Chapter 192

Chapter 192. An Opportunity to Break the Enemy

“Oh? ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Help us?”

Eli ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍rose from the simple bed covered in beast hide, his movements slightly slowed by his injured right hand.

“Come. ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Let us go and see.”

Buck ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍nodded and led the way, bringing Eli through the camp where scattered lights burned and patrols moved back and forth.

They ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍arrived at the prisoner area, which had been simply enclosed with wooden fencing and was under strict guard by soldiers.

Most ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of the prisoners were curled up on the ground, resting. When they saw Eli and Buck arrive, a faint commotion stirred among the crowd.

Almost the instant Eli appeared, Priest John struggled to his feet. He half-ran past the other prisoners and came to the edge of the fence.

Without the slightest hesitation, he knelt before Eli, his forehead nearly touching the cold ground.

“Honored lord! Please give me one more chance. I... I can help you!”

His voice carried urgency and a trace of trembling, sounding especially clear in the silent night.

Eli looked at that humble, even lowly posture, and thought to himself that this old fellow was not too stupid after all. At the very least, he clearly understood his current situation.

He did not immediately answer. His gaze swept around the surrounding area and the soldiers standing guard before he said to John in a low voice, “Follow me.”

He signaled for the guard officer to open the fence gate. Then he brought John away from the prisoner area and walked straight toward the tent used by the nearby officer responsible for managing the prisoners.

Buck, meanwhile, stood silently at the tent entrance like an iron tower.

The furnishings inside the tent were simple. There was only a table and a few rough wooden chairs.

Eli sat down on one of the chairs, lightly resting his injured right hand on the tabletop. Then his gaze fell on John, who stood opposite him with his hands lowered respectfully.

“Then, you said you can help us. How?” Eli went straight to the point, his tone without the slightest ripple.

“Yes, my lord!” John hurriedly answered, not daring to hesitate at all. “Lord Paul... was a cautious man.

“After taking over Storm City, he immediately ordered us scholars attached to the army to carefully investigate all of Storm City’s city defense blueprints and its actual structure, making sure to eliminate every potential hidden danger.”

He paused, then continued, “When we repeatedly studied those ancient city defense maps, we did indeed... discover a forgotten opening.”

“An opening?” Eli leaned forward slightly, revealing interest.

“Yes, my lord. I fear it existed from the very beginning, when Storm City was built a thousand years ago. It is part of the underground drainage system connected to the outside of Storm City,” John explained.

“Although the city has been repaired many times over the years, and the drainage system has been updated several times as well, most of the old pipes have already been abandoned.

“But according to the blueprints, we still carried out on-site inspections of several marked ancient exits.

“Three of them had indeed collapsed completely and were blocked by earth and rubble, making passage impossible.

“But... there was one location that had also been sealed, yet its structure seemed relatively intact. The space inside should still be able to accommodate a single person passing through.”

“At that time, the person responsible for marking and handling that opening... was me.

“I sent men to block it from the inside with relatively simple earth and rubble, without using bricks, stone, or metal that would be difficult to break through.”

Eli narrowed his eyes. “Blocked? Can it still be opened now?”

“It should be possible, my lord!” John nodded firmly.

“At that time, it was only meant to temporarily conceal the flaw and prevent wild beasts or unrelated people from using it. The blockage was not solid.

“If we can find the exact position from the outside, then once we enter, the people inside should be able to dig through it easily.”

He raised his head, a light mixed with hope flashing in his eyes.

“My lord, you should understand the value of this information. If we can use this passage to send a capable force into the city, even if it is only a few dozen men,

“then when the time comes, we can coordinate from inside and outside. While the defenders’ attention is drawn by the frontal siege, we can strike from within. Whether we force the city gate open or simply create chaos... Storm City will surely fall!”

Eli slowly nodded. If this information was true, its value was indeed immeasurable.

“Where exactly is the exit leading outside the city?”

“It is not far outside Storm City, behind a small earthen slope covered in shrubs near the northeastern corner of the city wall. The location is very hidden. I can take your men there to confirm it right now!”

John spoke urgently, trying to increase the credibility of his words.

