Chapter 312: Baron Who Had Become A Puppet
Baron Dylan’s heart was already dead.
He felt that he was facing a despair that he had never experienced before. It was a despair that came from the bottom of his heart. A despair that he could not fight against, and even more so, he could not get rid of it. It was a despair that could swallow up all his hopes!
50 knights with extraordinary powers.
18 mages who had mastered elemental magic.
This was a power that could cause fear and shock a country!
At this moment, the two grand knights of the East County who had been disarmed and locked up like captives were sitting on chairs in the corner with despair on their faces. They were dumbstruck as they watched the cavalry come in one after another and report the results of the battle, they listened with depressed faces as their mercenary group was completely defeated and scattered.
Although the mercenary group of more than a thousand people was recruited in the name of Baron Dylan, in reality, they were all secretly connected to the East County. The two of them were the true high-level commanders.
Now, the mercenary group had collapsed.
It could mean that the East County’s attempt to enter the Nahrin Desert with the help of Baron Dylan was a complete failure
The two of them subconsciously looked at each other.
They saw the fear and uneasiness in each other’s eyes.
There was also bitterness.
If they knew that the influence of the Lord of the Nahrin Desert, Kant, was so terrifying, they would not have attacked so rashly. They would not have fallen out with Kant so easily.
Now that they had fallen out, their relations.h.i.+p had become as tense as a confrontation.
It was impossible for both sides to shake hands and make peace.
Although there were no eternal friends, there were eternal enemies.
Especially when they were invaded and violated the other party, the hatred for such enemies would be even greater.
At least these two grand knights did not think that Kant, who had absolute high-end military power and a regular army with a high level of elite troops, would remain friendly with them when they had the advantage.
The strong and the weak could not become friends. This was the difference between cla.s.s and level!
It was the same for between the countries and factions!
Looking at Baron Dylan beside him, the Lord of the Stone Pa.s.s, who had already abandoned his previous self-restraint and arrogance and was completely obedient, one could tell that he had chosen to submit.
He had abandoned the East County and turned to Kant.
Or he had been forced to do so.
The Stone Pa.s.s used to be a barren mountain pa.s.s. Not only did it not have much value for reclamation, but it was also directly threatened by the demonized creatures of the Senwaya Range, the Jackalan in the Nahrin Desert. With the presence of these creatures, Stone Pa.s.s was the most undeveloped estate.
Even a n.o.ble or knight with some connections would not choose this place.
But it was different now.
The Stone Pa.s.s happened to be the most important and the only way in and out of the Nahrin Desert.
If one wanted to engage in the highly profitable table salt trade, then the Stone Pa.s.s was the only pa.s.sage that could not be avoided no matter how hard one tried. Even if one wanted to go around it, in fact, they would have to go around the mountain paths around the Stone Pa.s.s.
Normally, people did not purposely look for mountain paths, but if they tried to search for it, they would realize that was no way to go around the Stone Pa.s.s at all!
That was why the East County would rope in Baron Dylan.
Because only by controlling the Stone Pa.s.s could they control the Nahrin Desert and Oasis Lookout, control the table salt trade, and even use this pa.s.s to force Kant to surrender.
The idea was very good, and the plan was very thorough. If it succeeded, it would be perfect.
Unfortunately, it did not succeed.
In front of Kant’s absolute power, everything was like a joke!
Everyone had surrendered.
Whether it was Baron Dylan or his va.s.sal knights.
Or the two grand knights from the East County, as well as the numerous mercenaries.
All chose to surrender.
They did not have the faith to die.
They were even more unwilling to die in the barren desert in humiliation.
Surrender was the only choice.
Elite Desert Bandits and Sarrandian Hors.e.m.e.n brought back all the mercenaries who had fled, but there were still people who tried to resist and escape. They were turned into corpses by the scimitars and fell on the road.
It was like a road sign, but it looked extremely miserable.
The seriously injured ones couldn’t be treated.
The Elite Desert Bandit didn’t plan to treat them either.
They raised the spear in their hands, aimed it at their throat or chest, and stabbed it deeply. As blood spurted out, their bodies convulsed and ended this miserable and pitiful life.
The mercenaries were not worthy of sympathy, not to mention that they were invaders who attempted to invade the Oasis Lookout.
Piles of weapons and armor were thrown near the tent.
A large number of supplies were collected.
These mercenaries who had only changed into linen robes and were half-kneeling and half-squatting on the ground looked at the Elite Desert Bandit riding their horses in a daze. The bandits held scimitars and spears in their hands as they patrolled to intimidate the captured mercenaries.
After counting the remaining people, there were still 724 people left.
Less than one-third of them died in battle.
This was also due to the fact that they killed each other and were heavily injured while they were fleeing.
In fact, when nearly a hundred people died in the battle, the formation of these mercenaries began to collapse. As the number of casualties increased, even if there was no follow-up pursuit, they fled in fear because of the herd effect.
Rolf watched over them and shook his head mockingly at these captives.
A bunch of cowards.
Firentis returned to the hall of the posthouse and finally reported the results of the battle to Kant. “Lord, the battle has ended.”
“Yes.”
Kant nodded calmly.
