Chapter 191

Chapter 191. Cold Water

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍setting sun was like blood, dyeing Dragonbreath Plain in a tragic orange-red.

Count ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Hanard struggled to gather the vanguard force that had retreated in collapse.

Most ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of the surviving soldiers were wounded, their clothes and armor in disarray, their faces filled with exhaustion, terror, and... lingering shock from escaping the sea of fire.

That ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ten-thousand-strong army, which had set out with morale as high as a rainbow, now looked so battered and sparse.

With ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍those remnants, he returned dejectedly to the front of the allied army’s main formation, which was still waiting in strict order.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍high spirits he had shown when hurling insults before the lines had long since vanished. In their place were deep defeat and humiliation.

He walked up to Marquess Marcus, who sat upright on his warhorse, dropped to one knee, and spoke in a low, hoarse voice.

“Lord Marcus... Hanard... failed in battle. Please punish me, Lord Marquess!”

Marquess Marcus sat on horseback, his gaze passing over Hanard, who was asking for punishment, and falling on Storm City, which still stood towering in the distance.

Above the city walls, Hofgard’s banner still flew.

The brutal siege just now had not torn open a large enough breach in the city defenses as expected, nor had it triggered large-scale chaos. That sturdy city gate had not moved in the slightest.

The anticipated moment, when the defenders inside the city would collapse and the main force could be committed to settle everything in one stroke, had never appeared.

As the commander of the entire army, he had had no choice but to watch helplessly.

This defeat was like a bucket of ice water, jolting him awake.

It also awakened many commanders in the allied army who had been dizzy from the string of victories they had won recently.

They had indeed underestimated this unfallen fortress and the enemies trapped within it far too much.

Marquess Marcus sighed deeply. That sigh was filled with heaviness and reflection.

He swiftly dismounted, walked up to Count Hanard, who was still kneeling on the ground, and reached out a large hand to clap the man’s shoulder, which was covered in dust and blood.

“Rise, Hanard.” His voice was not as loud as usual. “The failure of this battle was not your fault alone. We were all... too impatient.”

After saying this, he no longer looked at Hanard, whose face was filled with shame and gratitude. He turned toward the vast allied formation and issued the final order of the day.

“Pass down my order! All forces—retreat! Return to camp!”

The order swiftly spread through the entire army.

The massive allied army began moving backward in orderly fashion, like a receding tide.

The soldiers of the main force silently opened a path.

They supported and carried their vanguard comrades, who were covered in wounds after withdrawing from the line of fire, and returned together to the vast camp in the rear.

Fortunately, although this defeat of the vanguard had come at a terrible cost, it had not truly shaken the foundation of the allied army.

The loss of troops was still within an acceptable range. As long as they rested and replenished for a time,this massive army could still recover its fighting strength and attack Storm City again.

Among the retreating column, Marquess Mellon Winterbourne rode over to Eli’s side.

At a glance, he noticed Eli’s hands, already stained red with blood, and Wolfgang beside him, who was being supported by soldiers.

A temporary bandage was wrapped around Wolfgang’s leg, but blood was still seeping through it.

Marquess Mellon’s usual gentle smile disappeared, replaced by a heavy sigh.

“Eli,” he said, his gaze falling on Eli’s hands, “how are your hands?”

Eli raised his head and revealed a faintly helpless, bitter smile as he briefly explained.

“The bowstring snapped at the final moment. I was accidentally cut by the recoiling string. It is nothing serious.”

Hearing this, Marquess Mellon immediately summoned the guard following close behind him. From the guard’s hand, he took a small wooden jar of simple, ancient design and handed it to Eli.

“Eli, take this. After you return, wash the wound carefully with clean water, then apply this salve once in the morning and once at night.

“This is a secret salve made by the Winterbourne Family. It works wonders on external injuries. I believe that within a few days, your hands will be able to move freely again.”

Eli did not refuse. He reached out with his uninjured left hand to accept the medicine jar and thanked him solemnly.

“Thank you, Lord Mellon. Eli will remember this kindness.”

Marquess Mellon shook his head, a trace of self-reproach on his face. “There is no need to thank me. I bear unavoidable responsibility for the failure of this battle as well...

“Looking at it now, we were indeed somewhat too hasty.

“We underestimated Storm City’s strength, and we also underestimated the power those Federation men could erupt with when pushed into desperation...”

Looking at this old marquess, who had always been known for his gentleness and wisdom, Eli comforted him softly.

“Lord Mellon, please do not take it too much to heart. Forgive my bluntness, but this is war.

