156: Chapter 156 Entering the City! Military Conference! Battle Report! Lord of Frosthowl!

Outside Black Mountain City.

The Gino City convoy faced no further obstruction.

Along the way, the sporadic beast herds, intimidated by the lingering power of that one arrow from Rowan and the cavalry's mopping-up operations, scattered in all directions.

The convoy followed the blood-stained road to the city gates.

Desmond, the commander of the garrison, looked at the terrifying crater outside the city and then at the flags burning like golden flames in the cold wind; warmth welled up in his eyes.

As a Senior Knight and military commander, he understood better than the ordinary soldiers what that arrow signified—a Great Knight-level powerhouse, someone truly capable of turning the tide of battle, had arrived!

"Quick! Clear the gate passage! Open the gates! Welcome The Count into the city!" he roared, his voice hoarse.

"Everyone, perk up! Let The Count see that we men of Black Mountain City are not dead yet!"

The city gates opened.

Inside the gate tunnel, the light was dim.

On both sides stood the scarred and battle-worn garrison of Black Mountain City, their gazes fixed on the convoy with fervor.

Some were in rags, their armor shattered, and many still bore hastily bandaged wounds.

Rowan's carriage, surrounded by the elite City Guard, led the way into the city.

Through the carriage window, he could clearly see the expressions of mixed worship and gratitude on the soldiers' faces.

Helena and the other women watched all this in silence.

Vanessa, however, did not have much of a reaction; for the military nobility of the Western Territory, war was merely a daily routine.

The carriage did not stop at the barbican but followed the guidance directly toward the Black Mountain Castle located at the highest point of the city.

Both sides of the street were packed with civilians who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

They were sallow and thin, their eyes filled with expectation and curiosity as they whispered among themselves.

Upon arriving at the castle gates, the knight commander leading the way dismounted and knelt on one knee toward the carriage:

"Black Mountain City Defense Commander, Desmond, welcomes The Count! Thank you, my Lord... for your grace in coming to our aid!"

Rowan stepped out of the carriage.

He took a step forward and said softly:

"Commander Desmond, you have worked hard. Rise. The garrison of Black Mountain City are all warriors of the Augustus Empire."

Then, looking at one of Desmond's wounds, he asked: "How are your injuries?"

"Flesh wounds, they are of no consequence!"

"My Lord, please enter. I... I must report the military situation to you immediately!" Commander Desmond said with some urgency.

Rowan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the officers behind Desmond who also looked anxious, and nodded: "Let's go inside and talk."

The castle's main hall had been temporarily converted into a command post.

The fireplace was lit, dispelling some of the chill, but the atmosphere remained heavy.

A detailed map of Black Mountain City and the surrounding area was spread out on the long table, marked with various symbols indicating the situation of the garrison and the beast tide.

Rowan took the head seat without hesitation.

Vanessa sat slightly below him to his left.

Commander Miles, Portia, Commander Desmond, and several of his key officers sat on either side.

Helena, Cecilia, Isabelle, Adeline, and Charlotte stood behind Rowan.

Rowan did not waste words and went straight to the point: "Commander Desmond, give a brief summary of the current situation."

Commander Desmond took a deep breath, braced himself, and began his report.

His language was concise, but the severity of the situation caused everyone present to frown slightly.

The military forces of the Augustus Empire are broadly divided into three types.

First, the Imperial Guard.

Under direct royal administration.

Military expenses are fully covered by the royal private treasury; soldiers are screened layer by layer; equipment, magical enhancements, and training systems are all top-tier in the empire.

They answer only to the King and are not subject to any noble or official.

They are stationed in the Imperial Capital, have no fixed border defense duties, and serve as the empire's strategic mobile force.

Second, the Border Garrison Army.

Managed by the Imperial Ministry of War.

Military expenses are allocated by the Central Ministry of Finance; soldiers are mostly children of commoners, exiled warriors, or retired Imperial Guards.

They are stationed year-round in the four major border war zones of the empire—east, west, south, and north—facing beast tides, barbarians, and foreign invasions directly.

Their combat experience far exceeds that of other military branches.

Third, local troops and the private armies of various lords.

Local auxiliary forces under the empire's enfeoffment system.

They belong to the local nobility; military expenses, equipment, and personnel are borne by the nobles themselves.

There is no unified standard for their numbers or combat power; they are a supplementary force to the empire's military system.

For example, the Gino City City Guard is a typical local troop, supported by Gino City's treasury and obeying the orders of the local lord.

The Black Mountain City garrison largely belongs to the Border Garrison system, though it is mixed with some local troops.

The Border Garrison has a complete border defense battalion stationed in this city, with a total establishment of 1,200 soldiers.

Among them are one Peak Knight, two Senior Knights, six Official Knights, and one Second-circle Mage.

After days of bloody battles, nearly 300 have died, and over 400 are lightly or heavily wounded; the number of fully capable, intact soldiers is now less than half.

Siege supplies like logs and stones are basically exhausted, and only three explosive crystals for the magic ballistae remain, but the Annihilation Main Cannon, which can deter Great Knight-level magical beasts, has not yet been used.

Speaking of the leader of the beast tide, Desmond gritted his teeth and said: "That beast is incredibly cunning. It never comes forward itself, always driving the beast herds to wear us down."

"Today, your divine arrow, my Lord, has likely alarmed it. I do not know how it will react next."

Rowan remained calm and looked at Commander Miles and Portia: "Miles, report the situation of our march. Portia, report the arrangements for subsequent supplies and reinforcements."

Miles said: "Reporting to you, my Lord, we encountered interceptions and probing attacks along the way. The beast herds were quite organized, as if they were specifically targeting our route."

