Chapter 335 245: The Lord Who Only Takes Side Roads

Sith approached the old man but didn't reply, as he knew the commander wasn't really asking him a question.

"First, they'll be confused. They'll worry about our intentions, causing them to hesitate for fear of falling into another trap."

"Second, they'll think it's all a bluff. They'll recklessly attack the main gate of the Inner Castle to seize the fruit of victory."

"And that is the choice." Cross pulled off his hot gloves and placed them on his knees, a smug smile spreading across his face. "If they hesitate, we achieve our objective of buying time. If they choose to attack the main gate and take the keep, they will suffer the bitter consequences."

"In other words, no matter what they choose, our strategic objective will be met." Cross's expression turned serious as he pointed to his head. "As a competent commander, the first thing you must do is think. Think from the enemy's perspective, deduce their objectives, clarify your own strategic goals, and then make the proper arrangements."

Looks of dawning realization spread across the faces of the nobles.

When they received news of imminent reinforcements, they had all gone wild, dancing with joy. But when a small enemy squad breached the outer wall with astonishing speed and headed for the Inner Castle, everyone panicked.

They were terrified that they would be taken captive before the reinforcements arrived, and then it would be too late.

But the old general had calmly made his arrangements, moving the meeting room from the safer main keep to these servants' quarters, closer to the outer wall.

They hadn't understood at the time, but now it all made perfect sense.

He was using the main gate as bait. No matter what the enemy chose, the initiative would remain in their hands.

"Sir, what if they choose to attack the Inner Castle from here?"

Sith asked instinctively.

"Sith, I'm glad you're thinking about that." Cross smiled, then patiently explained why he had ultimately chosen this location. "These are the servants' quarters. The stables, the pigsties, the sheep pens—they're all here. There's no treasure, no one important. Just a crowd of pitiful people terrified of becoming an outlet for the enemy's rage."

The gray-haired old man drew a line in the air. "The result is that this worthless place is protected by a natural chasm, seven or eight fathoms wide. The only way across is a single drawbridge, just wide enough for one carriage."

"From that distance, the power of Combat Qi would be weakened to the point it couldn't sever the iron chains. Only a Caster could do it."

"Therefore, unless the enemy can fly or has a Caster, there's simply no way for them to lower the drawbridge."

"And as it happens, our intelligence indicates they have neither."

"No commander would abandon a main gate that might already be defenseless to come here."

"Unless, of course, they've gone mad and want to embark on a fool's errand," the old man added, still having the leisure to crack a joke.

Everyone was deeply impressed. Putting themselves in the attackers' shoes, they knew they would never choose to face a drawbridge no less formidable than a solid wall, and a chasm that would make anyone recoil—not unless it was their absolute last resort.

"Everyone," Cross suddenly raised his voice, ensuring everyone in the room could hear him. "The enemy has indeed breached the outer walls, but our reinforcements are imminent! While we don't know the exact nature of this aid, it represents a turning point, something absolutely worth waiting for. So do not worry. All you need to do is wait!"

Lam, who had just walked in carrying potatoes, didn't understand what the old man was saying, but the sheer emotion in his voice was enough to make his blood sing.

...

Levi led the Beastman Barbarians through a maze of buildings, dodging and weaving until they finally came to a halt before a deep trench. The castle wall was just a short distance away, yet the trench made it feel like an insurmountable chasm, enough to make anyone shrink back.

"Boss, how do we get in?"

Zat scratched his helmet, a helpless look on his face.

If there were a hundred fully armed soldiers ahead, he would have charged in without a second thought.

But now, what lay before him was a deep trench. The only result of charging across would be breaking all five of his limbs.

This was the back gate of the Inner Castle, usually only opened when needed. A single drawbridge connected the two sides, and on the other side was a wall seven or eight fathoms high, with a rather narrow passage through it.

Soldiers were clearly on duty atop this wall. They had been tense at the enemy's approach, but relaxed upon seeing their foes' helpless predicament.

A few of the bolder ones even popped their heads up to loose a few stray arrows. Unfortunately for them, they paid a heavy price. The Barbarians had met no resistance on their way here, only to be stopped by a deep trench, and they were simmering with frustration.

This act was nothing less than a taunt. Gathering their strength, the Barbarians launched several Javelins. They flew like lightning, knocking the archers off the wall and scaring the remaining soldiers into hiding.

"We make our own road!"

Levi said something Zat didn't understand, grasping a Fine Steel Javelin in his hand as he squinted, studying the drawbridge on the other side.

It was a classic drawbridge design. The several-thousand-pound bridge was held up by two arm-thick iron chains that passed through two small holes to a winch inside the wall. At this moment, a small section of the chains connecting to the bridge was still exposed on the outside.

If it had been Fujero here, he could only have stared helplessly. He would either have had to waste time building Cloud Ladders or relied on a Caster to sever the chains with Magic, letting the drawbridge crash down.

Unfortunately, ever since they had suffered losses, those noble Mages all hid in the rear. How could they possibly come to a godforsaken corner like this?

But he was no Fujero.

After just a single glance, he made his decision. He hefted the Javelin a couple of times, pulled back his shoulder, turned sideways, and twisted his waist, arms, and legs—his entire body coiling like a rope—before unleashing a powerful throw.

WHOOSH!

'Why can't these chains just break on their own?'

Zat was grumbling to himself. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than one of the drawbridge's chains snapped. The sharp SNAP of breaking metal followed an instant later.

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief with his big green hands, excitement welling up inside him. He had just been thinking about why the chain wouldn't break on its own, and the moment he finished the thought, it actually broke.

Alas, as the Lord threw another Javelin, Zat realized the chain hadn't snapped because he'd gained some awesome, mind-over-matter Magic. It was the work of his boss standing beside him.

He couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.

BOOM!

Freed from the restraint of its chains, the drawbridge crashed down.

Levi merely dusted off his hands. With his current Power, a thrown Fine Steel Javelin was practically no different from a cannonball. Severing two wrist-thick iron chains from a distance of seven or eight fathoms was incredibly easy for him.

This drawbridge was built from solid materials. Even after crashing down, it didn't break. It merely bounced once before settling securely in front of the High Cliff Castle force.

"Grab your weapons, brothers."

The Lord roared and charged forward, Giant Sword in hand.

The Barbarians sneered as they formed a line and charged onto the drawbridge, flooding towards the passageway.

Those runts hiding on the wall shooting at them would now face their wrath.

With the wall no longer an obstacle, the Barbarians were like lions charging into a flock of sheep. The only thing these Southern Soldiers could do was offer their necks to the slaughter.

There were several hundred soldiers stationed here. They were even the elite Guard Army of Black Stone Castle. Nearly all of them wore fine Armor, and their Martial Arts were leagues beyond those of the soldiers on the outer wall.

Unfortunately for them, they were facing a powerful warrior Race that had been enhanced an unknown number of times.

In just a few moments, that section of the wall was under the control of the High Cliff Castle force.

After taking the wall, Levi led his men in a charge toward the castle's main keep. But in the middle of the charge, he suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on a stone house on an open patch of ground not far away.

The house was plain, built of rough-hewn stone. It was obviously in the servants' living area of the castle and was completely unremarkable.

But at that very moment, several lavishly dressed nobles came running out, their faces stricken with panic, lending the building a whole new kind of value.

'Did I just catch a big fish?'

The Lord was stunned for a moment, then became ecstatic.

"Quick, quick, quick! Don't let those big shots from the Southern Territory escape! I want them taken alive!"

He took the lead, charging at the very front, unable to hide the smile on his face. He was like an old farmer in his field, looking at how the heavy heads of grain made the wheat stalks bend over.