"How were they this bold?" Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso turned to look at his deputy, Okrian-Lujin, his face full of speechless contempt. Light cavalry daring to charge in and scout by "checking the brush" with their faces was more than Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso could bear.
"An honored guest of the Imperial Tribunal," Okrian-Lujin said succinctly.
"By the time they got here, it'd be too late!" Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso said disdainfully. Their own border had been pierced like a sieve—what was there to explain?
"Looks like they found us!" Okrian-Lujin poked Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso's arm.
"Hm?" Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso frowned. Those useless fools had that kind of skill? They could even track them down?
"Damn it! The hoofprints gave us away!" Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso froze, then slapped his forehead. If he had known, he would have taken a few more detours. Two straight lines of hoofprints led up to the top of the hill; even an idiot would come take a look!
"They're surrounding us! Should we run?" Okrian-Lujin chewed on his finger.
"Run for what? It's not like we have a guilty conscience! We even rescued two children for them!" Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso pointed to the two children behind them, who were eating candy. The brother and sister were clearly clever little things. Grand Duke Ocrean Yaso and Okrian-Lujin's gleaming golden armor and fully armed warhorses had made the already precocious children even more obedient. They neither cried nor made a fuss now.
"That may be true, but would they believe us? What if they take us for bandits?" Okrian-Lujin retorted.
"Very good! Sixth Tier Sword Saint bandits? Forget seeing them—have you even heard of any? Why would two Sixth Tier warriors massacre a village? For that empty grain store, or those scattered copper