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The sudden question startled Natalie, leaving her flustered.

What surprised Natalie even more was how this man dressed as an officer had managed to approach them so quietly.

This person must have noticed Natalie and Bourne's suspicious behavior long ago, and may have even been observing them for quite some time.

"Who are you people?!"

He asked the question again.

Fortunately, Byrne was right next to Natalie. He calmly took a step forward and bowed to the man:

"My lord, we are subordinates of Earl Lawrence, the lord of Silk Harbor."

Upon hearing this, the man opposite him slightly contorted his face beneath his helmet.

"You? Lawrence's men are indeed a mixed bag, and you may indeed be one of his subordinates, but..."

As he spoke, the man raised his hand, which was covered by a nail guard, and pointed at Natalie.

"But you...you must be a woman, right? If I remember correctly, within the allied forces, only one lord's army included female soldiers, and that person wasn't Earl Lawrence!"

Upon hearing this, Natalie's heart leaped into her throat.

We must explain immediately, otherwise she will inevitably be exposed!

But how could Natalie know who the lord the man was talking about was?

Natalie looked down and saw a round pommel on the hilt of the sword at her waist, engraved with some kind of heraldic pattern.

The main body of the coat of arms is a huge ear of wheat, with dense dots below the ear representing a vast wheat field.

She recognized the coat of arms; the heraldry master at Goringburg must have taught her to identify it—it was the coat of arms of a great lord!

Natalie racked her brains to remember that as long as she could recall the heraldic name, the lord's territory, and family, she could escape danger.

But it was still too slow; the man opposite her clearly had a better memory than Natalie.

Suddenly he spoke:

"Hmm? Have I seen you before? No, I definitely have!"

Have you seen it?

Natalie looked up in confusion, staring at the man's figure and face.

As the memory became clearer, Natalie's eyes trembled with fear as terror gripped her.

They had indeed seen it...

The man said:

"More than a year ago, my port was attacked by pirates. On my way back to the city, I ran into a father and daughter. You must be the ones!"

Upon hearing this, Bourne seemed to realize that further explanation was useless, and gently held the scabbard with his left hand.

"I remember you said you wanted to settle down in the countryside, so I conscripted your troops... Men, why are you now wearing armor and helmets, with an iron sword at your waist? And even bringing your daughter with you, infiltrating my camp?"

A gust of wind blew by, causing the man's light gray cloak to flutter and dance in the wind.

Bourne lowered his voice and said:

"My lord, I'm afraid I'll have to fight him to the death."

Natalie nodded and asked:

"Who is this person?"

"He said his port was attacked by pirates, and the port that was looted last year was Chau Harbour..."

"Loyal dog!" Natalie exclaimed.

"Hmm," Bourne nodded slightly, "Please keep your distance!"

After speaking, Bourne swiftly drew his longsword with his right hand and charged at the loyal dog.

Natalie followed the advice and ran to the back.

When she turned around, Bourne was already fighting with the loyal dog.

Bourne's sword was an ordinary armed sword, the kind that most warriors used.

This sword has a relatively balanced performance across the board, with no major weaknesses, but also no particularly noteworthy advantages.

The loyal dog, on the other hand, wields a two-handed greatsword.

The sword was wide and long, with a faint dark green hue, just like his armor.

This sword is obviously very powerful, but it is rather heavy.

However, when the loyal dog was wielding the greatsword, Natalie showed no sign of slowness.

She couldn't help but frown. This loyal dog seemed to be more than just a conductor; his martial arts skills might be no less than Bourne's.

Bourne wielded his sword with one hand, his movements agile.

The loyal dog swung its arms in a wide, sweeping motion.

Bourne never directly confronted the loyal dog's attacks. Whenever faced with an attack, he would always dodge and deflect the force from the side.

But the loyal dog could easily deflect Bourne's attack with just a simple gesture of his sword.

The two tested each other, exchanging blows, but neither could hurt the other, suggesting their strengths were evenly matched.

However, Natalie was confident; she knew that Bourne still had a trump card up his sleeve.

Bourne was Natalie's father's most trusted knight, and his martial arts skills were second to none in the entire highlands.

Natalie had also witnessed Bourne display his strength, killing two fully armed soldiers with just a wooden stick.

Furthermore, during this process, he unleashed an extraordinary power known as "martial arts".

Natalie brought up the topic later, and Byrne told her the truth.

Bourne mastered many martial arts techniques and also came into contact with a samurai ability called "Secret Techniques".

Natalie believed that once Bourne unleashed these powers, he would surely be able to successfully capture the loyal dog.

She saw the two men's swords intertwined and locked together, their bodies leaning forward, pressing all their strength onto the blades.

I couldn't help but hold my breath, anxiously awaiting the changing battlefield situation.

But just then...

"Awooo~"

Suddenly, a horn sounded, echoing across Elbowbone Island and reverberating in Natalie's ears.

At the same time, the news also reached the ears of the two samurai who were dueling.

Distracted by the sound of the horn, the two of them instinctively jumped back a step.

