Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

"I understand... What do you mean by 'there are other people'?"

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Colin felt his anger rising... and the strange expression on the man's face was the perfect fuel—an expression that said, "I understand the whole situation, but for now, I'm truly powerless to do anything about it."

"Well, there's nothing I can do about it. I thought you were just shy, but I didn't expect... This is just how it is. Just pretend I didn't say anything today, and that your old man was talking nonsense again and made you angry. Alright, I have to rush back to work later. Don't forget to write to me when you have time."

"...Your attempt to provoke me is terrible. Besides, you can't even read. What's the point of writing you a letter? It'll just be a waste of paper."

"Ha, I can't read myself, but can't I ask someone else to read to me? There are plenty of ways, it just depends on whether you want to or not. Use your brain more. Who goes head-to-head with a bear when hunting? Don't you use a strong bow and spear to deal with it? Don't you use traps to restrict its movement?"

"Of course, if we really can't win, we have to prepare an escape route for ourselves... Alright, alright, I won't say any more to you, if we delay any longer we really won't make it in time."

Just like when he arrived, the man turned and left in a hurry, without even looking back, without the slightest hesitation. Even his messy hair seemed to soften somewhat under the cold wind.

Colin stood there blankly for a long time, and suddenly realized that, for some reason, her mood had improved considerably. If the morning was a gloomy, rainy day with overcast skies, now at least it was a sunny shower...

A strange warmth and ease, like drying rain-soaked clothes in the sun.

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"As expected... although the difference is significant, the direction is correct."

This was a rare period of rest. Although the soldiers of the empire were eager to make a name for themselves, they were not machines and needed to relax. So, after eliminating a key node, the soldiers under Tersolius's command were given time to rest—of course, this time would not be long.

The empire's henchmen are unparalleled in the world; their omnipresence and ruthless cruelty are enough to make any imperial governor restrain himself and be cautious, and to make any king of another country worry.

Even before the war began, the Empire's spies were already spread throughout the south. They traveled between cities, using various identities to gather intelligence and information, and relaying the information back through various means. In a sense, they were the Empire's eyes on this land, gathering intelligence on other enemies and adversaries for this powerful nation.

But no matter how resourceful they are, it still takes time to investigate some secret matters. Due to limitations in the channels and speed of information exchange, it will take a considerable amount of time to get the information to him.

Fortunately, these hidden elites once again proved their excellence and reliability—after multiple verifications, it can be confirmed that the captured Asel commander has an extraordinary and noble status, and if traced back further, it can even be linked to the bloodline of the Asel Supreme.

This made him keenly aware of something again... Soon, under his will, more information began to converge on this place... He believed that he had found a rather interesting clue.

Chapter 324 Offensive

The radish was cut into small pieces and thrown into the soup to simmer with the mutton. The aroma that wafted out was a light meaty fragrance. The chopped celery and scallions helped to remove the gamey smell, and the egg-white broth was bubbling in the earthenware pot.

This isn't something that will stimulate your taste buds, but you can still taste its deliciousness and it brings a deep sense of fullness. Especially in this still cold season, the warmth it contains is indispensable.

The wines produced in the Imperial Estates have an exceptionally rich flavor due to the abundant sunshine and the fact that they are grown on flat, barren land. They are the best-selling products across the entire continent. In this kind of weather, they need to be slightly heated to prevent them from spoiling the palate.

The fish, pan-fried until crispy on both sides, exudes a unique sweet and savory aroma, and is sprinkled with chopped thyme and parsley.

Finally, there's the turmeric-colored bread with a soft, fluffy interior, fresh out of the oven and still warm—perfect for eating right now.

This is the perfect food for this kind of weather, effectively replenishing energy and calories, and it also reflects the cook's meticulous care.

Tarina packed the food in a three-layered mahogany box. The box was lined with thick layers for insulation, which kept it warm for a long time, even in the cold wind. The design was ingenious, and the handles were even secured and rotated with special buckles and knobs.

The wind howled here, making it unsuitable for a long stay, but a fluffy scarf kept the cold wind at bay. Combined with her thick, quilted clothes and a straw hat made of winter fox fur, she looked all soft and cozy.

