Lord: I can see loyalty.

Chapter 256 Siege

Beneath Jinma City, in the Southern Border Camp.

As dawn broke through the clouds and the thin mist had not yet dissipated, the army of the southern border had already formed ranks outside the city.

The black-armored cavalry of the Azure Peak Knights were positioned in the center, flanked by lance formations of militia. The giant wolf knights of the Grey Wolf Clan were poised to strike from the left flank, while the giant whale knights, who had come from the Western Frontier, were on the right flank.

The flags fluttered in the morning breeze, the soldiers were silent and focused, and a somber atmosphere permeated the air.

Vio stood on horseback at the front of the formation, his gaze fixed on the gray-white castle ahead.

Jinma City, the stronghold of the Jin Saddle Horse family for hundreds of years, has towering walls and a wide moat, with crossbows and archers stationed on the walls.

This is not a small outpost like Anvil Fort, but a real military fortress, easy to defend and difficult to attack.

"My lord, the siege equipment is ready." Jimmy rode closer, his armor gleaming coldly in the morning light. "Six catapults, twenty ballistae, four siege towers. Lord Valentine said there are fifteen magic bombs left. We can use the catapults in conjunction with the magic apprentices to launch them into the city and disrupt their formation."

Vio nodded.

"Let's send envoys to persuade them to surrender first. The message should be the same as last time: tell them that if they open the city gates and surrender, we can guarantee the safety of the people inside the city and release Renault. If they resist, they will bear the consequences after the city falls."

Jimmy accepted the order and left.

A moment later, a cavalryman carrying a white flag galloped toward the city gate.

On the city wall, the Jin An Ma family's garrison neither fired arrows nor opened the city gates; they simply watched the cavalryman silently.

The cavalrymen shouted from below the city walls, their voices echoing in the morning air. The walls remained silent for a long time before an arrow was shot down and embedded in the cavalryman's horse.

Clearly, the attempt to persuade them to surrender was rejected.

Vio was not surprised; he simply raised his hand without changing his expression.

"Siege".

The sound of horns rang out from all directions, the winches of the catapults began to turn, and huge stone projectiles were loaded into the projectile baskets.

The militiamen pushed the siege towers and battering rams forward slowly, while the ballistae aimed their crossbow bolts at the city walls.

On the city wall, the Jin An Ma family's garrison also began to busy themselves, with crossbows cocked and stones and logs piled up at the crenellations.

"put!"

The catapults fired simultaneously, sending huge stone projectiles hurtling out and crashing into the city walls with a dull thud.

Stone fragments flew everywhere, and several stones flew over the city wall and landed inside the city, stirring up a cloud of dust.

On the city wall, several soldiers were hit by rubble and fell down screaming.

But the Jin An Ma family's garrison did not panic. They quickly filled the gap and continued to draw their bows and fire arrows.

The crossbows fired in unison, and arrows rained down on the southern front lines.

Several militiamen were shot and fell to the ground screaming.

But more people pushed the siege tower through the rain of arrows. The siege tower slowly approached the city wall, and the wooden planks on top of the tower were lowered and placed on the city wall.

Soldiers from the southern border poured out of the tower and rushed toward the city walls.

"kill--!"

The two armies clashed on the city wall, swords flashing and blood splattering.

Although the garrison of the Ma family in Jin'an was small in number, they were all elite veterans with rich combat experience.

Their swordsmanship was superb, and their teamwork was excellent, repeatedly repelling the southern soldiers who charged onto the city walls.

Vio frowned slightly. Siege warfare was far more brutal than open field battles, and every step forward came at a great cost.

He didn't want to expend too many troops here, but he had to take Golden Horse City, the gateway to the North and the symbol of the Golden Saddle Horse family. Taking Golden Horse City would mean taking over a major family in the North.

"Uncle Valentine." He turned his head.

Valentine stood beside him, leaning on his staff, his old face grave. "Speak."

"Use magic bombs, launch them into the city first with catapults, avoiding residential areas, and bomb their granaries and barracks."

