Chapter 358 257: Rescuing Lady Onaya

In a room in the White Castle, Onaya was getting dressed. After being imprisoned for nearly a year, she was finally going to see her daughter and sister today. Unable to hide her excitement, she put on a treasured outfit.

"Lady Onaya, are you ready?"

Just then, a knock came at the door. Oli spoke softly, "The trial by combat is about to begin."

Before long, Onaya emerged, clad in a black gown. Though she was over thirty, her figure remained exquisitely proportioned—full and shapely, with a lingering, mature charm.

Her exquisite White Gemstone earrings and the Sapphire on her chest, as brilliant as a starry sky, both bespoke the unique extravagance of the highest nobility.

Oli couldn't help but stare, dumbfounded. Such beauty was utterly incomparable to that of the Maids—it was the difference between an ugly duckling and a swan. There was simply no comparison.

He quickly snapped out of it, however, and hurriedly lowered his head.

"Let's go," Onaya said with a slight nod.

Oli waved his hand, and a dozen or so White-robed Iron Guard members fell in behind them, heading toward the designated arena for the trial.

"Sir Oli, there's a situation!"

However, as they rounded a corner, the faint sounds of battle reached them, and every member of the White-robed Iron Guard tensed, gripping the hilts of their swords.

The next moment, countless armed Mercenaries poured out from around the corner, their bodies covered in blood. They had clearly just come from a brutal fight.

The Mercenaries were clearly taking orders from a middle-aged man in Plate Armor at their head, who was holding a long spear. He had short brown hair and a scar that ran from his eye to the top of his ear, giving him a vicious look.

"Ororen, what do you think you're doing?" Seeing the enemy force appear so blatantly, Oli's heart leaped into his throat. He eyed the group of Mercenaries warily, tightened his grip on his sword, and roared, "Have you forgotten the treaty you signed? Violating it will bring upon you the Curse of the gods!"

"Lady Onaya, don't be afraid. We're here to help you." Ororen paid the White-robed Iron Guard no mind, instead smiling at Onaya, who was surrounded by her protectors. Then he abruptly waved his hand. "Get them!"

"Oli, now is the time to honor the oath you swore by your sword!" Onaya cried out.

Onaya didn't know who this band of Mercenaries really was, only that Penny had hired them to defend the city.

Even though he said he was here to help her, the White Castle was currently a storm of shifting allegiances and hidden dangers. He could just be another opportunist.

She wasn't about to trust him based on a few words alone.

Upon hearing her words, Oli, who had been about to fall back, gritted his teeth and barked a rapid command. "Two of you, get Lady Onaya out of here! The rest of you, with me! We'll hold off these damned hyenas! Lady Penny and the others must have heard the commotion. They'll be here to reinforce us any minute!"

It was a simple speech, but despite being outnumbered, the Iron Guard charged forward to meet the Mercenaries without fear of death.

Their fearlessness was born from confidence in their own strength.

They were masters of Combat Qi and Martial Arts, far beyond what a band of low-born Mercenaries could ever hope to match.

And it was true. Without another word, the two sides clashed.

Even though there were only seven or eight White-robed Iron Guards, an entire line of the more numerous Mercenaries was instantly cut down.

"Damn it." Ororen watched the noblewoman's retreating figure disappear down the corridor and knew he had no choice but to join the fray himself.

He knew that to defeat these White-robed Iron Guards with his men, who fought with all the grace of farmers, he would have to bury them in bodies. That would waste too much time, a price he was unwilling to pay.

With him joining the battle, the pressure on the Iron Guard intensified. This Mercenary Corps leader also cultivated some unknown form of Combat Qi, and his Spear Skill was as vicious and cunning as a viper, giving Oli a world of trouble.

The thought of retreat crossed his mind, but that momentary hesitation was all Red Poison Snake Ororen needed. He seized the opportunity, sweeping his spear into Oli's knee.

A surge of agony shot up from his leg, causing Oli to falter. A silver light flashed, and though a head has no wings, his was sent flying into the air.

The remaining White-robed Iron Guard were broken through one by one, cut down by the swarm of Mercenaries.

Ororen sheathed his short sword at his waist and surveyed the scene. His expression soured. Just eight White-robed Iron Guard had cost him forty of his brothers.

But at this point, having already decided to throw in his lot with the Northern Territory, he couldn't afford to worry about such gains and losses.

He'd had an epiphany when it became clear that Kolon could not be held, a realization that had freed him from his greed.

Anything was better than staying on this sinking ship.

His first instinct had been to flee Kolon and continue his life as a mercenary, but outside Kolon City was now swarming with cavalry, making escape virtually impossible.

After thinking it over, he decided he might as well side with the Northern Territory.

'As for the treaty?'

He was a faithless man to begin with; he couldn't care less about being forsaken by the gods or any Curse. Tearing up treaties unilaterally was second nature to him.

Conveniently, these Southern Nobles were busy preparing for some trial by combat, leaving the main keep lightly guarded.

While their attention was entirely focused on the Northern People about to enter the White Castle, he had unhesitatingly gathered his Mercenaries and stormed the castle.

Perhaps because no one had expected them to betray their contract, their advance had been remarkably smooth.

He had already sent men to capture Penny and the Little Duke. In his eyes, Lady Onaya, sister of the Duke of the North, was a more important prize than the Little Duke, which was why he had come to handle her capture personally.

A pampered woman such as herself couldn't run very fast, and soon the Red Poison Snake was catching up. The two loyal Iron Guard blocked his path once more, but it was a futile gesture—like ants trying to topple a tree. The Mercenaries paid the price with a few more lives, but soon enough, the two guards had their heads lopped off.