The Counterattack, Part Two

Half an hour later, the lords arrived with their respective forces.

They could have reached the battlefield much sooner, but they had deliberately slowed their march to preserve their strength.

They had expected to arrive while the two sides were still locked in combat and take advantage of the situation. They hadn't expected the battle to end so quickly.

Looking at the chaos strewn across the ground, the lords drew in sharp breaths. They now had a vivid understanding of the Gannan Province garrison's fighting strength.

Three quarters of an hour later, Earl Richard and Earl House, who had gone to crush the rebels, arrived as well.

They, too, were astonished at the sight of the demon corpses covering the ground.

But the two were young and hotheaded. Their surprise soon gave way to disdain.

Earl House muttered in a tone edged with jealousy, "They only wiped out a ragtag army of demons. What's there to brag about?"

His voice wasn't loud, but many of the nobles still heard him.

Aside from lamenting that he was all ambition and no ability, they began to feel sorry for the family behind him.

Hamilton pretended not to hear. Wilson's expression, however, turned cold in an instant. He gave a snort. "Then the next time we encounter a demon army, you can lead the charge."

Earl House retorted without backing down, "Fine by me. Demons are nothing but a rabble."

He made it sound easy, but inwardly, he was starting to get nervous.

He regretted letting jealousy over the other man's impressive record make him say something so disrespectful.

But the words had already left his mouth. There was no taking them back.

Seeing his rival get put in his place, Earl Richard was secretly delighted. *That's what you get for running your