Lord: I can see loyalty.

The figures of several people moved through the dense forest, and moonlight filtered through the gaps in the tree canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Leon walked in front, his steps light and steady, making almost no sound as he stepped on the fallen leaves. Ellie followed behind him, her hand on her sword hilt, her gaze constantly scanning the surrounding darkness.

Zane followed at the back with a few mercenaries, his one eye flashing warily in the dim light.

They took a very remote route, one that the main group wouldn't take.

The path was overgrown with bushes and vines, and occasionally a fallen tree blocked the way, but this only proved Leon's sincerity—he bypassed the main force of the North and led Zane to the weakest point of the blockade.

Zane gradually lowered his guard, but his hand remained on the hilt of his sword.

"You just said you could tell us some information?" His voice was very soft, so soft that only Leon, who was walking ahead, could hear it.

Leon did not turn around.

"The overall commander of this operation in the North is Marcus of House Whitehorse, and the deputy commander and knight commander is Selin of House Goldengill."

"The defeat at Blackwater has changed their strategy. Now they want to bypass your frontal defenses and cut off your supply lines from the flanks."

"The elite knights who infiltrated this time were divided into five teams, each led by a captain from one of the five families. Our Grey Wolf family and other smaller families were responsible for the east flank, the Silver Fox family for the west flank, the White Eagle family for a feint attack from the front, the Iron Hammer family for burning the granaries, and there was another team... responsible for guarding the last escape route."

He emphasized the last sentence.

"An escape route?" A mercenary frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Their plan is to surround you and starve you out, but that place is designed to prevent you from breaking out if you try."

Leon stopped and turned to look at Zane. "That nobleman's son, Raymond Gray, is in charge of that area."

Zane's single eye narrowed slightly. "Raymond? That name sounds familiar?"

"Do you know him?"

"I don't know him, but I've heard of him." Zane sneered. "Back when I was a mercenary in the North, I worked with his family. This kind of person is incompetent and gets promoted through connections. He hides in the back when fighting, but rushes to the front when it comes to stealing credit."

"The area he's in charge of is definitely the easiest to defend, but it's also the easiest to breach."

“That’s right.” Leon nodded. “His defensive zone is in a mountain valley on the east side. The terrain there is narrow and easy to defend, making it difficult to attack. Large forces can’t get through at all, but small forces…” He paused, “small forces can get through.”

Are you sure?

"I'm sure."

Zain was silent for a moment, thinking quickly.

Leon is right. Someone like Raymond would definitely choose the safest and least dangerous area, where he can reap the rewards without having to risk his life.

Such areas are often the most vulnerable in terms of defense.

"I'll send someone back to report this." Zane turned around and looked at the mercenaries behind him. "You, you, both of you, go back the way you came and tell the captain this news."

"We'll break out from the east and deliver the message to the Earl first."

The two mercenaries exchanged a glance, nodded, and turned to disappear into the darkness.

Zane turned to look at Leon. "Continue leading the way, Mr. Leon."

Leon didn't say anything, but continued walking deeper into the dense forest.

They walked for a few more minutes, and the trees ahead gradually thinned out. Moonlight shone through the tree canopy, illuminating a narrow mountain valley.

The valley is flanked by steep rock walls covered with moss and vines, with only a narrow path less than two meters wide in the middle for passage.

At the end of the path, a few faint lights could be seen—that was the camp, Raymond's defensive zone.

"This is it." Leon stopped and pointed to the firelight. "He probably only has less than fifty men under his command, and most of them are ragtag troops cobbled together from various families in the North."

"The real elite troops have all been sent to the front lines. That means, you know..."

Zane stared at the firelight with his one eye, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"We have enough manpower. In a place like this, fifty people are no different from five. The terrain is too narrow, and having more people would only restrict our movements."

"What are you planning to do?" Ellie asked.

Zane glanced at her, offering no direct answer, but instead drew his longsword. "You can stay here, or leave, the farther the better."