The outcome of this battle was within his expectations.
However, he still looked up at Firentis and asked, “How are our casualties?”
“There are only dozens of light injuries.”, Firentis replied. “No casualties.”
“Very good.”, Kant was satisfied.
Beside him, Baron Dylan, the 30 knights who had also surrendered, and the two grand knights suddenly looked up at Firentis and Kant, their faces filled with disbelief.
A battle with zero casualties, this result was simply unacceptable to them!
But the truth was just like that.
Firentis’s lips curled up slightly, with a hint of disdain. “Our enemies are weaker than those Jackalans.”
Baron Dylan lowered his head.
Those knights and grand knights also smiled bitterly in defeat.
The truth was just like that.
They were now the losers of the battle, and they were indeed the same as the Jackalan.
However, Kant understood that Firentis was talking about the high-level Jackalans in the Kingdom of Gray Mane. Even when they were at the end of their rope, they could still attack the city in a b.l.o.o.d.y manner. How could these mercenaries who only cared about money and had no professional ethics compare to them?
Firentis was absolutely right. These mercenaries were really weaker than those Jackalan!
However, they still had a certain effect.
Kant turned his head.
Beside him, Baron Dylan seemed to have sensed something. He quickly lowered his head and said respectfully, “Lord Kant, do you have any orders? I will completely obey your orders.”. His att.i.tude was extremely humble and submissive, no longer having the arrogance he had before.
Kant wanted this kind of effect because he wanted to go one step further.
For example…
To control the Stone Pa.s.s!
Kant spoke with a smile at the corner of his mouth. “Baron Dylan, I think it has been quite some time since you came to my estate as a guest. Are you considering returning?”
“I fully respect your wishes.”, Baron Dylan stood up and bowed his head.
He only clenched his hands tightly.
He understood that Kant meant to make him a puppet.
“Alright.”
Kant was very satisfied with his att.i.tude. “Let’s go back today.”
“Yes.”, Baron Dylan answered.
However, there was a hint of bitterness in his tone.
Originally, when he came to Oasis Lookout, he wanted Kant to become a puppet or to replace him. He did not expect that in the end, he would actually become the puppet. He was Kant’s puppet now, whom he had always made fun of and had always looked down on!
This change made his heart tremble. A wave of resentment was stifled in his heart, but he did not dare to let it out.
He dared to be angry, but he did not dare to speak.
But even if he was angry, Kant would not give him this chance.
The weak must understand why they were weak. Since they had lost, they could be at ease as puppets.
“There might be danger on the way back.”
Kant turned his head and looked at the Lion Knights beside him. He arranged, “I will send 10 grand knights to escort Baron Dylan back. To ensure his safety, I will also send 120 cavalry and 500 footmen.”
“You are really… too considerate.”, Baron Dylan raised his head. His eyes were filled with shock and despair, but he could not say anything. In the end, he could only lower his head dejectedly. He was in his forties, but he was like an old man in his sixties.
This was the garrison.
Kant directly extended his hand to control the stone pa.s.s.
10 grand knights, 120 cavalries, and 500 footmen. They were capable of destroying the Stone Pa.s.s. A mere control of this place was impossible for Baron Dylan, who had already lost his high-end combat strength and was only left with himself.
As for the so-called armed forces of the estate, with the help of the militia and the lance soldiers?
What a joke.
Even the mercenary group, which could hold the reputation of being a little elite, had been defeated so miserably. The so-called armed forces of the estate, a group of peasant and militia, and a small number of free civilians armed forces, were nothing but cannon fodder!
Kant did not explain to Baron Dylan, and there was no need for him to explain now.
He stood up and swept his gaze outside the window.
The troops had regrouped and were waiting for his next order.
Kant turned his head and made arrangements for Firentis. “That’s it. You will temporarily follow to the Stone Pa.s.s and escort Baron Dylan. If possible, help to deal with some small problems at the Stone Pa.s.s. After all, it is a little chaotic now. There might not be any bandit groups that can appear near the pa.s.s. We need to defend it strictly.”
“Yes.”, Firentis nodded. With his ability, it would not be a problem for him to go to the pa.s.s and take charge.
Baron Dylan also bowed and said, “I respect your arrangements.”
“That’s it.”
Kant nodded and stood up. “Firentis, take the troops and go back with our Baron Dylan. Remember, you must ensure the safety of Baron Dylan and the pa.s.s.”
“Yes!”, Firentis glanced at Baron Dylan beside him. Although his expression was calm, his eyes were filled with determination.
If there was a problem, he would not hold back.
“Okay.”, Baron Dylan also bowed respectfully again.
The troops were soon ready.
Ten SarleonLion Knights, 100 Swadian Knights, and 500 Swadian Footmen who had been secretly upgraded by Kant from light footmen to a higher level. They were the level 4troop cla.s.s, the Swadian Footmen!
Better weapons, better armor, better defensive equipment, and more elite combat ability.
These 611 people had no problem defending the Stone Pa.s.s.
Moreover, just those 10 Grand Knights with extraordinary powers were not something an ordinary troop could contend against!
This was Kant’s first step in conquering the Dukedom of Leo.