Lord: I can see loyalty.

Chapter 260 Breaking the City

The gates of Jinma City are wide open.

The black-armored cavalry of the Azure Peak Knights surged in like a tide, their hooves shattering the dust on the stone road, their swords gleaming coldly in the twilight.

The Jin'an Ma family's garrison was still putting up a stubborn resistance, but their formation had been shattered by the Gray Wolf family's surprise attack, and they were unable to mount any effective resistance.

Several old knights, along with their personal guards, stood at the street corner, trying to hold back the flood from the south, but the black-armored cavalry overwhelmed them with a single charge.

"kill--!"

Jimmy took the lead, brandishing his longsword, leaving a trail of blood mist in his wake.

Russell led his cavalry to flank and encircle the gold-saddled knights who were still putting up a fight.

The militia followed closely behind, their spears piercing shields, which in turn knocked down the knights, as they swept away the fleeing soldiers street by street.

The soldiers of the Jin An Ma family suffered repeated defeats. Some threw down their weapons and knelt down to surrender, some retreated into alleys to try to escape, and others hid in civilian houses, only to be dragged out by the militia and captured alive.

On the city wall, the Grey Wolf knights had already taken control of the city gate tower.

Leon of the Grey Wolf family stood behind the battlements, gazing at the chaotic battlefield within the city, his golden eyes gleaming eerily in the twilight.

His giant wolf crouched beside him, growling in a low growl, its fur stained with blood, indistinguishable as to whether it was his own or that of an enemy.

"Leon, the Earl has entered the city." A gray wolf knight came running up, panting.

Leon nodded, flipped himself onto the giant wolf, and ran towards the city center.

In the heart of the city, before the fortress of the Jin An Ma family, the final resistance is unfolding.

Count August stood on the steps of the fortress, leaning on the longsword that had accompanied him for half his life. His hair was white, his back was straight, and his gaze was steady.

Behind him, a dozen personal guards held up shields, fiercely guarding the gate of the fortress.

They knew this was their last stand, with nowhere left to retreat!

"My lord, the people from the south have already entered the city. We can't hold out much longer," a guard's voice trembled.

August did not answer, but simply stared at the dark mass of the southern army surging in.

He saw the black-armored cavalry of the Azure Peak Knights and the giant wolf knights of the Grey Wolf family, and the militiamen wielding spears.

Finally, Vio appeared on horseback in the middle of the group, his posture upright and his gaze steady.

Behind him stood Alec, Jimmy, Gina, Russell, and Leon—the core generals of the Southern Territory, each brimming with confidence and certain of victory.

He lost, the Jin An Ma family lost.

But he did not surrender.

He was the head of the Jin An Ma family. He could not surrender. He would rather die in front of this fortress than kneel before the enemy.

"Prepare for battle—" he said calmly.

The guards gripped their weapons tightly, shields held together, spears pointed diagonally. Their hands trembled, their legs were weak, but no one retreated.

Violet stopped his horse and looked at the old figure.

He did not order a full-scale attack, but instead rode forward, stopped fifty paces from the fortress, dismounted, and walked alone toward the steps.

Alec tried to follow, but was stopped by Alec raising his hand.

"Your Excellency!" Jimmy's voice was full of worry.

Vio didn't turn around, he just kept walking forward.

As a fourth-tier Grand Knight, he was immune to harm from the soldiers and the Earl of the Golden Saddle Horse.

His steps were unhurried, his boots making a crisp sound on the stone slabs. His sword was not drawn, but carried on his back along with his shield. His hands swung naturally at his sides, without any defensive posture.

Finally, his gaze fell on August, calm and composed.

August looked at him and gripped his longsword tighter.

"The Earl of the Southern Border," his voice was hoarse, "you've come to kill me?"

Vio stopped at the bottom of the steps, looked up at the aged figure, and chuckled softly.

"Obviously not, I'm here to persuade you to surrender."

August laughed, a cold laugh. "Surrender? My Golden Saddle Horse family has ruled for centuries; when have we ever surrendered to anyone?"

"The Golden Saddle Ma family has already lost." Vio's voice was calm. "Your eldest son has been captured, one of your two great knights has been killed in battle and the other captured, your army has been routed, and the city walls have been breached."

"How many more people have to die before you admit defeat?"