"Wait..." Leon called out to him.

"Mr. Leon, you can't do it," Zane interrupted him. "I know you have your difficulties. You've already done more than enough by leading the way for us. Let us handle the rest."

"If I manage to return alive, I will have the captain convey to the Earl that your Grey Wolf family once helped us, and the Southern Territory is willing to be your friend."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and, with a few mercenaries, walked towards the firelight.

Under the moonlight, those figures gradually disappeared into the darkness.

…………

The Northern Allied Knights' army, on the eastern defensive line, a few corners later, at the remote Raymond Gray camp.

Raymond leaned back in a deckchair brought from the camp, a glass of wine in his hand, humming an off-key tune.

The night breeze blew by, lifting his golden hair, which shimmered softly in the moonlight.

The night breeze blew by, lifting his golden hair, which shimmered softly in the moonlight.

A smug smile played on his face, as if he could already see himself riding a tall horse and receiving cheers from the crowd after the war.

"My lord," said Des, the personal guard, standing behind him, in a low voice, "it's getting late, you should rest."

"Rest?" Raymond scoffed. "How can we rest at a time like this? What if the people from the South break through? I need to personally oversee the situation and prevent their escape."

Hearing these hypocritical words, Des remained expressionless and silent, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

He knew what Raymond was up to—he wasn't really afraid the people of the South would escape, but rather he was waiting for the credit to come to him.

"Hey, Des, what title do you think the king will bestow upon me after we go back this time?" Raymond put down his wine glass and turned his head slightly to look at him.

"Your Excellency is brave and skilled in battle; it would not be an exaggeration to bestow upon you the title of Earl." Des's voice was completely flat, as if he were reciting a text.

Raymond nodded in satisfaction, then sighed. "Earl? You need to have some merit first. Why are the people in the South starting to break out? Are they really just waiting to die? At least let me get some credit. I'm getting impatient."

He paused, his gaze falling on Elena, the maid standing behind Des.

Her profile appeared exceptionally soft in the moonlight, and her gray dress swayed gently in the night breeze.

A glint of greed flashed in Raymond's eyes. He stood up and walked towards her.

"Elena, pour me a glass of wine."

Elena lowered her head, picked up the wine jug, walked up to him, and poured him a glass of wine.

Raymond took the glass and reached out to touch her hand, but Elena subtly withdrew her hand, took a step back, and whispered, "My lord, the wine is ready."

A flash of annoyance crossed Raymond's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.

He picked up his glass, drank it all in one gulp, and then slammed the glass down on the table.

"Des".

"exist."

"Go and patrol the area, see if there's anything unusual."

"Yes." Des turned and left, their eyes briefly meeting as he passed Elena.

A hint of heartache flashed in his eyes, and a hint of helplessness flashed in hers, but neither of them spoke.

Raymond sat back in the recliner, his gaze still lingering on Elena.

She stood there, head bowed, motionless, like a statue.

Raymond opened his mouth, about to say something.

But at that moment, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the camp.

"My lord! My lord!"

A soldier rushed in, panicking, "Something terrible has happened! The people from the south have broken through!"

Raymond suddenly stood up, a hint of panic flashing across his face, but he quickly suppressed it, and even a look of joy appeared on his face.

"What's the panic? How many people are there? Where is the main force now?"

"It doesn't seem to be the enemy's main force! And... it's coming directly this way! Our main force hasn't noticed!"

Raymond's expression changed.

The "credit" he wanted was to clear out the remnants of the northern army that had escaped from the encirclement and suppression, not to face a group of mercenaries in good condition!

Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and drew the long sword from his waist.

"Send a few to inform the main force! The rest of you, follow me! Guard the crossroads, don't let a single person escape!"

He led a dozen or so trusted men and rushed out of the camp. Elena stood in front of the tent, watching his back, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes.

On the east side of the camp, along a path in a mountain valley, Zane was leading several mercenaries forward at a rapid pace.