This food wasn't prepared for Tarina herself; she had already eaten it before it arrived. Normally, the food would be shared between the two of them after it was cooked, but today she had to walk a few extra steps to deliver it to the river.

The rivers in the south are always calm, with numerous tributaries, and are filled with canals, streams and gullies of all sizes. The banks are covered with lush vegetation and teem with life. Even in the cold winter, you can see many creatures like rabbits darting around in the grass.

A figure draped in a white lion cloak stood by the river, holding a slender wooden pole coated with tung oil. He stared intently at the rippling water in the distance, seemingly focused on the slightest movement.

The surrounding riverbanks were not peaceful either. Armored guards with halberds stood silently around, their armor covered with lion pelts—a symbol of their experience of betrayal, following their commander to slay the ferocious lion, defeating powerful enemies, and being forged and tempered by the flames of war where flesh and steel were forged together… In a sense, they were the empire’s most elite soldiers.

Tarina tried to lighten her steps. But Tersolius, who seemed completely focused, still keenly sensed her approach. Although his guards didn't make a single move, he turned around precisely, as if he had eyes in the back of his head.

This gave Tarina a subtle sense of frustration—Tesolius had offered to send her two guards for protection, but she believed that she was already safe enough as a member of the army, so she refused the offer… She had just thought that without the sound of armor plates scraping against each other, she could get closer.

Thesolius didn't speak, but just smiled and waved to her, his left hand still gripping the fishing rod, waiting for a fish to bite. The amount of fish caught in the wicker basket at his feet was unclear.

Just as Tarina approached, the fishing rod finally bent, and ripples spread across the water—something unimaginable in the north, but in this land near the Sea of ​​Us, even when it snows, it's only a light snowfall, and the water never freezes over, allowing the fish to swim freely in the warm water.

The flexible and elastic fishing rod can automatically absorb the force of the fish's struggle and prevent it from breaking. The fishing line made of the best bowstring material in the south is even more tough. No matter how much the prey struggles, it will not break easily. It can only gradually exhaust the fish's strength, and eventually it will not be able to swim anymore and will be pulled ashore.

In the pale blue river water, a large fish with blue back scales struggled. Its body was round and stout, with densely packed scales the size of a fingernail. The end of its tail had a strange shape, like an unfolded maple leaf with several short, blunt points. Its wide mouth opened and closed, and a sharp fishhook had already pierced through it, making it difficult to escape.

Talina took two steps back in unison, waiting for Tersolius to pull the fish ashore, while carefully avoiding splashing water from the fish that would wet her clothes and the food box in her hands.

The fish's strength in the water was truly astonishing; the fishing rod bent to its limit several times, but Tersolius skillfully maneuvered it without breaking it. He pulled the large fish to the shore and was about to reach for it when he heard Talina exclaim in surprise:

"Sir, the tip of the fishing rod is about to break!"

The crisp sound of breaking wood followed the initial noise; a moment of lapse in concentration just as the catch was about to be made gave the big fish its chance. With its last burst of strength, it leaped upwards, its powerful body tracing an arc through the air before crashing heavily into the center of the river!

“Cen!!”

The cold glint of the blade caught up with it, and the sharp sword pierced through the fish's gills without any hindrance, emerging from the other side and hooking the large fish onto the sword. Then, with a swift upward flick, the arc extended in the opposite direction, sending it flying towards the grass.

The plump fish struggled on the withered yellow grass, and the sword strike hadn't even done much damage to it; it was still incredibly resilient.

Thesolius whistled, his eyebrows dancing with excitement as he broke off the toughest branch from a nearby tree. With a flick of his sword, he sent the water droplets and slime flying to the ground before sheathing it.

Take two steps forward and insert the flexible branch into the fish's gills, then through its mouth, twisting the ends together to form a handle. No matter how much the fish struggles, it will have a hard time escaping.

After doing all this, he lifted the fish high and proudly showed it to Talina:

"What a sturdy fellow, isn't he?"

"Of course, but I think it's time for dinner now, and we can enjoy this big fish tonight."

Tarina smiled and picked up her box, as if displaying her spoils, shaking it slightly as if it were alive.

………………

This riverside forest looks quiet and deserted, but in reality it is guarded like an iron barrel. The cold glint of the armored guards is enough to dazzle the eyes. Soldiers holding longbows and crossbows lie in wait in the forest, while elite light cavalry patrol in small squads on the surrounding plains.

