Difficult Defense

They arrived in a hurry, not bringing much in the way of siege equipment, just three long ladders carried by the soldiers.

But Baron Lobean wasn't bothered by the lack of siege weapons. He knew there were only a dozen or so guards inside the castle, and only a few were actually trained. Even with the help of the walls, they absolutely couldn't withstand an attack from three hundred men.

What's more, he had planted a spy inside the castle, and the castle gate would be opened soon. So, he was determined to take Morland Castle!

"Prepare to defend! No one is allowed to flee! If anyone dares to run, I'll stuff your guts into your mouth before you can even move!" Logan shouted, intimidating the guards.

He held a longsword in his hand and wore a half-chainmail shirt, ready for battle. This hero unit, redeemed from the System, was fiercely loyal to Reiner. Even if it meant death, he would protect his master's territory.

The guards on the city walls looked nervously at the menacing enemy forces below. They were quite afraid facing such a large enemy.

The atmosphere in the air gradually solidified. News of the enemy's appearance below the castle spread like wildfire.

This news hung over the castle like a nightmare. Although Lady Moreland tried to suppress it, panic still spread.

With the Baron away leading troops, an attack on the castle at this moment was a devastating blow to the morale inside.

Dim torchlight flickered on the battlements, making the guards' tense and terrified faces appear even more bewildered.

Though they were afraid, they also knew that if the castle was breached, they would have no way out. Conversely, only if they held off the enemy's assault by relying on the castle would they have a chance to survive.

Meanwhile, the squire Baron was galloping furiously on horseback. He had been riding for over an hour and was not far from where Reiner was stationed.

After all, Morland Castle was just a small barony, and it only took a short time to traverse the entire territory.

His breathing was rapid, and the galloping warhorse made his backside ache a little from the bumps, but he paid it no mind because the campfires were already visible.

He didn't know if the fires before him belonged to friend or foe, or if it was the Baron who had defeated the Krad People, but he knew this was the entire territory's last hope.

If the Krad People were camped here, then all would be lost. Shaking these thoughts from his mind, he once again spurred his horse faster.

"Stop! Halt your horse! Otherwise, you and your horse will become corpses!" Several guards outside the makeshift encampment, holding spears and longswords, shouted at the rapidly approaching Baron.

"I am a squire of the Moreland Family! I have urgent business and must see the Baron immediately!" The galloping Baron gradually slowed his horse, then pulled a small flag bearing the Moreland Family crest from his embrace and waved it as he spoke.

The guards, seeing the small flag in his hand by the torchlight, didn't dare to delay and immediately let him into the camp.

Two guards followed beside Baron, escorting him all the way to Reiner's tent.

At this moment, Reiner was happily sipping malt beer. He had completed his mission, received rewards and prestige, and a large sum of merit points had been added to his account. How could he not be pleased?

"Something wrong?" Reiner wasn't too happy about his leisure time being interrupted. As someone who valued peace and quiet, he disliked being disturbed.

"It's like this, Baron. He, he calls himself Baron, a squire and messenger from Morland Castle, and he has a letter from Mr. Logan for you!" the two guards said.

"Baron?" Reiner thought for a moment and said, "Let him in!"

He knew this Baron. Morland Castle, as a Military Castle, didn't have many people, and Reiner had basically met everyone. He still had some impression of this Baron, especially since there weren't many squires in the castle.

"Urgent matter?" Reiner was somewhat curious. What urgent matter could possibly happen in the territory?

After Baron entered, he anxiously said to Reiner, "Baron, the castle is about to be attacked!" Saying this, he pulled out the already-warmed letter from his embrace.

As soon as Reiner heard it concerned the castle, his heart dropped. As a noble, his castle was essentially his everything. If he lost his territory, then his baronial title would be worthless. He absolutely couldn't bear the thought of becoming a courtier or butler for someone else.

In his opinion, in this era, if one couldn't be a lord, one of those who "sleep with beauties and rule the world," it was utterly meaningless.

In the end, he was merely a lucky individual who had stumbled into being a lord. His insight and thinking might be centuries ahead of his time, but his practical abilities remained at the level of an ordinary person.

He took a deep breath, accepted the letter, checked that the wax seal was intact, then opened the envelope and began to read its contents.

Ding! Mission issued! Defend your territory!

As a lord, losing your territory is like losing your life. You must not let others seize your territory!

Mission Reward: Territory paved with stone roads, Castle upgraded once, 300 Merit Points

Failure Penalty: Loss of territory

"Damn it!" Reiner gritted his teeth, ignoring the mission issued by the System. He hadn't expected anyone to attack Morland Castle while he was leading troops.

He knew Baron Lobean of Goer Castle. Goer Castle was directly south of Morland Castle. His efforts to hold off the Krad People on the northern border had also benefited Goer Castle, but Lobean was actually using this opportunity to attack him.

"Baron, the situation is extremely urgent. We don't know when they will reach the castle. Please return to the castle as soon as possible to protect your people!" Baron said anxiously.

"Sir Cord!" Reiner called out loudly, "Immediately gather our army! We must return to the castle at once!"

"What's happening, Baron?" Sir Cord asked, puzzled. He didn't understand why the Baron would suddenly order them back to the castle on this victorious night.

It was night, and the soldiers who had fought all day had finally gotten some rest. Now they were being woken from their sleep, which was quite unreasonable.

"The castle is under attack! We must return to defend immediately! Gather the army at once, we need to go back now!" Reiner said solemnly.

"What?!" Sir Cord was also greatly surprised upon hearing this news. She didn't even ask for the reason or who was attacking, and immediately said, "Yes, Baron, I will gather the army at once!"

It was late at night, and the exhausted soldiers were sound asleep, their snores filling the entire encampment. But the urgent sound of the horn woke them from their sweet dreams.

With bleary eyes, they looked outside to see the sky still dark. They couldn't help but curse the damned horn blower, but they still grudgingly got out of their beds, put on their heavy cotton clothes, and lined up in front of their tents.

Anyone who didn't appear in the assembly line within five minutes of the copper horn sounding would be punished with thirty lashes. No one wanted to endure such a punishment.