August fell silent.

The days when I followed my father into battle in my youth flashed through my mind, and I thought of the glory of the Golden Saddle Horse family and the knights who gave their lives for the family.

He cannot surrender; he cannot let them die in vain.

but----

"You killed Malcolm," August's voice was filled with hatred. "Godfrey is also missing. How can you expect me to surrender?"

"Malcolm chose this path himself." Vio did not back down. "Gofrey and Reno are still alive. As long as you surrender, I can guarantee the continuation of the Golden Saddle Horse bloodline and the safety of the people of Golden Saddle City."

August looked at him, his eyes darting around.

He could tell that Count Vio was telling the truth, but he still hesitated.

If they surrender, the Ma family of Jin'an will never have a chance to rise again; but if they don't surrender, the Ma family of Jin'an will also be finished.

He'll lose no matter which he chooses—but if he dies, it will all be for naught.

"What can you guarantee?" His voice was hoarse.

"I said I can guarantee the continuation of the Golden Saddle Horse family's bloodline and the safety of the people of Golden Horse City," Vio's voice was calm. "But you must relinquish all military power, disband the Knights, and submit to my command."

August remained silent for a long time.

He looked at Vio, at those calm yet resolute eyes.

He knew Vio wasn't lying to him, because he had no reason to lie to him. Golden Horse City had already fallen, and the Southern Army had entered the city. He could easily kill himself, then massacre the Golden Saddle Horse family and seize Golden Horse City.

But he didn't. He came to persuade them to surrender, which shows that he wanted to take over Kinma City at the lowest possible cost.

"I...I surrender." August closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled.

The longsword slipped from his hand and fell to the ground with a clang.

The guards behind him were stunned. Then, one by one, some threw down their weapons and knelt down to surrender, some wept softly, and some remained silent.

August looked up at Vio, his eyes filled with exhaustion.

"Earl of the Southern Border, I hope you will keep your promise."

"Of course I will." Vio walked up the steps, turned his back to him, and sat in the high seat. "The bloodline of the Golden Saddle Ma family will not be broken."

August watched his retreating figure, remained silent for a long time, and then slowly stood up.

"Take him away and take good care of him," Vio said to his guards behind him as he turned around.

Several guards stepped forward and helped August down the steps.

He did not resist, but simply lowered his head and walked with faltering steps, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

Outside the city, the Black Serpent Clan's reinforcements are retreating.

Cyril rode at the head of the group, his face ashen and his eyes blazing with fury.

His armor was stained with blood, indistinguishable as to whether it was his own or that of the enemy. Behind him, the Black Serpent knights were exhausted, their armor torn, and their morale low.

"My lord, Jinma City has fallen, the Jin'an Ma family is finished." The adjutant rode closer, his voice filled with fear. "What do we do now?"

Cyril did not answer, but simply gazed at the gray horizon to the north.

He knew that with the fall of Jinma City and the end of the Jin'an Ma family, the Black Snake family would be next.

The Earl of the Southern Border will not stop; he will continue north, heading straight for the capital, and the Black Serpent family's territory will be the capital's last line of defense.

"Go back to Snake's Den!" His voice was hoarse. "Tell Father that Golden Horse City has fallen, the Golden Saddle Ma family has surrendered, and tell him to prepare for battle."

"Yes, sir!"

The Black Serpent Clan's army quickened its pace, galloping northwards, their horses kicking up dust as they quickly disappeared into the twilight.

Golden Horse City, in front of the fortress.

Vio stood on the steps, gazing at the gray, hazy sky to the north.

That was the territory of the Black Serpent family, the last line of defense for the capital, and the end of this war.

Behind him, the Southern Army was clearing the battlefield, treating the wounded, and counting prisoners. The banner of the Azure Peak Knights was raised above the fortress, and the banners of the Southern Army fluttered in the twilight.

"Your Excellency," Alec said, stepping up behind him with his grey eyes gazing north, "the Black Serpent family has fled."

Vio nodded. "Let them run; they can't get far."

"What do we do next?"

"Rest for one night, and tomorrow we'll change shifts and continue north." Vio turned around, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers who were still busy at work. "Once we take down the Black Serpent family, the capital will be the last isolated and helpless castle."

He turned around, gazing at the gray, hazy northern horizon, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.