Eli stood and looked down at John from above.

“You have done well, Priest John. Now, you may state your request again.”

John bowed his head deeply. “Everything... is at your command, my lord. I only ask that you keep your promise and give my compatriots a path to live.”

“Very good.” Eli’s tone was calm, yet it carried unquestionable force.

“You—mainly you and those Wanliu men under you who are willing to cooperate—will obey my orders in this battle and assist us in recovering Storm City.

“After this is done, all of you will follow me back to Obsidian Territory.

“That is my land. There, through labor and loyalty, you will atone for your sins.”

John fell silent for a moment, and in the end, it turned into a long sigh.

Perhaps this was already the best result he could currently obtain.

He bowed again. “Thank you for your mercy, my lord. We... will obey your arrangements.”

Eli said nothing more. He walked past him and went straight outside the tent, where he instructed Buck, who was waiting there.

“Buck, under cover of night, take a few men immediately and follow John to confirm a place.”

A trace of doubt appeared on Buck’s face, but he did not question the order at all. He merely asked in a deep voice,

“My lord, what place is it? What must be done?”

“He will tell you the exact location and details.” Eli pointed at John, who had followed him out.

“Remember, once you confirm it, no matter the result, return and report to me immediately. Do not alert the enemy.

“I have something even more important that I must report to Marquess Marcus at once.”

After saying this, he did not delay any longer. He turned and hurried away, his figure soon disappearing into the shadows of the camp.

Buck looked in the direction Eli had left, then at John, whose face was full of apprehension beside him. He could only suppress the questions in his heart.

He called out to the tottering John, “Can you still walk? Keep up. The lord has ordered you to take us somewhere.”

“Yes, my lord. I will guide your way.”

......

Eli passed through layer upon layer of tents and squads of soldiers patrolling at night.

Along the way, many soldiers stopped and saluted when they saw him, their eyes filled with respect.

“Viscount Eli!”

“Lord Eli! Thank you! One of your warriors saved my life during the day!” a soldier with a bandaged arm said excitedly.

Eli wore a gentle smile and nodded to them in greeting, but his steps did not stop.

Before long, he arrived outside Marquess Marcus’s heavily guarded tent in the core area of the camp.

Standing guard outside the tent was a Golden Lion Knight wearing a golden cloak.

When he saw Eli approach, he immediately stepped forward and raised a hand to stop him, a somewhat troubled look appearing on his face.

“Viscount Eli, my apologies. Lord Marcus is currently discussing important matters inside the tent with several lords. He ordered me not to allow anyone to disturb them.”

“I have urgent military intelligence that must be reported to Marquess Marcus immediately.”

The Golden Lion Knight looked troubled, but still held to his orders.

“Lord Eli, I am very sorry. The marquess gave strict orders beforehand, and I...” He did not finish, but the meaning was clear.

Seeing this, Eli sighed inwardly. He did not intend to make things difficult for this knight, who was loyally carrying out his duty, and was preparing to step aside and wait outside the tent for a while.

However, just then, Marquess Marcus’s steady voice came from inside the tent, clearly piercing through the canvas.

“Is that Eli outside? Come in.”

The Golden Lion Knight outside the tent clearly let out a breath of relief, and the tension on his face relaxed.

He immediately stepped aside and respectfully said to Eli, “Lord Eli, please enter.”

Eli nodded slightly to him, straightened his clothes and armor, which had become somewhat disordered from his hurried journey, drew a deep breath, lifted the heavy tent flap, and stepped inside.

The tent was brightly lit, and the atmosphere was solemn.

Apart from the four Western Frontier marquesses—Marquess Marcus Hohenzollern, Marquess Mellon Winterbourne, Marquess Karl Kola, and Marquess Frey Claire—

there was also a middle-aged man present whom Eli did not recognize.

The moment Eli entered, all five men’s gazes focused on him at once.

Eli swiftly gathered his thoughts. Facing the five important figures, he placed his right hand over his chest and gave a concise military salute, then said in a clear voice,

“My lords, forgive the interruption. I have an important matter that must be reported to Marquess Marcus and all of you immediately.”

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