Chapter 406 - 282: Meeting Damon Again

As they drew closer to White Bone Fortress, the outline of the city walls came into view. Levi saw a group of figures standing on the battlements. In a nearby corner tower sat a large piece of military hardware which, upon closer inspection, appeared to be a Bed Crossbow.

To be honest, Levi really hadn’t wanted to deliver the supplies, because Damon was inside White Bone Fortress.

But if he refused, he was afraid scoundrels would spread rumors that he feared the Highland Golden Lion. After weighing his options, he had decided to make the trip.

Now, he couldn’t help but let his imagination run wild. ’With all our new and old grudges,’ he thought, ’what if Damon can’t resist the urge to put a Crossbow Arrow through me, the Lion Hunter Knight?’

’If that happens, it would be a disservice to myself not to cut him down in return. But cutting him down would be detrimental to unity. What a predicament.’

Lost in such pointless speculation, he finally arrived at the base of the wall.

He didn’t waste any time, announcing his titles directly. "I am the Lord of High Cliff Castle, the Lion Hunter Knight, Marquis Levi! By order of Duke Fulina, I am here to deliver your supplies!"

Both sides had already been briefed on the matter, so there was no need for a thorough inspection.

Soon, the heavy gates creaked open. The High Cliff Castle guards followed close behind, streaming through the entrance into White Bone Fortress. With a BOOM, the gates slammed shut behind them.

Behind the wall was an open area, followed by rows of stone houses that had a rough-hewn, military feel. The ground was paved with stone bricks, lending it a certain orderly beauty that stood in stark contrast to the disarray of a rural village.

White Bone Fortress was a military installation, garrisoned only by soldiers, with no civilian population. As such, the buildings consisted mainly of warehouses and defensive structures, along with a few blacksmith shops, stables, and livestock pens.

By now, the open space before him was already filled with officers and soldiers. Their fervent gazes were fixed on the convoy behind Levi, yet they completely ignored him—the Lion Hunter Knight responsible for making them homeless.

"Your Excellency Levi, thank you for delivering our supplies." Lancelot removed his helmet, his face etched with a weariness he couldn’t hide. "May the Holy Light Goddess watch over us."

It was hard to imagine what the commander of the Griffin Knight Order, who had been so full of vigor just a short while ago, had experienced.

Damon stood with heavy-lidded eyes, having no intention of offering a greeting.

’To be honest,’ Damon thought, ’I admire this Knight’s strength. If not for everything that happened, we might have even become friends.’

’But right now, the only reasons I’m not drawing my sword to cut him down are the current circumstances and his admittedly exceptional skill.’

’I won’t be openly hostile, but reconciliation is impossible.’

"Where are the supplies?" Damon asked bluntly.

Levi, of course, had no intention of being friendly just to be snubbed. He shoved his hands in his pockets and jerked his head. "Right over there. Get them yourselves. And don’t grab the wrong ones—yours are the pile covered by the black cloth."

"Lord Damon, the men can’t wait any longer," Mudehan couldn’t help but add.

The men had been without food for days; it was a miracle they had held out this long.

"Let these men eat their fill first, then have someone distribute the rest," Damon commanded. The soldiers, who could barely restrain themselves, surged forward as one.

Damon walked over to one of the carts and opened a crate, intending to grab something to fill his stomach. But the next moment, he froze, staring at the black lumps inside.

It was filled with black bread, each loaf as hard as a rock. He opened another cart, and then another—it was all the same. There wasn’t a single slice of White Bread, not one apple, not even a cracker.

Levi could no longer hold it in and burst out laughing. "Go on, eat! What are you staring for?"

Damon’s hands clenched, his knuckles turning white as he fought to suppress his rage. "These are the supplies you promised?"

All the soldiers glared at Levi, looking as if they would tear him to shreds at a single command.

The Barbarians, not to be outdone, stepped forward to meet their glares. They sneered down at the shorter men, their eyes roaming over their necks. At this range, a few volleys of thrown weapons would be all it took to make these soldiers suffer dearly.

"Don’t look at me like that," Levi said, his eyes turning cold. He was not one to be intimidated. "I’m just the deliveryman. What I deliver isn’t my call."

’I have no goodwill for Damon,’ Levi thought. ’He sent several hundred soldiers after me and Liya. If I wasn’t as capable as I am, there’s no telling what they would have done to me if I’d been caught.’

’The fact that I’m not kicking him while he’s down is already a sign of my magnanimity.’

HWOOSH... Damon took a deep breath, forcing down his anger. ’The black bread is awful, but it can be boiled in water to soften it. At least it will fill our stomachs. We can’t afford to be proud right now.’

"Let’s go," he grunted, ordering his soldiers to take the supplies and leave.

Lancelot had witnessed the entire exchange. Knowing the conflict between the two men was irreconcilable, he could only rub his throbbing temples in frustration.

"Levi," Lancelot began with a sigh, finally unable to hold his tongue, "I’m reluctant to say this, but for the sake of the greater good, it would be best if your relationship wasn’t so hostile."

"Not unless one of us is dead," Levi replied, rolling his eyes.

"Your Excellency Lancelot, you should know better than anyone. Miss Liya has reclaimed her ducal title and received the Lord Bishop’s official investiture. Damon is now officially defined as a usurper."

"When this is over, do you think he’ll choose to willingly accept his punishment, or will he fight back with all his might?"

Before Lancelot could answer, Levi spoke again. "Can you find a place for me and my men to rest? It looks like we’ll be staying here until the Demon problem is solved."