Chapter 124
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Chapter 124: Two Riders
Flowing Water County has been captured?
Yes, it should have been captured. The Sais family’s lackeys, the clueless Black Flame Legion, and the foolish Scarred General should all be driven out of the sacred territory of the Hamilton family.
But shouldn’t this task be completed by the strongest Golden Branch Legion of Hamilton and gain the highest glory?
How has it suddenly become the achievement of Midi Asreks?
After all, how could a mere two thousand cavalry manage to take a heavily guarded town with twenty thousand troops?
In an instant, all the generals’ minds went blank.
They glanced at the scout team leader before looking at each other, exchanging confused glances, unsure of what to say, causing the scene to fall into silence. The scout team leader could only lower his head under the sharp gazes of the generals, sweating profusely as he awaited orders.
"This matter is too strange. You must verify it again immediately…" After a long pause, one general finally snapped back to reality and spoke up awkwardly.
However, before he could finish his command, another scout returned to the central command formation. This time, it was a whole team of ten scouts.
“We saw the Hamilton family’s flag on the clock tower in Flowing Water County,” said the leading scout, while the other nine nodded to confirm they hadn’t made a mistake.
The general who had just suggested reconfirmation suddenly staggered, as if struck by an invisible hammer, his face turning pale.
"This could be a trick by the Black Flame Legion! They might be pretending that Flowing Water County has fallen to lure us into an encirclement and then ambush us!" Another general stepped forward to suggest.
This speculation had some logic, and thus received the agreement of others.
It wasn’t that the generals wanted to ignore the scouts, nor was it solely because of their hostility and apprehension towards Midi, but because the idea of taking Flowing Water County with just two thousand men was simply too outrageous for anyone to believe.
But at that moment, more scouts returned to the formation, bringing intelligence about Flowing Water County for the third time.
“We have contacted the troops stationed inside Flowing Water County. They are indeed the comrades from the first cavalry battalion of the Golden Branch Legion, with no question about their identity. They are preparing now, and Lord Midi said he would personally greet the arrival of the family head,” reported the third wave of scouts.
The generals’ thoughts plunged into a blank state.
Could it be that Flowing Water County, the heavily guarded stronghold with twenty thousand Black Flame Legion troops, was truly captured?
How could this be… how could this be!
The generals screamed in their hearts, roaring, but the scene was silent.
The first three waves of scouts stood in place awkwardly, without orders to leave, but simply standing there felt extremely uncomfortable. Meanwhile, the only clear-headed and qualified person to issue commands, Fina Hamilton, merely smiled and observed everything without saying a word.
It was as if she were an audience member who had memorized the script and anticipated this moment.
After a while, a voice that tried hard to sound calm but still trembled finally broke the silence.
“Accelerate the march! But be sure to remain vigilant!” Clark, the leader of the Golden Branch Legion, spoke sternly, struggling to suppress the storm inside him as he issued the command.
Seeing is believing; he had to witness this with his own eyes! For this standard soldier, that was the only thought left in his mind, and it was exactly what everyone present, from scouts to generals, wanted to do.
When the thirty-thousand-strong army finally approached the gates of Flowing Water County, all doubts and suspense dissipated into nothingness.
The southern gate of Flowing Water County stood wide open, with a full thousand cavalrymen from the Golden Branch Legion forming two neat lines, waiting for the main forces to arrive, eager for the inspection of the acting family head, Fina Hamilton. They were definitely not a trap set by the Black Flame Legion, as many knights within the main force recognized their familiar comrades among the ranks. Moreover, they could see the excitement, enthusiasm, and pride shining on the faces of these cavalrymen.
It seemed as if something changed compared to a week ago. Many had this thought.
It was only a week apart, merely seven days spent under the command of Midi, who was considered a fool, a pretty boy, a parasite, and a fake genius, yet these cavalrymen already exuded a completely different feeling. Whether it was their posture, spirit, or even their gazes, there seemed to be a noticeable change, as if they were beginning to resemble a seasoned army.
However, this appeared to be only natural, for these cavalrymen had defeated twenty thousand enemies with a force of two thousand, personally seizing Flowing Water County and winning the first true battle in the Belmar Duchy’s civil war.
And leading them to achieve this miraculous feat was the commander, who stood at the very front of the formation.
The black-haired boy rode a powerful, massive Blood Fang Panther, a heavy greatsword strapped to his back. His fur cloak fluttered in the cold wind like an unyielding flag, resembling an eagle ready to soar. The sight captured everyone’s attention from afar.
When Midi spotted the main troops arriving, he patted his mount. The Blood Fang Panther charged forward like the wind.
The beast’s bloodthirsty aura combined with Midi’s sharp presence forced the entire formation to instinctively clear a passageway. A single rider swiftly reached the central command post.
Having visually confirmed Flowing Water County’s recapture, the generals stared silently at this boy who’d achieved their unimaginable victory. Even Clark, normally calm and expressionless, stood frozen without his usual pride.
This was the same eighteen-year-old they’d mocked as a pampered pretty boy – a former playboy barely reaching level 36 – accomplishing what they’d never dared dream.
Soldiers respect strength. The Golden Branch Legion generals’ arrogance stemmed from standing at the duchy’s peak of power. Now facing a commander surpassing them, they found themselves speechless.
Ignoring the generals, Midi dismounted and approached Fina. Placing his left hand behind his back and right hand on his left shoulder, he executed a perfect knight’s bow. "Your city is reclaimed," he stated simply.
The red-haired girl’s smile bloomed with devastating beauty. Even the generals felt dazed – their leader wasn’t just powerful or beautiful, but radiated mature feminine charm.
"Good. Show me," Fina declared, striding toward the Blood Fang Panther before Midi could respond.
The massive beast sensed the petite girl’s overwhelming power, flattening itself like a housecat. Pleased by this obedience, Fina roughly patted its head before nimbly leaping onto its shoulders.
Were they sharing the mount? Midi’s heart quickened. Though joyful, concern surfaced. Family heads like the Iron-Blood Duke maintained authority through distance and fairness, not familiarity. Yet here Fina openly displayed favoritism before thirty thousand troops and prideful generals.
"Stop overthinking. Get up here." Fina’s voice cut through his thoughts. Her sweet smile dissolved his worries. The Queen of Magic he knew would never bend to others’ expectations.
"The honor is mine!" Grasping her hand, Midi vaulted behind her. Her hair’s fragrance filled him with pure happiness.
To the generals, this intimacy confirmed the lovers’ rumors. Yet facing Flowing Water County’s open gates, their "pretty boy" taunts died unspoken. Could this truly be a once-in-a-century military genius?
"Why are you gaping?" Fina called over her shoulder. "March with us! You’ll want to hear how two thousand cavalry crushed twenty thousand defenders."
As the Blood Fang Panther roared, Fina’s Belmar-autumn-hued hair streamed like an undefeated war banner – blindingly brilliant, yet impossible to look away from.
