Retreat and Return Home

Victor could understand Alex's excitement. Although it was only a short three days and four nights, the entire interception team had made great sacrifices: a long-distance raid of more than 300 kilometers, two battles with a huge disparity in numbers, and less than four hours of sleep a day. Now they had finally completed the mission and obtained their target.

"Alex, if there are no problems with the secret agreement, we should go while there is still time."

Alex nodded. "Okay, Victor, let's go right away."

Alex put the secret agreement into a wooden box and placed it in his personal bag. His most important task now was to take this secret agreement back to the Northlands.

Baron Rossi quickly stepped forward, "My lord, please don't forget me."

Alex said warmly, "Don't worry, Baron Rossi, I will keep my promise. Now please come with us. I will take you back to the Northern Three Commanderies of the duchy and introduce you to my father Baron Colt."

Rossi was stunned upon hearing this. He knew that the secret agreement he had sent was related to the political situation within the duchy and would directly affect the balance between the Grand Duke and the powerful noble, the Count of the Northlands. He had originally thought that this young officer might be a capable general under the Count of the Northlands, but he never expected that he would be the Count's heir.

After Alex and Victor left, he muttered to himself, "Looks like I made the right bet this time."

His two attendants approached him and asked, "My lord, shall we not follow?"

"Of course we have to keep up, and keep up very closely. Who knows, your patriarch might just strike it rich this time. Not to mention revitalizing the family, the Oleander family might even reach new heights under my leadership!"

"Really?" "Congratulations, sir!"

Rossi, accompanied by two close attendants, quickly caught up with Alex and Victor.

Alex and Victor did not hear what the people behind them were saying. They walked towards the other side of the castle, where the main force was.

Alex turned to Victor and asked, "What should we do with those prisoners of war? Should we get rid of them all?" He held up his left hand and made a chop gesture.

Victor was quite surprised. Perhaps it was the experiences of the past few days that had made Alex so decisive and ruthless!

"I never expected you to have become like this, Alex. You can execute prisoners of war and innocent people without hesitation?"

"Damn it, you still have the nerve to talk back to me? Wasn't it your idea to set fires and create riots in Haiden City? I was just learning from you."

Victor shook his head. "The situation in Haiden City is special. I did this to confuse the pursuers. In addition, the residents of Haiden City are military families and related to the military industry. Destroying it will also help us in the war later."

"This is different. I didn't originally intend to kill Baron of Woven Fern. After all, such a small noble family doesn't have many private troops. Even if it affects our war with the Grand Duke later, it won't have any impact. Besides, the baron's line has died out, so there's no need to exterminate his servants and private army."

Alex nodded, agreeing with Victor's point of view. After all, they had already caused a lot of killings, and now that their objective had been achieved, there was no need to kill for the sake of killing.

As for avenging their fallen comrades, these elite interceptors were not blindly loyal war machines; they were the elite of Iron Birch Territory and Two Rivers Territory. They clearly understood the purpose of this mission and the significance of their sacrifice.

Furthermore, since each of them and their families had received rewards from the lord, they had no obsession with killing, fighting, or revenge. Even if Alex and Victor ordered them to release these prisoners of war directly, they would not object.

"Victor, should we just release them?"

Victor shook his head. "Not for now. According to the plan, we will leave by ship with the troops and the wounded, while your trading post guards will use their warhorses as a diversion to attract the attention of the Imperial Guard Legion's Cavalry contingent."

There were two galleys at the dock; let the prisoners of war board them to be rowers, and the servants could also board. Once they reached the middle of the river, they could be disembarked.

Alex thought for a moment, "Yes, I think it's fine. A galley can sail without oars, but with oarsmen, it can sail faster. We'll set off in a bit, and we'll reach Blackwater City in three days."

"Is your support in Blackwater City okay? Mora just sent the Third Legion there, so there shouldn't be any problems."

"Victor, you underestimate the power of the Northern Frontier Chamber of Commerce. If it weren't for my guild, this mission wouldn't have gone so smoothly these past few days. Although the Northern Frontier Chamber of Commerce's profits can't compare to the Wright Trading Company, which is the top guild in the Duchy, the Northern Frontier Chamber of Commerce's reach extends throughout the Duchy. Let alone our small force of less than a hundred people, I could safely send even a large battalion out of Blackwater City."

"Okay, I'll be counting on you then!"

"Victor, you go and direct the troops to withdraw. I'll send someone to contact the trading post and have them take all the warhorses with them!"

"Okay, leave it to me."

Under the command of Victor and Alex, all the soldiers quickly cleaned up the battlefield and led all the prisoners of war to the dock to board the ship. The prisoners of war also carried supplies and some valuables from the castle, since there was enough space on the ship and they could disguise themselves as a caravan with these things.

The guards from the trading post quickly arrived at the castle and took all the warhorses away. They would disguise themselves as Cavalry and continue westward to draw the attention of the Imperial Guard Legion.

The interception team, carrying the secret agreement, traveled eastward with the current, passing through Milan County, where the Capital City Silver Maple City is located, and finally arrived at Blackwater City, where they met up with the Northlands support forces before returning to the Northlands.

At 3 a. m. on the 16th, Victor and his fleet, consisting of two galleys, set sail. The interception team had 78 soldiers left, including 18 wounded.

Behind them, the entire Baron of Woven Fern Castle was engulfed in flames, and the fire and smoke could be seen throughout the Woven Fern Territory.

People from all the villages and farms in the territory came to fight the fire. No one noticed the two ships that had just left the dock; everyone's attention was drawn to the horrific blaze.

Around 11 a. m. on the 16th, Rasul arrived at Woven Fern Territory with 500 Cavalry from the First Battalion of the Imperial Guard Legion Heavy Cavalry Regiment. Rasul went berserk when he saw the Baron of Woven Fern's Castle, which had been reduced to ruins.

He only wanted to win over the morale of the First Battalion, and took a four-hour rest with his troops along the way. He never expected that when they arrived at their destination, the Diplomatic Delegation they were supposed to greet had disappeared, along with the Baron of Woven Fern family, who were in charge of the liaison. All that was left were these ruins. How was he supposed to explain this to his father, Viscount Borey?