dead, so the upcoming battles of reclamation wouldn’t be difficult. Ronin handed command over to Toru and Marvin; he didn’t plan to tag along with the army anymore.

“Joffrey, you will take the knights and cavalry and move with the Noble Alliance Army. Head straight for Shore City.”

Joffrey was stunned for a moment, not expecting the Lord to suddenly put him in command of the troops. He immediately beamed and replied in a loud voice, “Yes, my Lord!”

“Rogner, you and Krami will take forty infantrymen and all the archers to Sari Town and Quicksand Town. Jenny, you’ll take the remaining forces and garrison Chishan Town and Casier Town. Keep a close watch on the warehouses in both locations.”

Having received their orders, everyone sprang into action.

As far as Ronin was concerned, the spoils from Chishan Town and Casier Town were more than enough. Continuing to move with the Alliance Army was purely for the sake of training his troops.

Of course, as long as they didn’t needlessly slaughter innocents or plunder wantonly, whether they acquired any additional spoils was up to them.

“My Lord, they all have missions. What about me?”

Macken asked, scratching his head in frustration.

He had already heard from Ridder about the great battle at Giant Stone City. Slaying a Meteor Knight—that was the kind of fight every knight dreamed of, and he had missed it completely.

Although occupying Casier Town and Chishan Town was important, it posed little challenge for Macken, which only deepened his regret about not participating in the battle of Giant Stone City.

Ronin smiled mysteriously. “We have a separate mission.”

Shore City was the city on the farthest southwestern border of Wushan Ridge. For years, it had been the main stronghold of the Polante Thief Gang, and its castle was certain to hold Amicus’s vast fortune.

Although the Noble Alliance Army’s cavalry was swift, with delays for rest along the way, it would take them at least two days to reach Shore City.

The city was closer to Moonlight Valley.

If word of Amicus’s death reached Jesus’s ears, he would inevitably develop designs on Shore City.

Of course, Moonlight Valley wouldn’t send its own troops directly to Shore City—that would be an invasion of Wushan Ridge.

However, he could send his Griffin Knights to land inside Shore Fort and carry away the fortune of Amicus, the man they had backed.

Ronin didn’t mind sharing the fruits of victory with the Noble Alliance Army, but he would not allow anyone from Moonlight Valley to plunder the wealth of Wushan Ridge.

With a beat of Carlos’s wings, Ronin flew toward Shore Fort with Macken, Elron, and Ridder.

Shore City was so named because it lay on the banks of the great Altai River, which also served as the border of Wushan Ridge.

Likewise, its proximity to the great river meant its lands were quite fertile, and it had once been an important breadbasket for Wushan Ridge.

Even after years under the Thief Gang’s control, its grain production was surely still substantial.

“What a long river!”

Riding on the dragon’s back, Ronin gazed down at the winding river below, and for a moment he was reminded of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers from his homeland.

’This place should have developed much further,’ Ronin thought. ’It’s a shame it’s a border region, always plagued by conflict.’

Shaking off his thoughts, Ronin turned his gaze to Shore City.

It was the Thief Gang’s main stronghold, after all. Judging from the number of buildings, the city must have a considerable population.

The four of them on the dragon’s back observed the city below, searching for the location of Shore Fort.

「Wushan Fortress.」

After carefully reading the letter Carolina had brought for the second time, a brilliant smile finally spread across Lurans’s face. “Excellent!” he praised aloud.

“Father, what happened that’s made you so happy?”

Wiggin was astonished; in all his years, he had never seen Lurans smile so happily.

“It’s a letter from Ronin.”

Lurans held out the letter, and Bretton immediately rushed over.

“Brother took Chishan Town?”

Wiggin shook his head. “It couldn’t be that fast. I’m guessing it’s just a victory in the first battle.”

“And you, Father,” Wiggin continued. “Ronin has so many troops with him. Defeating the Polante Thief Gang should be a given. Why are you so delighted?”

Dianey couldn’t resist patting Wiggin’s hand, signaling that if he had nothing sensible to say, he should say less.

’If it were just an initial victory, would the Marquis be this happy?’ she thought. ’You could figure that out with your eyes closed. The letter had to contain other good news.’

Bretton held the letter, his voice filled with shock as he read. “Brother Ronin… they… they’ve taken Giant Stone Castle!”

“What?”

Wiggin exclaimed, “Bretton, are you an idiot? Giant Stone Castle is Baron Coren’s castle! How could Ronin have taken it?”

Bretton looked to Lurans in confusion as well.

“Coren betrayed Wushan Castle. He conspired with the Polante Thief Gang, planning to kill the entire Noble Alliance Army and Ronin at Chishan Town.”

Lurans, who was in high spirits, explained, “Fortunately, Ronin saw through their plot. He preemptively attacked and took Giant Stone Castle, capturing the traitor alive. Then he lured the Polante Thief Gang into Giant Stone City and annihilated them.”

“But…”

Wiggin’s mind struggled to process the sudden flood of information.

The mere fact of Coren’s betrayal was difficult enough for him to imagine and accept, let alone the news that Ronin had lured the Polante Thief Gang into a trap and annihilated them.

Wiggin could hardly believe it. ’Is that really my brother?’

Just then, Bretton’s eyes went wide. “The leader of the Thief Gang was a Meteor Knight! Brother Ronin and his men killed a Meteor Knight!”

“Good heavens, Bretton, are you mad?”

Wiggin couldn’t take it anymore. He wheeled himself forward and snatched the letter.

He would have been better off not looking. After reading the letter, he felt he needed a second brain just to comprehend it all.

“Ronin performed exceptionally well in this battle!”

Lurans’s eyes gleamed. He could tell just from the letter how brilliantly the battle had been fought. He imagined the reality of it was far more spectacular than the brief description let on.

And it was clear that the credit for it belonged to Ronin.

He couldn’t help but declare in a deep voice, “At the victory banquet after his triumphant return, I will name him the Count of Wubei Territory!”

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