"However, because you were personally in command, our casualties were light, with only three men slightly injured."

"But I suspect that the intelligent magical beast can not only command the siege but also has considerable control over the vast area outside the city, and perhaps... it may have obtained our marching intelligence through some means unknown to us."

Portia then reported on the arrangements for subsequent supplies.

The second batch of reinforcements and supplies was already assembling, but the roads had been destroyed by the beast herds, so transport would take time.

At this moment, a quartermaster stepped forward, adjusted his glasses, and said in a calm but clear voice: "My Lord, Commander Desmond, I have made a rough calculation. With the existing troops and the newly brought supplies, if the beast tide does not retreat, we can only hold out for at most one more week against a beast tide of this scale."

Rowan finished listening, his fingers tapping gently on the table as his gaze roamed over the map.

Extraordinary power, especially at the level of a Great Knight, indeed possesses the terrifying might to change the local tide of battle.

But a powerhouse is not omnipotent; using one's power results in depletion, which could put one at a disadvantage in subsequent struggles, and it cannot replace the day-and-night grind of an army.

Therefore, the key is to know the situation of that intelligent Great Knight-level magical beast to devise a targeted strategy to solve this once and for all.

The hall was silent, save for the crackling of the fireplace and the heavy breathing of those present.

Rowan suddenly asked: "Is there any more intelligence regarding the leading magical beast of this beast tide?"

Hearing this, everyone frowned slightly.

At this moment, one of the members of the Bryce Family advisory team suddenly looked at Vanessa.

Vanessa nodded imperceptibly.

Thus, the advisor stepped forward, bowed to Rowan, and said: "The Count, regarding this matter, my colleagues and I have conducted some deductions and speculations, combining the Border Garrison's years of combat and observation records regarding the Mess Mountains, as well as some sporadic information from... special channels."

"While I dare not say it is absolutely certain, it may perhaps provide some reference for you, my Lord."

His words drew everyone's attention.

Rowan nodded slightly: "Speak."

The advisor walked to the map and pointed his finger at an area in the Mess Mountains known as the Eternal Freeze Forest:

"Based on the records of powerful magical beasts appearing over the years, combined with the high proportion of Ice-Snow Magic Wolves and Frost-type magical beasts in this beast herd."

"We speculate that the commander behind this beast tide is highly likely the Lord-level magical beast that has been entrenched deep in the Eternal Freeze Forest and has not appeared for over a decade—"

"The Lord of Frost Howl."

He paused and continued: "Within its active region, this beast is called the Lord of the Snow Ridge or the Frost Lord by some old mercenaries."

"Its true form, according to intelligence, is an ancient Frost Wolf that has undergone a rare mutation."

"Is it truly a Lord-level?" Commander Desmond could not help but whisper, his expression becoming even more grave.

According to the continent's standard energy system, a Lord-level magical beast is roughly equivalent to a Great Knight among human knights.

However, the difference is that a Lord-level magical beast not only possesses powerful individual strength but also has near-absolute dominion and the power to command a large number of lower-level magical beasts within its territory; it is a true king of its kind.

"Indeed," the advisor affirmed, "And the Lord of Frost Howl possesses extremely high intelligence."

"According to the descriptions of some old mercenaries who have seen it, this beast is not only cunning and suspicious but can also understand quite complex human concepts and can even speak human language."

He pointed to the position of the border defense line on the map: "This time, it is driving the beast herds to fiercely attack several cities simultaneously, rather than conducting scattered attacks at multiple points as in previous years; this in itself is highly unusual."

"Even stranger, it seems to have an abnormal understanding of the defensive weaknesses, troop deployments, and even... the movements of reinforcements for both cities."

Commander Miles immediately thought of the probing attacks encountered during the march, and his face darkened.

"Then, how do we force it to come out now?" Rowan's voice broke the brief silence, asking softly.

Hearing this, the advisor pondered for a moment and cautiously analyzed: "My Lord, although the Lord of Frost Howl is cunning, it is inherently arrogant. Moreover, having driven a beast tide of this scale, it must have a scheme and will not retreat easily."

"Recently, our army has been holding the city, and it has been driving the herds to wear us down while remaining in hiding."

"There may be two reasons: first, caution; and second, it wants to exhaust our morale and supplies, waiting to deliver a fatal blow when we are at our weakest."

He paused, looked at Rowan, and a glint flashed in his eyes: "To force it to show itself, the key lies in breaking its rhythm."

"In the coming days, you, my Lord, can choose the right moment to strike while retaining most of your strength."

"You only need to crush its beast herd offensive with thunderous force at a critical moment, displaying the might of a Great Knight to boost our army's morale and simultaneously demonstrate your power to it."

"Repeat this a few times," the advisor's voice lowered, "and the Lord of Frost Howl will have only two choices."

"Either it judges your strength to be formidable and irresistible, and thus retreats, causing the beast tide to dissolve on its own. Or..."

He raised his eyes and said slowly: "It will judge your strength and depletion and might take action itself, hoping to strike when you are off guard."

"Is that so." After listening, Rowan did not immediately state his position.

He leaned back slightly, his eyes lowered, looking at the shaded area on the map representing the Mess Mountains and the beast tide, as if weighing the options.

The hall fell into silence; no one dared to speak and interrupt Rowan's train of thought.

Miles, Desmond, and the others held their breath.

Vanessa and the other five women also watched him quietly, waiting for his decision.

A moment later, Rowan raised his eyes and said calmly:

"The council ends here for today."

"All units will proceed according to the previous arrangements: reinforce the city defenses, prepare the troops, and treat the wounded."

He did not state his intentions directly but simply said: "Dismissed!"

Everyone was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but they immediately stood up solemnly, saluted, and exited the hall one by one.