“Once the war drums sound and blades meet, no one can predict the final outcome, and no one can guarantee certain victory. This was not your fault alone.

“Besides, although our army suffered a setback, our main force remains intact, and our foundation has not been shaken. By contrast, Storm City has limited manpower, and every bit of supplies they consume is one bit less.

“As long as we learn from this lesson and find the right opportunity next time, it may not be impossible to recover the city in one stroke.”

Listening to Eli’s calm analysis, the gloom in Marquess Mellon’s heart eased slightly, and he nodded.

“Mm... I hope... everything will be as you say.”

......

At that moment, the atmosphere atop Storm City’s wall was entirely different from the heaviness on the allied army’s side.

Iman watched the Western Frontier army withdraw like a receding tide. With both hands on his hips, he burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha! Did you see that? Warriors of Hofgard! The Western Frontier dogs were beaten back by us! They fled with their tails between their legs!”

“Lord Iman is mighty!”

“Long live Hofgard!”

The Hofgard soldiers on the wall waved their weapons and beat their chests hard, letting out wild cheers.

They celebrated this hard-won defensive victory as though they wanted to vent all the oppression and fear of being besieged over these past days.

“Hahaha!” Iman enjoyed the atmosphere of victory and roared loudly.

“They are nothing! A pack of useless things strong on the outside and hollow within! If they dare come again, that sea of fire just now will be the fate of every last one of them!”

At one side, the military adviser Byrne waited until Iman’s excitement had faded slightly before carefully stepping forward and reporting in a low voice.

“Lord Iman... although we repelled the enemy, our city-defense supplies, especially the heavy bolts used by the giant ballistae, have already been mostly consumed.

“And our own casualties... are not small either. We need to settle the wounded immediately...”

Iman was still in high spirits, and those words spoiled his mood. A trace of displeasure flashed across his face.

Almost by instinct, he raised his large iron-gloved hand, about to slap Byrne.

But when his hand reached midair and he saw Byrne’s thin frame and pale face, he forcibly changed direction.

With a clang, it knocked against the solid horned helmet of Hammer, who had been laughing foolishly and cheering beside him.

Hammer’s head tilted from the blow, stars flashing before his eyes.

He shook his head, straightened his helmet in grievance, and complained in a muffled voice.

“Lord Iman? I... I did not say anything...”

Iman glared at him and said roughly, “Mm! This is a reward! You did well today, driving that wolf pup off the wall!”

Hearing this, Hammer immediately beamed again and licked his lips.

“Haha, Lord Iman, it is a pity that wolf pup ran away. Otherwise, we could have added a dish tonight and tasted wolf meat!”

Iman ignored him. He hooked one arm around Byrne’s thin shoulders and forcibly brought him to an empty place on the inner side of the wall.

Iman lowered his voice, and the smile on his face disappeared in an instant.

“The matter I assigned you... how are the preparations?”

Byrne’s body trembled almost imperceptibly, and his voice carried a plea.

“Lord Iman... Are we... are we truly going to do this? This... this will anger the gods above... They will bring down punishment...”

“To hell with the gods!” Iman growled impatiently, madness flashing in his eyes.

“I only believe in Hofgard’s God of Forging! Stop wasting words and prepare it quickly!

“Also, send men at once to collect every stone and piece of wood in the city. Whether you tear down houses or rip up floorboards, I do not care what method you use!

“Move everything that can help defend the city onto the walls! Go!”

Byrne looked at the unquestionable resolve and madness in Iman’s eyes and knew he could change nothing. He could only lower his head deeply, hiding the complex expression on his face.

“Yes... Lord Iman...”

......

Western Frontier allied camp, inside Eli’s tent.

The army medical officer had just finished cleaning the split web between Eli’s thumb and forefinger, as well as the hideous wound on his hand left by the snapped bowstring.

Then he carefully applied the “Golden Wheat Salve” given by Marquess Mellon.

The salve brought a cool sensation, temporarily suppressing the burning pain.

Afterward, the medical officer repeated the same treatment on the wound on Wolfgang’s leg.

“Viscount Eli, this will do,” the medical officer said respectfully.

“I have long heard of the Winterbourne Family’s Golden Wheat Salve. It works wonders on wounds of the flesh. I believe you and this warrior will recover before long.”

Eli nodded to express his thanks. The medical officer saluted and withdrew from the tent.

The tent had only just become quiet again when the flap was lifted once more.

Captain Buck entered. He glanced at Eli’s bandaged right hand and Wolfgang, who was lying on a mat to rest, then reported softly.

“My lord, that Wanliu prisoner named John insists on seeing you. He says... he may have a way to help us.”

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