"clear."

Valentine turned around and waved to the militiamen and magic apprentices behind him.

The militiamen pushed a flatbed cart forward, which was piled with more than a dozen iron balls.

The catapult adjusted its angle, loading the iron ball into the cartridge case. The magic apprentices infused it with magic, and the runes on the surface of the iron ball began to glow.

"put!"

The iron ball whistled out, flew over the city wall, and landed inside the city.

Moments later, a deafening explosion rang out from within the city, flames shot into the sky, and thick smoke billowed.

A fire broke out in the direction of the granary, and screams came from the direction of the barracks.

On the city wall, the Jin An Ma family's garrison was briefly thrown into disarray. They had heard of the power of those magical bombs before, but this was the first time they had experienced it firsthand.

Several officers shouted "Stabilize!" at the top of their lungs, but panic still spread like a plague.

"Now's the time!" Jimmy drew his longsword. "The Knights of the Azure Peak, storm the city!"

The black-armored cavalrymen dismounted, donned shields and short swords, and charged up the siege tower.

On the city walls, the soldiers from the southern border were in high spirits and launched an even fiercer offensive, causing the defenses of the Golden Saddle Ma family to begin to crumble.

However, just as the southern army was about to breach the city walls, the city gates suddenly opened.

It wasn't surrender; instead, a golden figure burst out of the city gate.

It was a tall man clad in heavy golden armor, riding a golden warhorse and wielding a massive sword.

His armor had no emblems, except for a galloping warhorse engraved on his breastplate.

His face was expressionless, but his gray eyes were filled with murderous intent.

This is Malcolm Kingshort, the great knight left behind by the Kingshort family.

He was Godfrey's friend and the last Grand Knight of House Gold Saddle. Although he was not as famous as Godfrey, his strength was in no way inferior. He had been stationed in Gold Saddle City for many years without ever making a mistake.

"kill--!"

He charged ahead, entering the southern front, his greatsword flashing, leaving a trail of blood and gore in his wake.

Several knights with blue peaks tried to stop him, but he cleaved them in two, shield and all. His strength was like that of a bull, and his speed like that of a cheetah.

Seeing that something was wrong, Jimmy rushed forward and thrust his longsword straight at his throat.

Malcolm dodged to the side, then swung his axe at Jimmy's waist. Jimmy raised his sword to parry, but the force of the impact sent him staggering back several steps.

He steadied himself, his eyes filled with solemnity. "Another great knight."

Malcolm did not pursue, but instead reined in his horse and scanned the southern front lines with his eyes.

Behind him, the Jin An Ma family's garrison also poured out of the city gate and began to line up in front of the city.

They knew this was their last stand; if they lost, Jinma City would be finished.

Vio looked at the golden figure and silently brought up the control panel in his mind.

[Name: Malcolm Kingshort]

Race: Human

Age: 41

[Faction: Grand Knight of the Golden Saddle Horse Family]

Hobbies: Fighting, training, drinking

【Characteristics: Superhuman strength, peak level of basic swordsmanship, peak level of Golden Horse swordsmanship, and second-tier Golden Horse Breathing Technique】

Loyalty: Not loyal to you

[Status: Angry, ready to die]

Clearly, he didn't have treasures like Godfrey, nor powerful magical items like the Centaur Horn, but he had a heart set on fighting to the death.

But he was only a second-tier Grand Knight.

Vio took a deep breath, drew his Demon Feather Sword, and said, "Alec, come with me."

The two men spurred their horses and charged straight at the golden figure.

Malcolm saw them too, his expression turned serious, and he went to greet them.

The three clashed in front of the city gate, their swords flashing and sparks flying.

"Malcolm!" roared an old knight from the city wall, "Hold on! Reinforcements are on their way!"

Malcolm did not answer, but simply gripped his weapon tighter.

He knew he couldn't hold out for long, but he had to hold on until the Black Serpent family's reinforcements arrived, until Jinma City was out of danger. Behind him lay the Jin'an Ma family's centuries-old foundation; he couldn't retreat.