Lord: I can see loyalty.

Rand walked to the map and gently tapped his long fingers on the three newly built fortresses deep in the Black Forest.

His nails were neatly trimmed, and like his old-fashioned royal capital uniform, they exuded a refined elegance that seemed out of place on the battlefield.

The candlelight flickered in his single eye, illuminating his thin, pale face.

As the head of House Whitehawk, Rand Hamas was one of the few intelligent men among the middle-class families of the North.

"Since Blackwater City is their bait, and we've already taken the bait once, we can't take it a second time."

His voice was unhurried, as if he were lecturing in a classroom, "But the reason a bait is bait is because it has a hook on the back. What if we bypass the bait and go straight for the hook?"

Noble Raymond frowned. "Can you speak like a human being?"

Rand glanced at him, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly masked.

"What I mean is, bypass Blackwater City and attack Blackwood directly. The Earl of the Southern Border has stockpiled a large amount of food and supplies in those three newly built fortresses, which are his supply lines. If we can capture one of them, the main force of the Southern Border's front line will be put on the defensive."

"Bypass Blackwater City?!" A captain from the Silver Fox Clan stepped forward, pointing to the mountain path on the map. "Don't you know how treacherous this terrain is? If the main force can't get through, it's useless for a small force to go."

"If we're discovered by the people of the South, we won't have a way out! We'll be attacked from both sides!"

"So we can't send the main force." Rand's voice remained calm. "We need to send the elite, the best troops. A few hundred men at most, lightly armed, to go around via the mountain path to the east. That road is difficult, but not impossible; my men have already scouted it."

The tent was quiet for a moment.

Marcus looked at the map, his brow furrowed. He knew Rand was right, but he also knew that the plan was too risky.

If they fail, all those elite knights will be wiped out.

"What if we get found out?" Raymond asked again, a hint of provocation in his voice. "What happens if we get found out? Will you take responsibility?"

Rand looked at him, a cold glint in his single eye. "If they're discovered, they can choose to break out or fight to the death; after all, they are elite knights. But I believe the Earl of the Southern Border won't expect us to dare bypass Blackwater City."

Marcus remained silent for a long time, then he raised his head and looked at Leon.

"Leon of the Grey Wolf Clan, your swordsmanship excels in mountain warfare, so you will be joining this operation."

Leon's expression changed slightly.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately nodded. "Yes, sir."

He naturally didn't want to go, but he had no choice.

Their Grey Wolf Clan is located in the Northern Territory and cannot disobey military orders, otherwise the entire clan will be in danger.

"Let me go there too," Raymond suddenly said, a hint of excitement on his face. "I also studied mountain warfare at the academy before."

How could I miss such an opportunity to make a contribution? That was what he was thinking, but he naturally didn't say it aloud.

Marcus glanced at him, his lips twitching slightly.

He knew what kind of person Raymond was—a spoiled brat who came to gain military merit, with mediocre swordsmanship and almost no knowledge of tactics. If it weren't for connections, he wouldn't even be qualified to enter this tent.

"What are you going to do?"

"To oversee the battle," Raymond said matter-of-factly. "In case you forget to chase down fleeing enemies during the fighting, I can block them from behind. That's called a backup plan. What, didn't your academy teach you that?"

Marcus sighed and waved his hand. "Suit yourself, just don't go to the front lines."

Raymond then grinned and reached out to put his arm around the waist of the maid next to him.

The maid subtly turned to the side, picked up the teapot, and poured him a glass of wine, skillfully avoiding his hand. Raymond frowned but said nothing, simply taking a sip of the wine.

Beside him, the royal guard knight in half-plate armor still stood expressionless, his gaze fixed on the night outside the tent.

The bodyguard, Des, is a retainer of the Raymond family. He was sent to Raymond's side from a young age to protect his safety.

He was loyal, but not stupid; he loathed Raymond.

He knew what kind of person Raymond was, and more importantly, he knew about the maid—

Her name is Elena. On the surface, she is a maid, but in reality, she is the daughter that Raymond abducted from the family's long-term laborers. She has no contractual relationship with Raymond.

She didn't like Raymond, but Raymond didn't force her—not because he was kind, but because her father was still of use to her.

Des's gaze would occasionally fall on Elena, carrying a hint of tenderness. Elena would also occasionally look at him, her eyes reflecting the same emotion.

But they all knew this was neither the right time nor the right place.

"Then it's settled."

Marcus stood up, his gaze returning to Rand. "Rand, you stay in the main tent and coordinate the follow-up support from the various families."

"Leon and everyone else, you shall depart tonight. Raymond... you are responsible for guarding the retreat route and making sure no one from the South escapes."

"Leon and everyone else, you shall depart tonight. Raymond... you are responsible for guarding the retreat route and making sure no one from the South escapes."

"clear."

Leon and Raymond responded at the same time, but their tones were different.

Rand remained seated, not rising, but merely nodding slightly. His single eye was fixed on the map, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Leon stepped out of the tent, and the night wind rushed towards him, carrying the chill unique to the North.

He wrapped his cloak tighter around himself and headed toward the Grey Wolf's camp. Ellie was standing in front of the tent waiting for him. When she saw him come out, she came forward to greet him.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

Leon paused for a moment, then slowly spoke. "We're going on a mission. We'll go around to the back of the Black Forest... and attack the fortress in the southern border."

Ellie's expression changed slightly. "Isn't that suicide?"

"No," Leon shook his head. "We're just an advance team to scout ahead. If all goes well, the main force will follow."

"I'll go with you."

"No," Leon said, looking at her. "You must stay at the camp."

"You said you'd go wherever I went," Ellie said calmly. "Now it's your turn."

Leon looked at her, a complex emotion flickering in his gray eyes, then he sighed. "Alright."

The night was deeper.

Leon led thirty elite knights from various families in the knightly army, quietly setting off from behind the fence on the east side of the camp and sneaking along the mountain path into the depths of the Black Forest.

The moonlight was obscured by clouds, and the mountain road was pitch black. Only the occasional chirping of insects and the sound of the wind broke the silence.

Raymond, accompanied by his personal guards and a few attendants, took another route to the southern exit.

He wasn't in a hurry to get going; he just rode his horse slowly, humming a little tune.

"My lord, are we really going?" Des asked in a low voice as he rode behind him.

"Of course I'll go." Raymond said without turning his head. "This is a great opportunity to make a name for myself, I might as well go."

"But--"

"Shut up," Raymond interrupted him. "You're just my bodyguard, not my teacher. You do what I tell you to do."

Des remained silent.

He turned his head and glanced at the carriage behind him.

Inside the carriage, Elena was lifting the curtain, gazing at the night outside. Their eyes met briefly before she lowered the curtain.

…………

Deep in the dark forest, three gray fortresses stood like three sleeping giants in the twilight.

The smoke rose from the watchtower, drawing three black plumes of smoke across the hazy sky.