While remaining vigilant, they observed what was happening below the hill.

"Awooo~"

The bugle calls continued incessantly, one after another.

Natalie looked down and immediately saw that the various camps were beginning to organize and line up, as if war was imminent and they were about to set off.

What happened?

The martial arts tournament was just taking place downstairs a moment ago, so why has it suddenly turned into this situation?

"Awooo~"

The bugle call, deep yet melodious, like a roaring giant, conveyed its warlike spirit to the soul of every warrior.

Natalie saw that a ship had just docked at the northern port, but it had not anchored and was swaying noticeably with the waves.

Many sailors went up and down the deck, attracting even more people to interact and connect with them.

Then, the troops that had been gathered in front of the military camp began to move towards their respective warships, which were moored in different locations around the island.

Clearly, they are about to set sail.

With the entire army mobilized, a naval battle is definitely about to break out.

"Awooo~"

The sound of bugles still lingers, like the waves still surging.

If the ocean could roar, then this must be the sound it makes.

Many ships departed the port, heading towards the heart of the sea.

Natalie was only curious: if the combined fleet was ordered to attack, then who gave the order?

The loyal dog is currently locked in combat with Bourne.

"Oh, right..." Natalie murmured to herself, "Lorenz of Silk Harbor..."

With this in mind, Natalie had a general idea:

Just now, the coalition forces received an urgent military intelligence report.

Even without the loyal dog, Commander Lawrence dared not miss the opportunity and immediately ordered the ship to set sail.

As for what information they heard, that's easier to figure out.

The allied forces came to fight pirates, and their urgent departure at sea must mean they found Henry!

"Awooo~"

Naval battle is about to begin, but the duel between the two warriors is also underway.

Natalie turned to face the battle again, and suddenly realized that the loyal dog was retreating.

He wants to escape! Natalie frowned; he wants to go back to the army!

The loyal dog certainly didn't want to get entangled with Bourne at such a critical moment.

Natalie, however, will certainly not let the loyal dog have his way.

Natalie shouted, "Bourne, don't let him get away!"

Upon hearing his master's command, Bourne no longer paid attention and immediately rushed forward to fight the loyal dog again.

Natalie glanced around and made a rough estimate.

The kingdom's combined fleet has assembled more than... one hundred ships this time!

Henry, however, owned fewer than six ships.

Even with her vivid imagination, Natalie couldn't conceive of a scenario where Henry would win.

Natalie didn't know how she could help Henry, but at least she could keep the loyal dog occupied.

My father once said that an army without a good leader is just a pile of loose sand.

If the loyal dog is truly as miraculous as everyone says, then Natalie must not allow him to participate in the command of this naval battle.

In that case, Henry's chances of survival might be slightly higher...

"Awooo~"

As another horn sounded, the battle between Bourne and his loyal dog intensified.

Clearly, the loyal dog didn't want to waste too much time on Bourne at such an urgent moment.

His eyes sharpened, and he suddenly gripped the hilt of his sword, then slashed with all his might.

Bourne had to dodge and jump back a step.

But the loyal dog did not chase after them. Instead, it changed its sword-wielding posture, raising the greatsword high above its head with the tip pointing straight ahead.

He then stepped forward with his right foot, but leaned his upper body backward.

Then, Natalie saw a faint green glow appear on the loyal dog's sword.

The loyal dog leaped into the air, then suddenly accelerated downwards in a strange manner, while simultaneously slamming the sword tip downwards.

In Natalie's eyes, the loyal dog seemed to have transformed into a hunting dog with its jaws wide open.

The greatsword in his hand was like the sharp, pointed fangs of a dog.

The moment it got close to Bourne, it snapped its jaws shut and bit down!

Only a white light remained in the trail.

Bourne immediately rolled backward to dodge the loyal dog's attack.

The greatsword was deeply embedded in the ground.

However, the soil and rocks in front of the loyal dog were rapidly cracking open.

It was as if there was an invisible, unseen great sword that was still advancing and cutting through the land.

Seeing this, Bourne quickly drew his sword to block the air in front of him.

To Natalie's astonishment, Bourne was sent flying out of thin air!

The crack extended forward for more than ten feet before it contracted and closed.

Bourne quickly got up. There was a large gash in the plate armor on his body where the sword had not blocked the attack, and blood was seeping out from the gaps in the iron plates.

If Bourne weren't wearing armor right now... Natalie couldn't imagine it.

At the same time, Natalie also understood where the title of "loyal dog" came from.

This person also knows martial arts!

Natalie looked at Byrne, whose face was full of surprise, but not fear.

Bourne stood up, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

He immediately straightened his expression, raised his sword in front of him, and positioned the cross-shaped hilt at chin height.

He then placed his left hand in front of the sword, formed a hand seal, and chanted incantations.

Bourne's eyes suddenly flashed with a blue light, and the ordinary armed sword also shone with a dazzling white light.

This is the ultimate technique!

Bourne said that the secret techniques are a power that only the best warriors can master.

