Act First, Think Later

Fletcher Village.

It was the most remote village in the Lionheart Kingdom, bar none.

It couldn't be helped; the village was only 30 years old. This was where Count Oden had started from scratch.

However, Count Oden's home was no longer here. His castle was Brave Shield Fortress, dozens of miles east of the village.

The village was quiet and the scenery was beautiful. Since Count Oden's rise to prominence, many people had moved in, so its scale wasn't small at all.

Of course, most of the households in the village were Count Oden's tenants.

There was no lord in the village currently, but a militia patrol team was stationed there to maintain order.

This was likely the village Count Oden had mentioned when offering Li Ang a choice, a village he could have as his knightly domain.

Actually, it wasn't a bad place to be a domain.

Li Ang felt a slight ache in his heart, but he also knew he could never swear allegiance to a Count. Otherwise, he'd only ever be a subordinate, a loyal enforcer for others.

North of Fletcher Village was the Tongtian River, the downstream of the great river that Long River Town bordered.

The 'bandits' Oden had mentioned, Duke Alma's nephew, were currently camped by the Tongtian River. It was said they intended to build a fortress and expand northward.

Their camp could be seen from the village's watchtower.

But as soon as Li Ang and Sarah entered the village, they felt something was wrong. The village seemed too quiet—there were political enemies lurking nearby, and Gatu people had entered the territory. Ralph, the commander of the Long River Town garrison, had sent warning letters to all villages and towns in the eastern province, yet the village at the source of the trouble seemed completely unaffected.

They first found the village chief to understand the situation.

The village chief was an elderly, balding man. Upon seeing Li Ang's letter from Count Oden, he became very excited. He immediately stated that the militia of the Count's domain had long wanted to drive out those 'bandits' but lacked the opportunity and justification—the other party had been diligently engaged in construction, showing no other intentions.

As for the Gatu people, he hadn't seen any.

Li Ang stood on the village's watchtower and observed for a while. There were about forty to fifty people in the camp, and they indeed seemed to be engaged in construction.

But this was strange—had the militia patrol not noticed the Gatu people crossing the border?

That was over a hundred Gatu cavalry, and their discipline was so poor; it was impossible for their movements not to be detected.

If that Gatu cavalry unit had infiltrated the unsuspecting heartland of the kingdom, it would undoubtedly have thrown the entire eastern province into panic. Yet, the village chief of Fletcher Village knew nothing?

Could it be that the Gatu people didn't pass through here?

But even if the Gatu people hadn't come this way, they should at least have received the warning from Long River Town!

"Are you sure you haven't seen any Gatu people? Did the patrol team not hear large-scale hoofbeats? Did the Long River Town garrison not send any warnings?"

Li Ang asked the village chief.

He began to have doubts. Could it be that the Gatu people were let in by Brave Shield Fortress itself? Had he misjudged?

"Lord Li Ang, I swear, I know nothing about any Gatu people! No one from Long River Town has come either!"

The village chief's cloudy eyes widened with anger, seemingly offended that Li Ang suspected his integrity.

Fearing Li Ang wouldn't believe him, he then summoned the captain of the village militia patrol.

The patrol captain also swore that everything was normal in the village and that they hadn't seen any outsiders. Only those disreputable people by the river often came to steal chickens and dogs—but to avoid conflict, they had endured such minor issues as instructed by Count Oden.

Li Ang, filled with doubt, was unsure whether he should cross the river and take action.

Could it be that Oden had lied to him?

But it didn't make sense!

Oden had no reason to let Gatu people in himself and ruin his own situation in Long River Town!

This village seemed to be shrouded in strangeness...

But this village belonged to Oden's countship, so Li Ang couldn't say much.

He decided to go directly to the people in the riverside camp.

Looking at the gentle flow of the water north of the village, Li Ang led his men out of the village. He had the craftsmen guard the supplies by the river while he himself led the mercenaries to the vicinity of the camp on the opposite bank.

Several armed and shielded men from the camp immediately came out aggressively.

"Who are you? This is the knightly domain of the Horton Family! Leave immediately, we won't warn you a second time!"

Seeing Li Ang's men doing carpentry work and with a large amount of materials, these people didn't seem very vigilant—Li Ang, with a large quantity of building materials, looked like he was also involved in real estate.

"Who is Horton?"

Li Ang secretly asked Sarah.

"Horton is Duke Alma's family name. Wait... My lord, these people seem to be Foucher's subordinates—they're from the Crimson Brotherhood!" Sarah, who had been answering casually, suddenly sped up her speech in surprise halfway through.

The Crimson Brotherhood?

Then there was no need to worry about whether he was being tricked or not!

Act first, then think later!

Especially since the Crimson Brotherhood was hunting him...

He would deal with his own problems first, then consider the strangeness in the village.

Li Ang, mounted on his horse, scanned the combat strength within the camp.

Dozens in chainmail with shields on their backs, several in leather armor with bows, and more than a dozen more looking like laborers.

A few horses were tethered in the camp.

Except for the few infantry soldiers who came out to question them, who were fully armed, everyone else seemed unprepared for battle, as if they were about to eat—this was a great opportunity!

He then looked at the terrain of the camp—a river valley, with uneven hilly slopes nearby, disadvantageous for cavalry, a definite home turf for the Meitengheim people.

Hmm, the advantage is mine!

"Kloze, go! Use your hammer!"

"Charge, the whole army!"

Li Ang completely ignored the opposite side, didn't waste any time, and didn't even set up any tactics, announcing a surprise attack with extreme suddenness.

Kloze was prepared—after all, Li Ang had said they were here to fight. Upon hearing the order, he immediately led his men into the camp.

More than a dozen burly men charged side-by-side, wielding warhammers, looking very coordinated.

But the more than twenty crossbowmen were a bit stunned. They had never seen a lord like this, charging without even a greeting? Was this battle being fought a bit too rashly...

However, since the charging team was already fighting on the front lines, these crossbowmen very consciously formed a line and began shooting.

These mercenaries were experienced. The burly men fighting on the front lines looked quite reliable, so they followed behind, specifically targeting the opposing archers and cavalry with weaker armor.

Ansen consciously hid on the periphery, staying with Sarah.

But it looked like Sarah, the woman, was protecting him—Sarah rode her horse, sword in hand, watching the battlefield, while Ansen cowered behind her horse...

The people from the Crimson Brotherhood on the other side were indeed no match. Coupled with Li Ang's maneuver, it wasn't even a surprise attack, but a sneak attack...

Most of the enemy's warriors didn't even have time to prepare before being scattered by a group of burly men.

On the chaotic battlefield, the riverbank terrain was also uneven mountainous terrain, where the Meitengheim people's combat effectiveness was very strong.

But when faced with an organized military formation, large men without shields could easily be shot into hedgehogs.

Li Ang's direct charge was precisely because his elite fighters excelled in mountain melees.

He even specifically told Kloze to use his hammer—captives could be sold for a lot of money, and he was very poor right now.

He himself did not charge like a wild boar this time. Instead, he rode his horse back and forth, intending to harvest any stragglers who tried to escape.

Then, he seemed to see a familiar figure.

That 'exceptionally skilled' pretty boy who had left a deep impression on him!

Still wearing noble robes, with a loose mouth, he was on horseback, attempting to flee.