78: ambush

【Divination 1: The Soldiers sent by Viscount Connor Kimmler to seek aid from Baron Jonathan Stevens's territory and Baron Grant Bertrand's Black Stone Territory were mercilessly rejected. The terror of the beast tide left the two baron lords too afraid to send troops to support.】

【Divination 2: Upon learning that Viscount Connor Territory was facing a beast tide crisis, the lord of Emerald Territory, Viscount Humphrey, was overjoyed. His Chief Knight Captain, Gil Clifford, suggested that they could use the condition of supporting Viscount Connor Territory to extort a high fee from Viscount Connor. Viscount Humphrey adopted this plan and immediately sent people to Viscount Connor Territory.】

【Divination 3: The Silver Wolf King discerned Viscount Connor's intention to seek aid and ordered most of the magical beasts and beasts in the beast tide to lie in ambush on the way to various territories. Among them, four magical beasts led more than twenty beasts to lie in ambush on the mountain road north of Viscount Connor Territory.】

Rejected?

At the first glance of the first divination message, Lister couldn't help but be stunned.

The Baron Territories of Jonathan and Grant were both adjacent to Viscount Connor Territory; logically, they were the ones who should have supported Viscount Connor.

After all, the strength of these two territories was not great. If Viscount Connor Territory were destroyed by the beast tide and it didn't retreat, they would be the next to suffer.

Lister, on horseback, couldn't help but shake his head. Two brainless guys who only cared about immediate interests; they didn't even understand the principle of 'when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold'.

What annoyed Lister the most was that Ironthorn Territory was also adjacent to these two territories. Having such stupid neighbors was practically polluting his database.

After grumbling a bit, Lister looked at the second divination message.

Good grief, an opportunist!

Although Viscount Humphrey's methods were immoral, for a noble, morality couldn't be eaten as a meal.

Moreover, he had some past grievances with Viscount Connor, so doing this was considered normal. If it were Lister himself, he reckoned he would do the same.

Of course, that was on the condition that the entire crisis remained within a controllable range; otherwise, it would be courting death.

Overall, these were two pieces of news focused solely on grievances and grudges, not exactly good news.

However, that was by normal standards. Although lacking support from two territories would indeed reduce a lot of strength for counterattacking the beast tide, Lister didn't care, because his current strength was sufficient.

Don't be fooled by the fact that he didn't bring many people; troops are valued for their quality, not quantity. As long as he could slay the mastermind of the beast tide, the Silver Wolf King, the beast tide would naturally collapse and scatter.

And the third divination message could help him reduce the pressure of fighting head-on against the full beast tide after entering Viscount Connor Territory.

He admitted that this Silver Wolf King was indeed very clever, but to dare to be arrogant and disperse its forces for an ambush without knowing all the information about its opponent was definitely being too clever for its own good—or to put it bluntly, it was pure arrogance.

Now, Lister could foresee that the strength of the beast tide at Viscount Connor Territory had become much weaker.

Therefore, as long as he quickly eliminates the magical beasts and beasts ambushing him, he could then strike like a sharp sword directly into the spine of the beast tide from behind.

After quickly planning the general direction of the subsequent battle in his mind, the lingering sense of heaviness he had felt due to lacking absolute certainty about facing the beast tide suddenly dissipated.

...

The next morning, on the rugged and damp mountain road north of Viscount Connor Territory.

Although they had been rushing for over a day, Lister and his men were still full of energy, all thanks to their unremitting daily cultivation.

The relief Soldier, who was already exhausted and felt like he was about to die, was nothing but shocked. Of course, there was also envy for the high spirits of Lister and his men.

As the sound of hooves traveled deeper into the mountain road, the environment, which had previously had some bird calls and beast roars, suddenly fell into a deathly silence.

It was as if you were walking along just fine, but suddenly stepped into thin air and fell into a dark abyss.

"Lord Lister, it seems too quiet around here; the situation might not be right."

Red, riding close to Lister's left, spoke up to warn him.

"Red, you are right." Lister had a calm expression, smiling lightly: "It is indeed suspicious here. If I am not mistaken, there should be magical beasts and beast herds sent by the Silver Wolf King ambushing us ahead."

"Ambush!" Red's expression tightened, and he was about to draw the long sword at his waist.

"Don't worry, Red. Even if it is an ambush, it doesn't count as a threat to us."

Lister waved his hand gently, signaling him not to be impatient, then ordered: "You take Spartacus, Dewey, and Langman to go ahead and be sure to clear the ambushing beast herd in front as quickly as possible."

"As you command."

Respectfully performing a knight's salute, Red called out to Spartacus, Dewey, and Langman, and they galloped quickly toward the narrow mountain road ahead.

Lister waved his hand, signaling the team to stop and rest for a while. As for his methods and orders, the Soldiers of Ironthorn Territory naturally would not have any doubts or disobedience.

"Lord Howard, why has the team stopped?" asked the Viscount Territory Soldier in the back of the group, riding forward with a look of confusion and anxiety.

For Viscount Connor Territory, every minute and every second was critical.

If they were late and the Viscount Territory couldn't hold out and was breached by the beast tide, this relief Soldier from the Viscount Territory would be homeless.

Lister said lightly: "The team has been traveling for more than a day and needs to rest."

The Soldier wanted to say something more, but seeing Lister's imposing expression, he wisely shut his mouth and could only worry to himself.

After a few breaths, a clattering sound of fighting suddenly came from the narrow mountain road ahead.

At the first sound, the Ironthorn Territory Soldiers stood up with a start, gripping their long spears, and surrounded Lister in battle formation.

The Soldier, who had just been about to sit down and rest, was also frozen in place by the sound.

Regarding his subordinates' reaction, Lister looked appreciative and said calmly: "Don't worry, it should be Red and the others engaging in battle ahead. Everyone, sit down and rest."

The Soldiers of Ironthorn Territory heard this, and the tension in their hearts instantly vanished, and they sat down to rest again.

However, their gazes were vigilantly watching the surroundings, fearing another sudden attack.

Looking at the well-trained Soldiers of Ironthorn Territory, the Soldier felt deeply moved.

As the fighting sounds became more intense, shrill beast roars began to sound continuously, like wails from the depths of hell.

Soon, the intimidating, ear-piercing beast roars gradually weakened until they disappeared completely.

Seeing that it was about over, Lister patted the dirt off his body, stood up, and looked toward the narrow mountain road ahead with a smile.

A few breaths later, Red, his armor stained with pungent, thick blood and exuding a murderous aura, rode out from the narrow mountain road.

"Lord Lister, thanks to your wise insight, we have slaughtered all the beasts ambushing in front, and none escaped."