Lord: I can see loyalty.

Time flies, and the militia have undergone four days of intensive training. Today, Vio finally met Cohen, who was in charge of intelligence.

"Lord Vio, Cohen has returned!"

Before dawn, Gina quickly woke up Vio, who was still asleep.

After so many days of healthy routines, Vio's biological clock has adjusted, and he is now used to waking up at six o'clock.

"Cohen...is back? Quick, have someone give him a welcome-back dinner!" Vio, who was still a little sleepy, immediately woke up after confirming the news.

After a quick wash, Vio went to the main hall and found Cohen unharmed.

"Greetings, Lord."

"Get up, Cohen." Vio didn't put on airs, stepping forward to pat Cohen on the shoulder and quickly asking, "How are you? Are you hurt?"

"Thank you for your concern, my lord. I'm fine. More importantly, sir!" Cohen took a deep breath and said earnestly, "I've confirmed the bandit leader's location!"

"Just as the intelligence indicated, the bandit leader was inherently suspicious, and only a few bandits who were close to him were allowed to live around his residence..."

After confirming the intelligence, Vio nodded in satisfaction. After having Cohen taken back to rest, he summoned Jimmy and gave him orders—

"Have all militiamen stop training and rest today. We'll retake Bordeaux village at sunrise tomorrow!"

……

As night fell, a group of fewer than a hundred people marched out of the quiet village of New Bordeaux and headed toward the distant desert.

At the very front of the group was a tall, burly man. He was dressed in even more rudimentary equipment than the group below him, but no one would think he was an easy opponent.

He was another guard under Vio, Ansquie, who was responsible for leading the militia in raids and harassment of the bandits.

In the distance from the militia, which seemed insignificant in the vast desert, a group of fewer than ten people was approaching the lifeless village of Bordeaux.

"It's just ahead, Bordeaux village."

In the stillness of the night, Cohen, who was leading the way, called out to the five people behind him.

Looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings, Jimmy looked around in confusion, and finally couldn't help but ask Vio.

"My lord, this isn't the right way..."

"This is the route Cohen found during his last infiltration. What we need to do is raid the bandit leader, not engage in direct combat."

Vio explained absentmindedly, while making a gesture for silence. Jimmy then shut his mouth and carefully observed his surroundings.

After crossing a small hill, they finally saw the entire village of Bordeaux. Looking down from above, the village was still asleep, silent and still—the last tranquility before dawn.

On the chaotic streets, a few bandits were on night watch, leaning against wine barrels and drinking themselves into a stupor. In the distance, broken pottery jars and trampled ears of wheat were scattered on the fields.

Seeing the once-village ravaged, the men's expressions were extremely grim, and they involuntarily gripped their armed swords tightly.

Vio noticed their emotions, took a deep breath, and said solemnly, "The leader's position is over there, isn't it?"

Following Vio's gaze, the mansion that once belonged to the Ross family had been occupied by bandits, and several bandits with hostile expressions were guarding the vicinity.

"That's right, my lord," Cohen replied softly, then added, "My lord, so what's next..."

"Proceed as planned."

Vio interrupted him, glanced around warily again, carefully got up, and continued forward with a hunched posture.

The others quickly followed suit—except for Cohen, who remained where he was.

He slowly stepped back a little, made sure he was in the right position, stood up, looked out of the village, took out the wolf howl whistle from his waist, and waited for the militia to arrive.

Once both teams are in position, the wolf howl whistle will sound the attack, and both teams will launch their offensive simultaneously.

The group quietly descended the hill and officially entered the village.

Returning to their homeland after a long absence, the group had no time for sentimentality. Led by Vio, they grabbed their weapons and lay in ambush near the chief's residence.

"Has Kaz not come back yet? He was supposed to be on watch tonight."

"That fool is really lucky; he got the easiest job."

Two bandits leaned against a pillar of the wooden house, exchanging a few words here and there.

After listening to his companion's words, the tall bandit chuckled softly, "Luck? That's not necessarily true!"

"I've heard that the baron's son isn't exactly a saint either; if he's discovered, he could lose his life!"

Seeing his companion standing there dumbfounded, the tall bandit finally picked up the water pouch at his waist and took a sip, satisfied.

"However, none of this concerns us; we're having a great time here..."

Cohen, perched high above, squinted, his eyes fixed on the area outside the village. Despite his composure, he couldn't help feeling a little nervous, as if he could already hear the footsteps of the militia.

Apart from a few who were keeping watch for the bandit leader, most of the other bandits were completely drunk, which was the best opportunity!

As time passed, dawn broke, and the cold wind continued to stimulate Cohen's already somewhat tired nerves.

Finally, outside the bushes at the entrance to Bordeaux village, a black dot appeared in Cohen's eyes, followed by one figure after another.

coming!

Cohen was somewhat agitated and quickly gripped the wolf howl whistle firmly. Under Ansquie's command, the militia had already swiftly hidden themselves in the bare bushes.

He turned to look at Vio and the others, and after confirming that they had not been discovered, he took a deep breath.

Waaah!

The sound of horns, like the howl of wolves, broke the silence of Bordeaux village. A few scattered birds were startled out of the woods, and the bandits on night watch for their leader quickly gripped their swords.

"W-What's going on!?"

The tall bandit drew his long sword from his waist and looked toward the source of the sound, his face filled with confusion.

"...Wolves? No, this isn't a wolf howl! Damn it, wake those drunkards!"

But no sooner had he finished speaking than a throwing knife flew out from the bushes not far away and pierced his chest with pinpoint accuracy.

From the bushes, a figure crouched low and rushed out quickly. Before his tall companion could react, his throat was slashed open by a sword.

It was Gertrude who made the move.

Outside the village, the militia rushed out of the bushes the moment they heard the bugle call, and poured into the village with various weapons. Many of the bandits had not been drinking or had already woken up, but they were killed before they could even engage in battle.

Ansquie, at the forefront, gripped his sword and shield and charged deep into the village, heading towards Vio and the others.

But as the militia entered the village, the bandits also woke up, and with the ringing of the village bells, the battle of Bordeaux village broke out completely.

Boom!

"Who dares to attack my territory, Sean's turf! Is it Connor and his gang of bastards?!"

The bandit leader Sean kicked open the door, only to find that the two guards who were supposed to be standing watch at the door were nowhere to be found.

"Damn it, where is he?" Sean immediately sensed something was wrong and cautiously grabbed the sword at his waist.

Two bandits who had just sobered up nearby heard their leader's anger and hurriedly ran forward in a panic.

"Boss, it doesn't seem to be Connor and his men." The bandit racked his brains, trying to recall the militia he remembered: "Those guys are cunning. After the attack, the brothers reacted quickly, but they ran into the village..."

"Yes! They seem familiar with this place; even though we surrounded them, they managed to escape!"

Another bandit quickly chimed in, and Sean frowned as he watched the sounds of battle not far away, muttering to himself.

"Familiar with this place? Could it be... Damn it!" He seemed to suddenly realize something, his face contorted in a rage as he shouted.

"Bring those idiots back! Regroup before engaging in battle. Their target is this village; they'll definitely come out to fight us head-on!"

After saying that, he drew his sword and walked towards the village. After walking a distance, however, no one followed him.

"Hey, you guys..."

Turning his head, Sean's ferocious face froze. Two of his men lay motionless on the ground, and five others had appeared behind him without him noticing.

Vio, standing in the center, pulled his sword from the bandit's body on the ground, stared at him coldly, and spoke.

"Sean, your good days of living the high life are over."