Patient Hunters
Seeing the continued worry on Lyon's face, he said in a deep voice, "Execute the order, Lyon. You have full command of all attacking forces, including those from Thorsten. Remember, your mission is to create chaos, burn supplies, and then withdraw immediately. Do not linger!"
Seeing that Karl was determined, Lyon could only suppress his worries and bowed, saying, "Yes, sir! The cavalry platoon guarantees to complete the mission!"
Subsequently, Karl sent for Thorsten.
When Thorsten heard Karl's order, his reaction was even more shocked and bewildered than Lyon's; he even instinctively took a half-step back, his face filled with disbelief.
"Lord... Lord? You... you want me to lead the Sauron soldier out of the city... for a night raid?" His voice trembled slightly, as if he doubted whether he had misheard.
Karl walked up to him, his gaze calm yet profound, and patted his strong shoulder firmly. His tone was heavy yet full of trust. "Thorsten, I have always believed in not using those I doubt, and not doubting those I use. Now that I have accepted your surrender and given you and your men a way out, I am willing to believe in your loyalty. Now, it is time for you to prove that loyalty and your worth."
He paused, his voice lower but more forceful. "I know this is difficult. To you, the enemy on the other side was once your compatriot, but remember, from the moment you surrendered to me, your fate has been inextricably linked with Carnford's and with mine."
"If Carnford lives, you live; if Carnford dies, you, including yourself, will all perish. Harald will never let any traitor go unpunished. I think you know very well what to choose."
Thorsten stood there, his heart churning with turmoil.
Karl's words struck his heart like a hammer blow.
He never truly considered betraying Karl, because he knew all too well that betraying Karl would mean destruction.
But he never imagined that Karl would be so bold as to entrust him with such a task!
This is both an immense trust and an ultimate test!
His mind raced through the events of the past month.
From the despair of having nowhere to turn, to the humiliation and unease of surrendering, and then to the slight peace of mind after obtaining basic guarantees...
Although Carnford was strict and closely monitored, it at least gave these defeated generals a way to survive and a meal.
As for the Sauron Tribe... the losers have nowhere to go!
More importantly, the unreserved trust that Karl gave him at this moment quietly awakened a sense of honor and a desire for recognition that belonged to a soldier deep within him.
He suddenly raised his head to meet Karl's gaze, his previously complicated and hesitant eyes hardening into a resolute expression.
He placed his right hand, fingers together, on his temple, giving a standard Carnford salute, his voice loud and solemn:
"My Lord! Thorsten and his men have been spared your lives! We will never forget this kindness! Tonight, our troops will fight bravely and bravely, using the blood of the Sauron to prove our loyalty to Carnford and to you, Lord Karl! If we break this oath, may we be condemned by gods and men!"
Looking at his solemn oath and resolute eyes, Karl smiled and said, "Good! Go and prepare! Select the bravest and most reliable warriors, and tell them that if we win this battle, all participants will be credited with a great achievement! Past sins will be wiped clean! Future rewards will be plentiful!"
"Yes, sir!" Thorsten replied loudly, then turned and strode away, his back view filled with the determination and strength inspired by the trust placed in him.
The night was as dark as ink, and the starlight was dim.
Behind a low mound a few hundred meters from the outer walls of Carnford, three figures, incongruous with the grim battlefield, were quietly lying in wait.
Konrad von Schmidt put down his Monocular Telescope, a playful expression on his handsome face. He muttered to himself, "Tsk tsk, high walls, deep fortifications, brightly lit, heavily fortified... It seems this is my little brother Karl's 'masterpiece,' much more impressive than I imagined."
"However," he changed the subject, his gaze shifting to the distant, sprawling Sauron camp dotted with campfires, his brow furrowing slightly, "This trouble seems quite serious. Judging by the size and imposing presence of this camp, the Sauron besieging the city are no small band of Bandits; they are at least the main force of the Sauron soldier."
Lina, the female apprentice beside her, also peered through the binoculars and gasped in shock, exclaiming in a low voice, "Wow! Teacher! There are so many Sauron Barbarians! They've completely surrounded your brother's castle! This... this is too dangerous!"
Even the usually composed male apprentice, Morian, was now filled with shock.
He not only saw the massive enemy camp, but also, by the moonlight and the firelight of the distant fortress, he could vaguely make out the wreckage of several huge Shield-carts that had been bombed to pieces in the center of the battlefield, as well as the astonishing number of monster and human corpses that had not yet been cleared away!
"Teacher... the battle here seems exceptionally fierce and brutal," Morian's voice carried a hint of gravity. "Judging from the remains, the attackers appear to have used a large number of inhuman magical creatures..."
Konrad nodded, a serious glint in his eyes. "I didn't expect that kid Karl... to be able to pull off such a massive operation in a place like the Northern Territory, and withstand an attack of this scale. It seems my brother is much more interesting than I imagined."
He raised the crystal-clear "Star Stream Spyglass" again, its swirling nebula-like points of light now clearly pointing into the depths of the Sauron camp, emanating a dark and restless energy.
"The direction indicated by the Star Stream Spyglass is very clear," Konrad's gaze sharpened, "The source of that dark Magic Power capable of attracting and controlling magical creatures on a large scale is in that camp, and the one controlling all of this must be a high-ranking sorcerer among the Sauron."
Konrad smiled calmly, "This is interesting. A 'fair' war shouldn't involve such unconventional intervention, right? Since the Sauron are breaking the rules and sending mages first, I think my brother's side should also receive some 'fair' compensation."
He turned to the two apprentices beside him, who were both nervous and excited, their eyes gleaming with eager anticipation. "Lina, Morian, you've learned so much theory in class, memorized so many spell models... wouldn't you like to try out your new spells on a real battlefield?"
Upon hearing this, Lina's azure eyes immediately lit up, and she almost jumped for joy. She quickly covered her mouth and whispered, "Really? Teacher! That's wonderful! I've been wanting to test if ' Fireball Spell ' can hit a moving target for ages! It's perfect for practicing on those Sauron Barbarians!"
Although Morian appeared more restrained than Lina, a strong interest and fighting spirit ignited in his eyes. "Practical testing is indeed the best way to improve spell control. I'm also looking forward to the penetrating power and freezing effect of ' Ice Ray '."
"Very good." Konrad smiled with satisfaction, turning his gaze back to the sleeping Sauron Army and, further away, the majestic Carnford Castle standing tall in the darkness.
"However, now is not the time," his voice regained its calm and calculating tone. "A good mage knows how to choose the best opportunity. We must be like the most patient hunters, waiting... waiting for the battle to reach its most crucial moment, waiting for the enemy's spirit and stamina to reach their limits..."
His gaze seemed to pierce through the night, glimpsing a moment in the future.
"... and then, deliver the most unexpected, magical... fatal blow."
In the darkness of night, three uninvited mages, like hunters hidden in the shadows, silently watched the battlefield, waiting for the perfect moment to make their appearance.