It is not a skill, and cannot kill enemies, but it can endow the user with a powerful and special ability.

It could be brute force, speed, resistance to poison, or the ability to adapt to darkness.

Since Bourne has unleashed his ultimate technique, it means he's serious!

Bourne suddenly closed his lips and shut his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, Bourne's eyes were no longer glowing, but the whites of his eyes were completely stained blue.

At that moment, the loyal dog also drew the greatsword that was stuck in the ground and held it in a normal posture again.

His expression turned serious as he faced Bourne, who had just unleashed his ultimate technique.

He suddenly hoisted the sword onto his shoulder, then bent down, landing on all threes like a rabid dog poised to pounce.

The loyal dog suddenly charged forward like an animal, yet its agility remained undiminished.

Bourne remained where he was, holding his sword in a reverse grip with his right hand, waiting for the loyal hound to attack.

Soon, both sides were within each other's attack range.

Although the greatsword is extremely powerful, it is impossible for anyone other than a naturally strong person to wield it with one hand.

However, the loyal dog suddenly twisted its body, trying to use all its strength to compensate for the lack of strength in one hand.

However, this also has obvious drawbacks: the attack animation is too long, giving Bourne ample time to react.

Bourne immediately swung his sword diagonally, attempting to change the loyal dog's attack trajectory.

But just as the two blades were about to clash, the loyal dog's sword, along with his body, suddenly sank.

She then landed nimbly, like a graceful dancer, circling around Bourne's feet and behind him.

Bourne was quite alarmed and quickly turned around.

But the loyal dog had already stood up straight and gripped his sword with both hands again, swinging it with all his might towards Bourne's waist.

In desperation, Bourne could only turn sideways to block.

But this surge was quite powerful, actually deflecting Bourne's sword!

Upon seeing this scene, Natalie was so frightened that her soul almost left her body.

Although she had never practiced swordsmanship, she at least understood that once you lose your weapon in a duel, you are left with nothing but the right to be slaughtered!

Just as she was worrying, Natalie saw that Bourne's palms were facing down, and an orange halo suddenly appeared on the plane where his palms were.

A halo enveloped Bourne's body, and just as the sword was about to fly out of his hand, it was suddenly pulled back by some force and circled around the halo.

The armed sword, its tip pointing outwards, circled Bourne halfway around.

Bourne suddenly clenched his left hand downwards, catching the sword that had been flung away!

Natalie found it incredible, but at the same time, she understood that Byrne had planned to do this from the beginning.

Bourne held the sword in a reverse grip so that he could better utilize this move and transfer the sword to his other hand!

The moment Bourne grasped the sword, he immediately used all his strength to slash at the loyal dog.

The key to this move is to catch the enemy off guard. The loyal dog seemed completely unprepared for this move and did not take any precautions in advance!

The heavy greatsword could not be immediately transferred to the other hand for defense.

Is this going to be a decisive blow?! Natalie's eyes widened with excitement.

Suddenly, the loyal dog abandoned the greatsword, released his right hand, and while swinging it to the right, drew a miniature short sword hanging on his right waist.

This tiny dagger was naturally unable to completely block Bourne's attack.

It was instantly blasted away, spun in the air, and landed on the ground not far from Natalie.

However, this action also reduced much of the force of Bourne's attack.

"Clang!"

Bourne's sword struck the loyal dog in the waist, a quarter of the blade sinking into his plate armor.

Just by the sound, Natalie knew that the steel used in the Loyal Dog Armor must be of the highest quality.

Otherwise, Bourne's sword would have cut even deeper.

The loyal dog immediately swung his sword with his left hand, deflecting Bourne's sword, and quickly retreated, dragging his wound behind him.

Natalie felt regretful for not being able to defeat the enemy, but she also understood that defeating the loyal dog would not be easy.

Both Bourne and the loyal dog are currently injured.

The two seem to be evenly matched in terms of strength.

They caught their breath for a moment, then continued fighting.

Natalie knew that this battle couldn't end so quickly.

At that moment, she noticed the short sword.

She crept over and picked up the dagger.

This is a ceremonial short sword.

Natalie remembered her father saying that in joint operations by multiple forces, in order to avoid confusion in command, it is necessary to make a clear and temporary allocation of authority.

The ceremonial short sword served as proof of this temporary authority.

The ceremonial short sword in Natalie's hand was made of silver, and the exquisitely carved shapes on the hilt and guard were long snakes symbolizing strategy and wisdom, belonging to the staff officer class.

Holding the sword, Natalie looked up at the two people locked in fierce combat.

"Awooo~"

The sound of the bugle seemed to be telling Natalie that this was also her war.

Mermaids are not good at fighting, and Natalie knows she can't help Bourne here.

But right now, she's holding this staff officer's sword!

Only those who can utilize all water currents are true mermaids...

Natalie sheathed her short sword and quietly approached the camp below.

Bourne can at least hold off the loyal dog for a while longer.

But I, Natalie, thought, I had a new idea; I could help Henry even more!