It can be said that the elite soldiers here can easily crush and annihilate enemies who dare to approach, even if they outnumber them, making them realize their recklessness and carelessness.

The steaming broth was being heated slightly by the campfire, and the tender fish was already being enjoyed with wine and bread. Meanwhile, the large fish was hanging from a nearby tree, its body bent into a C-shape, its mouth opening and closing in a half-dead state.

Today, Tersolius was not wearing armor, but only his magnificent black robe with gold patterns and a white lion cloak over his shoulders. He looked like a nobleman on an outing, sitting on a hardwood folding chair, feeling the warmth of the burning campfire.

The only thing that could be considered to keep him warm was the white lion skin. His gorgeous silk robes were obviously not good at keeping him warm, but they still stood firm against the cold wind and even radiated a faint heat – this was due to the healthy and abundant blood flowing through his veins.

The fish was very fresh, so the meat was very tender, and the sauce sprinkled on top was just right, easily stimulating the taste buds and whetting the appetite. After the girl repeatedly refused, Tersolius ate it himself, praising it with satisfaction:

"You're going to spoil my palate, Talina. We've been eating your special meals for so long, I don't know how we're going to be able to eat those poorly cooked foods in the future."

“This is nothing to me… I actually have a lot of free time, so taking some time out to cook is no problem at all. Plus, it’s safer this way. At least if someone tries to poison it, I’ll definitely be the first to notice.”

"Haha, when we set out on the expedition, His Majesty wanted to send some servants to take care of my daily life. But there were just too many of them, so I sent them all back except for the necessary ones... Now it seems that I was indeed very prescient."

As he spoke, Thesolius raised his head and looked up at the sky, at the still overcast sky and the branches around him that looked withered but whose tips were already sprouting tiny new buds:

"...Hmm, it looks like spring is almost here...This war has dragged on long enough. What's the news from the south, Talina?"

The shift in topic was rather abrupt, but Tarina handled it quite naturally:

"It's done, sir. The Hols' southern fleet has been completely destroyed. The wreckage of the burned ships will probably not be found along the coast for some time. Our troops have already landed at the designated location, the river is completely under our control, and the supply lines are unobstructed... Now our only concern is the city of Tornisakana."

"If we can capture this city as planned, the retreat route of the Assele army will be completely cut off. They will be squeezed into the southeast valley, turning this originally easy-to-defend and impregnable place into a dead end."

Thesolius nodded slightly, a sharp, cold glint in his eyes:

"After all, no matter how strong the defense is, it is difficult to withstand an attack from behind... Now it depends on whether Marcus can hold this place before the Acerne fleet and army get the news... But I think the Acerne army should not pay much attention to their rear right now, since their defense is under full attack. And next, I will make them even more preoccupied with other matters."

As they talked around the campfire, just as the breath of spring was beginning to emerge, a terrible offensive had already appeared on the southern coast and plains, revealing a horrifying murderous intent that was about to wipe them out, silently slashing at the necks of their victims.

As Thesolius once said, his appetite was always enormous.

Chapter 325 Second Line (1)

The massive warship, painted in red and black, swayed slightly in the surging tide. Although the movement was so subtle as to be barely noticeable, anyone standing on it could keenly sense the change. The huge sails had been furled, and the weary oarsmen were now enjoying their reward of wine, jerky, and bread, watching the soldiers advancing on the ramps.

This was the last fleet to transport Imperial soldiers. In order to transport tens of thousands of soldiers to this coast, ships from all over the south were requisitioned by the Empire, and supplies and soldiers were continuously transported under the escort of huge warships.

This is perhaps a miracle that only an empire could accomplish: to organize such a number of ships in such a short time, transport 20,000 soldiers to a critical point, and easily maintain a reliable supply line.

As the last officer led his soldiers down the gangway, horns sounded in unison on all the ships, and the double-headed eagle banner of the Empire fluttered fiercely in the sea breeze, offering the blessing of the goddess of war to the warriors about to step into the battlefield.

