Lingering Regret at a Familiar Place

Charlotte's breakthrough was fraught with peril, but the Battle Qi surging within her successfully shattered the invisible barrier.

In an instant, a sharp, golden glint flashed in her deep blue eyes, and a faint silver radiance emanated from her body, like flowing moonlight.

This was the external manifestation of a successful advancement, the transformation and sublimation of her Battle Qi.

Although this anomaly quickly receded and disappeared, her entire aura had become more condensed and powerful.

Master Battle Master Andre Stein breathed a slight sigh of relief, a gratified smile appearing on his face.

He suddenly turned his head, his gaze precisely landing on the shadowy corner where Karl was hiding, and said in a loud voice, "I imagine that for an ordinary person, witnessing a Knight's advancement process up close must be quite a novel experience, wouldn't you say?"

Charlotte also reacted immediately, following Andre's gaze, and indeed saw Karl emerging somewhat awkwardly from the shadows.

She stood up, casually removing her heavy Knight's helmet, revealing a pretty face covered in fine beads of sweat and flushed with a rosy hue.

Her golden curls, damp with sweat, clung to her forehead and cheeks, adding a touch of spirited heroism.

Her tone carried a rare lightness and a hint of teasing, "Karl? I didn't expect to see you again so soon. What, were you scared back by the desolation and danger of the Northern Border?"

The joy of her advancement made her appear much softer than when she was at the Governor's Office.

Karl smiled and walked forward to explain, "Of course not. I've successfully led my team to Carnford and we've initially established a foothold. We've repaired some of the city walls, cleared the ruins, built shelters, and even started spring plowing and mining. I'm only back this time because the territory's grain reserves are depleted, and I came specifically to purchase supplies."

"Carnford?" This time it was Master Andrei who exclaimed in shock. The smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an extremely complex emotion, a mixture of astonishment, nostalgia, and deep pain. "You... you went to Carnford?"

"Yes," Karl nodded affirmatively, his tone calm. "I am the newly appointed Carnford Frontier Lord of the Goldflower Kingdom."

Master Andrei took a deep breath, his eyes becoming distant and sorrowful. He slowly said, "I... I was once part of the garrison at Carnford. I was the adjutant under the previous Lord, Lord Marcus."

His voice clearly choked when he mentioned that name. "Five years ago... in that final defense battle, the Lord sent four Knights, including myself, to break through and request aid from Fran City... In the end, only I made it alive to the gates of Fran City, but... but the former Governor of the Northern Border at the time refused the request for troops to be sent for rescue..."

His fists clenched involuntarily, his knuckles turning white from the force. The memory of despair clearly still burned in his soul.

Karl was silent for a moment, then calmly described the current state of Carnford. "The drawbridge of the outer city had rotted and was damaged; we repaired it. The Iron Shutter of the inner city had fallen and was completely jammed, unable to be raised. However, a section of the inner wall was violently destroyed and collapsed. There... everywhere were the remains of corpses left from fierce fighting. The defenders and the Sauron were entangled together, and the inside of the castle... was the same. Many rooms showed signs of battle; the defenders fought to their last moments."

"On the second floor, I saw a tragically deceased Recorder, and... a woman holding a child... The third floor was blown apart by catapults or similar weapons. We collected the remains of all the Kingdom's soldiers we could find and buried them properly at the foot of the mountain, erecting a monument."

Karl's calm narration painted an incredibly tragic and heroic picture, leaving all who listened with a sense of deep sorrow and suffocation.

Master Andrei's eyes had turned red. He urgently pressed, "What about the basement? There's a hidden basement beneath the castle! The Lord's command post was set up there! There... there might have been a final stand!"

Karl shook his head. "I don't know about a basement. The entrance might be buried by the ruins. We haven't thoroughly searched the interior of the castle yet."

Master Andrei suddenly grabbed Karl's arm, his voice pleading, "Lord Karl! I beg you! Promise me one thing! If... if you find Lord Marcus's remains in the future, please... please bury him properly for me, can you? He was a true hero, and he shouldn't be left as a corpse in those ruins!"

Karl looked at the profound grief and plea in the eyes of this iron man and solemnly nodded his promise. "I promise you, Master Andrei. If I find the remains of the former Lord, I will rebury him with the highest honors, allowing him to rest in peace."

"Thank you... thank you!" Master Andrei deeply bowed to Karl in a Knight's salute. "I have nothing to offer you now, but this kindness, I, Andre Stein, will remember it in my heart! If you ever need me in the future, just a call, and I will give my all to repay you!"

He calmed his emotions and returned to his usual composure as a Battle Master, solemnly reminding him, "Lord Karl, your choice to go to Carnford shows great courage, but you must be aware of its strategic position. It is the bridgehead overlooking the entire Amber Bay, with extremely high strategic value. The Sauron cannot occupy it long-term for now, but they will never sit idly by while the Kingdom rebuilds it so easily."

"You are weak now, and they may not have noticed you yet, but once you develop and show a threat, they will inevitably launch fierce attacks! If you need help then, please be sure to notify me immediately! I will definitely come!"

"I will remember your advice and your promise," Karl said earnestly.

At this moment, Charlotte's voice chimed in, with a hint of helpless laughter. "Gentlemen, while discussing plans for revenge and strategic warnings is important, can we perhaps take off these heavy things before we chat? I feel like I'm about to be roasted."

Master Andrei then realized that he and Charlotte were still wearing full sets of heavy plate armor.

He quickly apologized, "Sorry, sorry, I got too excited. Charlotte, you've just broken through, and your stamina and mental energy are greatly depleted. You need to rest well."

He loudly called for the guards outside to come in and help him remove his armor.

Charlotte, however, turned to Karl, a half-smile playing on her lips, her blue eyes looking at him. "Karl, could you... help me take off my armor?"

Her request was sudden, making Karl pause slightly.

Helping to remove armor was typically the job of a squire or someone extremely close.

He looked at Charlotte's sweat-dampened temples and her eyes, which were slightly tired yet sparkling, and nodded. "It would be my honor."

He walked behind Charlotte and began to clumsily but diligently help her undo the complex clasps and straps on the back of her plate armor.

The metal plates made faint friction sounds. The two were very close, and Karl could smell the unique scent of leather, steel, and the girl's sweat.

This process inevitably carried a sense of intimacy, making the atmosphere somewhat subtle and quiet.

Master Andrei, having his armor removed by guards nearby, watched the scene. A knowing smile flickered in his eyes, which then turned into a hint of worry.

This young Lord seemed to be getting caught in a vortex deeper than he had imagined.