Friendly Fire

More than an hour later, in a Temporary Camp, Viscount Edmund, who was tied up, shouted angrily.

"Damn it, Benjamin, you're a red egg, fucking bastard, ugh!"

Seeing that Viscount Edmund had started cursing again, Viscount Benjamin quickly stuffed a wad of cloth into his mouth, Edmund could only make muffled noises.

After going back and forth several times, Edmund finally got tired, and even when Viscount Benjamin took off the cloth, he didn't make a sound anymore.

"Have you calmed down yet, Edmund? If you keep making a fuss, I'll have to keep your mouth shut."

Edmund shook his head. "Don't cover my mouth anymore, I give up. Are your guards alright?"

Benjamin nodded. "They were all disarmed, and at most they were hit a few times. No one was seriously injured."

Edmund gritted his teeth. "I came to welcome you with good intentions, and you actually arrested me. Benjamin, you just wait. I'll go to Iron Mountain Fortress and give Colt a proper account of your crimes."

"Fine, fine, go ahead and file a complaint. It's your own fault for running away the moment we meet. I was just worried you'd misunderstand!"

"I misunderstood you... umm."

Viscount Edmund started spouting nonsense again, and Viscount Benjamin stuffed another wad of cloth into his hand. When he did so, he got his hand covered in saliva, and Viscount Benjamin rubbed it against Viscount Edmund in disgust.

This infuriated Viscount Edmund, who tried to jump up from his chair, only to find his legs were also tied to the chair, causing him to fall flat on his face.

Viscount Edmund was stunned by the fall and it took him a while to come to his senses. He lay on the ground like a worm for a long time until Viscount Benjamin helped him back to his chair.

"Now can you speak properly?"

Viscount Edmund stopped struggling, and only then did Viscount Benjamin remove the gag from his mouth.

Viscount Edmund's first words were. "Untie me right now. If my troops see that I haven't returned for so long, they will definitely send troops to look for me. I must make contact with them, otherwise there may be accidental injuries."

Viscount Benjamin hesitated for a moment, but still untied Viscount Edmund's ropes. "Don't lie to me. You should know that although Crimson Maple Territory is your home ground, my troops are not to be trifled with. Don't do anything foolish."

Viscount Edmund ignored him completely, shook off Benjamin's outstretched hand, and walked out of the tent.

Viscount Edmund soon noticed his beloved horse tied to the side, and just as he was about to walk over, he was stopped by Viscount Benjamin's guards.

Just as he was about to lose his temper, Viscount Benjamin waved for the guards to leave and extended his right hand in a gesture of permission to leave.

Viscount Edmund glared at him fiercely, then stepped into the stirrups and mounted his horse.

"Release my guards right now! Don't waste time, I'm taking them back to camp!"

Viscount Benjamin immediately summoned a guard and said, "Go tell Pim Regimental Commander to release the man."

After receiving the order, the guard quickly ran off in another direction.

Seeing this, Viscount Edmund's expression softened, but he still didn't want to talk to Viscount Benjamin.

Viscount Benjamin walked apologetically to Viscount Edmund's side. "Edmund, this isn't my fault. It's just that we've never gotten along. When you suddenly came to pick me up, I thought you were planning to sabotage me!"

When Viscount Edmund heard Benjamin say that, he almost fell off his horse. He pointed at Viscount Benjamin, trembling with anger.

Benjamin only calmed down when he thought Viscount Edmund was about to pass out.

Neither of them spoke again. Benjamin was afraid of saying something wrong and provoking Viscount Edmund again, while Viscount Edmund simply didn't want to talk to Benjamin.

After a while, the guards returned to report that Regimental Commander Pim released Viscount Edmund's guards.

Viscount Benjamin led Viscount Edmund directly to the side of the camp. As expected, Viscount Edmund saw his guards, under the watchful eyes of Pim's army, organizing their equipment and horses. Upon seeing their lord, they quickly approached.

"Your Excellency, are you alright?"

What happened to your forehead? Are you injured?

The guards were very worried about their lord, but seeing that Viscount Edmund was alright, they were all relieved. However, some of them were curious about the location of Viscount Edmund's fall.

Viscount Edmund avoided these questions, only saying that he was fine. He carefully examined his guards and found that none of them were missing, and most of them did not have any obvious external injuries.

However, after realizing this, Viscount Edmund felt a little uncomfortable. How could his guards be disarmed so easily? His lord had been captured. Shouldn't he have tried to escape and notify the territorial troops to come to his rescue?

Viscount Benjamin saw through Edmund's inner thoughts. "Your guards are very loyal. After I subdued you, they all tried their best to save you at first. If it weren't for the overwhelming numerical advantage of my troops, plus the fact that the Cavalry all have lassos, at least half of them would have died in a real fight."

Afterwards, I told them that as long as they surrendered and laid down their weapons, I wouldn't harm them, and that's how I successfully disarmed them.

After hearing Benjamin's words, Viscount Edmund's expression relaxed considerably, and he was no longer so serious.

"Benjamin, don't think you can get away with this. I'm telling you, this isn't over!"

Viscount Edmund was about to continue his harsh words, but when he saw Pim and the others standing behind Benjamin looking at him with sinister expressions, he felt a chill and shut his mouth.

"Didn't you say you were going back to your unit right away? Hurry up and go back. It's getting late. I'll set up camp here temporarily and come to Crimson Maple Territory to find you tomorrow morning."

If you're still upset, choose a way to make things better tomorrow—a one-on-one fight or a group brawl—and see if that makes you feel better!

Viscount Edmund, who was riding away, swayed slightly upon hearing Benjamin's words. He turned to Benjamin and asked, "What about a one-on-one fight? What about a group fight?"

"A one-on-one fight is between the two of us, while a group fight is between the two of us leading a small force of 200 people. Whoever loses has to admit their mistake."

If I lose, you can do whatever you want with me.

Edmund was about to agree, but quickly realized, "So, if you win, what are you going to do?"

"Of course I want to apologize to you properly, since I was indeed in the wrong first."

"Your mother, you know you're wrong, but you still have to beat me before you admit it."

This time, Viscount Edmund could no longer restrain himself. He flicked the reins and galloped off in another direction from the camp. His guards quickly caught up with their lord.

Benjamin returned to his tent only after he saw Edmund's troops disappear into the snow.

Pim followed him in. "Your Excellency, given Viscount Edmund's statement, shouldn't we arrange for more troops to keep watch tonight, in case he takes any risks?"

Viscount Benjamin sat back down in his chair. "No, Edmund has calmed down. There's no need to provoke him further."

Pim seemed to understand, but since his lord had said so, he didn't insist and led his troops back to his own camp.

Benjamin then began writing a letter, recounting the entire story of his encounter with Viscount Edmund without embellishment. He hoped to deliver the facts to Iron Mountain Fortress as soon as possible, to Count Colt, to apologize to him, lest Edmund be the one to accuse him first.