In the coastal forest, a large clearing had been cleared, and a military camp stretching for miles was set up there. The sturdy tree stumps that had just been cut down were woven into walls with spikes, and tall watchtowers stood every few dozen steps, with archers on them monitoring the surroundings. This was where they would make their last preparations before launching an attack.

This elite force of 20,000 men was determined to win glory for themselves in one fell swoop. The siege equipment parts transported by the large ships filled them with confidence. They would crush the enemy's defenses with the most fierce and ruthless attacks of the Imperial Legion, just like smashing a helmet with a warhammer.

In the central tent of the military camp, the commander of the army had gathered his men and was about to make final arrangements.

………………

Marcus had never imagined he would be entrusted with such a heavy responsibility... The Imperial Legion was full of experienced generals, but the appointment letter from the Senate, stamped with the Emperor's seal, fell upon him, giving him the power he now possessed—to lead a detachment of 20,000 men, with the help of the fleet, to cut off the Assele's retreat.

The heavy responsibility and terrible pressure made him restless, and he had difficulty sleeping for several nights. He stared at himself with worried eyes, searching for every possible oversight or mistake he might have made... But after a period of anxiety, somehow, as if he had put his head in ice water, he suddenly calmed down, stopped thinking about anything unnecessary, and began to focus wholeheartedly on planning his next move.

Even he couldn't help but marvel at Tersolius's understanding of him—it seemed that the lord had long anticipated his possible performance, knew that he was the kind of person who would go all out after accepting reality, and understood his steadiness and meticulousness, which was why he entrusted such a huge trust to him.

Only when he reached this position did he realize the immense pressure and responsibility he would face... The lives of tens of thousands of people were in his hands, and his decisions could change the fate of many. One mistake could be magnified and have terrible consequences.

For this reason, he dared not relax in the slightest. Whenever he had the chance, he would gather the officers together and repeatedly plan the next action until even with his meticulous mind, he could not find any flaws before he would stop.

Another meeting ended, and by now the sky was completely dark. The soldiers had finished their dinner and were packing up their gear, all ready to go. After a few hours of rest, they would set off before the sun had even risen.

With a final sigh, Marcus finally calmed his mind and forced himself to go to bed with an almost unbelievable level of rationality... He needed to rest for a while.

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Sometimes the person in question may feel immense pressure, having to be extremely cautious with every step forward... but for their enemies, the situation may be far worse.

The defenders of Tornisaqara never imagined they would face such a formidable opponent. They barely had time to send messengers out of the city to deliver the message, and before they could even make any significant preparations, gleaming armor and banners appeared outside the city. The heavy catapults were assembled in a very short time and, after being tested by craftsmen, began to fire stone projectiles.

Without a moment's respite, a fierce, tidal wave of attacks surged toward the city. The various siege weapons, prefabricated and transported here by large ships, immediately came into play, causing the already unprepared city walls to teeter on the brink of collapse. The defending troops on the walls showed signs of defeat in a very short time.

Hurry! For military operations, this is like a lightning-fast offensive! The goal is to catch the enemy off guard, to strike at their vitals, to overwhelm them with superior forces in a short time, and to achieve the objective in the shortest possible time.

The burning towers and houses immediately brought chaos and death to the city. Arrows and stones whistling through the air continuously caused casualties to the defenders, while the approaching siege towers were unstoppable in connecting with the city walls. Then, a rolling horde of armored soldiers roared out and began to clear the city walls and towers.

Marcus stood atop the towering siege tower, silently watching the city begin to burn in the distance. His inner turmoil burned like flames, but he showed no sign of it on his face. The tall Alka stood beside him, one hand on the saber at his waist.

They were old friends, and even back when the emperor's prestige was still weak, they had ridden together to trample the Kiel army and cover each other's flanks... But he believed that Arka would never have imagined that one day he would lead an army alone to complete Lord Tersolius's mission.

This is a tremendous honor and a great trust, but it also brings with it significant responsibilities, allowing no room for negligence.

Not long after, Alka suddenly turned to look at him, gripping the blade at her waist tightly.

"The progress has slowed down; we may have encountered strong resistance. I'll go and break them open."

Marcus said nothing, only nodded silently, while Alka fastened his helmet, turned and walked down the siege tower, his iron scale armor skirt rustling. Soon, the order to summon the troops came from below.

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